How many miles can an American-made Honda Accord last? When you’re in the market for a new or second-hand Accord, that’s a very reasonable question to ask. After all, you’re probably looking to get the most bang for your buck. In this blog, we’ll look at this question in great detail but first, let’s start with a quick answer:
On average, a Honda Accord lasts between 230.000 – 270.000 miles. An Accord needs to go to the garage for unscheduled repairs about 0.26 times per year, with a 9% chance of severe problems. Furthermore, Accord owners spend an average of $400 per year on repair costs.
Having said that, we’re certainly not done. Below, we’ll explain in more detail how many miles an Accord can last. After that, we’ll also show you how much an Accord costs annually and which production years are the most and least expensive. Furthermore, we also discuss the common problems that the car can have. Read on!
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How Many Miles Can A Honda Accord Last?
Today, we will analyze how many miles a Honda Accord can last. We conducted in-depth research on several different platforms to answer these questions. First, we have to look at the Honda Accord as a group. For this, we went to Autotrader.com to gather our sample size.
We took a pool of 17.662 Honda Accords and divided them into groups based on the miles they had already driven. The results of this research are displayed in the table below.
Number Of Miles | Percentage Of Cars |
Cars With 150.000+ | 7.08% |
Cars With 100.000 – 149.000 | 12.85% |
Cars With 45.000 – 99.999 | 32.40% |
Cars With 0 – 44.999 | 47.67% |
What we can see in the table above is the fact that 7.08% of Accords that are for sale in the United States have crossed the 150.000 miles mark. By itself, this number doesn´t say a lot. However, from writing hundreds of articles like this, we know that we expect a car to achieve a number between 3-5%.
Therefore it seems that the Accords performs very well at first glance. This won´t come as a surprise to many because the Accord does have a good reputation. However, we also see many units that haven´t even crossed the 45.000 miles mark yet. It´s good to know this is a common occurrence with vehicles that are still being sold, and it´s nothing to worry about.
Nevertheless, this is a good beginning for the Accord overall, but more research is needed. Let´s move on.
How Reliable Is A Honda Accord Compared To Its Competitors?
Even when you see a vehicle having hundreds of thousands of miles on the gauge cluster, more proof is necessary to know for sure what you are buying is, in fact, the most reliable and long-lasting vehicle.
In the table below, we´ve displayed the expected and highest recorded mileage of different Accord competitors. Please keep in mind we´ve written separate articles for these vehicles as well, and therefore we´re confident in the displayed results.
Model | Sample Size | Expected Mileage | Highest Mileage |
Honda Accord | 17.662 | 250.000 | 360.000 |
Toyota Camry | 18.780 | 270.000 | 340.000 |
Hyundai Sonata | 9.516 | 220.000 | 270.000 |
Nissan Altima | 16.698 | 240.000 | 290.000 |
Mazda 6 | 4.394 | 215.000 | 260.000 |
What becomes clear from the table above is the fact that the Honda Accord is certainly a worthy competitor in this category. The Camry is the pack’s leader, which doesn´t come as a surprise given its reputation. However, the Accord holds a solid second place.
The Nissan Altima does quite well, and the Sonata and Mazda 6 have respectable numbers, but they certainly aren´t close to being the best in their category. For this reason, it does seem like the Accord is a car worth considering when potential lifespan is an essential factor for you.
How Reliable Is A Honda Accord Compared To Other Hondas?
We took several Honda models and examined their reliability based on the same data. We took the mileage numbers of these models and compared them with the mileage numbers of the Honda Accord.
What becomes clear from this table immediately is the fact that Honda builds vehicles with an incredible lifespan. Car brands typically have vehicles that last between 200.000 – 250.000 miles; anything above that is rare. However, Honda has many cars with an expected mileage of 250.000 or slightly higher.
What becomes apparent in the table below is the fact that the Accord holds up quite well compared to other Hondas. There´s, of course, always going to be the Civic, with its incredible lifespan. However, the Accord has the same numbers as the HR-V and CR-V. Both are vehicles known for their reliability which is a strong sign for the Accord.
Model | Sample Size | Expected Mileage | Highest Mileage |
Honda Civic | 23.731 | 275.000 | 430.000 |
Honda Accord | 25.976 | 250.000 | 359.000 |
Honda CR-V | 27.747 | 250.000 | 320.000 |
Honda HR-V | 8.622 | 250.000 | 215.000 |
Honda Odyssey | 10.034 | 225.000 | 350.000 |
Honda Pilot | 15.385 | 240.000 | 346.000 |
How Much Does Maintenance Cost Per Year?
