Since its release decades ago, the Honda Accord has become one of the most recognizable models in the United States.
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Because of the Accord’s impressive fuel economy, decent reliability, and utility, demand for the model has been high.
We’ve already looked at the most common problems with the Accord generations and interesting statistics for each Accord model. Now, let’s look at how long they last.
In this article, we review the durability of the Honda Accord models to see if they are worthy investments.
Here is the short answer to how long Honda Accord lasts?
Honda Accord models can last up to 250,000 to 300,000 miles, provided you service them regularly. If you put 15,000 to 20,000 miles on your Honda Accord per year, you can use it for close to 20 years before it breaks down.
Let’s dive deeper.
How Many Miles Can You Expect from a Honda Accord?
Many owners of the Honda Accord models have shared stories of their vehicles reaching 300,000 miles with only routine maintenance.
This is part of the reason for the high price tag on Accord models.
We even came across the story of an owner who had clocked an amazing 1,000,000 miles on his Honda Accord.
From what owners say, getting your Honda Accord to last beyond 300,000 miles isn’t as difficult as it sounds.
The most important thing, according to them, is giving your vehicle proper maintenance. This means you have to change the fluids and oil in your car regularly and also flush the transmission at intervals.
Another thing that Honda Accord owners say is important to making your vehicle last long is careful use.
Using your vehicle improperly will reduce its lifespan greatly. Improper use covers activities such as aggressive driving, which tend to accelerate wear-and-tear on vehicles.
How Soon Should You Expect Rust on A Honda Accord?
In our research, we found that rust is a problem on some Honda Accords, especially the older models.
On such models, rust typically appears within three to five years of using the vehicle. This may be different in your case, depending on factors such as location.
For instance, living in the Salt Belt, as we found, will increase your chances of facing rust issues on your Honda Accord.
The “Salt Belt” refers to areas where roads get heavily salted in the winter. Road salt is highly corrosive and will cause rust on your vehicle, particularly the undercarriage.
One place commonly affected by rust on the Honda Accord models is the subframe. While the issue has received little public attention, a visit to Honda Accord forums will reveal the prevalence of the problem.
Our research shows that this was more widespread on the older Accords and less common with newer models.
Accord users also report noticing rust around the rear wheel area (where the rear fender meets the body).
According to owners, the rust occurs because the rear wheel lining traps water and dirt, which leads to corrosion.
This problem is recurrent on the early Honda Accords compared to newer ones.
If you live in a Salt Belt state, we would advise coating your Accord’s undercarriage in anti-rust solution to prevent corrosion.
Also, we would avoid earlier Honda Accord models, as they are more prone to rust than newer models.
Please also read our article about driving the Honda Accord in snow and winter.
How Long Do Honda Accord Last Compared to Similar Car Models?
The Honda Accord is a long-lasting car, no doubt; but how does it stack up to the competition in terms of longevity?
Below, we compare the lifespan of the Honda Accord to other models in the midsize car segment:
Honda Accord vs. Toyota Camry
Between the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry, you have two of the most reliable models ever released.
Our research reveals that whether you buy an Accord or a Camry, you’ll get the same 300,000 miles or more.
To some, the Toyota Camry may be the better long-term option, given that it is cheaper on maintenance.
Per estimates, the Honda Accord costs, on average, $400 in annual servicing expenses. By comparison, the Toyota Camry will cost some dollars less at $388 in yearly servicing fees.
Honda Accord vs. Ford Fusion
While the Ford Fusion remains a good car, the Honda Accord easily outmatches it in terms of durability.
Compared to the Accord’s 300k-mile service life, the Ford Fusion’s lifespan is around 200,000 miles.
If you need further proof that the Honda Accord is more reliable than the Ford Fusion, compare reliability ratings for both models.
RepairPal ranks the Honda Accord 1st out of 24 models for reliability, giving it a 4.5 reliability rating.
In contrast, the Ford Fusion has a 4 out of 5 rating and ranks 18th out of 24 models for reliability.
Honda Accord vs. Hyundai Sonata
The Honda Accord will last longer than the Hyundai Sonata.
Owners of the Hyundai Sonata report getting 200,000 miles from their cars, over 100,000 miles lesser than what you’ll get on a Honda Accord.
In addition, the Honda Accord is the more affordable car to own out of the two models.
Total maintenance fees on Hyundai Sonatas add up to $458; meanwhile, Honda Accords have only $400 in annual maintenance costs.
How Reliable Is a Honda Accord?
