2017 Honda Accord

Dear NHTSA, I am writing to report a recurring and potentially dangerous issue with my 2017 Honda Accord EX-L. The vehicle emits sudden, extremely loud static and high-pitched noise from the speakers—often occurring in hot weather and even when the audio system is turned off. This unpredictable noise is not only startling but also prevents me from hearing surrounding traffic, horns, or emergency vehicles, significantly increasing the risk of an accident. It poses a serious distraction and safety hazard. I have found numerous similar complaints from other Honda owners online, indicating this may be a widespread issue. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this as a potential safety-related defect that may warrant a recall. I listed the date below around when this started occurring. It happens multiple times per week. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sporadically, and after driving at least 10 minutes continuously, a static sound begins out of my rear speakers and increases in volume quickly. It starts coming out of front speakers as well so that it appears to be coming out of all speakers and it is extremely loud. It is so loud that it sounds like I'm in front of a speaker at a concert, and it is hugely distracting while operating the vehicle. The audio is not on, the bluetooth is not connected, and there is no way to get the sound to stop. Even turning off and on the car does not stop it. This has happened 6 times in the last 3 weeks and it is so loud and distracting - bordering on deafening - that it is nearly impossible to continue driving the car. Online research indicates that others have had this issue as well. When I went to the Honda dealer, they were unable to replicate the issue but said that they had seen 2 people with the same problem in the last week and were nearly confident it was an audio head unit issue that is known within certain years and models of Hondas. They were unwilling to officially diagnose it without replication but I told them that I would be willing to pay to fix this issue because it is a safety hazard and then I was told that the parts were on backorder and I'd have to wait until they arrive in - no estimate provided. Please help - it is very difficult and distracting to drive this car when the issue occurs, and it's impossible to predict when it will occur next.

I own a 2017 Honda Accord “Touring” model that has developed an intermittent audio problem (described below) that is a safety issue because it causes serious driver distraction and impatience to reach a destination to turn the car off. There is NO WAY for the driver to stop the problem without turning the car completely off. Despite numerous reports from others (documented below), Honda has not issued a recall. It is hoping that a “goodwill discount” of 40% or so (offered only if the owner knows to demand it) will prevent a recall. The ONLY fix is to have a Honda dealer replace the OEM “audio head unit”. Without the “goodwill discount”, the installed cost is $1,400 - $1,600 to fix a condition that is obviously out of warranty. The problem is that in hot (85+) weather, even with the audio system turned OFF, a modest “scratching” sound begins from all speakers, gradually becoming a loud, continuous static which lasts for 3 or 4 minutes and then gradually tapers off to silence. If I turn audio power ON while this is occurring, the static instantly becomes intolerably loud until I turn audio power off; then the scratching continues for a few more minutes until it gradually disappears. When this problem is not occurring, the audio system plays normally. This problem is significantly frequent. 10,000 to 15,000 such cars were sold. •CarComplaints.com lists 170 such complaints under the Electrical System and Other Problems categories. •CarProblemZoo.com lists 99 general equipment complaints; the static noise issue stands out as the most common recent problem.. •DriveAccord.net, a popular owner forum: “2017 Accord Radio Static” has around 470 posts. That is a total of about 700+ reports of this problem, on 5 -7% of these vehicles. That is a safety problem that must be recalled! Problem first occurred in May 2025. More frequent in hot weather: 3 times in last 3 days. Symptoms occur randomly and don't last long enough to reach a dealer for diagnosis.

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an extremely loud, piercing distortion sound coming from the speakers. The contact stated that during the failure, the driver was unable to hear oncoming emergency vehicles or horns from other motorists. The contact stated that the loud noise was present while the radio was turned on and, while the radio was turned off. The radio was unplugged to eliminate the loud noise, causing the back-over prevention camera to become inoperable. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 108,000.

This is happening a couple of times a week now. With the audio system locking up while driving making for the audio volume to not be able to be adjusted. They audio system is locking up and there is no way to reset the system while driving. There is not always a place to stop and shut the car off then restart -which is how I have been dealing with this issue for many years now. Sometimes, I am on the highway in heavy traffic while this happens. It is a massive distraction having to listen to blaring commercials that have increased volumes that jars drivers' focus on the situation surrounding me. I have tried holding the power button down for over 5 straight minutes without anything helping. I have tried multiple buttons hoping for a reset... still nothing. Today, this happened again in heavy traffic without a place to stop and do an ignition off/on... as this is how I have been dealing with this issue. The audio system has no volume knob, only flattened button. This happening in heavy traffic is dangerous. My car is a 2017 Honda Accord Touring Hybrid. It appears that this is a known issue with other owners of the 2016-17 Honda Accord Touring Hybrid. This has been happening since the car was new. it's REALLY OLD and dangerous.

Issues with the radio. Unbearable, ear piercing static coming from speakers. You can turn the volume all the way down and even power off the radio and it continues to have loud static coming from speakers. You have to pull over and turn the car off to stop the noise and alot of times it will not stop. There is no way to stop the noise. The car had this same issue when I bought it from a honda dealer. The dealer replaced the radio and 1 year later im having the same issue and the radio is 1 month out of warranty. I was quoted 1400 dollars for a new radio plus labor. Just doing a quick Google search, this seems to be a common problem with this year make and model vehicle. There are no recalls for the radio at this time. This is definitely a safety issue that needs to be addressed. Ive contacted honda america and have a case started.. please follow up on this issue... thanks

The audio system in my car has gone bust - there is a periodic loud static noise that blasts out of the speakers at maximum volume and can not be turned off, even by setting the audio power off. It was brought to the Honda dealership and confirmed the audio system. The noise is so loud and startling that it causes the driver to easily lose focus on the road. It can also be so unexpecting that it can cause sudden jolts in movement, endangering the roadway. When looking online, this seems to be a common issue with the 2017 accord model ex-l as there have been many forums of people posting their same complaints. To make matters worse, there are no after-market replacements that work with the ex-ls dual screen setup and getting the actual part is in indefinite back order. It appears that Honda simply wants us to cope with the dangerous issue.

Worst on hot days. Stereo will crackle and emit high decible, piercing, and inconsistent tones and static. Highly distracting. Only known "fix" is to turn off the car and wait for it to cool and hope it doesn't happen again. Typically starts in rear speakers. Will increase volume suddenly and without warning. Unable to hear traffic noises around vehicle. Turning off audio system does not work to fix it. Will happen on days 80 degrees or more. Full car sun shades did not prevent it from occuring. Numerous online incidents found.

MY BACK UP CAMERA WAS REPLACED IN 2018 DUE TO THE ORIGINAL ONE INSTALLED DURING THE MANUFACTURING STATE BEING DEFECTIVE AND GOING OUT WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. LAST YEAR MY CAMERA QUIT PROJECTING AN IMAGE ON THE SCREEN. I CAN ONLY SEE THE DIRECTIONAL LINES ON THE SCREEN WHEN IN REVERSE THAT CHANGE COLOR AND APPEARS TO WORK IF I AM OUT OF THE PARKING LINES AND THE SCREEN IS BLACK. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THE CAMERA WILL FLASH AN IMAGE FOR A NANOSECOND ON THE SCREEN BEFORE GOING BLACK. I HAVE GONE TO HONDA REGARDING THIS BUT THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE MY VIN IS A 2017. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I AM UNABLE TO SEE WHEN BACKING OUT. PLEASE CONSIDER EXTENDING THIS RECALL TO INCLUDE THE 2017 HONDA ACCORDS. I AM SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE.