A midsize sedan like the 2020 Honda Accord provides a great combination of powerful engine offerings, sporty handling, and a well-appointed interior. If you’re in the market for a midsize car, a used Accord may be on your shortlist.
How reliable is the 2020 Honda Accord?
The 2020 Honda Accord has high reliability ratings, with a “Quality & Reliability” rating of 82/100 from J.D. Power. It is also rated as a Kelley Blue Book “2020 Best Buy: Midsize Car” for its reliability and resale value.
- Owner Reviews: 4.61 stars
- Expert Reviews: 4.8/5
We’re saving you time and hassle in your next vehicle search by providing you with a brief history of the Honda Accord below, as well as some potential reliability issues reported by real 2020 Accord owners on the NHTSA and other platforms.
More about the Honda Accord
With roots dating back to 1976, the Honda Accord has been in production for more than 40 years. Throughout the years, this car has been available not just in a sedan body style, but in hatchback, coupe, and station wagon styles as well.
Now in its 10th generation of production (as of November 2020), the Honda Accord is classified as a midsize sedan and offers spacious seating for up to five passengers with 16.7 cubic feet of dedicated cargo space in its 2020 model.
The 2020 Honda Accord is offered in five trim configurations, ranging from the base LX to the range-topping Touring. A turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder engine (192 horsepower) is standard.
Craving more power? A turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine (252 horsepower) is optional on the Sport and EX-L trims and comes standard on the top-tier Touring model.
The 2020 Accord is known for its generous standard equipment, which ranges from automatic dual-zone climate control and a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system to adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking.
With so much to offer, it’s not too surprising that the 2020 Honda Accord has received numerous awards, including:
- The Kelley Blue Book “Best Buy” Award
- Car and Driver‘s “10 Best List”
- Edmunds’ “Top Choice”
2020 Honda Accord Recalls & Complaints
But what about overall reliability?
As of November of 2020, there are no open recalls on the 2020 Honda Accord. While this should give you some peace of mind about the car’s reliability, there are still some potential issues that have been reported by owners.
Transmission and Engine Issues
Source: Vehicle History and NHTSA
Formal complaints have been filed through the NHTSA regarding the 2020 Accord’s transmission and engine; there have been a couple of similar reviews posted by owners on Vehicle History as well.
In one NHTSA report (complaint ID: 11340086), a 2020 Accord owner claims that the car’s “check engine” light illuminated at highway speeds and that the vehicle had to be pulled over because it failed to accelerate.
In another NHTSA report (complaint ID: 11372484) filed in October of 2020, an owner alleges that the vehicle would not start. Upon having it inspected at a dealer, water was found in the engine’s #3 cylinder.
This seems to line up with what another 2020 Accord owner reports in a November 2020 Vehicle History review; this owner claims that the engine would not start after heavy rainfall and that the dealer found water in the engine.
In yet another Vehicle History review, a 2020 Honda Accord owner reports that the vehicle’s transmission needed to be completely replaced after the vehicle was bought new and had just 2,500 miles on it.
Air Conditioning Problems
Source: Vehicle History Reviews
In two separate Vehicle History reviews, owners of the 2020 Honda Accord report problems with the vehicle’s air conditioning system. One reviewer, Joe, writes that the air coming out of the vents is humid and not cool.
Another reviewer reported the same issue of humid air coming out of the car’s air conditioning vents and claims he was told by a Honda mechanic that the air won’t come out cold until the engine has been running 15-20 minutes.
Airbags not Deploying in a Crash
Source: Vehicle History and NHTSA
A car’s airbags are components you should always be able to rely on, especially in the event of a crash. Unfortunately, there have been reports on both the NHTSA website and Vehicle History of airbag issues.
In one NHTSA report from February of 2020 (complaint ID: 11308492), the owner of a 2020 Accord alleges that “the front passenger airbags are often not activated when the car is in motion with an adult weighing significantly more than 65 lbs.”
This owner reports that the cause of the problem could not be determined by a Honda mechanic even after inspecting the airbag sensor and that the issue has not been resolved.
A similar complaint was made in a Vehicle History review posted by Megan K. in July of 2020. She reports that the front-passenger airbag light turns off for passengers who are about 110 pounds or lighter.
Meanwhile, in a Vehicle History review posted by Estefania E. in September of 2020, she alleges that her 2020 Accord was hit by a truck and that the airbags did not deploy at the time of the accident.
Buying a Car? Review its Vehicle History Report!
When you’re shopping for a pre-owned car like the 2020 Honda Accord, of course you want to have access to every piece of available information before you make a purchase.
Running a free Vehicle History report makes it easy to get the specs and data you need from reputable sources including J.D. Power, the NHTSA, and more — all in one convenient place.
