IllustrationSEAT BELT RETRACTOR ON DRIVER-SIDE ONLY WILL NOT MOVE FROM RETRACTED POSITION AS IF DOOR IS OPEN AT ALL TIMES AFTER SENSOR ON DASHBOARD MALFUNCTIONED TEMPORARILY. AS A RESULT, LAP BELT IS ONLY AVAILABLE RESULTING IN LACK OF SAFETY FOR DRIVER. *NLM
1991 Honda Accord
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Honda Accord do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 356.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Accord years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 42 of 212 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Seat Belts. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
17 crash reports6 fire reports17 injury reports
Seat Belts complaints
58 reportsBACK SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN WHO REQUIRE A CARSEAT AND A BOOSTER SEAT. PROBLEM IS NOT MATTER WHAT KIND OF BOOSTER SEAT I PURCHASE IT DOES NOT WORK WITH THESE SEATBELTS IN MY 1991 HONDA ACCORD. THE LAW STATES I MUST PUT MY 5 YEAR OLD IN A BOOSTER SEAT, AND FOR HIS SAFETY I WANT HIM IN ONE, BUT IT IS UNS…
Read full complaint
BACK SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN WHO REQUIRE A CARSEAT AND A BOOSTER SEAT. PROBLEM IS NOT MATTER WHAT KIND OF BOOSTER SEAT I PURCHASE IT DOES NOT WORK WITH THESE SEATBELTS IN MY 1991 HONDA ACCORD. THE LAW STATES I MUST PUT MY 5 YEAR OLD IN A BOOSTER SEAT, AND FOR HIS SAFETY I WANT HIM IN ONE, BUT IT IS UNSAFE FOR HIM TO BE IN ONE BECAUSE THE SEAT BELTS NEVER LOCK. I CAN PULL ON THEM AND THEY DON'T IMMEDIATELY LOCK. THIS IS SERIOUSLY UNSAFE! I EMERGENCY RETRACTABLE SEATBELTS ARE NOT SAFE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. MY FIVE YEAR OLD STILL USES HIS CARSEAT SINCE I CAN'T USE A BOOSTER SEAT IN MY CAR. (HE IS TOO BIG FOR THE CARSEAT NOW, SO WHAT DO I DO RISK HIS LIFE BECAUSE OF THESE FAULTY SEATBELTS. NO, HONDA NEEDS TO REPLACE THESE SEAT BELTS WITH LOCKING SEATBELTS SO MY CHILD CAN BE SAFE!! *NLM
CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT DRIVE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO POSITION. THIS COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TO BE DEFECTIVE IN IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER FROM BEHIND AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UP AS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO THE CONSUMER HAD SOME INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT IS LOCKED IN THE TRACK IN CLOSE POSITION. BELT WILL NOT MOVE UP AND DOWN. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
SPRING CAME OUT OF PLASTIC HOUSING THROUGH MANUFACTURES MADE OPENING, CAUSING THE SEATBELT TO BE UNABLE TO RETRACT.*AK
SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK PROPERLY WHEN VEHICLE STRUCK THE METAL GATE AT 25-30 MPH;. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
SEAT BELT FAILED TO SECURE OCCUPANT UPON AN IMPACT WITH A GATE POST. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FUTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN OPENING THE DOOR AND UPON EXITING VEHICLE, BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS BECOME VERY TIGHT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON A SURFACE STREET TRAVELING 35MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT, AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BROADSIDE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS DIDN'T RESTRAINT, ALLOWING CONSUMER TO GO FORWARD. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Official recalls
395V103001 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
May 24, 1995
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUG ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, THEN PRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS ANY SIGN OF BREAKAGE OR CRACKING, OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, PROMPTLY CONTACT YOUR AUTHORIZED HONDA/ACURA DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
93V056000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Apr 22, 1993
THE REAR OUTSIDE SEATING POSITION SAFETY BELTS MAY LOCK UP AT ANGLES OTHER THAN THOSE REQUIRED BY FMVSS 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES". THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: NON-CONFORMING SAFETY BELTS CAUSE AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE SENSOR IN THE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR.
91V195000 · Interior Lighting
Nov 8, 1991
A WASHER IN THE CARGO AREA LIGHT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ATTACHED, AND MAY HAVE FALLEN IN THE CARGO LIGHT DURING ASSEMBLY. IF THIS OCCURRED, AND THE THREE POSITION LIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE MIDDLE POSITION, AND THE TAILGATE IS OPEN, THE WASHER CAN CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE LIGHT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LIGHT SHORT CIRCUIT COULD CAUSE THE SWITCH TOOVERHEAT AND RESULT IN A CARGO COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: REMOVE THE WASHERS BEHIND THE CARGO AREA LIGHT AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED LIGHT ASSEMBLIES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA94035 · Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Oct 27, 1994 · Closed Jul 31, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available