2023 Honda Accord Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around two themes: unpredictable driver-assist behavior — forward-collision braking that engages with nothing ahead, and multi-system warning lights that come and go — and software/infotainment problems that owners say repeated dealer visits did not resolve. A smaller but consistent group describes clicking or binding noises from the steering gearbox, most often noticed at low speeds or while parking.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Multiple warning lights and systems dropping out at once

   • 45 complaints (52%)
   • median 13,000 mi at 2.9 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe clusters of warnings appearing together — collision mitigation, lane keeping, steering assist, hill hold, stability assist, tire pressure and brake messages — sometimes followed by reduced power or a stall. Several owners say the warnings clear after the car is shut off and restarted, and that dealers found codes but no cause. Some describe the car shutting off while driving or the infotainment and instrument panel failing to boot, and others link it to software update errors. Reported from a few thousand miles up to roughly 60,000 miles, often intermittently and without warning lights beforehand.

   9 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the service history on software updates and any telematics or control-module campaigns. Start the car, watch the dash through a boot cycle, and note whether any warnings appear or the screen lags.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving at highway speed (70 MPH) the power assist steering and all of the Honda Sensing suit subsystem totally quit working. The dash had multiple warming lights and dialog box's describing system failures, I continued driving till I could get off of the highway and turned the vehicle off, after about 10 minutes I restarted the vehicle and all systems and steering reset. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11544156, filed 2023-09

   “I have had 2 separate experiences with starting my car and the lights on the dashboard come on. A message comes on with rolling alerts that states the automatic emergency braking, steering assist, lane keeping assist, braking assist, hill hold, adaptive cruise control are all turned off. Additionally regenerative braking was also turned off. I took it to two different Honda dealerships for maintenance. (May 8th, July 20). If you wait 30 mins the alert will disappear. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11543887, filed 2023-09
2. 2
   Forward collision avoidance

   Phantom automatic emergency braking and false warnings

   • 20 complaints (23%)
   • typically at 3.0 yrs old
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the forward-collision system applying the brakes when the road ahead is clear, sometimes at highway speed, with an orange brake warning appearing on the dash. Some report the car dropping speed sharply before recovering, and others describe warning chimes or a brake message before the vehicle slows on its own. Complaints say dealers replaced the front camera, reset the computer, or replaced the battery without resolving the behavior, and in several cases the dealer could not reproduce it. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 8,000 miles to well past 50,000, on both highway and surface streets and in some cases in rain or snow.

   What to check: Drive the car at highway speed with the collision mitigation system active and see whether it chimes or brakes with nothing ahead. Ask whether any camera or radar module has been replaced, and check the owner's menu for stored warning history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving the vehicle at highway speeds the large orange “Brake” warning illuminates and flashes, and the brake activates. This has happened approximately 5-6 times since I have owned the car. This started within 2 months of purchasing the vehicle. The dealer has tried replacing the front camera and I have changed the battery. None of this has fixed the issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11666664, filed 2025-06

   “I have experienced phantom braking multiple times but it happened at the worst time yesterday & because of that my shoulder is hurting alot. I was driving on the road when suddenly car hit the brake without any warnings. This has caused whiplash and headache as well because of it. This phantom braking incident has happened many times just this time it was recorded on my dash cam.”

   NHTSA complaint #11767579, filed 2026-09
3. 3
   Steering

   Clicking or binding noise from the steering gearbox

   • 15 complaints (17%)
   • median 30,926 mi at 2.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners report a clicking, ticking or binding sound from the front of the car when turning the wheel, especially at parking speeds or when turning fully to one side. Some describe the steering feeling sticky or firm at highway speed and needing constant small corrections, and a few report the wheel becoming stiff enough to lose control briefly. Complaints say dealers could not reproduce the noise, adjusted the rack, or replaced parts without fixing it; one bulletin describes a clearance issue between the gearbox motor housing and the rack. Reported from around 5,000 miles to over 70,000 miles, often at low speed or while parking, and in some cases in cold weather.

   7 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the car parked, turn the wheel lock to lock and listen for clicking or ticking from the front footwell area. On a test drive, check for stickiness or a notch in the steering at highway speed and ask whether any gearbox repair has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had my vehicle in the dealer on 4 or 5 occasions, where the issue persisted, where the steering wheel made a clicking noise. I was able to duplicate the issue for the dealer a few times, and they were unable to fix it. The dealer replaced the master cylinder, the steering rack was adjusted, and still the issue persists. After many trips to the dealer, I got sick and tired and got into an argument with the dealer, and the dealer refused to work on my car any longer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11737925, filed 2026-05

   “Florida recently experienced a lower than average cold front. During this cold weather I started experiencing a problem with my steering. I initially described it as a twitching feeling with my steering but the next day I figured out how to recreate the issue consistently. My car wants to push me to the left into oncoming traffic. When I correct to the right I feel a momentarily resistance then the steering let's go and then steers right. I could repeatedly do this again and again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11638514, filed 2025-01
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Infotainment freezing, failed updates and dead screen

   • 11 complaints (13%)
   • median 24,600 mi at 3.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the center screen freezing, blanking out mid-drive, or repeatedly showing an update-required message that only the dealer can clear. Complaints mention audio skipping, phones repeatedly disconnecting, and repeated dealer visits where software was reinstalled but the behavior returned. Some say the dealer told them it is a known issue with no fix available yet. Commonly reported in the first couple of years of ownership across a broad mileage spread, often after an over-the-air update attempt.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Spend a few minutes with the screen on: pair a phone over Bluetooth, open navigation, and check whether the system prompts for a dealer-only update. Ask the seller for records of completed over-the-air or dealer software updates.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on an interstate in Florida on vacation while using my GPS which was showing on my cars screen. As I was following directions the screen went blank. This caused me to not know which exit to take as it came across exits and while cars following behind me the lost of GpS guidance in the mist of it giving me a direction caused a panic. I use GPS systems all the time and that was the reason the car was purchased because of the gps system and screen. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11769258, filed 2026-10

   “I have reported that software cannot be updated on my car. Since my first report my rear seatbelts no longer need to be fastened with children in the car or the seat belt notification of not being fastened does not work. My air conditioner will stop if my infotainment system needs to be adjusted through my phone, and today in the rain my brakes locked up twice. The latter occurrence was coming down 1000 foot downhill in the rain with a car in front and an 18 wheeler behind me”

   NHTSA complaint #11528208, filed 2023-06

Buying note. Check the service history for completed software updates and any steering gearbox work, and drive the car long enough to see whether driver-assist warnings appear. Look closely at rear tire wear and confirm alignment figures before purchase, since those costs show up well after the sale.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.