While driving at 30 MPH, vehicle suddenly accelerated to a high rate of speed. Difficulty stopping the car. It was necessary to place in neutral and turn engine off. Honda dealership checked vehicle and could not provide an explanation for this problem. Fearful of this occurring again. *tr
2009 Honda Accord cruise control problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
3crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 15 cruise control complaints filed for the 2009 Honda Accord, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 16 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2009 Honda Accords report fifteen complaints involving cruise control and unintended acceleration. The pattern breaks into two main scenarios. First, at highway speeds with cruise control active, vehicles accelerate beyond set speed and fail to slow when brakes are applied—one owner doing 65 mph near St. Louis had to stand on both feet to eventually decelerate, while another reached over 100 mph and could only regain control by shifting to Neutral. Second, at low speeds—turning into parking spaces, exiting driveways, or shifting into Reverse—the vehicle suddenly surges to full throttle with the accelerator feeling stuck; engines rev to 5,000–6,000 rpm or redline, and brakes prove ineffective.
Across narratives, owners report the steering becomes stiff, loud clunking sounds accompany throttle release, and the only reliable way to stop is to shift to Neutral or shut off the engine. One dealer diagnosed a failed brake switch and replaced it, but the owner's cruise control remained non-functional afterward. In other cases, Honda dealerships performed inspections and found nothing wrong or could not provide an explanation. One owner crashed into a tree, deploying the airbag; another hit a brick post while attempting to park. Owners note floor mats are not at fault, and suspect either a software glitch or cruise control module failure.
Same Honda Accord cruise control reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration with cruise control active or recently engaged
Vehicle accelerates beyond driver command or fails to decelerate when brakes applied while cruise control is on or engaged. Driver unable to slow vehicle even with heavy brake pressure; often resolved by shifting to Neutral, turning off ignition, or pressing cruise cancel button.
When: Occurs during highway driving (55–70 mph) and low-speed maneuvers; two narratives specify 65 mph with cruise active
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates to 100+ mph despite brake application; Brake pedal goes to floor with no effect; Engine revs to 5,000–6,000 rpm or redline; Steering becomes stiff and unresponsive; Loud clunking or abnormal engine noise during incident
Codes mentioned: Check Engine Light (lean or rich condition reported in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Brake switch replacement performed in narrative #2; other narratives report no repair completed or dealer unable to diagnose
Unintended acceleration with cruise control button on but not engaged
Vehicle suddenly accelerates even though cruise control is not actively engaged. Accelerator pedal sticks or engine revs uncontrollably. Incidents occur at low speeds (turning, parking, exiting driveway) and resolve only when driver shifts to Neutral or turns off engine.
When: Low-speed maneuvers: turning into parking spaces, exiting driveways, reversing; one incident at 30 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden, unintended engine surge or acceleration to full throttle; Accelerator pedal feels stuck or frozen; Brakes ineffective or difficult to engage; Engine revs to redline (5,000+ rpm); Large clunking noise accompanying throttle release
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer check found vehicle operating properly; most narratives report no repair attempted
Uncommanded acceleration in Reverse or Drive with brakes applied
Vehicle accelerates immediately upon shifting into Reverse or Drive, even with driver foot on brake pedal. Occurs at very low speeds (under 5 mph initial speed). Brakes do not arrest acceleration. One narrative reports failure began at 264 miles (near new).
When: Immediately after shifting into Reverse or Drive; one incident at 264 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates when shifting from Park to Reverse or Drive; Brakes applied but ineffective; Low-speed acceleration (5 mph+) into obstacles or yards; Crashes into brick post, tree, or grassy areas reported
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspection found no fault; one incident resulted in airbag deployment and collision damage
Failure to decelerate or disengage cruise control when brakes applied
Brake pedal application does not deactivate cruise control or slow vehicle. Vehicle maintains set speed despite driver brake input. Requires manual cancel button press, shift to Neutral, or engine shutdown to regain control.
When: Highway driving at cruise control set speed (65 mph reported); one incident about 2 miles outside St. Louis
Symptoms owners cite: Brake application does not slow vehicle at cruise speed; Engine revs to 5,000–6,000 rpm when shifted to Neutral; Requires dual-foot brake pressure to eventually slow car; Cancel button press needed to disengage system
Repairs/costs cited: Brake switch replacement; cruise control remained non-functional after repair
Engine acceleration while in Park or at standstill
Engine revs uncontrollably to high rpm or redline while vehicle is stationary in Park or at idle. Occurs spontaneously or triggered by steering wheel position or ignition start. Requires engine shutdown to stop.
When: At standstill in Park; one incident triggered by steering wheel tilt position during ignition start
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs to redline (5,000–6,000 rpm) unprompted; Engine continues revving even after attempting to control throttle; Strong odor of hot metal or burning; Danger warning light illuminates on instrument panel
Codes mentioned: Danger warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Owners attempted engine shutdown; no repair details provided
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
2009 Honda accord was in reverse and pulling out of driveway. Accelerator was "stuck" and speed increased while taking foot "off" accelerator. *tr
Had cruise control trouble with your 2009 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 2009 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 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 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 37,000 and 95,000 miles, with the median around 55,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 37,000; a quarter make it past 95,000. 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/2009/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.