IllustrationALL FOUR DOORS ARE NOT OPERABLE. DOORS WLL NOT LOCK OR OPEN FROM EITHER SIDE. CONSUMER HAS TO ENTER THROUGH WINDOW. *AK *ML
1981 Honda Accord
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
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
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: 0 of 7 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.
- Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 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
7 reportsWHILE DOWNSHIFTING THE RPMS DROPPED TO 400 AND THEN CAR DIED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, AND INVOLVED THE CARBURETOR. *AK
WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED WITH THE AIR CONDTIONER ON VEHICLE LOSES ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENT LIGHTS AND THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
FRAME RAIL RUSTED THROUGH AND FRONT CROSS MEMBER HAS COME LOOSE, CAUSING VIBRATION.
FRONT CROSS MEMBER MOUNT TO FRAME OF VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, CAUSING FRONT END TO SHIFT AND RIGHT REAR TIRE TO WEAR OUT. ENGINE MAY FALL OUT AT ANY TIME. THE VEHICLE PRESENTLY IS NOT DRIVEABLE, VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING.
VEHICLE CAME TO COMPLETE HALT; PROCEEDED THRU GREEN LIGHT TO 25 MPH; FRONT LEFT AXLE BROKE; LOST VEHICLE POWER. TT
RUSTING OF THE GAS TANK AND FLOOR PANEL. TT
Official recalls
0No 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
1DP86013 · Seat Belt Retractors
Opened Jul 8, 1986 · Closed Aug 21, 1986
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:retractor
SEAT BELT RETRACTORS