Dealer Message - On August 29, 2019, American Honda launched five revised and one new Warranty Extension paint bulletins. Please review the following summary of requirements within these bulletins and share with the appropriate staff to ensure proper claim submission.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Honda Accord visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 Honda Accord have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the visibility, typically surfacing around 50,000 miles at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Accord | 5 |
| 2012 Accord | 13 |
| 2013 Accord | 31 |
| 2014 Accord | 16 |
| 2015 Accord (this page) | 11 |
| 2016 Accord | 19 |
| 2017 Accord | 7 |
| 2018 Accord | 24 |
| 2019 Accord | 10 |
When does it fail?
Of the 11 visibility complaints filed for the 2015 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
No new NHTSA visibility complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 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 visibility 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.
Owner Notification Letter - On some 2014-15 Accord, the exterior paint around the rear glass may peel off. To ensure your confidence in your vehicle, American Honda is extending the warranty on the vehicle's exterior paint to 7 years from the original date of purchase.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Tech line summary article - Do you have a vehicle in your shop for any or all of these issues? ? The B5 (7.5 A) fuse in the under-dash fuse/relay box is blown. ? The engine cranks, but it won?t start. ? The engine starts, then it stops. ? The instrument panel is blank. ? The rearview mirror won?t automatically dim. We?re aware of these issues, and we currently have them under investigation.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHLINE SUMMARY ARTICLE - DOES THE REAR WINDOW GLASS LOOK DISTORTED OR BLURRY, ESPECIALLY WHEN VIEWED THROUGH THE REARVIEW MIRROR? WERE CURRENTLY REVIEWING THIS ISSUE AND ARE LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"TECHLINE SUMMARY ARTICLE - DO YOU HAVE A VEHICLE IN YOUR SHOP FOR ANY OR ALL OF THESE ISSUES? THE B5 (7.5 A) FUSE IN THE UNDER-DASH FUSE/RELAY BOX IS BLOWN. THE ENGINE CRANKS, BUT IT WONT START. THE ENGINE STARTS, THEN IT STOPS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS BLANK. THE REARVIEW MIRROR WONT AUTOMATICALLY DIM. WERE AWARE OF THESE ISSUES, AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE THEM UNDER INVESTIGATION. ONE COMMON PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE ANY ONE OF THEM IS DAMAGE IN THE ROOF WIRE HARNESS. UNPLUG THE CONNECTOR FROM THE REARVIEW MIRROR, CAREFULLY PULL BACK THE HARNESS SHEATHING, AND CHECK IF ANY OF THE WIRES ARE CUT OR ARE PULLED OUT FROM THE CONNECTOR. IF SO, REPLACE THE HARNESS."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2015 Accords report their sunroofs spontaneously shattering or exploding without warning—sometimes with a loud pop at highway speeds (35–65 mph), other times while parked. The glass breaks from what appears to be internal stress rather than external impact; one owner noted residual edges pointing upward as if the glass ruptured from within. The sunroof shade or cover usually stays closed, containing loose glass, but owners describe terrifying incidents and describe Honda's response as reluctant or dismissive. One dealer even charged for touch-up paint after replacing a spontaneously failed roof; another told an owner it's "a common issue" while offering no assistance.
Rain presents a separate visibility problem: water pools against the left-side windshield molding and gets dragged back across the windshield by the wipers on each return stroke, blocking left-side vision during steady or heavy rain. The molding design provides no drainage path.
Other visibility annoyances include a dark veil covering the top half of the windshield in low-light headlight conditions, and the absence of a washer-fluid warning light—which became a highway hazard when one owner ran dry in winter road-spray conditions.
Same Honda Accord visibility reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Sunroof spontaneous shattering/explosion
Glass roof unexpectedly breaks or explodes while driving or parked, often with a loud pop or bang, without visible impact or debris striking the vehicle. Glass typically remains in place due to closed sunroof shade or cover, but the structural integrity is compromised. Owners report the glass appears to have fractured from internal pressure or stress.
When: At various speeds (35–65 mph) and mileages; one reported at 20,445 miles; some incidents on rainy or cool days (50°F), others in clear weather; occurs both while actively driving and after vehicle has been parked
Symptoms owners cite: Loud pop, bang, or explosion-like sound; Glass shatters or cracks across sunroof; No evidence of external impact or debris; Glass shards remain mostly in place if shade/cover is closed; Residual glass edges point upward (suggesting internal rupture)
Repairs/costs cited: Replaced under warranty at dealer (Price Honda, Dover, DE); one owner unable to afford repair and left with uncovered opening; repair costs not specified in most narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealer acknowledged and replaced glass under warranty; another dealer was reluctant to acknowledge spontaneous failure and charged for touch-up paint; Honda World Downey opened case 06204279 but offered no further assistance; one owner reported Honda stated 'it happens and is a common issue'
Water pooling and windshield obstruction during rain
During rain, water accumulates against the left-side windshield molding and is pulled back across the windshield by the wipers, creating a veil or pool that obstructs driver vision. The design appears to trap water instead of allowing it to drain away.
When: During steady to hard rain; only occurs at moderate or heavy precipitation, not during light rain
Symptoms owners cite: Water builds up against left-side molding; Water trapped between molding and wiper blade; Water pulled or blown back across windshield as wiper returns; Vision obscured on left side of windshield; Recurring with each wiper stroke
Windshield darkening/veil in low-light conditions with headlights
In dark conditions (poorly lit roads at night) with headlights on, approximately 50% of the upper windshield appears darkened, creating a curtain-like veil that obstructs forward vision. The darkening is not present or is faint with high-beam lights. The cause and nature of the darkening are not explained in the narrative.
When: In extreme low-light conditions (poorly lit country roads at night)
Symptoms owners cite: Well-demarcated veil of darkness covering top half of windshield; Driver must look 'under' the darkness to see road clearly; Obstruction uncomfortable and dangerous; Veil fades when high-beam headlights engaged; Faint darkening still visible on high beams
Missing washer-fluid low-level indicator
No dashboard warning light or indicator alerts the driver when windshield washer fluid is low. Owner ran out of fluid on a highway in winter conditions, resulting in streaky windshield that impaired visibility. According to owner, indicator is present on Canadian models but absent on U.S. models.
When: Winter driving with salty road spray; discovered when fluid depleted
Symptoms owners cite: No dashboard indicator for low washer fluid; Fluid depletion discovered mid-drive on highway; Streaky residue on windshield after empty reservoir; Windshield barely visible through streaks
Intermittent wiper malfunction
Windshield wipers stop operating intermittently while driving. Limited detail provided; issue began two days before complaint.
When: Recently started; no specific mileage or driving conditions documented
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers stop working intermittently while driving
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The wipers intermittently stop while driving , it just started 2 days ago. I'm not sure what to do
Had visibility trouble with your 2015 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 visibility problem on the 2015 Honda Accord?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 20,445 and 65,000 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,445; a quarter make it past 65,000. 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 $350 for visibility 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 visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility 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/2015/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.