The maintenance cost must be as low as possible for a vehicle to be truly reliable, and there are many Hondas that we can consider reliable. Any unreliable vehicle can achieve high mileage if money is put into repairs. But a reliable car does not require those expensive repairs. In the table below, we´ve gathered the Accord’s maintenance costs for many model years. This data was acquired from Repairpal and Caredge.com.
On average, we expect to pay $400 in annual maintenance costs for a Honda Accord. Let it be clear that this is an incredibly low number. Typically, it costs a car owner $526 annually to keep a midsize car like the Accord on the road. Therefore, the Accord is well over $120 cheaper yearly than its competition.
Furthermore, it becomes clear that almost all model years that are older than five years have fairly consistent maintenance costs. This indicates that the car doesn´t have any model years that were plagued with issues that led to hefty repair bills for the owners. More on that in a moment.
Model Year | Annual Maintenance Cost |
2022 | $200 |
2021 | $230 |
2020 | $279 |
2019 | $356 |
2018 | $345 |
2017 | $316 |
2016 | $349 |
2015 | $380 |
2014 | $426 |
2013 | $447 |
2012 | $412 |
2011 | $414 |
2010 | $389 |
2009 | $364 |
2008 | $341 |
2007 | $308 |
Owners’ Reviews Of The Honda Accords Reliability
Besides knowing all the data, it’s, of course, also essential to see how owners experience the Accord. For this, we went to Kelley Blue Book, Truecar, and Cars.com. All three platforms have gathered hundreds of reviews from actual car owners. We summarized our findings in the image below.
Overall, as the ratings indicate, the tenth generation of the Honda Accord has been an absolute crowd pleaser. Across the different platforms, most owners rated their car a 4 or 5 out of 5 stars.
Owners seem happy with the vehicle’s space, design, mileage, and overall comfort. Minor points we did see some complaints about were the lack of certain features, the lane-keeping function being slightly inaccurate, and the seat height adjustment being uncomfortable. Overall though, the sentiment around the Accord is summed up quite well in this statement:
Impeccable interior and exterior. Very little road noise. Technology at your fingertips. Sound system as rich as you should hear while driving. Roomy and comfortable for driver and passengers- per the passengers. The color is lustrous and deep. Mileage has been as good as I hoped and why I bought the car. Great ride and beautiful enough not to want to drive it.
Source, 2022 owner
Honda Accord Common Problems
A vehicle can not be considered reliable if there are numerous common problems you would have to deal with. Any vehicle can achieve high mileage, but reliable ones do so without breaking the bank. So, in this section, we will look at all the common problems that Honda Accords have. Want to know more about the problems of the Accord Hybrid? Click that link.
NOTE: Before buying a used car, I always like to make sure the vehicle isn´t having any problems that you should be aware of. The easiest way to do this is by buying an OBD2 scanner. These scanners can easily be plugged into any car you’re interested in, and they’ll give you a rundown of potential problems.
Tenth Generation (2018 – Present)
The tenth generation has had some problems widely complained about amongst owners. Luckily, Honda did issue recalls for most of these problems, so owners weren´t left with paying for these issues out of pocket. Nevertheless, these are problems to be aware of:
Problematic Electrical System
Honda recalled around 770,000 models of 2018 – 2020 Accords and Accord Hybrids to fix a BCM software error (recall number: 20V771000). A BCM is a body computer that controls functions related to the vehicle body, such as air conditioning, power windows, power mirrors, and central locking.
The software error occurred due to a programming flaw and disrupted communications between the BCM and other vehicle components. This may cause several warning lights to illuminate along with malfunctions of multiple electronic systems. The malfunctioning systems may include the rearview camera, turn signals, wipers, and exterior lights.
Fuel Pump Failure
Honda issued two recalls regarding low-pressure fuel pump failure covering over 700,000 vehicles, including the 2019 Accord Hybrid. The DENSO brand fuel pumps have faulty impellers that can crack and deform, preventing a reliable fuel flow to the engine, regardless of the type of fuel you put in your Accord. This, in turn, causes the engine to run rough or stall, which results in severe damage to the engine and increases the risk of crashes and serious injuries.
