Honda Accord Fuse Box: Location & Guide
TL;DR
Every Accord has an engine-bay fuse box by the battery and an interior fuse box behind a small panel near the driver's left knee; the lid diagram and owner's manual are the only reliable amp-rating source for your exact year.
Where the Honda Accord fuse boxes are located
Across the 8th generation (2008-2012) through the 11th generation (2023-present), Honda has kept the Accord's electrical layout fairly consistent: one fuse and relay box lives in the engine compartment, and a second smaller fuse box is inside the cabin. The engine bay box sits at the back corner of the bay, close to the battery on the driver's side, under a black plastic cover held by clips or a couple of quarter-turn fasteners. The interior box is hidden behind a small trim cover at the far left end of the dashboard (driver's side), roughly where the dash meets the door, and is usually reached by opening the driver's door and popping the cover off with your fingers or a flat trim tool.
How to open each box
For the engine bay box, release the plastic tabs along the edge of the lid (some model years use a couple of small screws instead) and lift it straight up. For the interior box, gently pull the cover panel toward you starting at one edge; it is held by friction clips and does not require tools, though a plastic trim panel tool reduces the risk of scratching. Never force either cover with metal tools near the battery box.
Fuse box locations by generation
| Generation / years | Fuse box | Location | How to access |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8th gen (2008-2012) | Under-hood box | Engine bay, driver's side, near battery | Unclip plastic lid |
| 8th gen (2008-2012) | Interior box | Driver-side dash end, near door kick panel | Pull off trim cover by hand |
| 9th gen (2013-2017) | Under-hood box | Engine bay, driver's side, near battery | Unclip or unscrew lid |
| 9th gen (2013-2017) | Interior box | Driver-side dash end / kick panel area | Pop cover off by hand or with trim tool |
| 10th gen (2018-2022) | Under-hood box | Engine bay, driver's side, near battery | Unclip lid |
| 10th gen (2018-2022) | Interior box | Driver-side dash end, behind kick panel cover | Pop cover off by hand or with trim tool |
| 11th gen (2023-present) | Under-hood box | Engine bay, driver's side, near battery | Unclip lid |
| 11th gen (2023-present) | Interior box | Driver-side dash end, behind kick panel cover | Pop cover off by hand or with trim tool |
Where the official fuse legend lives
The most reliable amp map for your exact car is printed on the paper diagram glued to the underside of each fuse box lid, plus the electrical/fuses chapter of the owner's manual, which repeats the same layout with circuit names. Because amp ratings and slot numbers shift between trims and model years even within one generation, this site intentionally does not list individual fuse numbers - use the lid diagram or manual for your VIN.
Commonly blown fuses and their symptoms
- Cigarette lighter / 12V accessory outlet fuse: when it blows, phone chargers, dash cams, and other plug-in accessories stop getting power even though the rest of the car runs normally.
- Radio / infotainment fuse: a blown fuse here causes the touchscreen, stereo, or backup camera display to go blank or fail to power on.
- Interior lights fuse: dome light, map lights, and glovebox light stop working, though the car still starts and drives fine.
- Blower motor fuse: the heater/AC fan stops blowing air at any speed setting even though the climate controls still light up.
- Fuel pump relay/fuse: the engine cranks but will not start, or stalls and won't restart, because the fuel pump loses power.
Checking and replacing a fuse safely
With the ignition off, pull the suspect fuse using the small plastic fuse puller usually clipped inside the fuse box lid. Hold it up to the light: a good fuse has an intact thin metal strip, while a blown one shows a visibly broken or melted strip. If you are unsure, touch a test light or multimeter probe to both metal legs of the fuse with the ignition on - no reading on one side confirms it is blown. Replace it only with a new fuse of the identical amp rating shown on the lid diagram; installing a higher-amp fuse is a fire risk because it lets more current flow than the wiring is designed for.
When a fuse keeps blowing
A fuse that blows once from a temporary overload is usually harmless. A fuse that blows again immediately after replacement almost always means a short circuit or failing component is drawing too much current, and simply upsizing the fuse will not fix it and can damage the wiring or start a fire. In that situation, a code scan of the body control module can flag related stored fault codes that point toward the exact circuit at fault, which is faster and safer than guessing.
Summary
| Engine bay fuse box location | Driver's side of engine compartment, next to the battery |
|---|---|
| Interior fuse box location | Driver-side end of dashboard, near door kick panel |
| Engine bay box access | Unclip or unscrew plastic lid |
| Interior box access | Pull trim cover off by hand or with a flat trim tool |
| Official fuse legend source | Diagram on underside of each lid + owner's manual electrical chapter |
| Most commonly blown fuses | 12V outlet, radio/infotainment, interior lights, blower motor, fuel pump relay |
| Repeat blown fuse meaning | Likely short circuit - get a fault code scan before upsizing the fuse |
Full diagnostics
For the complete step-by-step diagnostic and repair guide, see Honda Accord: Common Problems, Fault Codes & Repairs.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the fuse box on a Honda Accord?
Every Honda Accord from the 8th generation (2008) through the current 11th generation has two fuse boxes: one in the engine bay next to the battery on the driver's side, under a plastic cover, and one inside the cabin behind a small trim cover at the driver-side end of the dashboard, near the door kick panel.
How do I know which fuse controls the radio or cigarette lighter on my Accord?
Check the paper fuse diagram printed on the inside of the engine-bay or interior fuse box lid, or the fuses section of your owner's manual - both list which fuse number corresponds to the radio, 12V outlet, and other circuits for your specific model year and trim.
Why does my Honda Accord's cigarette lighter or interior lights fuse keep blowing?
A fuse that blows immediately again after you replace it usually signals a short circuit or a failing component drawing excess current on that circuit, not just a weak fuse. Replacing it with the same amp rating and having the circuit (or stored fault codes) diagnosed is safer than fitting a higher-rated fuse, which can overheat the wiring.
Is it safe to replace a Honda Accord fuse with a higher amp rating?
No. Always match the exact amp rating shown on the fuse box lid diagram or owner's manual for that circuit; a higher-rated fuse allows more current than the wiring was designed to carry, which can overheat the harness and create a fire risk.