2008 Honda Accord EX from North America - Comments

The driver side door handle will become difficult to open. It doesn't happen all of the time, but it does happen far too often. I had the dealership look at it, and they said it seems like the mechanisms aren't lined up correctly. So they are in the process of ordering me another handle, and the mechanism that goes inside, to see if this will correct the problem.

My glove compartment was making this rattling noise so bad, whenever I would hit a slight bump in the road or anything. They put something in there to try and "cushion" the glove box so it wouldn't make that rattling noise. It seems to have worked so far.

My passenger seat also seems to make noise when someone is sitting in it, and I brake or anything like that.

I have also notice there is quite a bit of wind noise while on the highway.

The most annoying thing thus far would have to be my moon-roof rattling. I also had the dealership look at it, and it has something to do with the pan that catches the water. They said Honda said that there have been complaints about this, but there are no real fixes for it yet. So they tried a couple of different things, but still I get a rattle so obviously it didn't work.

I also had an issue with the paint on the back bumper peeling off right underneath the tail light. So the dealership took it and got the bumper repainted. Which the shop they took it to did a horrible job, so I made them take it back and redo... still doesn't look very good.

I really love the front end of the car, but not too fond of the back end... kind of just big and blah.

It seems as though I don't really have that much power when I try to accelerate to get on the highway or something...

The gas mileage is not really that great. I get about 19 mpg and that's for a combination of highway and city driving. That's not really good compared to the my Civic I had.

If you are getting 19 mpg with an Accord there is something wrong with it... Mine averages about 27 mpg mixed and has since it was new and it is easily into the mid 30's on the highway. Sounds like you have a lot of little rattles going on with your car. I haven't noticed too much with mine yet. Good luck finding a newer car that doesn't have any though. Unfortunately, it is the nature of cars in general to have a certain amount of quirks you have to live with.

It is funny how you have had no problems with your GM vehicles and Fords but there are so many other reviewers that think they are junk and Honda and Toyota are the best and go for 200,000 miles with no problems. I have had ALL of the major brands over the years and guess what... they all rattle squeak and most have their share of problems. Our '03 Trailblazer completely fell apart at 30,000 miles and it was unsafe to drive. They would not let me leave the dealership with it until they fixed it. Needless to say it was gone a month later (when the rear end started coming apart). That is just one of the many problems I have had but to say GM and Ford are so much better just means you got luckier with those two brands than anything else. My best car was a Saab 92X which is actually a Subaru... No problems whatsoever the entire time I had it. Next to that would be my old '90 Z24...same thing no problems the whole time I drove it.

I'm sure all hard-working Americans will just LOVE comment 01:24. Nothing like cheering for MORE economic woes for our people!!

"I'm sure all hard-working Americans will just LOVE comment 01:24. Nothing like cheering for MORE economic woes for our people!!"

In response to this comment: If Americans focused more on quality of the product instead of quantity of production, the big three would not be in the shape they are in today. Secondly, if they would take more pride in their jobs, people would not turn to imports, their vehicles would last longer with fewer problems. Other than buying the top range models from the big three along with the trucks, I couldn't be paid to drive another domestic vehicle.

Many of the 'imports' now are actually made in the USA or Canada for North American customers, including the Accord.

That's why you don't buy a car without a "J" at the beginning of the VIN number.

With the exception of truck and SUV offerings from the big 3, domestics are crap. The only reason those work well is because a large portion of their sales depend upon it. I'd rather pay for an old import than be given a domestic vehicle any day.

Hondas require maintenance like any other vehicle. No one said they were completely problem free. They are good ONLY if service is performed at the regular intervals.

A cousin owns a 2002 Ford Taurus, the transmission caught fire twice, he refuses to let it go.

My 1987 Nissan Maxima gave me 21 years of service and 363,509 miles. I had alignment and brake work done on a routine basis, but other than that, my car ran PERFECTLY even earlier this year when I used it on a 120 mile commute 3 days a week. It NEVER left me stranded. The only reason I don't own it now is because it was totaled in an accident. I would've trusted my old Maxima on a long trip over any new domestic.

On the other hand, I had a 1996 GMC Sonoma pickup that nickel and dimed me for 225,000 miles; things were constantly wrong, stayed in the shop and always leaving me wondering when it would die on me again.

Also, import vehicles were relatively rare in the U.S. until the late 1970's and 1980's when gas prices began rising and consumers began looking for a more economic means of transportation. Domestics USED TO BE more reliable, that is not the case today. They consistently rank lower than imports in resale value, dependability and long-term costs of ownership.

It's no secret why the big 3 is wanting a portion of the bailout money. Whether you choose to accept it or not, domestic makes for the most part are crap and led to the demise of Oldsmobile, Plymouth and why Mercury is currently hanging on by a thread.

