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2016 Honda Accord: common problems and reliability
· 9th generationAn average Accord year.
610 owner complaints, most about electrical system. 4 recalls.
Should I buy a 2016 Accord?The 2016 Honda Accord has 610 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are electrical system and exterior lighting. Owners most often flag valve cover gasket oil seepage on 4-cylinder models: multiple owners report this as a common issue between 95,000 and 200,000 miles, with oem gaskets recommended over aftermarket.
Safety record for the 2016 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2016 Honda Accord vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Accord years only. How we score it
Is 2016 a good year for the Accord?
Across the 31 Accord model years we track, complaint volume runs from 228 (2023) to 2,883 (2014). With 610 complaints, the 2016 Accord sits below the model's median of 862.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2016 Accord
fuel system, other:delivery:fuel pump
Campaign 19V060000Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Acura MDX, 2015-2019 Acura TLX and 2015-2017 Honda Accord vehicles, equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine. Particulates in fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance.
electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery
Campaign 17V418000Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Honda Accord vehicles. The case for the battery sensor, part of the battery management system, may allow water to get in, potentially causing an electrical short.
fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Campaign 23V858000Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger
Campaign 26V332000Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
What owners report on the 9th generation Accord
Owners generally regard the 9th generation Accord as a reliable, well-built car that can last well beyond 200,000 miles with proper maintenance.
- Very frequentValve cover gasket oil seepage on 4-cylinder models
Multiple owners report this as a common issue between 95,000 and 200,000 miles, with OEM gaskets recommended over aftermarket.
- RecurrentVSA/ABS modulator failure
Owners report internal failure of the ABS/VSA unit on 2013-2017 models, with replacement costs around $2,800 for the part alone. Some owners report successful repairs via module rebuild services.
- RecurrentTiming belt overdue on high-mileage V6 models
Multiple owners warn that neglected timing belts on V6 models are a serious risk, with the service due at 100,000 miles or 8 years.
- RecurrentV6 automatic transmission failure at high mileage
Several owners report V6 transmissions failing around 140,000 miles, often attributed to neglected fluid changes, though other owners dispute this and call the 6-speed automatic stout.
- RecurrentHybrid battery degradation
Owners report hybrid batteries degrading noticeably between 100,000 and 150,000 miles, with replacement costs being a major concern.
Owner insights for the 9th generation Accord. Read the full 9th generation owner report.
Typical used price
Used Accord listings typically run $13,648–$24,003.
Other Accord model years
Compare every Accord year side by side to see how 2016 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Accord against its rivals
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