The Honda Accord has developed a reputation for reliability that has remained rock-solid for years.
In fact, hardly any other midsize car says “reliable” like the Honda Accord.
Sure, the models have had issues in the past; but most of these issues have been rectified on newer models.
RepairPal, whose reliability rankings are widely accepted in automotive circles, gives the Honda Accord a near-perfect 4.5/5.0 reliability rating.
It also ranks the Accord as the most reliable midsize car, proving its exceptional reliability.
Make sure to also read our article on how long Honda CR-Vs last.
The Best and Worst Years for Honda Accord
Getting best and worst years for the Honda Accord led to us searching the database of Car Complaints, a site that details problems on different cars.
Based on the myriad problems it had, 2003 remains the worst Honda Accord model year to date.
One of the most common issues on the 2003 Accords was transmission problems.
Owners—about 972 of them—faced various transmission-related faults, especially slipping.
The problem often popped up around 90,000 miles, and users had to fork over about $2,000 to replace the trannies on their vehicles.
The best model year for the Honda Accord, based on the number of problems reported, is the 2019 model.
Unlike the 2003 MY that has over 1,600 complaints to its name, the 2019 MY has only 10 complaints from owners.
If you would get a Honda Accord, you may just get a 2019 model for peace of mind.
What About Recalls for These Models?
Below are recalls for the Honda Accord models, ranked from highest to lowest:
- 2003: 20 recalls
- 2005 20 recalls
- 2000: 19 recalls
- 1998: 18 recalls
- 2004: 18 recalls
- 2001: 17 recalls
- 1999: 16 recalls
- 1995: 14 recalls
- 2002: 14 recalls
- 1991: 13 recalls
- 1996: 13 recalls
- 2006: 13 recalls
- 1994: 13 recalls
- 1992: 12 recalls
- 1990: 12 recalls
- 2010: 11 recalls
- 1993: 11 recalls
- 2009: 8 recalls
- 2011: 7 recalls
- 2008: 7 recalls
- 2007: 6 recalls
- 2012: 6 recalls
- 2012: 6 recalls
- 1987: 3 recalls
- 2015: 3 recalls
- 1998: 2 recalls
- 2016: 2 recalls
- 2014: 2 recalls
- 2013: 2 recalls
- 1986: 2 recalls
- 1979: 1 recall
- 1989: 1 recall
- 2017: 1 recall
- 2018: 1 recall
Honda Accord Model Year List
Here is a list of the Honda model years, according to the generation:
- First Generation: 1977-1981
- Second Generation: 1982-1985
- Third Generation: 1986-1089
- Fourth Generation: 1990-1993
- Fifth Generation: 1994-1997
- Sixth Generation: 1998-2002
- Seventh Generation: 2003-2007
- Eight Generation: 2008-2012
- Ninth Generation: 2013-2017
- Tenth Generation: 2018-Present
Also check our article on how long Honda HR-Vs last.
Are Honda Accord Expensive to Maintain?
Compared to other models, the Honda Accord has incredibly low maintenance costs.
RepairPal estimates you will spend about $400 (on average) per year on servicing your Honda Accord.
This is well under what you would spend on the average midsize car, which is around $526.
How Long Do the Brakes Last?
Anecdotal reports from Honda Accord owners suggest you should get between 30,000 miles to 70,000 miles from your brakes.
How Long Do the Tires Last?
The consensus among Honda Accord owners on the OEM tires is an average lifespan of 40,000 to 50,000 miles. Driving habits will determine how much your tires last.
How Long Do the Transmissions Last?
The transmissions on the Honda Accord can last anywhere between 100,000 to 150,000 miles.
The actual lifespan of your tranny will vary, depending on your pattern of use and frequency of maintenance.
How Long Do the Spark Plugs Last?
According to Honda, the spark plugs on your Honda Accord will require replacement after seven years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.
What About Insurance Cost?
You will spend about $ 1,812 on insurance for a Honda Accord yearly—that’s about $151 in monthly insurance payments.
Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Honda Accord
Here are ways to increase the longevity of Honda Accords:
- Prevent rust by treating your car with anti-rust chemicals. Rust does a great deal of damage to components and can reduce your Accord’s lifespan.
- Drive carefully; rough-handling your Honda Accord will cause parts like the engine to wear faster. Should this happen, your car will fail earlier than expected.
- Give your vehicle proper and prompt maintenance.
Resources
https://repairpal.com/reliability/honda/accord.amp
https://www.cars.com/research/honda-accord/