Also, when I had the Maxima, the original head and tail-lights and brake lights were all the same until DECEMBER 2007 (20+ years) when I changed them. My 2004 Nissan was Americanized and I'm sure won't last as long as my old car. Had more problems with it after four years than I did the Max after 10. ;)

"Hondas require maintenance like any other vehicle. No one said they were completely problem free. They are good ONLY if service is performed at the regular intervals"

Well, in my case the Honda we had our worst nightmare with got exactly the same service as our domestics and proceeded to totally disintegrate before 100,000 miles. At 40,000 miles the CV joints were hammering and the brakes were gone. (The earliest I've ever replaced brakes on a domestic is 70,000 miles), At 60,000 miles it was burning a quart of oil every 3 weeks. No domestic we've owned has ever required an engine or transmission repair before 325,000 miles (the longest we've kept one).

I'm a mechanic and ALL my cars get immaculate care and service. No car from a Japanese or German auto maker has ever held up as well as our domestics. That includes those supposedly "superior" Japanese cars that were built in Japan. Every Ford, GM or Chrysler vehicle we have owned has been sold or traded in great running condition with never on single engine or transmission replacement. This includes several with well over 200,000 miles and the one Ford that was traded at 325,000 miles. This also includes cars going back to the '70's. The myth of unreliable domestics is just that... a myth.

If you didn't slam on your brakes every time you approach a stop, of course they will wear out faster along with the joints, that's with a Honda, Chevy, Ford, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, all makes.

I personally will never own a vehicle manufactured here in the U.S. and that includes vehicles that are "imports" made here. My personal experience shows that the imports last longer with far fewer problems, have better resale values than domestics. I spent far less with a car that was 20 years (true import) old as far as maintenance is concerned than I ever did with a vehicle that was barely a decade old (domestic).

When I tried to trade my truck in, they offered me a measly amount for it. The Nissan I could've sold for the maximum value for a car 20 years old of the same make since KBB values did not go past two decades.

I will forever own a Swedish or Japanese vehicle. Screw "supporting" American makes that constantly give trouble and spending tons in ownership costs. Few people get 21 years out of any car that is a daily driver still and I will forever be an import owner.

The transmission on my first Nissan was original out of the factory from Oppama, Japan. I only changed transmission fluids and belts at recommended intervals. The GM constantly had axle, ABS, alternator, timing belt, slipping transmission, head gasket issues that cost me tons. I could've purchased a new vehicle almost with the amount of money I put into that piece of crap truck. I also followed the service schedule with it but as soon as one thing was fixed, something else was tearing up on that piece of crap.

"How many 30-year-old Honda's or Toyota's are still used as daily drivers?"

I have two cars... a 2004 Honda Accord LX coupe, and my little commuter car... my 1976 Honda Civic cvcc 5-spd. That little orange monster has a 78 Accord engine in it that my mom had put in back in 1979 because the previous owner didn't put oil in it. We kept track of the mileage through the years... and my 76 Civic now has 511000 miles (give or take a hundred or so)

It runs like a champ, still climbs hills like it has something to prove, and darned if that little monster doesn't win the occasional green light to red light race!

Mechanically, since 1979 when the Accord engine was put in it, we replaced the starter once in the 80's and once 1999 when I got it. I have had the belts changed, and the alternator replaced in 03. That's IT.

I have kept the car for sentimental value, but I have to say that as a commuter, and a fun little novelty driver...it's a great little car! As for my 04 Accord coupe, its heaven at 70000 miles. there is a rattling in the glove box, which I am going to fix, and I have one CV joint clicking a lil bit, but it's a cheap fix and I'm not concerned at all about the engine. I have the 165 hp VTEC 2.4 4cyl engine and it is smooth, strong, and fast! My tranny shifts seamlessly with little to no shift shock, almost like a CVT. I love Honda.

I have had 4 Honda's (83 CRX, 92 Accord, 76 Civic, and 04 Accord), 1 Toyota (87 Celica), 1 Ford (89 Thunderbird), 1 Plymouth (97 Breeze), 1 Pontiac (96 Sunfire) and 1 Chevy (86 Camaro) and I have to say that there was something to love about every car, the Chevy had over 200k miles, the ford had 249k when the tranny went out, the Toyota died at 287k miles, but in all of them, The Honda's were always the worry free, thrifty, easy to own, and fun cars.

So I say, if you want to make the economy easier for yourself to deal with, buy whatever vehicle that is going to have the lowest operating cost for you and your budget. For me, it's my Honda.

We spent more on our Honda in repairs in 100,000 miles than we have spent on ALL of our domestic vehicles COMBINED in the last 20 years. No more Japanese vehicles in THIS household!! We have better things to do with our money!!

We spent more on our GMC in repairs in 100,000 miles than we have spent on ALL of our foreign vehicles COMBINED in the last 20 years. No more American vehicles in THIS household!! We have better things to do with our money!!

Hondas/Acuras in the 80's and 90's I agree were nice cars, especially the Legends. After 2000 ours went downhill. I liked the 3.2 VTEC motor and performance, however they were not as good as the older Hondas... We have had zero issues with new GM's with V8's.