2018 HONDA ACCORD HYBRID Fuel/propulsion System Problems

At approximately [XXX]. Pacific, I was traveling southbound in the fastrak lane of the [XXX] departing from Pleasant Hill, California headed to Pleasanton, California. As I began to accelerate, the engine began to sputter. Immediately, the check engine light flashed on, then the dashboard reported a number of issues ranging from brake failure, TPMS failure, power assisted steering failure, vehicle stability assist failure and a number of other issues that I have never encountered since purchasing the vehicle. The sudden deceleration almost resulted in other cars impacting my car as this occurred during the morning commute. I was able to safely navigate off of the freeway. I was on speakerphone with Honda when this occurred. Had I not acted swiftly, a potential high speed rear end collision was likely to have occurred. I immediately took the car to Concord Honda. The team at Concord Honda performed a diagnosis and advised me that my head gasket was leaking water into the combustion chamber which resulted in the sudden loss of power. I was and continue to be dissatisfied with the handling of this issue by Honda as my car has never been handled by another mechanic. My car has a perfect or near perfect maintenance record and should not have a blown head gasket at 80k miles especially since my car is meticulously maintained and serviced by Concord Honda. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DEFECTIVE RECALLED-REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP? NHTSA Campaign # 23V858000 “Fuel pump failure can cause engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.” My 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid had gotten 50 mpg in September & October of 2024 – as it had been getting consistently, reliably for the past six years. Also, I have Always driven 545 miles per tank of gas consistently, reliably for the past six years. My original fuel pump, which was recalled (NHTSA #23V858000), NEVER failed and operated perfectly efficiently for six years. In December 2024 I observed the NHTSA fuel-pump-recall and had the “perfect” original fuel pump replaced. As soon as the “New” fuel pump was installed at the dealership, my MPG dropped to 39mpg AND miles-driven-per-tank of gas dropped to 445 miles! Shocking! My 2018 Accord Hybrid lost 100 miles of driving Range, and mpg dropped to non-hybrid performance! This leaves me to question the SAFETY of the NEW Recall-Replacement fuel pump. Also, since the “New” replacement Fuel pump was installed, my High-Voltage Lithium-Ion Battery Pack has been “kicking-in” more frequently to assist the less efficient new fuel pump. This causes the gas engine to rev longer at high rpms whenever I start the car in order to constantly recharge the HV Lithium Ion Batteries that must assist the less efficient New fuel pump . It appears to be a precarious cycle of decline for both the fuel pump and HVLI batteries! Help! I would like NHTSA to determine: 1.Is the replacement fuel pump “failing” from the time of installation? 2.Was a “new” fuel pump actually installed, or was a “defective part replaced in the original recalled fuel pump? 3.Is the replacement fuel pump not designed technologically as the original fuel pump? 4.How SAFE is the “NEW Fuel Pump”? 5.Are other Honda Hybrid owners who had their fuel pumps replaced under # 23V858000 complaining of poor performance? Is this a serious indication of rapid replacement (New) fuel pump failure?

Since the recall has been in place, I have attempted to get it fixed. I have reported to Honda lights coming on and off since January 14th. On January 17th took photos and video. On Thursday [XXX], the emissions light came on regarding this issue and losing power. I called Napa Kastner Honda and reported the issue and spoke with Lizette at 330pm she said it was part of the recall, but I could continue to drive the vehicle and they would call me when parts become available. Each time I go in I have to pay for diagnosis testing. I don’t want to continue to wait and want to sell my vehicle now, but no dealer will accept a trade in or offer the actual value of my vehicle given the emission light. No one is helping me remedy this issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Honda of Kirkland (12420 NE 85th St, Kirkland, WA 98033) failed to remedy a recall on my vehicle within a reasonable period of time. I received notice by mail from American Honda in late November that the parts to remedy a recall on my vehicle were now available, and I could have it serviced for free at any authorized Honda dealer. I contacted Honda of Kirkland on December 2, and they told me the parts were not available and declined to schedule an appointment. I called them again on December 9, and they said they placed an order for the parts, and would call me back to schedule an appointment. On January 2 (24 days since last contact, 31 days since initial contact), they still had not called me back, so I called them again, and they informed me that the first available appointment would be on April 17. I then reached out another authorized Honda dealer, still on January 2, and they ordered the parts and said they would call back. A few days later, they called back to confirm they had the parts, and scheduled an appointment for January 27. So it was clearly possible to remediate the defect in a reasonable period of time -- Honda of Kirkland simply chose not to do so. In summary, Honda of Kirkland obstructed each of my three attempts to have this defect remediated, by: 1. Falsely claiming that the parts were not unavailable. 2. Promising and then failing to contact me to schedule an appointment. 3. Offering me a first-available appointment 136 days after I first contacted them.

