American Honda is extending the warranty on the SRS unit to 15 years from the original date of purchase with no mileage limit for the SRS indicator being on with one of the following DTCs stored: ? 51-XX ? 53-XX ? U0151 ? The HDS does not communicate with the SRS unit This warranty extension will not apply to any vehicle that has ever been declared a total loss or sold for salvage by a financial institution or insurer, or has a branded or similar title under any state?s law.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Honda Accord lighting problems
severe 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 19 lighting complaints filed for the 2009 Honda Accord, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Among the 14 model years of Honda Accord in our records for lighting problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting 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
Headlight dimming and flickering is the dominant complaint across these 19 reports. Most owners describe the same pattern: when AC or defroster cycles on, the headlights dim noticeably or flicker off and on at intervals ranging from every 15 to 60 seconds. One owner tied it specifically to radiator fan operation. Cabin lights dim simultaneously. Multiple owners note the dimming severe enough to compromise night visibility, and several report that other drivers interpret the pattern as aggressive light flashing, creating a false road-rage signal.
Honda dealers have consistently told owners this is normal behavior for the 2009 Accord. Owners reject that answer — it's not, they say, a feature of properly functioning vehicles, and it's a safety liability and distraction.
One report stands out: a headlight caught fire and burned the vehicle to destruction around 25,000 miles while parked. Insurance and the dealer were contacted.
A separate complaint documents the passenger turn signal lever not holding position at 72,000 miles; another focuses on brake lights and DRLs being excessively bright, causing eye strain to drivers behind the vehicle. The turn signal visibility gets muddied by the high intensity of the DRL right beside it.
Same Honda Accord lighting reports on nearby years: 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Headlight dimming and flickering when AC/defroster cycles
Owners report headlights dimming noticeably or flickering on and off at regular intervals (typically every 15-60 seconds) when the air conditioning or defroster is activated. The dimming can be severe enough to impair night driving visibility. Multiple owners state the lights appear to cycle in sync with AC compressor engagement. One owner noted dimming also correlates with radiator fan operation.
When: From purchase or early ownership; one reported at 827 miles, another at 25,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights dim or flicker at regular intervals when AC or defroster is on; Dimming occurs every 15-60 seconds depending on AC cycling; Cabin lights also dim concurrently; Dimming severe enough to reduce night driving visibility; Pattern interpreted by other drivers as light flashing; Headlights move up and down intermittently when AC is on
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealers stated this is normal vehicle operation and characteristic of the 2009 Accord; Honda refuses to fix the issue per owner reports
Headlight fire and smoking
One owner reported the right passenger-side headlight began smoking and caught fire while the vehicle was stopped. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire, but the vehicle was destroyed. This occurred around 25,000 miles on a relatively new vehicle. No investigation results were provided in the narrative.
When: Approximately 25,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight smoking; Headlight fire ignition
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was destroyed; no repair attempted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Insurance company and dealer contacted; investigation pending per owner statement
Passenger-side turn signal lever not holding position
One owner reported the passenger side turn signal lever failed to remain in the engaged position during normal driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. This complaint also mentioned excessive oil burning.
When: At 72,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger side turn signal lever does not stay engaged
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer informed owner vehicle was not included in a recall; no repair performed
High-intensity brake lights and DRL visibility concern
Owners report the brake lights and daytime running lights (DRLs) are excessively bright, causing eye discomfort and fatigue to drivers following the vehicle, particularly at night. One owner noted the high light density of the DRL makes the turn signals difficult to see by other drivers due to contrast, creating a safety concern. Another owner expressed concern about driver distraction from the high beam DRLs.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights very bright and cause eye strain to following drivers; Daytime running lights excessively intense; DRL brightness obscures visibility of turn signals to other drivers; High light density creates confusion about turn signal usage
Intermittent headlight flickering at idle and while driving
Some owners report headlight flickering occurring at any time — at idle or while driving at any speed — independent of AC operation. One owner noted flickering happened six to seven times in succession on the highway. Another reported intermittent blinking at night without AC involvement. Honda dealers claim this is normal behavior.
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights flicker at idle or any driving speed; Flickering occurs multiple times in succession; Headlights blink intermittently at night; Flickering distracts driver and impacts focus
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda states this is normal vehicle operation
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I've had numerous incidents which can be considered close calls with Honda accords in recent months. Besides being blinded by the high beam drls (both from the front and the rear), I have had trouble seeing usage of the Honda's turn signals. This is due to the high light density of the drl next to the small turn signals. I highly recommend that these drl be eliminated. Thank you. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Honda accord. While driving unknown speeds, the passenger side turn signal lever failed to remain in position. Additionally, the vehicle was burning oil excessively without warning. The contact called a local dealer (mcgrath city Honda, 6720 w grand ave chicago il, 60707) and was informed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…
Had lighting 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 lighting problem on the 2009 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $250.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 2,400 and 25,000 miles, with the median around 6,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 2,400; a quarter make it past 25,000. 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 $250 for lighting 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 lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting 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.