Unexpected Emergency Braking
2018 – 2019 Honda Accord are currently being investigated because the Office of Defects Investigations received well over 100 complaints regarding sudden emergency braking (NHTSA number: PE22003). The car initiated this emergency braking in scenarios where emergency braking wasn´t necessary at all. Typically, this is caused by problems with the collision mitigation braking system. So far, solutions have not been found but
Malfunctioning Backup Camera
2018 Honda Accord were recalled because the backup camera would malfunction (recall number: 18V629000). Reprogramming the display audio unit software solved this problem.
Ninth Generation (2013 – 2017)
The ninth generation of the Accord was a completely different story regarding reliability. Each of the model years in this generation received over 300 complaints on the website of the NHTSA. The 2013 model year was the largest problem, with three recalls, five investigations, and well over 1,100 complaints.
Corroding Driveshaft
2013-2015 Accord vehicles equipped with a 4-cylinder engine and a continuously-variable transmission were recalled because the drive shafts were assembled with a lubricant that may have degraded the drive shafts’ protective coating, making it more susceptible to damage from road salt or other contaminants, and potentially cause it to break (recall number: 20V769000).
Shorting Of The Battery Sensor
The case for the battery sensor, part of the battery management system, may allow water to get in, potentially causing an electrical short. Recall number: 17V418000.
Loss Of Direction Control
2013 – 2015 Accord models experience a sudden loss in steering ability and the car drifting off its intended patch without driver input. Two investigations were opened for this in 2020, but conclusions have not yet been reached.
Furthermore, another investigation was opened for the 2013 model regarding the failure of torque sensors and a subsequent loss in power steering. However, this investigation was closed because the number of failures was minimal and declining.
Airbag Investigations
The 2013 – 2015 model years are currently under investigation for potential malfunctioning of the airbag ACUs. ACUs are components of the airbag system responsible for predicting a crash and whether or not the deployment of the airbags is necessary.
Malfunctioning Fuel Pump
2015 – 2017 Honda Accord models with a 3.5L V6 were recalled because of the reduced performance of the fuel pump. Particulates in the fuel may adhere to the internal components of the fuel pump, reducing its performance (recall number: 19V060000).
Is a Honda Accord A Smart Buy?
Finally, we have to answer the question of whether or not the Honda Accord is a smart buy. When we look at the potential mileage of the Accord, we see that the car is putting up solid numbers. Sure, the Camry does better, but the Accord beats the remaining competitors by a fair margin.
Furthermore, we also saw that Honda builds reliable vehicles overall and that the maintenance costs of an Accord are much lower than what we would typically expect to pay for a car this size. All of these are positive points for the Accord.
Also, we saw that the tenth generation of the Accord is rated very highly by owners, indicating that Honda is building a car that´s providing a lot of value and meeting the expectations of the owners.
However, we did see that the tenth and especially the ninth generation of the Accord have some problems that need to be considered. We would stay away from the ninth generation of the Accord, especially the 2013 – 2015 model years because these have investigations running.
At this point, it seems that the 2020 model year is the most reliable used model in the market. That´s because these model years don´t have problems with unexpected braking or fuel pump failures, whereas previous models in that generation did. Just don’t expect your Accord to do any heavy-duty towing or be the fastest car on the block.
Honda Accord Maintenance Schedule
It is essential to keep your car well maintained. You will have many problems if you don’t properly maintain your vehicle.
Before/On Every 7,000 Miles
The first and most important thing is changing the engine oil regularly. Most of the latest models will have an onboard computer letting you know when you change your engine oil and replace the oil filter.
Before/On Every 20,000 Miles
This maintenance interval is mostly going to be inspections, which include:
- Inspection of the brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid lines
- Inspection of the tire wear and replacing if necessary
- A thorough review of all the electrical components
- Scanning with an OBD tool so if there is a problem with any of the sensors
- Transmission fluid inspection
- Emissions test
- Replacing the cabin air filter
- Inspecting for any squeaks or clunks in the suspension components
- Oiling and greasing the parts that require lubrication
Before/On Every 40,000 Miles
This is an essential interval in terms of your transmission.
- Replace the transmission fluid.
- Inspect the spark plugs.
- Recalibrate the ECU, and update the software if available.
Before/On Every 60,000 Miles
- Check all the electrical components to see if there is a short circuit or damage to any sensors.
- Check the exhaust system.
- Inspect the spark plugs and replace them if necessary.
Sources
- https://www.autotrader.com/
- https://repairpal.com/
- https://www.car-buying-strategies.com/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Accord
- https://www.edmunds.com/honda/accord/
- https://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/honda_accord_2021
- https://www.caranddriver.com/honda/accord
Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.
I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.
Read more about our fantastic team on our about page!