The Lemon Index2009 Honda Accord.
The 2009 Honda Accord is worse than average by owner complaints: 320 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 134, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 11 recalls, and it gets 20 to 25 mpg combined. The best Honda Accord year is 2011.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 726 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Honda Accord year. 2009 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 16K to 79K miles on the car (516 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- brakes complaints mostly came at 10K–24K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 60K–109K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 57K–112K miles
Recalls 11
- airbags 2019
The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high …
- airbags 2019
The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
- airbags 2019
The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containi.
Show all 11 recalls
- airbags 2018
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
- airbags 2018
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2017
One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.
- airbags 2017
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2016
In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
- transmission & drivetrain 2011
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 ACCORD, 2007-2010 CR-V, AND 2005-2008 ELEMENT PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2004, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3, 2010.
- equipment 2009
HONDA IS RECALLING AFTERMARKET FULL NOSE MASKS, PART NUMBER 08P35-TA0-100 AND 08P35-TA6-100 MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 9, 2007 THROUGH DECEMBER 11, 2007.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Honda told dealers about
Honda sent dealers 101 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Engine has a loud rattling noise at a cold start up
- Thiis tsb document contains an owners notification letter
- There is a loud rattling noise coming from engine which last for 2 seconds when temperature is…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedSrs control module failure2015–2016
- ClosedInadvertent side air bag deployment2014–2016
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★★
Fuel cost and engines
About $2550–3200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Rear brakes on 2009 Honda Accord lx need replacing at 18,000 miles.
2009 Honda Accord owner · NHTSA complaint 10359154
More owner reports
The rear inner brake pads wore down significantly while the rear outer pads had about 3-4mm left. This seemed to be a very premature wear compare to other vehicles I owned over the years.
NHTSA complaint 10439049
2009 Honda Accord. Consumer states vehicle has major defects in the rear brakes
NHTSA complaint 10340108
Quick answers
Is the 2009 Honda Accord reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 134; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Honda Accord year by this measure is 2011.
What are the most common 2009 Honda Accord problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (50%), engine (8%) and brakes (electric) (7%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2009 Honda Accord have?
11 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Honda Accord get?
20 to 25 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2009 Honda Accord problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 16,000 and 79,000 miles. The middle report was at 32,900 miles, from 516 complaints.
Does the 2009 Honda Accord have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2009 Honda Accord cost in fuel a year?
About $2550 to $3200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2009 Honda Accord have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Honda Accord year is better than the 2009?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2011, 2012 and 2010.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works