Is the Honda Accord reliable?
38% of the 125 we inspected scored 60/100 or higher, with an average of 52/100 — it scores noticeably below average.
125
Cars inspectedreal pre-purchase inspections52/100
Average conditionall cars we check: 61/10038%
In good shape (60+)all cars we check: 56%Across 125 used Honda Accords we inspected, this model scores noticeably below average — average condition 52/100 vs 61 for all cars we check. Every number on this page comes from real pre-purchase inspections — cars people were about to buy and paid an independent inspector to go through point by point, engine to underbody, paint depth to error codes. Not owner surveys, not warranty statistics, not forum lore: what we actually found.
What we found
Most common faults
Fuel trim out of range · Engine
61%
Oil leaks · Engine
58%
Tires condition & wear · Brakes and tires
50%
Active error codes · Electronic equipment
30%
Cracked or torn suspension bushings · Suspension
30%
Share of inspected Honda Accords where each item was flagged.
How they score
Excellent 22%
Good 16%
Mediocre 26%
Poor 35%
Hidden history
What the seller might not mention — how often we find it on this model.
82%had a repainted or replaced panelall cars: 74%
14%showed structural repairall cars: 4%
32%had fault codes recently clearedall cars: 24%
How long does a Accord stay good?
Good cars by mileage
Good cars by age
Share of Honda Accords in good shape (scoring 60+/100) by mileage and by age when we inspected them (each dot ≥5 cars; a band under 20 cars follows the nearby bands, so a run above the all-cars line stays above it, and a band of 20 or more uses the rate we measured; where a band has too few cars, the line follows the trend between the bands on either side; rolled-back odometers excluded from the mileage curve). The dashed grey curve is all cars we check.
More on Honda
Fit
32 cars · 72% good
CR-V
101 cars · 56% good
Odyssey
61 cars · 54% good
Civic
155 cars · 51% good
Pilot
49 cars · 39% good
Other Honda models we've inspected — or see the full Honda profile.
Straight from recent Honda Accord reports
2019 Honda Accord · 90k mi — flagged: fault codes recently cleared, fuel trim out of range, steering pull. Inspected Oct 14.
2018 Honda Accord · 64k mi — flagged: belts, fuel trim out of range. Inspected Oct 13.
The bottom line
Treat a used Accord here as a car you have to prove, not assume. Paintwork is widespread, so a shiny panel is not a clean history, and structural repair is the number that should stop you: 14 percent of these cars, against 4 percent across the fleet. If that repair is undocumented or the car also shows engine trouble—fuel trim problems and oil leaks lead the fault list—walk. Cleared codes make a silent scanner meaningless, so insist on a live check of the engine before you talk price. If the structure is clean, worn tires and torn suspension bushings are your leverage, not reasons to romanticize the deal.
FAQ
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What are the most common problems on a used Honda Accord?
The items we flag most often are fuel trim out of range (61%), oil leaks (58%), tires condition & wear (50%). Have these checked before buying.
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Should I worry about cleared fault codes?
On 32% of these cars the ECU codes had been erased shortly before sale, which can hide active faults. Ask for a diagnostic scan and start the engine from cold.
Thinking of buying a Honda Accord? Get the exact car inspected before you pay.
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Based on 125 inspections · updated Oct 22, 2026
