Honda Accord Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 579 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Honda Accord across 29 model years. The 2016 model year has the most (128). The words owners use most often: “daytime running” (12% of reports).
- 579exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 13mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 45%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Daytime running: mentioned in 72 of 579 complaints (12%)
- Every seconds: mentioned in 39 of 579 complaints (7%)
- Headlights flicker: mentioned in 33 of 579 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical exterior lighting repair on the Honda Accord at $1,300, and half of them between $890 and $1,950.
Based on 39 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 369 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 579 complaints, 13 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 6 an injury.
Honda Accord exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Accord | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2022 Accord | 3 | 1% | — |
| 2021 Accord | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2020 Accord | 4 | 1% | — |
| 2019 Accord | 11 | 2% | 1 |
| 2018 Accord | 25 | 1% | 9,250 |
| 2017 Accord | 21 | 4% | 30,000 |
| 2016 Accord | 128 | 21% | 40,000 |
| 2015 Accord | 8 | 1% | 10,000 |
| 2014 Accord | 19 | 2% | 19,212 |
| 2013 Accord | 15 | 1% | 9,300 |
| 2012 Accord | 5 | 1% | 42,250 |
| 2011 Accord | 2 | 1% | 50,000 |
| 2010 Accord | 6 | 1% | 80,000 |
| 2009 Accord | 22 | 3% | 1,250 |
| 2008 Accord | 113 | 7% | 500 |
| 2007 Accord | 10 | 2% | 45,500 |
| 2006 Accord | 13 | 3% | 64,000 |
| 2005 Accord | 18 | 3% | 86,000 |
| 2004 Accord | 37 | 4% | 76,935 |
| 2003 Accord | 30 | 2% | 65,700 |
| 2002 Accord | 17 | 2% | 85,000 |
| 2001 Accord | 12 | 1% | 80,000 |
| 2000 Accord | 22 | 2% | 82,500 |
| 1999 Accord | 17 | 1% | 120,000 |
| 1998 Accord | 7 | 1% | — |
| 1997 Accord | 3 | 1% | 230,000 |
| 1996 Accord | 3 | 1% | — |
| 1995 Accord | 6 | 1% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Visibility/wiper; visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system; visibility:power window devices and controls; exterior lighting; electrical system:body control module:software; back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, and 2019-2020 Insight vehicles. A software error may cause intermittent or continuous disruptions in communication between the Body Control Module (BCM) and other components. This may result in malfunctions of various systems such as the windshield wipers and defroster, rearview camera, exterior lights, audible warning of a stopped vehicle, and power window operation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems" and number 111, "Rear Visibility" as well as FMVSS numbers 104, 108, 114, 118, and 305.
Risk: Various system malfunctions such as inoperative windshield wipers, defroster, rearview camera, or exterior lighting can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the BCM software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 22, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is X95.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The Daytime Running lights are only half effective/lit. Apparently, Honda extended the warranty, but notified owners by regular mail and I did not receive it. Now, they claim the extended warranty (ten years) has run out, but I had noticed about half the LED strip was not working for about 2 or…
Formal Complaint Regarding Repeated Warning Lights and $2,600 Turbocharger Repair Recommendation â 2018 Honda Accord Dear Honda Customer Service / Dealership Management, I am writing to formally express my concern and frustration regarding ongoing issues with my 2018 Honda Accord and the…
In the duration of ownership with this vehicle, there is always lights lighting up on the dashboard which trigger my sensors and causes my dashboard to light up like a Christmas tree. I do not feel safe when that happens randomly in the middle of driving on the highway.
My Honda has experienced repeated failures of the front headlamps due to moisture accumulating inside the assembly. In addition the failures of the headlamps caused a fuse to blow rendering the turn signals inoperable. This is dangerous because it limits visibility at night, inability to signal…
I bought my vehicle around May 2024. Initially, everything seemed fine. However, I noticed that my car was starting to slow down and would enter limp mode, preventing me from exceeding a certain mileage. Subsequently, all the lights on my dashboard began flashing, prompting me to pull over and call…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Honda Accords have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 579 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the Honda Accord. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Honda Accord exterior lighting?
Yes: 1 safety recall list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix exterior lighting problems on the Honda Accord?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,300 (half paid between $890 and $1,950), from 39 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Honda Accord?
The most frequent phrase is “daytime running”, in 72 of 579 complaints, followed by “every seconds” (39).
Other Honda Accord problems
- Electrical System problems (3,984)
- Air Bags problems (3,915)
- Power Train problems (3,688)
- Engine problems (2,241)
- Steering problems (1,608)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (1,430)
- Service Brakes problems (1,101)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (1,099)
See all Honda Accord problems.