Honda Accord Tune-Up & Maintenance Costs (Complete Guide)

The Honda Accord is one of the best-selling cars in the world, it’s well known for its practicality and reliability.

In this article we’ll give you the full breakdown of its maintenance, tune-up and running costs.

Here is the short answer to are Honda Accord expensive to maintain:

The Honda Accord has very affordable maintenance costs. It would cost you around $400 to maintain a Honda Accord every year, which is lower than the average of $526 annually for midsize cars. A tune-up will be around $278, including the replacement of spark plugs.

Are Honda Accord Expensive to Maintain?

The Honda Accord is very cheap to maintain and this is because it has excellent reliability and very affordable parts.

When looking to buy a new vehicle it’s important to assess maintenance costs to ensure you’re able to properly look after it.

Failing to stay on top of routine servicing and repairs will lead to poor reliability and shorten the lifespan of your vehicle.

Below you’ll find a complete price breakdown for some of the most common costs for the Honda Accord, all data is from RepairPal:

Honda Accord MaintenanceCost
Average annual repairs and maintenance$400
Tune-Up Cost$278
Alternator replacement $528 – $714
Oil change$108 – $124
Wiper blade replacement$88 – $118
Air filter replacement$59 – $78
Battery replacement$186 – $194
New brakes$213 – $243
Coolant change$77 – $97
New tires (set of 4)$600 – $612
New tire (one only)$150 – $153
New spark plugs$109 – $182
Tire & wheel assembly rotate & balance$79 – $100
New transmission$3500
Insurance$1484 / year (average)

How Much is a Tune-Up on a Honda Accord?

This will vary greatly depending on where you take your Honda Accord and you’ll likely have to pay more at a Honda dealership than your local mechanic.

Honda recommends having a tune-up every 5,000 miles or six months whichever comes first.

You can expect to pay in the region of $278 for a fairly comprehensive Honda Accord tune-up that includes, but is not limited to:

  • New spark plugs
  • Thorough inspection of engine components
  • Filters changed
  • Coolant flush
  • Cleaning IAC valve (idle air control)
  • Throttle body clean
  • Transmission and differential fluid change

Whilst your Honda Accord is under warranty it is advised you get it serviced at a registered Honda dealership.

Regular tune-ups are highly recommended because:

  • They can bring more power back to your engine.
  • Helps your engine run efficiently and start smoothly, which equates to lower emissions and better fuel economy.
  • Ensures long-term engine health and performance

Alternator Replacement Cost?

A new alternator on a Honda Accord will set you back between $528 – $714 for a replacement which should last around 80,000 to 150,000 miles or 5 – 10 years

While the battery is used for starting your car when the engines off, the alternator keeps your car alive when the engine is running. 

The alternator powers most electronic components while you’re driving around or idling and is also responsible for charging the battery of your car while driving.

Related: 9 Most Common Honda Accord Problems (Explained)

Oil Change Cost?

The cost of an oil change should cost in the region of $108 – $124, this includes parts and labor, however does not include taxes and fees. An oil change is one of the most meaningful and vital services for your car.

  • An oil change should be performed on the Honda Accord every 3,000 – 5,000 miles for conventional oil. 
  • Synthetic oil typically should be changed every 7,500 – 10,000 miles.

At most, oil change intervals should not exceed 10,000 miles, twelve months, or 350 hours of engine run time (whichever comes first)

Wiper Blade Replacement Cost?

This is a relatively simple and quick fix, and you can easily save yourself a few bucks by buying your own wiper blades and installing them yourself, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials on this. 

Most Honda Accords use a 26″ wiper blade on the driver’s side and 16″ on the passenger’s side.

Wiper blades for the Honda Accord can be picked up for around $30, and installed by yourself for free. 

However, if you want a professional to fit them for you then you can expect to pay in the region of $88 – $118 for parts and labor with taxes and fees on top.

Air Filter Replacement Cost?

According to RepairPal, air filter replacement cost on a Honda Accord is between $59 – $78, not including taxes and fees.

The good news is this task, which should be performed annually or whenever the filter is clogged or dirty, is another fairly straightforward DIY.

Simply open the hood, locate and open the air filter’s housing, remove the old one, insert the new one and replace the housing cover. 

This will help both your car and your bank account breathe a little easier, lots of tutorials on YouTube for this one also. 

Battery Replacement Cost?

According to RepairPal, the cost of a battery replacement for a Honda Accord should cost $186 – $194.

Whilst there are no specific mileage recommendations for when a battery needs to be replaced, they do eventually die.

In general, it’s a good idea to replace your battery once every 4-5 years.

A vehicle’s battery life varies depending on many different factors such as climate, driving habits, and battery type, among many others.

To help your battery last longer:

  1. Keep your battery tightly fastened: The vibrations of your SUV can loosen the connections, potentially resulting in short circuits and internal damage.
  2. Limit short rides: Short rides prevent the battery from fully charging.
  3. Control Corrosion: Clean the terminals (toothbrush dipped in baking soda and water mixture) and keep them free from build-up.

New Brakes Cost?

Honda Accord brake pads can last anywhere between 30,000 to 60,000 miles and necessary brake work isn’t a cost you can afford to neglect.

The average cost to replace your Honda Accord brake pads, according to RepairPal, is between $213 – $243.

Brake pads will wear out at different rates depending on factors such as climate and your style of driving.

Pro tip: To prolong the life of your brakes – Keep your speed low in heavy traffic and avoid any sudden braking.

Cost to Change Coolant?

If it’s just a top-up your Honda Accord requires then this is a simple task you can perform yourself. 

You can pick up coolant at any gas station for a few bucks and top up to the level required.

