IllustrationDEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE PARTS FOR IGNITION RECALL, AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. TS....*AK
1989 Honda Accord
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1989 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: 3 of 86 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 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports8 fire reports12 injury reports
What owners actually said
86 reportsVEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK UP, FORCING DRIVER INTO STEERING WHEEL , ETC. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK WHEN PULLED WITH A JERK. IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, IT WILL NOT RESTRRAIN THE DRIVER OR THE PASSENGER.*AK
THE VEHICLE'S LEFT BALL JOINT SHREARED OFF CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRIKE A GUARDRAIL RESULTING IN INJURY TO OCCUPANTS (ABDOMINAL AND NECK PAIN) AND DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *YH
BACK BALL JOINTS BROKE OFF TWICE. DEALER CHECKED VEHICLE, AND NOTICED LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *SLC
UNKNOWN CAUSE FOR FIRE. MELTED ENTIRE ENGINE AND HOOD AREA, HOOD HAD TO BE CUT OPEN. CAR IS TOTALED.
SECOND VEHICLE WAS ALSO EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH RELEASING KEY FROM IGNITION SWITCH DURING COLD WEATHER SEASON. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
FULL TREAD SEPARATION ON THIS TIRE. TREAD/INFLATION WAS FINE, HOWEVER, THEY WERE ON THE CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT. CAR WAS HANDLING POORLY FOR 30 MINS BEFORE FAILURE. FAILURE WAS AFTER 60-90MINS OF TRAVEL AT 70-80 MPH ON 90+ DEGREE DAY IN TEXAS. COULD BE ISOLATED INCIDENT, BUT WAS THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE AS THE ATX RECALL. (TIRE…
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FULL TREAD SEPARATION ON THIS TIRE. TREAD/INFLATION WAS FINE, HOWEVER, THEY WERE ON THE CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT. CAR WAS HANDLING POORLY FOR 30 MINS BEFORE FAILURE. FAILURE WAS AFTER 60-90MINS OF TRAVEL AT 70-80 MPH ON 90+ DEGREE DAY IN TEXAS. COULD BE ISOLATED INCIDENT, BUT WAS THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE AS THE ATX RECALL. (TIRESIZE: 185 90 R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 185 90 R14 )
A NEW SET OF FIRESTONE TIRES WAS INSTALLED IN SEP 1998. MILEAGE APPR 135000. ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2000 THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW AND CAUSED EXRENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE WHEELWELL, WHEEL, FRONT BUMPER. FORTUNATELY DRIVER, MY DAUGHTER 20YEARS OF AGE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER OF THE TURNPIKE IN OK, WITH LEGAL SPEEDLIMI…
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A NEW SET OF FIRESTONE TIRES WAS INSTALLED IN SEP 1998. MILEAGE APPR 135000. ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2000 THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW AND CAUSED EXRENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE WHEELWELL, WHEEL, FRONT BUMPER. FORTUNATELY DRIVER, MY DAUGHTER 20YEARS OF AGE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER OF THE TURNPIKE IN OK, WITH LEGAL SPEEDLIMIT OF 75MPH. WANT TO KNOW IF OTHER INCIDENTS WITH PASSENGER TIRES OF FIRESTONE HAVE OCCCURES IN LIGHT OF THE FORD EXPLORES TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/60R14 )
ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL. WAS NOT SMOKING. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED TO KEEP OIL IN ENGINE. TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALER & INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE OVERHAULED. FINALLY, HAD THE VALVE COVER GASKET REPLACED.*AK
Official recalls
195V103001 · 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.
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