2022 Honda Accord Problems and Top Complaints

The Honda Motor Company’s flagship model, Honda Accord, is one of the best-selling cars globally. Even though it is safe and reliable, it does have problems that cannot be ignored.

For many years, transmission failure was a huge issue. Subsequent class-action lawsuits have highlighted excessive, premature brake wear, excessive oil consumption, and other common problems.

Year after year there are recurring issues. We’re going to focus on complaints Honda Accord owners had about last year’s models. Even though complaints have reduced since 2020, there’s no denying that Honda Accord lemons are a reality.

If you are one of the unfortunate few who buys a lemon, Lemberg Law can help you get a replacement vehicle, or negotiate that the manufacturer buys it back or refunds your money.

What’s New for 2022?

The biggest news for 2022 is that the Honda Accord’s Sport trim level is now available on a hybrid model. The previous year’s Accord Hybrid EX replaces a new Sport trim hybrid, which features:

• 19-inch alloy wheel
• Black rear spoiler
• LED headlamps and fog lights
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration
• Heated seats
• Sirius XM radio
• 8-speaker audio system
• Sport pedals
• Full suite of Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive technologies

What’s the fuel economy for the 2022 Honda Accord?

Honda assesses mileage ratings based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rating requirements. They do, though, advise that actual mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive, and how you maintain your vehicle. The age and condition of hybrid vehicle battery packs can also affect mileage ratings.

The ratings below are estimates for driving in the city, on a highway, and a combined average rating:

• Accord LX – 30 – 38 – 33
• Accord Sport & Accord Sport SE (special edition) – 29 – 35 – 32
• Accord EX-L – 30 – 38 – 33
• Accord Sport 2.0T & Accord Touring 2.0T – 22 – 32 – 26
• Accord Hybrid & Accord Hybrid EX-L – 48 – 47 – 47
• Accord Hybrid Sport & Accord Hybrid Touring – 44 – 41 – 43

What are the Trim Packages & Pricing for the 2022 Accord?

There are 10 model/trim levels of the 2022 Honda Accord. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) ranges from $25,470 to $36,540, excluding the $1,015 destination charge.

MSRP below includes the destination charge:

• Accord LX – $26,485
• Accord Sport – $28,945
• Accord Sport SE – $30,435
• Accord EX-L – $32,805
• Accord Sport 2.0T – $33,625
• Accord Touring 2.0T – $38,415
• Accord Hybrid – $27,685
• Accord Hybrid Sport – $31,035
• Accord Hybrid EX-L – $34,005
• Accord Hybrid Touring – $37,555

What Technology does the 2022 Honda Accord Have?

Every Accord model comes with an 8-inch touchscreen that is easy to operate and features crisp graphics. The screen is mounted quite high on the dashboard, which makes it visually accessible, even at a glance.

All trim levels have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But the EX-L, Touring, and most of the hybrids have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with wireless functionality that includes a wireless charging pad. All models, except for the base LX and Hybrid, have two rear USB ports.

Common Problems from Last Year’s Model

As we reported in our article 2021 Honda Accord Problems and Complaints, road visibility issues and engine problems are common complaints received by the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for that model.

But there are other issues as well.

Complaints About the 2021 Accord:

The NHTSA lists 16 different complaint areas for this previous year model, some involving safety issues:

• Engine
• Forward collision avoidance
• Lane departure that involves a faulty blind spot warning indicator
• Powertrain
• Seat belts
• Service brakes
• Steering
• Visibility and wiper
• Unknown/other, including:
  • An instance when the airbags didn’t deploy
  • A complaint that an automatic noise canceling (ANC) device, which should quieten cabin noise, made loud humming noises
  • A new car supplied without a tire jack
  • A sunroof blowing out of the vehicle when closed and driving on a highway

Several complaints include evidence that vehicles haven’t been inspected and/or repaired. This despite dealers and/or the manufacturer having been notified.

No injuries or deaths have been reported.

This is an improvement on the complaints about the 2020 Honda Accord, which resulted in more than five times more complaints to the NHTSA. The worrying factor is that all the complaint areas shown here are common to the 2020 model complaints.

Recalls of the Honda Accord During 2021

Ironically, the only recall of this model doesn’t appear to be linked to any complaints to the NHTSA. It’s also a very recent recall that was initiated in November 2021, with letters due to be mailed to affected consumers in mid-January 2022.

The problem is the automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly that can affect the child restraint system in the vehicle. There is a possibility that the assembly may deactivate improperly, which can increase the risk of injury to children if there is a crash.

What this means is that the potentially affected 4,346 vehicles, which include both the Accord sedan and hybrid, as well as CR-V and Ridgeline vehicles, don’t comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

According to Honda, dealers must replace the second-row center seat belt assembly free of charge. This information will be in the letter the company will mail to affected vehicle owners in January.

What to Expect From Your 2022 Honda Accord – Will You Buy a Lemon?

This is a question we cannot answer. But there will be lemons, and if you buy one, rest assured that you’ll be fully covered because the law is on your side.

If you buy a new 2022 Honda Accord and suspect that you’ve bought a lemon, call our Helpline to see how we can help.

About the Author:

Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.

See more posts from Brian Jones