Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Honda accord. While parked, the contact shifted the vehicle into drive and the vehicle abnormally accelerated to 15 MPH, crashing into another vehicle. There were no injuries. The police were called to the scene of the crash and a police report was filed. The officer declared the vehicle unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and had a…
2011 Honda Accord cruise control problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
3crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 11 cruise control complaints filed for the 2011 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 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe two broad categories of throttle failures in the 2011 Accord V6. First, low-speed hesitation: the accelerator pedal goes dead for 2–3 seconds, especially during turns and stop-and-go traffic, forcing owners to release and re-apply the pedal or pump it repeatedly before the engine surges forward. This happens in left turns at intersections, when creeping in traffic, and at stoplights—situations where hesitation creates real crash risk from oncoming traffic.
Second, unintended acceleration: the vehicle suddenly accelerates to high RPM without driver input during parking, shifting into drive from park, or while stationary. One owner crashed into a building; another into a bush. The engine races as if the throttle were floored and won't stop even in neutral.
Hesitation complaints began within 2 days of purchase in some cases and became progressively worse. One owner reported 20 minutes of continuous surge-and-hesitate behavior. Honda service techs road-tested one vehicle and confirmed the defect existed versus comparable new cars, yet were unable to resolve it. Dealers in multiple cases could not duplicate the problem during diagnostic holds, leaving vehicles unrepaired.
Same Honda Accord cruise control reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Hesitation and delayed acceleration at low speeds
Throttle response fails to engage immediately when pedal is pressed, especially during low-speed driving, turns, and stop-and-go traffic. Owner must release and re-apply accelerator or pump the pedal to regain power; car then lurches forward abruptly after 2–3 second delay.
When: Low speeds (2–40 mph), particularly during turns, traffic light transitions, and creeping traffic situations
Symptoms owners cite: No acceleration response when pressing gas pedal; 2–3 second hesitation before sudden lurch forward; Requires release and re-apply of accelerator pedal to regain power; Occurs most frequently when making left turns; Occurs during stop-and-go city driving and at intersections
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner reported Honda staff road-tested the vehicle and confirmed the defect versus other similar new vehicles, but Honda was unable or unwilling to resolve the issue.
Unintended acceleration with stuck or jammed throttle
Vehicle suddenly accelerates to high engine speed without driver input, as if throttle had been floored. Occurs both during low-speed maneuvering and while parked or shifting into drive. Brakes may be insufficient to stop vehicle.
When: While parking, after shifting into drive from park, during parking lot maneuvering. Mileage range 4,000 to 100,000.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden uncontrolled acceleration to high RPM; Engine races as if throttle fully opened; Occurs when shifting into drive from park; Occurs while attempting to park and feathering brake; Vehicle accelerates despite brake application; Engine continues to race in neutral after shifting
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle crashed into building at 100,000 miles with airbag deployment; cause undetermined. Another crashed into bush after jumping curb during parking; returned to dealer. One owner crashed into another vehicle at 4,000 miles; technician unable to diagnose and vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; technician unable to diagnose in at least one case.
Surge and hesitation cycles during acceleration
Engine hesitates or pauses when accelerating from stop or rolling stop, then surges forward abruptly. Hesitation may last a couple seconds. Problem occurs intermittently and is difficult for dealers to reproduce.
When: Immediately after purchase (observed within 2 days in one case); progressive worsening over time
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation or pause when accelerating from stop; Hesitation when accelerating from rolling stop; Surges forward after hesitation; Engine remains at idle during hesitation; does not stall; No warning lights; Intermittent; difficult to reproduce consistently
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate problem in multiple complaints despite 8-day diagnostic attempt in one case.
Uncontrolled idle-speed acceleration while stationary
Vehicle accelerates on its own while parked or stationary. Engine remains at full throttle when transmission is in park. Does not stop when shifted to park.
When: While vehicle is stationary, in park
Symptoms owners cite: Car accelerates on its own without driver input; Stays fully accelerated in park; Engine revs continuously while stationary
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2011 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 2011 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 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?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, cruise control issues most often appear around 40,400 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2011/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.