Car has been throwing check engine light codes for different things for the past three years. First, the spark plugs needed to be replaced, then the electric coolant pump. After each repair, the check engine light came back on as soon as 4 days after but as late as a month after. Most recently, while driving on the highway the car check engine light came on and began flashing and the vehicle would not accelerate past 20mph. I took the closest exit and parked the car and had it towed to the closest Honda dealer where they informed me that there is an active recall and they are waiting for a call to see what they can do to help but that there is a head gasket issue as well as a fuel pump code. Previously when the check engine light came on and it took it to get checked I was told there was no code holding in the system.

Honda has not had sufficient parts to complete the repair for recall# 23V-858 which was announced in December 2023 even though the recall mentions how potentially dangerous the issue is. Repeated calls to the dealership only result in being told to wait until Honda sends a second letter unless the fuel pump fails at which point the safety issue could have already occurred. They should at least offer an inspection of the vehicle to determine if any degradation has occurred even if they don’t have enough parts to perform the repair for everyone.

Dear Sirs, This is an advisement that Honda Inc is not taking seriously the recall notice of fuel pumps in the 2018 Honda Accords. Two weeks ago I made an appointment for 11am on [XXX] at Findlay Honda on Azure Drive in Las Vegas, NV to have the recall addressed. Upon arrival at the appointed time, I was told that despite full notice of my appointment and the reason, they had no parts with no estimate for their arrival. It would appear Honda is not taking the recall seriously. Just thought you should know. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Car has approximately 51k miles, beginning to shake, not accelerating as it jerks while attempting to accelerate. Check engine displays but no warnings are available. Comes on and off.

2018 HONDA ACCORD HYBRID TOURING PURCHASED 9/25/20 WITH 44K MILES. WITHIN THE 2 WEEKS I'VE OWNED THIS CAR I HAVE ALREADY NOTICED TWO LARGE ISSUES. THE FIRST AND MOST DISHEARTENING IS THE TERRIBLY REDUCED GAS MILEAGE COMPARED TO WHAT IT'S RATED FOR. I'M TOPPING OUT IN THE LOW 30'S WHEN IT'S RATED FOR 47MPG. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THE LOUD HUMMING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE SHOWS THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS ALSO HAVE BOTH THESE ISSUES.

Mileage: 44,000

AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK, A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE WAS SMELLED IN THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER AND AFTER 5 DAYS THEY STILL HAVEN'T FOUND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DEODORIZE THE CAR EACH DAY AND VENTILATE IT USING FANS BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE FUEL SYSTEM HAS BEEN CHECKED.

Mileage: 21,900

WHEN GOING AROUND A CORNER AND THE SWITCH FROM ELECTRIC TO GAS (HYBRID VEHICLE) OCCURS THE CAR SEEMS TO STALL AND CONSEQUENTLY LOOSES SPEED FOR A SECOND OR TWO. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

Mileage: 16,650

FIRST 7,000 MILES GOT 47 MPG, HONDA DID BACK UP CAMERA SOFTWARE UPDATE, AND MPG DROPPED TO 42, THEN 38, AND NOW 34, ON ALL THE SAME TYPES OF DRIVING. ELECTRIC ENGINE HARDLY RUNS AND NOT NEARLY AS MUCH AS EARLIER. SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE TEMPERATURE, THE COLDER THE TEMPERATURE, THE LOWER THE MPG.

Mileage: 7,200