Bought vehicle nov 22,2017. The following week when commuting home from work a light came on while using driver assist showing collision mitigation system problem. See your dealer. We took it to the dealer and reported the problem. The shop foreman said to take a photo if this happens again. The following week it happened again in the commute home while using driver assist showing the same…
2018 Honda Accord brakes problems
moderate 148 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
148
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 148 brakes complaints filed for the 2018 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
Owners have filed 148 brakes 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.
Among the 18 model years of Honda Accord in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple brake system failures plague 2018 Accords: collision mitigation braking engages suddenly with no hazard present, electronic brake boosters fail causing hard or non-linear pedal feel, and rear brakes wear prematurely. Dealers cannot replicate most issues and offer no permanent fixes; check for factory recalls and disable collision mitigation if frequent false braking occurs.
The 2018 Accord has two major brake problems. First, the collision mitigation braking system activates violently and without warning—owners describe sudden hard braking at highway speeds (40–75 mph) with no vehicle or obstacle ahead. This occurs multiple times per week in some vehicles, leaving owners unable or unwilling to drive. The system occasionally throws an error message but often engages silently. Dealers reset the system, claim sensors are dirty, or insist the behavior is normal. Honda technicians told owners no fix is currently available, though internal software updates exist but remain unreleased to customers.
Second, the electronic brake booster fails or works poorly, making the pedal feel non-linear with distinct "steps"—a hard binary response rather than smooth proportional braking. This shows up within the first 200 miles on some cars. Required part replacements sat on national backorder for weeks.
Separately, rear brake pads and rotors wear prematurely, requiring replacement under 40,000 miles on multiple vehicles, with one documented case needing the job redone within 259 miles and three weeks. Owners also report brake pedal spacing issues, fluid leakage into the master cylinder, and caliper failures causing complete brake pad wear.
Same Honda Accord brakes reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) - Unwanted Activation
The collision mitigation system engages brakes forcefully and without warning when there is no vehicle, object, or obstruction in front of the car. Owners report sudden, violent braking at highway speeds (40-75 mph) with no corresponding hazard. System occasionally triggers error messages but often engages silently. Dealers reset the system or attribute events to sensor sensitivity; Honda acknowledged the issue exists but stated no fix is currently available.
When: Occurs within first few months to first year of ownership; incidents increase in frequency for affected vehicles; some occur under specific conditions (overhead signs, lane changes without blinker, particular intersections)
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden hard braking with no warning or visible hazard ahead; Braking occurs at highway speeds (55-75 mph); No error message or dashboard warning during most events; Occasional 'Collision Mitigation Braking System Problem' error on dashboard; Braking interrupts adaptive cruise control functionality; Vehicle jerks or lurches forward during stop; Rear-end collision risk when sudden braking occurs in traffic
Codes mentioned: Collision Mitigation Braking System Error, Adaptive Cruise Control malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers report inability to replicate issue during diagnostic visits; system resets offered as temporary measure; some owners disabled the feature entirely; Honda internal systems reportedly aware of issue with unreleased software update available but not provided to customers
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service managers referred owners to owner's manual, stating behavior is 'normal' and part of brake mitigation design; Honda Customer Service offered same non-resolution response; Honda engineers worked with dealers on some vehicles but no permanent fix issued; internal awareness of issue confirmed by Honda-certified technicians per owner reports
Brake Hold System - Inadequate Hold and Delayed Engagement
The Brake Hold system, designed to keep the vehicle stationary when stopped, fails to hold the vehicle in place after the brake pedal is released. Vehicle creeps forward or lurches forward several inches to over a foot before the system engages with a delay. Pattern occurs frequently in cold temperatures and when transitioning from slow roll to complete stop. Represents a timing or sensor detection failure in the control system.
When: Generally occurs in colder temperatures; most pronounced when vehicle transitions from slow roll to stopped state
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle creeps forward when Brake Hold is engaged at stop; Delayed brake engagement after brake pedal is released; Vehicle lurches forward several inches to over one foot after initial stop; Increased frequency in cold weather conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have not performed comprehensive troubleshooting; no parts replacement or repair documented in owner narratives
Brake Booster - Failure and Hard/Stepped Brake Pedal
Electronic brake booster fails, causing brake pedal to feel non-linear with distinct 'steps' rather than smooth gradual pressure. Pedal feels binary (all-or-nothing braking) rather than proportional. Described as 'stuck' then suddenly grabs hard, making smooth braking impossible and causing abrupt stops that jerk occupants. Issue present within first 100-200 miles on some vehicles. Some owners report complete loss of brake pressure requiring hard pressure to stop.
When: Appears within first 100-200 miles on some new vehicles; some reported at under 1,500 miles; occurs on ongoing basis once manifested
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal has distinct steps or stages instead of smooth linear response; Brakes feel binary - either full brake or no brake; Pedal feels stuck then suddenly grabs hard; Dead space in brake pedal response, then sudden engagement; Smooth braking impossible; jerky, abrupt stops; Back pain from braking effort; Loss of brake pressure reported in some cases; Resembles 'brake checking' to other drivers due to sudden hard braking
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of electronic brake booster (part 01469-TVA-A24) required; part was on national backorder for extended periods (some waits exceeded 2+ weeks); repairs cost not specified in most narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers initially suggested 'break-in period' or stated 'it needs to break in'; later confirmed brake booster failure; part availability severely delayed due to national backorder status; issue recognized as known safety problem by Honda
Rear Brake Pad/Rotor Premature Wear
Rear brake pads and rotors wear excessively fast and fail prematurely, requiring replacement well before normal service life. Inspection documented pads at 8mm (normal), then 3-weeks and 259 miles later required replacement due to wear to 3mm and 1mm with metal-to-metal contact. Another vehicle required rear brake service three times within one year despite normal driving. Wear pattern inconsistent with driving behavior (highway miles, careful driving habits). Noise (crunching/grinding) is often the only warning sign.
When: Under 23,000 miles (documented case with 259-mile interval); under 40,000 miles (multiple cases); one vehicle required three brake jobs within 12 months
Symptoms owners cite: Crunching or grinding noise when braking; Rear brake pads and rotors worn to replacement threshold prematurely; No warning lights for premature wear; Wear progression unexpectedly rapid between service visits; Steering wheel shake when brakes applied (in some cases)
Repairs/costs cited: Rear brake job (pads and rotors) cost approximately $600 plus tax; replacement required at 22,600+ miles (first documented case); similar issue cited in 2010 Honda recall per owner research
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers acknowledged electronic parking brake design may contribute to rear brake wear; no recall issued; no systemic fix offered
Brake Caliper - Failure and Excessive Wear
Rear brake caliper failure causing excessive pad wear and brake noise. One vehicle had right rear pad completely worn with inner pad failure documented at 34,000 miles requiring replacement. Another case involved electronic brake actuator fully engaged causing metal-to-metal contact and loss of functioning brakes on driver's side rear.
When: As early as 34,000 miles; one case at 38,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rear brake noise (grinding, crunching); Complete or near-complete brake pad wear; Abnormal grinding sound from rear of vehicle; Loss of braking function on affected side; Electronic brake actuator fully engaged
Repairs/costs cited: Caliper and brake pad replacement performed; sensors reset attempted but did not resolve subsequent failures; electronic brake actuator and caliper replacement needed in one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer attributed issue to 'known brake caliper issue'; sensors were reset during repair
Brake Pedal Spacing - Interference with Accelerator
Brake pedal positioned too close to accelerator pedal. When driver lifts foot off accelerator, bottom of foot makes contact with brake pedal, causing unintended braking.
When: Present from purchase; documented at 23,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Unintended brake engagement when lifting foot from accelerator; Brake pedal too close to accelerator pedal
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle inspected but not test-driven; not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer instructed owner to take vehicle to different dealer; no further assistance offered
Brake Master Cylinder/Booster - Fluid Leakage
Fluid leaks into the brake master cylinder from the brake booster, causing repeated brake booster failures. Brake booster replaced multiple times (at least three times in one vehicle within 17 months) without permanent resolution. A 'collector' component also involved in the leakage issue.
When: First failure November 2019; repeated failures December 2019, September 2020, February 2021
Symptoms owners cite: No brakes or severely reduced braking (complete loss of brake pressure); Multiple warning lights on dashboard; Fluid leaking into brake master cylinder; Panic situation with loss of brakes at speed or during turns
Repairs/costs cited: Brake booster replaced multiple times; 'collector' component replacement planned on final visit; no permanent resolution achieved despite repeated repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda refused to consider buyback despite repeated failures of same component
Synthesized from 148 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2018 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 brakes problem on the 2018 Honda Accord?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 148 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 66 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 6,000 and 33,507 miles, with the median around 18,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,000; a quarter make it past 33,507. 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2018/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.