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: 10 of 14 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 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
14 reports
61,000 miles · May 20, 2011
Seat Belts
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 HONDA ACCORD LX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ALL OF THE SEAT BELTS WERE FASTENED BUT THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE WARNING SOUND CONTINUED TO ALERT AS IF THE SEAT BELT WAS UNFASTENED. THERE WERE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AW…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 HONDA ACCORD LX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ALL OF THE SEAT BELTS WERE FASTENED BUT THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE WARNING SOUND CONTINUED TO ALERT AS IF THE SEAT BELT WAS UNFASTENED. THERE WERE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. UPDATED 06/17/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT WOULD STAY ON CONTINIUSLY WHEN THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION. UPDATED 11/18/11
NHTSA ODI #10402164
96,500 miles · Jan 19, 2011
Seat Belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT THE SEATBELT BUZZER WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL NOISE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THE FAILURE HAD NOT OCCURRED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT THE SEATBELT BUZZER WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL NOISE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THE FAILURE HAD NOT OCCURRED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT AS LONG AS THE ACTUAL SEATBELT WAS OPERATING CORRECTLY THEN SHE SHOULD DISREGARD THE NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS EXTREMELY DISTRACTING WHEN DRIVING DUE TO THE VOLUME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,500. UPDATED 3/8/11 *CN UPDATED 04/22/11
NHTSA ODI #10377145
127,000 miles · Dec 17, 2010
Suspension
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH APPROACHING A STOP, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AS IF SOMETHING HAD DROPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED A BOLT AND PIN WHICH FELL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH APPROACHING A STOP, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AS IF SOMETHING HAD DROPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED A BOLT AND PIN WHICH FELL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER THE REPAIR. THE SAME REPAIRS WERE MADE AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE BOLT AND PIN WAS DRILLED INTO THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE FAILURE WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SWERVING AND THE CONTACT STARTED HEARING NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AS IF SOMETHING SNAPPED OFF. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
NHTSA ODI #10371099
285,000 miles · Dec 3, 2009
Electrical System
THE IGNITION SWITCH ON A 1990 HONDA ACCORD. I RECENTLY WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND I NOTICED THAT WHEN I SPEED UP THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF AND IT GOES BACK ON. IT DOES IT AROUND 55 MPH. I HAVEN'T REPLACED THE PART. BUT I REALLY THINK THAT YOU TAKE THIS COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE ANYONE OR MYSELF GETTING HURT BE…
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THE IGNITION SWITCH ON A 1990 HONDA ACCORD. I RECENTLY WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND I NOTICED THAT WHEN I SPEED UP THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF AND IT GOES BACK ON. IT DOES IT AROUND 55 MPH. I HAVEN'T REPLACED THE PART. BUT I REALLY THINK THAT YOU TAKE THIS COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE ANYONE OR MYSELF GETTING HURT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10294432
236,971 miles · Nov 17, 2009
Seat Belts
I JUST PURCHASED A 1991 HONDA ACCORD LX AND THE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT IS JAMMED IT DOES NOT GO BACK TO WHERE I CAN WEAR IT, THUS I ONLY HAVE A LAP BELT. I WAS TOLD THAT HONDA DOES HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON THE SEATBELT AND ITS COMPONENTS. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WAS UP TO THE DEALER AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE SEAT BELT TRACK WAS UN…
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I JUST PURCHASED A 1991 HONDA ACCORD LX AND THE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT IS JAMMED IT DOES NOT GO BACK TO WHERE I CAN WEAR IT, THUS I ONLY HAVE A LAP BELT. I WAS TOLD THAT HONDA DOES HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON THE SEATBELT AND ITS COMPONENTS. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WAS UP TO THE DEALER AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE SEAT BELT TRACK WAS UNDER WARRANTY. HONDA STATES THAT THE SEAT BELTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONING COMPONENTS ARE UNDER A LIFETIME WARRANTY. WITH THIS SAID, HONDA STATES THAT IT IS UP TO THE DEALER AS TO IF IT IS COVERED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL HONDA DEALER AND HE SAID IT IS ONLY THE SAFETY BELT ITSELF THAT WAS COVERED. THE WARRANTY STATES DIFFERENT AS I MENTIONED ABOVE. A SEAT BELT IS THE MOST SAFEST AND IMPORTANT PART TO THE CAR, AND I WOULD LIKE HONDA TO STAND UP TO THEIR WARRANTY AND FIX THE TRACK TO MY AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS. THE CAR CANNOT BE PROPERLY INSPECTED BECAUSE THE SEATBELTS HAVE TO BE IN PROPER FUNCTIONING ORDER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10292606
169,600 miles · Aug 20, 2005
Latches/locks/linkages
THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HAS OPERATED FINE FOR YEARS THEN ONE DAY IT WAS CLOSED NORMALLY AND IS NEVER TO BE OPENED AGAIN (FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, LOCKED OR UNLOCKED). IT APPEARS THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE INTERNAL DOOR LATCH. AT THIS POINT, THE DOOR WILL JUST NOT OPEN. I AM UNABLE TO REMOVE THE DOOR PANEL TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BEC…
