S/M FIX CRUISE CONTROL UNIT INPUT TEST.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Honda Accord cruise control problems
severe 35 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
35
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
13crashes
10injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 35 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 18 model years of Honda Accord in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2005 Accord's cruise control and throttle management generate two main classes of failure: sudden unintended acceleration that brakes struggle to counter, and stuck or unresponsive throttle behavior. Owners describe the vehicle accelerating at speeds from 2 to 75 mph—during parking, highway cruising, or cold starts—even with no foot on the accelerator. One owner's brake pedal failed entirely at highway speed; shifting to neutral stopped the car. Another lost control in a parking garage, crashing both forward and backward, sustaining injuries that kept him out of work for three weeks.
Cold-start lurching is also common: engine revs to 1500 rpm on startup, and the car lunges forward when shifted into drive despite the brake pedal being pressed. Owners report the throttle feeling like it's stuck or jigging instead of responding normally. Some trace the problem to the throttle body; one dealer replaced it, identifying a stuck cable as the culprit. Throttle body replacement runs around $500, and one shop has reportedly replaced it twice on the same car without curing the problem.
Engine stalling at highway speeds and erratic idling round out the failures. Service shops and dealerships often can't reproduce the issue, and Honda has told owners that high idle settings are within spec and not adjustable. Notably, some Accords fall outside recall coverage despite similar complaints being well-documented.
Same Honda Accord cruise control reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden unintended acceleration while driving or maneuvering
Vehicle accelerates without driver input, particularly during parking, low-speed maneuvering, or highway driving. Occurs at various speeds from 2 to 75 mph. Brake pedal often fails to slow the vehicle or has severely diminished effect. Shifting to neutral and applying brakes eventually stops the car; one owner used engine shutoff to regain control.
When: Affects vehicles from 21,000 to 167,000 miles; reported at various driving conditions including parking lots, garages, parking spaces, highways, and intersections. Cold starts mentioned in several narratives.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without accelerator pedal engagement; Brake pedal fails to slow vehicle or requires excessive pressure; Vehicle continues accelerating even with brake applied; Vehicle maintains speed when foot removed from accelerator; Occurs while shifting gears or at complete stops
Codes mentioned: Throttle Position Sensor fault
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement reported in multiple narratives; one owner cited $500 for throttle body replacement ($45 for TPS sensor not available separately). One mechanic diagnosed throttle body assembly failure. Idle Air Control valve replacement also mentioned. Dealerships unable to duplicate failure in multiple cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda stated cold RPM settings within specifications and not adjustable. Multiple owners reported Honda stated no recalls applied. One update noted Middletown Honda replaced throttle body due to stuck cable.
Stuck throttle cable or throttle body malfunction
Throttle remains engaged or cannot be released. One narrative explicitly cites throttle cable stuck due to throttle body replacement by Honda dealer. Gas pedal feels like cruise control engagement—jiggles when pressed rather than responding normally.
When: 70,000+ miles in one case; also occurs within first 64,000 miles. One narrative at 110,000 miles when owner found 32 similar incidents.
Symptoms owners cite: Stuck accelerator pedal sensation; Gas pedal jiggles instead of responding normally; Vehicle continues revving even after cruise control button turned off; RPM spikes to 7000 or higher without driver input
Codes mentioned: Throttle Position Sensor code
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement; one dealer replaced throttle body which was identified as cause of stuck cable. Another narrative notes transmission deemed 'dead' at 78,000 miles following RPM spike to 7000.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One update dated 12/20/12 noted Middletown Honda replaced throttle body as cause of stuck cable, but did not repair brakes or emergency brake, claiming normal wear.
Erratic idling and high idle RPM on cold start
Engine idles at abnormally high RPM (1500 rpm reported) on cold start, causing vehicle to lurch forward when placed in gear even with brake applied. RPM drops to 1000 when in gear with brake depressed, then jumps back to 1500 upon brake release. Vehicle lurches forward at 10 mph or less without accelerator input. One owner reports difficulty controlling vehicle on icy driveway.
When: Cold engine starts, particularly after shutdown and restart. Mileage varies; affects vehicles from low mileage to 167,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Cold start RPM elevated to 1500 or higher; Vehicle lurches forward when shifted into gear with brake applied; Unexpected acceleration after brake release during cold start; Transmission shifter stuck in park position in one case
Codes mentioned: Service Engine Soon light
Repairs/costs cited: Honda stated high idle RPM is within specifications and not adjustable. One narrative notes throttle body replaced twice by independent mechanic but failure recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda service repairman advised throttle body replacement necessary when TPS sensor fails. Honda stated cold RPM settings within specifications and cannot be adjusted. Manufacturer advised no recalls available.
Engine stall during driving and hard starting
Engine stalls at various speeds while driving without warning; vehicle hesitates, bucks, jerks during acceleration. Stalling during highway driving created near-crash hazard. Engine may not start or starts erratically. Service engine light illuminates.
When: Multiple incidents while driving at various speeds. One narrative cites 64,000 miles; another mentions potential recall on similar vehicles but VIN not covered.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning while driving; Engine hesitation and bucking during acceleration; Jerking motion while idling or accelerating; Difficulty starting engine; Erratic idle while running
Codes mentioned: Service Engine Soon light, Throttle Position Sensor code
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in these narratives. One owner reports towing vehicle; dealership unable to diagnose or replicate. Another trades in vehicle rather than repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner reports recall exists on other 2005 Accords but their VIN not included in recall coverage. Honda states no recall available despite similar problems reported.
Loss of braking ability independent of acceleration
Brake pedal fails to slow or stop vehicle even with firm pressure applied. Occurs independently or concurrent with acceleration issues. Emergency brake also fails to stop vehicle in one case. Downshifting to first gear also ineffective in stopping vehicle.
When: Low to moderate speeds during parking and maneuvering. One at 5 mph while slowing down; another at 40 mph highway driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal fails to slow vehicle; Requires excessive brake pressure to slow vehicle; Emergency brake ineffective; Downshifting does not slow vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: One narrative notes throttle body assembly failure diagnosed by mechanic as cause of braking issue. No brake system repairs documented in narratives.
Synthesized from 35 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
When I turn on my car it's like some is pressing the gas on its own and it's harder to break also when I'm on idle. But when let go of the break the car launches in front as if I was pressing the gas wen I'm only letting go of the gas pedal.
Had cruise control trouble with your 2005 Honda Accord?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2005 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 35 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 23 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 47,000 and 110,000 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 47,000; a quarter make it past 110,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Honda/Accord.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.