How to Reset Oil Life on Honda Accord? 3 Effective Methods Explained!

Honda Accord comes with a multitude of sensors to keep an eye on every crucial system of the car. For example, the maintenance light comes on when the oil change is due. And the light remains if it isn’t reset after changing the oil and oil filters.

So, how to reset oil life on Honda Accord? You can reset the oil life on the Honda Accord by using the Select/Reset stem button. In newer models, you can reset the oil life from the console menu or use the steering controls.

I will guide you through the process in detail so that you can reset the oil life on the Honda Accord in minutes.

What Is Oil Life and Why Is It Important?

Each time you use a new engine oil in the Honda Accord, it starts measuring the service life of the oil. For mineral oils, you need to change the oil after about every 5,000 miles. But if you use synthetic oil, it will be usable for up to 10,000 miles.

As more mileage is added to the car, the oil life indicator shows a lower percentage. It means you need to change the oil and oil filter after a certain distance. The maintenance light comes on when the oil life is low. It looks like an orange wrench.

However, once you have changed the oil and oil filter from the dealership, they should reset the oil life. But if you have changed the oil yourself, you might forget to reset the oil life. In that case, the maintenance light will be illuminated until you reset the oil life.

How to Reset Oil Life on Honda Accord?

You can reset the oil life on the Honda Accord in three methods. However, not all methods will work on all Honda Accord models. 

1. On models older than 2008, you need to use the stem button on the dashboard to reset the oil life.
2. But if you have a Honda Accord that is manufactured between 2008 and 2017, it will have steering controls. You can use the Home button and the scroll wheel on the steering wheel to reset the oil life.
3. For 2018 models and newer, you can also do this from the center console. The center console has an organized menu, where you will find the oil life reset option. I will elaborate on these three methods for your convenience.

Method 1: Reset Oil Life on Honda Accord Using the Center Console

Follow the steps below to reset the oil life on the 2018 and newer Honda Accord models.

• Step 1: Insert the key into the ignition and turn it two steps ahead. The key should be in the “RUN” position. If your car has a push start button, lift your foot off the brake pedal and press the push button twice.
• Step 2: Press the physical “Home” button on the top-left corner of the console. In newer models, you might also have a touchscreen. In that case, tap the Home icon on the screen.
• Step 3: Choose the “Settings” option from the Home menu. Then, scroll down a bit and you will find the “Vehicle” option. Tap on it.
• Step 4: Scroll down again until you find the “Maintenance Info.” option. You will find all maintenance options on the next screen.
• Step 5: Tap the “Select Reset Items” to select what you want to reset. On the next page, you can choose from a lot of different reset options.
• Step 6: We will choose the “Oil & Filter” option. The system will ask for your confirmation. Tap the “Reset” button to confirm.
• Step 7: The reset process will now start. It may take a few minutes to complete. Wait until the oil life is reset.
• Step 8: Once the oil life is reset, you will get a notification on the screen. It will read, “Maintenance information has been reset”. The maintenance light on the driver’s display will also disappear.

Method 2: Reset Using Steering Controls

Honda Accord models before 2017 have only steering controls. But newer models have both the center console and the steering controls. So, you can use this method on Honda Accord models from 2008 to date. Here are the detailed steps.

• Step 1: Like the previous method, keep the key in the “RUN” position so that the engine doesn’t start. Only the electronics will be turned on.
• Step 2: You have a Home button on the left side of the steering wheel. The icon looks like a small home. Press this button once to pull up the menu on the driver’s display.
• Step 3: Below the home button, there is a scroll wheel. Scroll down through the menu using this wheel until you have the “Maintenance” option highlighted.
• Step 4: The scroll wheel doubles as a button. Press the button once to go to the Maintenance menu.
• Step 5: The next screen will show the oil life percentage. Press the scroll wheel button again to reset the oil life.
• Step 6: You will find multiple options to reset here. Use the scroll wheel to select “Item A Only”. This is for the oil life reset. While this option is selected, press the scroll wheel button again. 
• Step 7: The oil life will now be reset and you will see that the oil life indicator is at 100% after the reset. The maintenance light should turn off as well.

Method 3: Reset Using the Dashboard Button

If you have a much older Honda Accord, you may not have the luxury of the center console or steering controls. In that case, you need to use the Trip Reset stem button on the dashboard to reset the oil life. Let me show you how to do it.

• Step 1: Turn the key to the “RUN” position so that the electronics are on and the engine is off.
• Step 2: The Trip Reset button is at the bottom-right corner of the dashboard near the fuel gauge. This stem button pops out from the dash so that you can press it.
• Step 3: Press the button once at a time until you see the oil life percentage on the dashboard. 
• Step 4: Once the oil life indicator is shown, you need to press the reset button and hold it for about ten seconds. After about ten seconds, the oil life percentage will start blinking. Release the reset button once the indicator blinks.
• Step 5: Press the reset button again and hold it for about five seconds. After this time, you will see the oil life has been reset to 100%. The indicator will stop blinking after the reset.

That’s it! You can now continue to drive the vehicle with a 100% oil life.

FAQs

Check answers to some commonly asked questions about resetting oil life on the Honda Accord.

Final Thoughts

The oil life indicator is helpful information for understanding the engine oil condition and getting alerts about due maintenance. Sometimes, the oil life indicator can still be low after the oil change. It means the oil life hasn’t been reset.

I showed how to reset oil life on Honda Accord models from different years. Depending on your Honda Accord model, you can use the suitable method from the three methods mentioned above. Don’t forget to reset the oil life so that you get the next alert at the right time.