If on the other hand, you require a coolant change, which simply involves draining the coolant from the base of the radiator and then replenishing with fresh fluids, this is going to cost you a bit more.

According to RepairPal, the average cost of a Honda Accord coolant change is between $77 – $97 (excluding taxes and fees).

You may also be interested in our article: Honda Accord Beeping? (8 Common Causes & Solutions)

How Much Does a New Transmissions Cost?

Transmissions on the Honda Accord typically last 14 years or around 200,000 miles, depending on how well they are maintained and how the SUV is driven.

The average cost for an aftermarket or rebuilt transmission for a Honda Accord could be over $3500. This range may vary depending on the model year.

Tire & Wheel Assembly, Rotate & Balance Cost

Tire rotate ensures each tire gets worn evenly whilst balancing ensures they roll smoothly and there’s no vibration (this also helps improve your fuel economy).

According to RepairPal, the average cost for a Honda Accord tire & wheel assembly rotate & balance is between $79 and $100 – this does not include taxes and fees.

How much Insurance Cost?

According to insuraviz.com, the average cost of Honda Accord insurance is $124 / month or $1484 / year (as opposed to the $1,506 national vehicle average insurance rate).

These figures can vary greatly depending on a number of factors such as your age, driving record and state requirements etc. 

  • It’s always best to shop around and get at least 3 quotes, make sure the company you choose is reputable.
  • Use price comparison sites like Compare.com.
  • There are big discounts available for taking additional driving courses or being a senior
  • The best way to keep your insurance costs down is to drive safely

Honda Accord Repair Costs Compared to Similar Models

ModelAvg. Annual Repair CostFrequency of
Unscheduled
Repairs (per year)
Probability of
SevereRepairs
Honda Accord$4000.39%
Mitsubishi Galant$4480.110%
Toyota Camry$3880.311%
Toyota Prius V$4370.59%
Hyundai Sonata$4580.311%
Mazda6$4810.49%
Chevrolet Malibu Limited$4480.212%
Kia Optima$4710.212%
Chevrolet Malibu$5320.311%
Toyota Prius$4080.511%
Nissan Altima$4830.312%
Chrysler 200$5490.312%
Buick Regal$5630.212%
Honda Crosstour$5200.79%
Buick LaCrosse$5690.312%
Subaru Legacy$5630.312%
Volkswagen Passat$6390.59%
Ford Fusion$5810.312%
Dodge Challenger$6500.214%
Ford Mustang$7090.214%
Chevrolet Camaro$5850.217%
Honda Accord Crosstour$4930.813%
Chevrolet Corvette$7370.322%
Volkswagen CC$8801.412%
Avg. Midsize Car$5260.312%

How Reliable is the Honda Accord Compared to Other Models?

ModelReliability 
Honda Accord4.5 / 5.0
Mitsubishi Galant4.5 / 5.0
Toyota Camry4.0 / 5.0
Toyota Prius V4.0 / 5.0
Hyundai Sonata4.0 / 5.0
Mazda64.0 / 5.0
Chevrolet Malibu Limited4.0 / 5.0
Kia Optima4.0 / 5.0
Chevrolet Malibu4.0 / 5.0
Toyota Prius4.0 / 5.0
Nissan Altima4.0 / 5.0
Chrysler 2004.0 / 5.0
Buick Regal4.0 / 5.0
Honda Crosstour4.0 / 5.0
Buick LaCrosse4.0 / 5.0
Subaru Legacy4.0 / 5.0
Volkswagen Passat4.0 / 5.0
Ford Fusion4.0 / 5.0
Dodge Challenger3.5 / 5.0
Ford Mustang3.5 / 5.0
Chevrolet Camaro3.5 / 5.0
Honda Accord Crosstour3.5 / 5.0
Chevrolet Corvette3.0 / 5.0
Volkswagen CC2.5 / 5.0
Avg. Midsize Car4.0

How Long is the Honda Accord Manufacturers Warranty?

When you drive your new Honda off the dealership lot, you’ll be covered by Honda’s factory warranty of 36,000 miles / 3 years basic coverage and 60,000 miles / 5 years powertrain warranty coverage.

This length of protection is actually quite common among car manufacturers.

You can check your vehicle warranty status, track your service history, view your Owner’s Manual and more on the Honda website. If you cannot find the VIN number, the only real way to check your vehicle’s factory warranty is to call or visit your local dealership.

Related: 22 Best & Worst Honda Accord Years (With Facts & Stats)

Resources

  1. https://automobiles.honda.com/odyssey/warranty 
  2. https://repairpal.com/reliability/honda/accord 
  3. https://www.repairsmith.com/i/estimates/engine-mechanical/engine-tune-up/Honda/Accord/ 
  4. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/accord/alternator-replacement-cost 
  5. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/accord/oil-change-cost 
  6. https://repairpal.com/estimator/windshield-wiper-blade-replacement-cost 
  7. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/accord/air-filter-replacement-cost 
  8. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/accord/battery-replacement-cost 
  9. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/accord/brake-pad-replacement-cost 
  10. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/accord/coolant-change-cost 
  11. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/accord/wheel-replacement-cost 
  12. https://repairpal.com/estimator/honda/accord/spark-plug-replacement-cost 
  13. https://insuraviz.com/vehicles/honda/honda-accord-insurance/ 

Author:

  • Ian Sawyer

    Growing up with a father who was a mechanic I had an appreciation for cars and motorcycles from an early age. I shared my first bike with my brother that had little more than a 40cc engine but it opened up a world of excitement for me, I was hooked. As I grew older I progressed onto bigger bikes and...