10 Used Honda Models You Should Steer Clear Of At All Costs

Honda debuted its 10th-generation Accord for the 2018 model year, featuring updated styling, tech, and a new range of powertrain options. Unfortunately, it seems the freshly launched generation had some teething troubles, with NHTSA data recording five recalls and 1,031 owner complaints. The most recent recall was issued on December 18th, 2023, and concerns a faulty fuel pump that might fail while driving. This isn't the first recall related to the fuel pump either, as the 2018 Accord previously received another recall regarding the same part on May 28th, 2020.

The most common area for consumer complaints was the car's brakes, with owners reporting various issues including premature wear and persistent false braking system warning lights. Another common area of complaint was the engine, with multiple drivers reporting head gasket failure. Owner reports also back up the concerns cited in the fuel pump recall, with over 100 drivers reporting failures regarding the fuel pump system.

Perhaps the most concerning complaints of all, however, are those regarding the car's forward collision avoidance system. Hundreds of drivers have alleged that their cars have suddenly braked with nothing seemingly obstructing their path, causing them to rapidly lose speed on the road and putting them at risk of colliding with traffic. NHTSA has received six reports of minor injuries caused by alleged faulty emergency braking, and as of this writing, is actively investigating the issue.

Honda's popular Pilot SUV was overhauled for the 2016 model year, debuting significantly more modern looks than its predecessor and a smattering of new cabin tech. The car's powertrain options were also refreshed for the new generation, although the updated componentry seems responsible for a temporary blip in Honda's build quality. The 2016 Pilot has been subject to six recalls by the NHTSA, with a wide range of problems highlighted. One recall from 2021 states that a faulty hood latch striker can result in the hood flying open while driving, while another from 2023 concerns a manufacturing defect in the connecting rod bearing in the engine.

Not every 2016 Pilot is included in the 2023 recall, but drivers have reported extremely similar rod bearing failures in cars that supposedly do not have the faulty part. The model year has also been subject to over 1,100 complaints from drivers, around half of which center around issues with the car's electrical systems. Other common complaints include faulty fuel pumps and repeated warning lights about the emissions system accompanied by a loss of power.

The 1998 Honda Accord has been subject to 19 recalls to date, although the majority of those concern minor issues with missing reflectors in a small number of models. However, several more serious recalls have also been issued. The most recent was in 2020 when Honda recalled nearly 1.5 million cars sold between 1996 and 2000 over concerns with potentially faulty airbag inflators. Two much earlier recalls, dating back to 2002 and 2003, center around a defective ignition switch. A large number of recent owner complaints lodged with the NHTSA also mention the ignition switch, with some reports alleging the car's engine shut off while on the road.

Reports are varied — some allege the engine cut out at lower speeds or while stationary, while some report driving at freeway speeds when the problem occurred. Given that Honda already issued a recall for the car's ignition, it may be that some of these issues stem from previous owners not taking their cars in for repairs as instructed by the manufacturer. Alternatively, it's possible that many other 1998 Accords also suffered from defective ignitions but weren't included in the initial recall. Either way, used buyers should give the model year a miss.

Freshly revamped for the 2008 model year, the Honda Accord didn't rewrite the manufacturer's rulebook. It was conservatively styled, economical, and spacious — exactly what buyers would expect. A review by MotorTrend confirmed as much, although the outlet noted one unusual issue with their test vehicle — after 15,000 miles, the car needed both its front and rear brake pads and rotors replaced. This seemed strange as per MotorTrend, "you don't go through rear pads and rotors in under 15,000 miles, unless maybe you leave the parking brake on for a few hundred miles (we hadn't)."

It would turn out that scores of owners would share the same experience, with several hundred lodging complaints with the NHTSA. Over 500 complaints mention brakes, many complaining of premature wear, although Honda has never issued a recall for the problem. Instead, its nine recalls primarily concern the vehicle's defective airbags — like Honda's other models, that's down to parts supplier Takata. While the two areas above make up the majority of consumer complaints about the car, many drivers also reported issues with the engine and headlights.

Unlike some of the other cars here, the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid doesn't have one Achilles heel that brings its overall reliability crashing down. Rather, it seems like the model year simply has a higher number of quality issues overall than most other Honda models. It's been subject to a total of 17 recalls, with over 1,400 complaints lodged with the NHTSA at the time of writing. Seven of those recalls concern faulty Takata airbags, but others range from a defective integrated motor assist system to a faulty rear wheel speed sensor. The latter issue affected 260,000 Civics built between 2006 and 2007.

Common problems cited by owners include a failing sun visor which can fall in front of the driver and obstruct their vision, issues with the rear suspension, and various engine and cooling issues. Alongside the 2006 model year, the 2007 model year Civic Hybrid is also a poor performer, receiving a similarly high number of owner complaints.

With so many of Honda's cars considered to be reliable, used car buyers should make sure they steer well clear of the few problematic models. To build this list of the worst performers, SlashGear compiled data from the NHTSA stretching back to 1990, taking into account both owner complaints and recalls. Owner complaints were our primary selection criteria, with each car above suffering a significantly higher number of complaints than average.

We also included recalls in our selection criteria, as the more recalls there are for any given car, the harder it can be to ensure a used example has had all of them remedied. We found that in many cases in our data where a significant recall was issued for a certain model, owners continued to complain of faults regarding that part for years after the initial recall was issued. While this isn't designed to be an exhaustive list of every less reliable Honda on the used market, buyers gain a general idea of some of the worst offenders to stay away from if possible.