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1996 Honda Accord

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Honda Accord do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 356.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 85 of 472 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 96 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

52 crash reports3 fire reports21 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

25 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2023
Unknown Or Other

The instrument panel on my car is not working so I don’t know if it has any gas in it or not. I know the gauges work also my windows don’t go up or down in my sunroof does not open or close.

NHTSA ODI #11532220

230,000 miles · Oct 22, 2020
Unknown Or Other

CAME TO A RED LIGHT THEN TRIED TO DRIVE AND THE WHILE STILL ON WOULD NOT MOVE, IT WAS IF LIKE IN DIDN'T ENGAGE THE GEAR, WHEN I PUT ON GAS THE ONLY THING IT WOULD DO IS THE RPM WOULD GO UP BUT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULDN'T.

NHTSA ODI #11365757

173,000 miles · Jul 3, 2005
Unknown Or Other

MY CAR (1996, HONDA ACCORD EX) WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER THE LAST TIME IT WAS DRIVEN PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE NEXT WE NOTICED WAS THE CAR WAS ROLLED OFF THE DRIVEWAY (IN REVERSE) AND HAD CLIMBED THE CURB (BOTH REAR AND FRONT WHEELS) AND ENDED UP ON THE LAWN OF THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR HOUSE. ADDITIONALLY TH…

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MY CAR (1996, HONDA ACCORD EX) WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER THE LAST TIME IT WAS DRIVEN PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE NEXT WE NOTICED WAS THE CAR WAS ROLLED OFF THE DRIVEWAY (IN REVERSE) AND HAD CLIMBED THE CURB (BOTH REAR AND FRONT WHEELS) AND ENDED UP ON THE LAWN OF THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR HOUSE. ADDITIONALLY THE CARS GEAR WAS NOT IN PARK (MY SON WHO DROVE THE CAR BACK TO OUR DRIVEWAY FROM THE LAWN FAILED TO NOTICE IN HIS HASTE AND EXCITEMENT WHAT THE GEAR WAS IN). ADDITIONALLY NOW THE CARS GEAR CAN BE SWITCHED WITHOUT THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE. ALSO, THE IGNITION KEY CAN BE TURNED AND THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE. FORTUNATELY NOBODY WAS HURT IN THE INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10127351

68,940 miles · Feb 6, 2004
Unknown Or Other

OIL FROM MY 1996 HONDA ACCORD POURED OUT OF THE FRONT BALANCER SEAL WHILE WARMING UP IN MY DRIVEWAY. LUCKILY I NOTICED IT BEFORE I HAD ENGINE TROUBLE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC'S SHOP AND HAD IT REPAIRED FOR ABOUT $500. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BALANCER SEAL HAD WORKED ITSELF OUT AND SITTING ON THE CRANKSHAFT. I HAVE ONLY 6…

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OIL FROM MY 1996 HONDA ACCORD POURED OUT OF THE FRONT BALANCER SEAL WHILE WARMING UP IN MY DRIVEWAY. LUCKILY I NOTICED IT BEFORE I HAD ENGINE TROUBLE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC'S SHOP AND HAD IT REPAIRED FOR ABOUT $500. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BALANCER SEAL HAD WORKED ITSELF OUT AND SITTING ON THE CRANKSHAFT. I HAVE ONLY 68900 MILES ON IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10056640

25,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or Other

WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE CAR BOGS DOWN, GOES VERY SLOWLY - LIKE IT IS WORKING VERY HARD TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE SQUARE AROUND THE D4 GEAR FLASHES. THE CAR EVENTUALLY GETS UP TO SPEED AND WILL CONTINUE WITHOUT A PROBLEM UNTIL YOU STOP AGAIN. THIS IS AN INTERMITTEN…

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WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE CAR BOGS DOWN, GOES VERY SLOWLY - LIKE IT IS WORKING VERY HARD TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE SQUARE AROUND THE D4 GEAR FLASHES. THE CAR EVENTUALLY GETS UP TO SPEED AND WILL CONTINUE WITHOUT A PROBLEM UNTIL YOU STOP AGAIN. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 7 TIMES FOR THIS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. I AM AFRAID I AM GOING TO GET HIT BY ANOTHER CAR IF I PULL OUY AND SUDDENLY HAVE POWER.

