2012 Honda Accord: Hesitates when accelerating
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2012 Accord report: hesitates when accelerating. CarComplaints.com lists 12 owner complaints, average mileage 27,500 miles.
NHTSA has 53 owner complaints for the 2012 Accord in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11691147 (filed 10/03/2025): “The contact owns a 2012 honda accord. the contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a stop, the driver heard an abnormal sound, and the vehicle suddenly stopped in the middle of the road. the contact stated that t…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11645751 (filed 03/01/2025): “1) when starting the car ( cold ) it makes a rattling sound that goes away after a few seconds and does not make this sound again until the car cools off 2) sometimes when driving the steering wheel shakes during acceleration…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: none clearly reported. Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $200 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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