Service Bulletin - Heat from the daytime running light (DRL) LEDs may damage the DRL lens. If the lens is damaged, it may appear that some of the DRL LEDs are not working. American Honda is extending the warranty on the DRL LEDs to 10 years with unlimited mileage from the original date of purchase.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Honda Accord lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2016 Honda Accord have filed 112 NHTSA complaints about the lighting, typically surfacing around 40,000 miles at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
112
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Accord | 3 |
| 2013 Accord | 9 |
| 2014 Accord | 10 |
| 2015 Accord | 5 |
| 2016 Accord (this page) | 112 |
| 2017 Accord | 18 |
| 2018 Accord | 18 |
| 2019 Accord | 8 |
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 112 lighting complaints filed for the 2016 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
Of the 14 model years of Honda Accord we track for lighting problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 112.
Owners have filed 112 lighting 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 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.
Dealer Message - Effective immediately, we will begin collecting the headlights listed on the Service Bulletin A19-042, Warranty Extension: Daytime Running Lights LEDs.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Heat from the daytime running light (DRL) LEDs may damage the DRL lens. If the lens is damaged, it may appear that some of the DRL LEDs are not working. American Honda is extending the warranty on the DRL LEDs to 10 years with unlimited mileage from the original date of purchase. 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 ↗Owner Notification Letter - Heat from the daytime running light (DRL) LEDs may damage the DRL lens. If the lens is damaged, it may appear that some of the DRL LEDs are not working. American Honda is extending the warranty on the DRL LEDs to 10 years with unlimited mileage from the original date of purchase.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Heat from the daytime running light (DRL) LEDs may damage the DRL lens. If the lens is damaged, it may appear that some of the DRL LEDs are not working. American Honda is extending the warranty on the DRL LEDs to 10 years with unlimited mileage from the original date of purchase.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant issue is daytime running light (DRL) LED strip failure. Owners consistently report that one or both LED strips—integrated into the headlight assembly—burn out prematurely, often between 30,000 and 40,000 miles, frequently within the first two years of ownership. Some lights fail completely; others partially illuminate. The LED strips are not replaceable separately; Honda charges $500–$1,500 per complete headlight assembly. Many owners report that the driver-side DRL fails first, followed by the passenger side a few thousand miles later, doubling repair costs to $2,000–$3,000. Multiple dealership staff have acknowledged this as a widespread, recurring problem, yet Honda has not issued a recall covering most affected vehicles, despite Service Bulletin 19-042 existing for some models. A handful of owners report additional issues: one describes total electrical failure (headlights, dashboard lights, and flashers all lost simultaneously) at 6,600 miles with no resolution from the dealer, and another notes inadequate low-beam illumination that the dealer claims cannot be adjusted. Owners cite LED lights failing far sooner than the 30,000-hour lifespan typical for LEDs, pointing to possible heat-sink design flaws.
Same Honda Accord lighting reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
DRL LED Strip Burnout
Daytime running lights (LED strips integrated into headlight assemblies) fail prematurely, often partially or completely. Owners report both driver and passenger side DRLs failing sequentially or together. Some report half-lit segments; others report complete burnout. The LED strips cannot be replaced individually—the entire headlight assembly must be replaced.
When: 15,300 miles to 61,000 miles; commonly 30,000-40,000 miles. Many failures occur within first 1-2 years of ownership or just outside the 36,000-mile/3-year warranty window.
Symptoms owners cite: One or both daytime running lights dim, partially illuminate, or go out completely; LED strip failure noticed after normal driving; sudden onset; Half-lit LED segments or bottom portion of LED strip burned out; Lights functional one day, failed the next day
Repairs/costs cited: Entire headlight assembly replacement required; LED strip itself is non-serviceable. Dealer cost quoted $500–$1,500 per assembly; combined repairs for both sides can reach $2,000–$3,000. Some owners report Honda replacing units under warranty, then the opposite side failing out of warranty shortly after. One owner reported $100 deductible on courtesy replacement, then full charge for the second side.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Service Bulletin 19-042 (dated 4/16/2019) exists for this issue but does not apply to all 2016 model VINs. Honda dealers acknowledge the problem as widespread but typically decline coverage once vehicles exceed 36,000 miles or 3 years. No official recall issued for the majority of affected vehicles. Some dealerships reported as admitting this is a 'common failure' with 2016/17 Accords but refusing to cover it out of warranty. One owner mentioned an 'updated design' part number but Honda customer service did not confirm.
Complete Electrical Lighting Failure
All exterior and interior lights fail simultaneously during operation (headlights, dashboard lights, emergency flashers), leaving the vehicle unilluminated at night. One narrative describes simultaneous dimming of headlights to non-visibility and complete loss of dashboard illumination while driving in darkness on a mountain pass.
When: Approximately 6,600 miles on vehicle purchased new in October 2016; occurred during evening highway driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights dimmed to complete non-visibility while in auto mode; All interior dashboard lights failed simultaneously; Emergency/hazard flashers confirmed non-functional by approaching traffic; Lights partially restored after vehicle shutdown and restart (exterior lights returned, but dashboard lights remained off)
Repairs/costs cited: Honda dealership examined the vehicle for one week but was unable to determine the cause of the electrical failure or confirm that a failure had occurred at all. Vehicle not repaired; issue remained unresolved.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented. Dealership declined to identify root cause or provide remedy.
Low Beam Headlight Inadequate Illumination
Low beam headlights fail to adequately illuminate the roadway in front of the vehicle. The low beam cutoff is positioned too low, preventing the driver from discerning objects or road edges at normal viewing distances (approximately 100 feet ahead).
When: Not specified in narrative.
Symptoms owners cite: Low beams do not adequately illuminate roadway ahead; Low beam cutoff too low to see large bright objects on road or road edge at 100-foot distance; Unable to discern road hazards at safe viewing distance
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed. Owner requested owner's manual for adjustment information but Honda website does not provide manuals for 2016 models (only 2015 and earlier available). Local Honda dealership service advisor claimed lights cannot be adjusted, though owner disputes this claim.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None. Honda did not provide adjustment information or owner's manual documentation despite repeated requests.
Low Beam Bulb Simultaneous Burnout
Both low beam headlight bulbs burn out at approximately the same time, requiring replacement of both. This pattern has occurred twice within one year on one vehicle.
When: First occurrence unknown; second occurrence approximately 8 months after first replacement.
Symptoms owners cite: Both low beam bulbs fail simultaneously or nearly simultaneously; High beams function only in automatic mode; No visible moisture or obvious cause
Repairs/costs cited: Owner replaced both bulbs twice in one year. No moisture observed. No further investigation or repair completed.
Synthesized from 112 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
LED daylight driving safety lights failed at 44400 mi and 2 3/4 years old (out of any warranty) requiring replacement of whole driver's side headlight assembly at a cost of $736. This is obviously poor safety design of the leds with no mechanism for replace beyond the whole headlight assembly. Vehicle was in motion when the driving lights failed and there was no obvious indication. Of the…
Driver's side front LED lights went out. I do not see any reason for this, it just stopped working. I am worried this may be a safety issue as these LED lights are now permanently off.
After driving the vehicle for only 20,000 miles, both daytime running lights shut off and stopped working. The daytime running headlights were not part of any Honda warranty due. The day time running headlight appear to be affected by a electrical issue or possibly a defect in the headlight itself. Honda is charging customers well over $1,000 to replace each headlight unit which contains the LED…
Had lighting trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Honda Accord?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 112 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 76 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 35,000 and 52,000 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 52,000. 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/2016/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.