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THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HAS OPERATED FINE FOR YEARS THEN ONE DAY IT WAS CLOSED NORMALLY AND IS NEVER TO BE OPENED AGAIN (FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, LOCKED OR UNLOCKED). IT APPEARS THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE INTERNAL DOOR LATCH. AT THIS POINT, THE DOOR WILL JUST NOT OPEN. I AM UNABLE TO REMOVE THE DOOR PANEL TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE DOOR IS CLOSED. IT'S A REAL CATCH22. I AM NOW FORCED TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSANGER SIDE. WHICH HAS ME CONCERNED BECAUSE IF I HAVE TO EXIT IN AN EMERGENCY IT MAY BE A PROBLEM. RIGHT NOW I AM TRYING TO GET SOMEONE TO GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE ON WHAT IT WOULD COST TO REPAIR BUT NO ONE CAN BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY HAVE TO REMOVE THE DOOR PANEL FIRST. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART DUE TO IT'S DESIGN (IF THE DOOR LATCH IS TO FAIL FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THEN THERE SHOULD AT LEAST BE SOME MEANS TO OPEN THE DOOR SO IT CAN BE REPAIRED!) SO FAR NO DEATHS OR INJURIES HAVE OCCURED BUT I WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE OF SOMEONE NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF THEIR CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10133629
168,236 miles · Aug 13, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages
INSIDE DOOR HANDLE CRACKED AND BROKE THE WHOLE HANDLE ASSEMBLY. THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE MADE IT TO WHERE THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE, GOD FORBID IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT OR A FIRE, HOW WOULD MY PASSANGER GET OUT OF THE CAR IN A HURRY?*AK HAVE BEEN TOLD TO REPLACE IT MYSELF........WHY? OBVIOUS DEFAULT IF YOU LOOK AT…
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INSIDE DOOR HANDLE CRACKED AND BROKE THE WHOLE HANDLE ASSEMBLY. THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE MADE IT TO WHERE THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE, GOD FORBID IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT OR A FIRE, HOW WOULD MY PASSANGER GET OUT OF THE CAR IN A HURRY?*AK HAVE BEEN TOLD TO REPLACE IT MYSELF........WHY? OBVIOUS DEFAULT IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS.
NHTSA ODI #10086767
179,000 miles · Jul 12, 2004
Electrical System
CONSUMER HAD THE DISTRIBUTOR REPLACED TWICE. DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT HONDA KNEW THAT THE DISTRIBUTORS WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10081697
137,200 miles · May 21, 2004
Seats
I HAVE A 1990 HONDA ACCORD LX. MY DRIVER SEAT DOES NOT STAY IN THE ADJUSTED POSITION. IT IS DESIGNED TO SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD TO ACCOMODATE ONE'S HEIGHT. I ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE SEAT FORWARD, AND IT DOES NOT STAY IN THE DESIGNATED POSITION. THIS CAUSES THE SEAT TO FREELY SLIDE FORWARD AND BACK WITHOUT CONSTRAINT. WHE…
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I HAVE A 1990 HONDA ACCORD LX. MY DRIVER SEAT DOES NOT STAY IN THE ADJUSTED POSITION. IT IS DESIGNED TO SLIDE FORWARD AND BACKWARD TO ACCOMODATE ONE'S HEIGHT. I ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE SEAT FORWARD, AND IT DOES NOT STAY IN THE DESIGNATED POSITION. THIS CAUSES THE SEAT TO FREELY SLIDE FORWARD AND BACK WITHOUT CONSTRAINT. WHEN ACCELERATING, THIS PUSHES THE DRIVER BACKWARDS, AWAY FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN BRAKING, THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO COME FLYING FORWARD TOWARDS THE STEERING WHEEL, IN TURN CAUSING THE BRAKES TO DEPRESS VERY HARD. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED IN HONDA'S SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM. UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS (VERY RUDELY) INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT ROBERTSON HONDA, IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD THAT THIS WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN. INSTEAD, I WAS BLATENLY TOLD THAT THIS IS SIMPLY A CASE OF A WORN PART, AND THAT SINCE MY CAR IS OLDER, IT IS NOT IMMEDIATELY COVERED BY HONDA. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED IN TO, AS THIS IS AN EXTREMELY PRECARIOUS SITUATION FOR ANY DRIVER TO FIND HIM/HERSELF IN, CAUSING A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10072964
Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages
THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR BROKE. I HAD TO CUT DOOR OPEN FROM INSIDE DOOR TO REPLACE. DEALER WANTED $800.00 TO REPLACE. THEN I REPLACED THE ACTUATOR AND 1 YEAR LATER IT IS BROKEN AGAIN. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, I SEE IT IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM. I REFUSED TO PAY $800.00 FOR THIS JOB SO I GUESS I'M STUCK E…
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THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR BROKE. I HAD TO CUT DOOR OPEN FROM INSIDE DOOR TO REPLACE. DEALER WANTED $800.00 TO REPLACE. THEN I REPLACED THE ACTUATOR AND 1 YEAR LATER IT IS BROKEN AGAIN. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, I SEE IT IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM. I REFUSED TO PAY $800.00 FOR THIS JOB SO I GUESS I'M STUCK EXITING THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THEN WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS BECAUSE THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT BY ALL THESE REPORTS FILED, I'LL JUST SEW THE HELL OUT OF HONDA FOR NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM!!!!!!!!!! *LA
NHTSA ODI #10054937
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
1
PE91061 · Tire Rims Lose Air
Opened Mar 14, 1991 · Closed Jul 17, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels
There is no summary currently available
1990 Honda Accord Lx, Dx Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year