HONDA: A POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXTENSION RESULTING FROM SETTLEMENT, COVERING REPAIRS OF ENGINE MISFIRE, REGARDING PISTON RINGS ON CERTAIN CYLINDERS THAT ROTATE AND ALIGN, CAN LEAD TO SPARK PLUGS FOULING, ON SOME VEHICLES. MODEL 2008-2012 ACCORD.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Honda Accord powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Honda Accord have filed 26 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 65,985 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
26
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Accord | 63 |
| 2009 Accord | 28 |
| 2010 Accord | 38 |
| 2011 Accord | 17 |
| 2012 Accord (this page) | 26 |
| 2013 Accord | 100 |
| 2014 Accord | 58 |
| 2015 Accord | 36 |
| 2016 Accord | 25 |
2crashes
What stands out
Owners have filed 26 powertrain 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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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
Owners of 2012 Accords describe recurring hesitation during acceleration from stops and merging onto highways, with 2-5 second delays before power returns. Multiple reports document dealer inspections that fail to replicate or find any fault, despite the issue happening daily in some cases. A smaller but serious subset reports sudden unintended acceleration—one owner describes hearing a "boom" and losing all control, crossing four lanes and crashing into a ditch.
Transmission problems include slipping, jerking, and shuddering in low gears; one transmission shop found internal parts fused together at only 62k miles. Owners report excessive oil consumption requiring 1.5 quarts between 3000-mile oil changes, diagnosed as failed piston rings. Steering vibration at 60-66 mph appears on multiple new Accords at the same speed despite tire balancing, alignment, and rotation. Axles and transaxles vibrate severely during acceleration around 52k–60k miles; Honda denied warranty claims as "wear and tear."
Coolant system, thermostat, and radiator failures occurred at 37k miles—well within warranty—but Honda refused coverage. A few reports cite abrupt loss of power while driving and transmission failing to hold Park. Engine rough running, misfires, and a faulty oil pressure switch appeared on a 59k-mile vehicle that Honda said fell outside powertrain warranty coverage. Dealers consistently tell owners they cannot find or replicate faults.
Same Honda Accord powertrain reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Hesitant or delayed acceleration
Vehicle exhibits 2-5 second hesitation when accelerating from a stop, fails to respond to throttle input, or feels like it's losing power before suddenly catching. Occurs during highway merging, turns, and normal acceleration from stops. Some owners report needing to floor the pedal before the car responds.
When: From new and throughout ownership; reported at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: 2-5 second delay after pressing accelerator; Car moves a few feet then stops responding while engine stays at idle; Sudden power return after hesitation; Occurs in both dry and wet conditions; Happens when accelerating from stops, turning, merging on highways; No check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostics show no faults; mechanics cannot replicate issue
Sudden unintended acceleration
Engine suddenly revs or accelerates without driver input, including incidents where vehicle shot forward at double speed, causing crashes, and instances where engine raced while parked. One reported incident resulted in multi-lane collision and crash into ditch.
When: Scattered incidents; one at 32k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden 'boom' noise followed by vehicle accelerating uncontrollably; Engine racing while in Park or Neutral; Loss of vehicle control during unintended acceleration; Engine speeding up when approaching red light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspection found no problems; owner states dealer drove vehicle and everything seemed fine
Transmission slipping and jerking
Transmission loses power, slips, jerks, or shudders during acceleration in low gears. Reports mention parts fusing together inside transmission and transmission attempting to go into reverse while in Neutral. Occurs with light acceleration in 1st and 2nd gears.
When: 62k miles and lower; some reports at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slipping during driving; Jerking and shuddering sensations; Loss of acceleration despite foot on accelerator; Stuttering in 1st or 2nd gear at low speeds; Vehicle appears to brake while accelerator is depressed
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission shop reported internal parts fused together; transmission required replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued recall on Crosstour torque converter; owners suggest it should be issued for 2012 Accord or warranty extended
Engine oil consumption
Engine consuming excessive oil between service intervals, requiring addition of 1.5 quarts between 3000-mile changes. Occurs on vehicles with relatively low mileage and well-maintained by owners.
When: Noted at 125k miles and lower; started within first service intervals
Symptoms owners cite: 1.5 quarts oil consumption between 3000-mile oil changes; Oil level critically low at oil change time; Excessive oil consumption on low-mileage, well-maintained vehicles
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic diagnosed as faulty engine rings; owner also reports possible VTC actuator issue on 2.4L engines
Axle/transaxle vibration
Extreme vibration felt during acceleration from worn or defective axles and transaxles. Left and right transaxles failed prematurely, causing vibrations during acceleration but not when coasting.
When: Around 52k-60k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Extreme vibration during acceleration; No vibration while coasting; Vibration in both axles; Vibration in 3rd gear specifically (one report)
Repairs/costs cited: Honda denied warranty claim citing wear and tear despite low mileage; axles required replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda refused claim in writing and disputed defect classification
Steering vibration and pull at highway speed
Steering wheel shakes, shimmies, and vehicle pulls hard to the left between 60-66 mph. Issue found on multiple brand-new dealer vehicles at identical speed, suggesting systematic defect.
When: From new; reported within first days of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shaking and shimmy at 60-66 mph; Hard pull to left regardless of road conditions; Issue replicable on multiple new 2012 Accords at same speed
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer balanced tires, performed road force balance, rotated tires, and aligned vehicle with no resolution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: American Honda made no effort to help or correct problem
Engine coolant and thermostat failure
Coolant system, thermostat, radiator, and engine failed prematurely on vehicle with only 37k miles. Engine began smoking and leaking fluid while in motion.
When: 37k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine smoking; Fluid shooting out from under hood; Complete coolant system failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to two Honda dealerships
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda refused to cover repairs under warranty despite mileage well below powertrain warranty limit
Driveshaft failure
Vehicle failed to respond to accelerator pedal input; mechanic inspection determined driveshaft required replacement.
When: 120k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fails to move or respond to accelerator pedal; Failure persists after restart
Repairs/costs cited: Driveshaft replaced; vehicle was towed and repaired
Abrupt loss of power while driving
Vehicle stopped abruptly without warning while driving at normal highway speed with no mechanical warning signs. Recurred on at least one other occasion.
When: 32k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden stop without warning while driving 35 mph; Repeated incidents
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer could not duplicate failure; vehicle was not repaired
Engine rough running and misfire
Engine runs rough with misfires and traction control malfunction; traction control light comes on and will not turn off. Check engine light illuminated.
When: Various mileages during ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Rough running engine; Traction control light on continuously; Misfires; Low oil level requiring top-up
Codes mentioned: P3400
Repairs/costs cited: Oil level pressure switch replaced (owner performed DIY for $40 part after $115 diagnostic; dealer quoted $300+)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda stated oil level pressure switch not covered under 5yr/60k mile powertrain warranty despite being within warranty period
Transmission failure to hold Park
Vehicle rolled down incline while parked with transmission in Park and parking brake engaged. Vehicle went through fence.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolled while in Park with parking brake engaged; Occurred while engine running and AC on
Engine revving during braking
Engine revved up and vehicle accelerated while owner applied brakes, requiring shift to Neutral to stop vehicle. Recurred multiple times despite dealer inspection showing normal function.
When: Multiple incidents through March 2015
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs up while braking; Vehicle accelerates despite brake application; Recurs after dealer inspection; Last incident March 7, 2015
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspection found vehicle functioning normally; issue not resolved
Synthesized from 26 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2012 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 powertrain problem on the 2012 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 26 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 46,000 and 105,000 miles, with the median around 65,985. A quarter of owners report trouble before 46,000; a quarter make it past 105,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2012/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.