About this problem
The infotainment system runs the touchscreen, radio, phone pairing, navigation and often the backup camera. Software bugs and failing hardware can make it freeze, go black, reboot by itself or drain the battery. Beyond being annoying, a dead screen can take out the backup camera and climate controls on cars where those run through it. Software updates fix some cases.
Across all owner complaints filed about the Honda Accord since 2012, 140 (1.6%) describe infotainment screen freezing or rebooting, the second most reported problem we track on the Accord. The reports cluster on the 2017, 2021 and 2022 model years, and the 2022 drew the most, with 39. It tends to show up in the middle years of ownership: half of the owners who gave a mileage were between 12,000 and 49,000 miles. No recall covers it, but Honda has sent dealers service bulletins about it, listed below.
What owners report
Owners report the Accord's touch screen freezing, going black, rebooting while driving, or not responding. When it happens the backup camera, audio and phone connection can drop out too. The 2017, 2021 and 2022 model years drew the most reports.
How it gets fixed
A software update from the dealer fixes many cases. When the unit itself fails, the screen or head unit is replaced.
Typical cost: Updates are usually free. A replacement head unit costs $800 to $2,500 depending on the model.
Complaints by model year
In owners' words
"Backup/reverse camera has failed. When the car is put into reverse, the in car monitor displays a black screen with yellow grid lines. Camera image is no longer displayed. Resetting camera settings to default does not correct the problem."
2017 Honda Accord, 31,200 miles
"1. Car multimedia unit (with a touch-screen) randomly freezes and restarts itself. It happened to me 9 times already since I bought a car in june 2018."
2018 Honda Accord, 500 miles
"This vehicle is experiencing an aggressive, heat-accelerated hardware degradation of the central capacitive screen assembly commonly identified as ghost glitching, culminating in a total crash of the primary graphic interface and touch controller hardware."
2022 Honda Accord
Excerpts from public owner complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, lightly trimmed.
Service bulletins
Honda has sent dealers 7 bulletins that mention this problem on the Accord. A bulletin tells technicians how to fix a known fault. It is not a recall, so the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty or covered by an extension.
When the vehicle is put into reverse, the rear camera may display a black and white image.
Servicenews article - If the Display Audio screen goes blank after not touching it for 30 seconds, it's because your customer has gained access to the audio unit's Developer Mode and made changes to the system.
Techline summary article - do you have a vehicle in your shop for any or all of these concerns?
There is a problem with the audio unit software, which may lead to one or more of the following symptoms: ?
Tech line summary article - If the On Demand Multi-Use Display (ODMD) isn't responding to touch or is freezing up, the reason could be there's debris lodged in the gap between the touch screen and the bezel.
Servicenews article - If the On Demand Multi-Use Display (ODMD) isn't responding to touch or is freezing up, the reason could be there's debris lodged in the gap between the touch screen and the bezel.
Before you buy a Accord
- Spend a few minutes using the screen on the test drive: pair a phone, use navigation and the backup camera.
- Ask whether the system software has been updated.
- Make sure the backup camera comes on every time you shift into reverse.
Questions
Which Honda Accord years have infotainment screen freezing or rebooting?
Complaints are highest for the 2017, 2021, 2022 model years. The 2022 drew the most, with 39 reports.
At what mileage does it usually start?
Among owners who gave a mileage, the middle figure was about 36,000 miles, and half reported it between 12,000 and 49,000 miles.
How much does it cost to fix?
Updates are usually free. A replacement head unit costs $800 to $2,500 depending on the model.