The 2020 model of the Honda Accord is an award-winning vehicle with both Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds, who gave it their top choice award. Both sites thought it was a pretty impressive sedan, which it is even competing with the likes of the Acura TLX for luxurious interiors. 

However, this inspiring sedan has a pretty serious flaw brewing some trouble behind the scenes. CarComplaints.com has a few owners complaining of one big problem that just may be a really awful issue for those thinking of buying an Accord. 

What problem is the Honda Accord facing?

There were two brake problems reported on the Car Complaints website by means of the NHTSA. One owner complained that the brake pedal didn’t respond as quickly as it should. Braking with this car was more difficult than they had anticipated. The harder they braked, the more the car would shake until it came to a complete stop. This started occurring right after they bought it. 

The worst brake problem had to do with the car’s automatic emergency braking system. Owners would find themselves driving down the road and without warning the brake sensor alert would appear on the dash and the car would automatically brake on its own. In most cases, there were no other vehicles or anything in the way. 

While there were no crashes or major injuries reported on Car Complaints, at least one stated they were almost rear-ended by a semi because of the sudden braking. With the number of issues reported on the site, Car Complaints gave it a “Really Awful” severity rating. 

What are some owners saying about it?

These Honda Accord owners reported all six complaints to the NHTSA through Car Complaints. Five of the brake problems reported that the issue occurs with a range of 0 to 15,000 miles on the vehicle, so these were happening right off the dealer lot for most of the owners. 

In one case, the owner was able to get out of the emergency braking system by pressing harder on the accelerator pedal. This helped them avoid an accident from occurring. 

Another owner reported the automatic braking problem to a service department. They were reportedly told that it was an electrical issue, and a chip went bad within the system. There’s no indication whether they got it replaced, though. They did say that the problem continued to happen eight months after their first incident. 

Sometimes the car would brake while driving 55 mph traveling on the highway with no obstacles in front of them. One owner had it occur for only a few quick seconds. They kept their foot on the gas pedal while they tried to figure out what was going on. By the time they figured it out, the car releases the brake and went back to normal. 

What does the 2020 Honda Accord offer?

The 2020 model of the Honda Accord came with five trim levels to choose from. You could choose the LX, which is the base model. You could also pick the Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring versions. The Touring model is Honda’s top luxury offering in the Accord line. 

Honda’s base model of the Accord has a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine powering it up. It’s also standard on all other models, except the Touring, and it’s paired with either a CVT or manual transmission. Another engine you can get is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that’s available for the Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring models. 

When it comes to cargo space, the Accord comes out on top. It offers 17 cubic feet of trunk space, which is plenty for storing most items. It’s also roomy inside the cabin as well. You’ll find the Accord comes standard with lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, along with the troublesome automatic emergency braking system. For available options, you can choose rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, and a few parking sensors as well. You can get a pretty decent vehicle for an affordable starting price of $24,000. 

The Honda Accord is an affordable vehicle with a decent amount of features to make your purchase worthwhile. However, be cautious as to which one you buy, as there may be many more with the same braking issue reported on Car Complaints.