IllustrationREAR BUMPER DROPPING DOWN ON BOTH SIDES 1 1/2 INCH, FRONT BUMPER APPEARS TO BE DROPPING ALSO. *ET
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 reportsNO SUMMARY
WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER'S WIFE STATED THAT THE RIGHT WHEEL WAS HANGING OUT. THIS WAS THE SECOND 1986 HONDA ACCORD THAT HAD WHEEL FALL OFF, DUE TO UPPER CONTROL ARM FAILURE. *AK *ML
SEAT BELT RETRACTORS DO NOT LOCK WHEN PULLED AGGRESSIVELY. I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY WOULD RESTRAIN A PERSON IN AN ACCIDENT,
PUT IN NEUTRAL AT STOP LIGHT. UPON TAKING OUT OF GEAR, ENGINE SHOT UP TO 5000 RPM. HAD TO TURN OFF CAR, BURNING SMELL, CAR DIESELED FOR ONE MINUTE. HAD TO GET CARBURATOR FIXED.
VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING, AND DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKETS. AFTER DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKETS VEHICLE LEAKED. OWNER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SAFETY BELTS. THE BASE OF THE BELTS ARE ATTACHED TO THE DOOR, WHICH POSES AS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AKCONSUMER STATES THAT THE THREAT IS IF THE DOORS OPEN ON IMPACT OF A CRASH, THE BELT WOULD DRAG ONE OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITHIN THE CAR, RESULTING I…
Read full complaint
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SAFETY BELTS. THE BASE OF THE BELTS ARE ATTACHED TO THE DOOR, WHICH POSES AS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AKCONSUMER STATES THAT THE THREAT IS IF THE DOORS OPEN ON IMPACT OF A CRASH, THE BELT WOULD DRAG ONE OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITHIN THE CAR, RESULTING IN UNNECESSARY INJURY OR DEATH. *AJ
FRONT ROTORS/CALIPERS FAILED; APPLEID BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT STOP, CAUSING A ACCIDENT (NO INJURY BUT $3,000 IN DAMAGE); RIGHT FRONT POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED; POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED; AND THE SPEED CONTROL FAILED.
SEAT BELT BUCKLE RECALL REPAIR WORK WAS NOT COMPLETED DUE TO DEALERSHIP ADVISING THE CORRECTION WAS NOT REQUIRED.
THE THERMOSTAT GOT STUCK, CAUSING WATER NOT TO GO INTO THE ENGINE. ENGINE OVERHEATED AND CAUSED A FIRE. *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