IllustrationTIRES REPLACED.(2ND VEHICLE ON 511132)
1988 Honda Accord
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 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: 6 of 88 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 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports1 fire reports15 injury reports
What owners actually said
88 reportsSHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE, ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT HIGH SPEED, WITNESS SAID IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, VEHICLE HIT POLE BEFORE STOPPING. VEHICLE TOTALED.*AK
THE ACCELERATOR STUCK ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE SOLENOID ON THE CARBURETOR LOCKED UP, VEHICLE HIT A TREE HEAD-ON. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, OWNER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, DRIVER WHO HAD ON SEAT BELT AT THE TIME, WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE SUNROOF, SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN, DRIVER DIED.*AK
FILM BUILD-UP ON WINDSHIELD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.(2ND VEHICLE ON 507164) *SD
SEAT BELT REPAIRS PRIOR TO RECALL.
MOTOR HEADLIGHT WHEN IT POPPED UP, IT SEVERED WIRES TO THE HEADLIGHT. *AK *JB
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION WILL STOP AND THE CAR WILL JUST STOP AND IT WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE EITHER. PLEASE DESRIBE. *AK
RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT INNER PLASTIC RETAINER RELEASE FAILED, RESULTING IN BUCKLE BEING JAMMED. *DSH
VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED AT 5:00 POSITION, SPEED 10 MPH, PASSENGER SIDE LAP/SHOULDER BELT FAILED, DOOR LATCH FAILED, DOOR CAME OPEN, THROWING PERSON OUT. *AK
Official recalls
295V103001 · 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.
87V171000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual
Oct 29, 1987
OWNERS MANUAL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, SECTIONS 6A AND 6B WAS OMITTED FROM THE MANUAL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLES MANUAL INFORMATION DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS210.
Remedy: UPGRADE EXISTING MANUALS BY INSERTING ADHESIVE BACKED CORRECTION PAGES.
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