NHTSA ODI #10070588

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2003
TiresUnknown Or Other

DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY, 20225 NORTH SCOTTSDALE RD, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85255 AS AN INDEPENDENT TIRE DISTRIBUTOR AND DEALER FAILURES TO COMPLY WITH TITLE 49, VOLUME 5, PART 574, SEC OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, BY NOT PROVIDING TIRE PURCHASERS (CONSUMERS) THE REQUIRED TIRE REGISTRATION FORM. THIS INCIDENT HAPPEN ON THE RAINY M…

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DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY, 20225 NORTH SCOTTSDALE RD, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85255 AS AN INDEPENDENT TIRE DISTRIBUTOR AND DEALER FAILURES TO COMPLY WITH TITLE 49, VOLUME 5, PART 574, SEC OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, BY NOT PROVIDING TIRE PURCHASERS (CONSUMERS) THE REQUIRED TIRE REGISTRATION FORM. THIS INCIDENT HAPPEN ON THE RAINY MORNING OF FEB 2003 AT THE DISCOUNT TIRE STORE AT 407 WEST BELL ROAD, PHOENIX, AZ 85023. I INQUIRED AT TWO OTHER DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY STORES AND THEY DENIED HAVING ANY TIRE REGISTRATION FORMS FOR CONSUMERS, SO IT APPEARS THIS IS STANDARD TO THIS COMPANY. THOUSAND OF CONSUMERS HAVE BEEN WRONGED BY THIS COMPANY'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH 49CFR574.8. FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS PLEASE CONTACT ME. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10008510

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2002
Unknown Or Other

1996 HONDA ACCORD. DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS---------------770774. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10006544

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

AT 65 MPH OIL LIGHT CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER ENGINE STALLED. DEALER DETERMINED THAT AN OIL SEAL BLEW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8006732

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2002
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

STARTING IN SEPT. OF 2001 MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. AFTER CHECKING IT WITH HIS COMPUTER HE FOUND NO PROBLEM, RESET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HE RESEARCHED THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THAT HONDA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSIONS WHEN IT WAS HUMID!?!?…

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STARTING IN SEPT. OF 2001 MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. AFTER CHECKING IT WITH HIS COMPUTER HE FOUND NO PROBLEM, RESET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HE RESEARCHED THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THAT HONDA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSIONS WHEN IT WAS HUMID!?!?! SO I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD SEE IF IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS WHEN IT COOLED OFF. IT HAS AND IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT EVERY MORNING IT WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS UNTIL I HAVE DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE, STOP AND GO AGAIN. EVEN THEN SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T CHANGE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #759256

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

DRIVING DOWN STREET AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON..PROCEEDED TO STORE AND PUT OIL IN CAR, DROVE APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THEN I DETERMINED THAT ALL THE OIL HAD DRAINED OUT. OIL IS POURING OUT OF MY CAR FASTER THAN I CAN PUT IT IN. SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I'VE FOUND THAT OTHER HONDA ACCORD OWNERS OF THE 1996…

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DRIVING DOWN STREET AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON..PROCEEDED TO STORE AND PUT OIL IN CAR, DROVE APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THEN I DETERMINED THAT ALL THE OIL HAD DRAINED OUT. OIL IS POURING OUT OF MY CAR FASTER THAN I CAN PUT IT IN. SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I'VE FOUND THAT OTHER HONDA ACCORD OWNERS OF THE 1996 MODEL HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. I EVEN NOTICED THAT ONE HAD A RECALL FOR THE DAMAGED PART. I HAVE NO RECALL AND HAVE LIVED IN THE SAME LOCATION..JUST 5 MINUTES FROM THE HONDA DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. MY CAR IS SOAKED IN OIL FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK..TIRES INCLUDED. I'M SURPRISED IT DIDN'T CATCH FIRE. PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THESE DEFECTS AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #753807

Official recalls

1

98V231000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Sep 22, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN, COUPE AND WAGON PASSENGER VEHICLES EXCEPT THE DX MODEL AND MODELS WITH V6 ENGINES. THE FACTORY INSTALLED AIR CONDITIONER WIRE HARNESS WAS IMPROPERLY ROUTED ALLOWING SOME WIRES TO RUB AGAINST EACH OTHER, EVENTUALLY CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SHORT CIRCUIT CANPOSSIBLY CAUSE THE UNDERHOOD WIREING TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN ALSO RESULT IN A BLOWN FUSE OR DEAD BATTERY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR PROPER ROUTING OF THESE WIRES. ANY HARNESS IMPROPERLY ROUTED WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND THE ROUTING WILL BE CORRECTED. IF ANY INSULATION IS WORN THROUGH AND THE COPPER WIRES ARE EXPOSED, THE HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL PLASTIC TUBING TO PROTECT THE HARNESS.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Honda Accord problems