Seat Belts. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports8 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

192 reports

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999

Power Train

Read full complaint

WHILE TURNING, THE STEERING EXPERIENCED HARD, SUDDEN PULLS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WITH A HARD BINDING AND BREAKING LOOSE. EVENTUALLY, A MASSIVE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK OCCURED WITH THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF DRIVE. INVESTIGATION FOUND THE TRANSMISSION HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DUE TO A "CARRIER PIN" FAILURE IN THE FINAL DRIVE. HONDA REASONS THIS TO SPINNING THE WHEELS ON A SLICK SURFACE SUCH AS ICE OR SNOW. THIS AUTOMOBILE HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED IN THIS MANNER. MY BROTHER OWNED THE VECHILE FROM NEW AND I AM THE SECOND OWNER. THIS AUTOMOBILE HAS ALWAYS SHIFTED VERY HARD AND REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO HAVE HONDA DEALERS CORRECT IT WERE MET WITH NO ACTION. INSTEAD EVERYONE STATED THAT THIS IS THE WAY ALL 1990 ACCORDS SHIFT. I SUSPECT THE SHIFTING PRESSURES WERE INCORRECTLY SET AT THE FACTORY OR A BASIC DESIGN/ENGINEERING FLAW WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IF THE SUDDEN DRIVE FAILURE HAD OCCURED IN DENSE TRAFFIC, AND JAMMED A DRIVE WHEEL, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURIED OTHERS. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO HAVE HONDA RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM HAVE MET WITH FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #702813

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 1999

Structure

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THIS WAS A LIGHTLY USED HONDA GIVEN TO ME BY MY FATHER WHO WAS ORIGINAL OWNER. ODOMETER READING WHEN I WAS GIVEN CARE IN 12/97 WAS 60,079. IT COULD COST UP TO $650.00 ACCORDING TO HONDA TO FIX. HONDA WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT, AND SAID MILEAGE ON VEHICLE WAS HIGH. THESE ARE HIGHWAY MILES, AND BEING UNABLE TO EXIT THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY IS A SAFETY ISSUE, I AM SURE. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER TO ASK ABOUT REPAIRS, THE MANAGER SAID HE'S DONE A FEW OF THEM WHICH COULD COST ANY WHERE FROM 350 TO $650, WHICH LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A COMMON REPAIR ON THIS CAR. NOW THE PASSAGER DOOR HANDLE IS BREAKING (BASICALLY ON A THREAD). AGAIN THIS CAR WAS VERY LIGHTLY USED WHEN IT WAS GIVEN TO ME IN 1997, AND DON'T FEEL MILEAGE HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH DOOR HANDLE PERFORMANCE. ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS APPRECIATED. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. *AK

NHTSA ODI #702501

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1999

Visibility

NO REAR VIEW MIRROR ON DRIVERS SIDE WHEN SOLD ORIGINALLY CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI #543190

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 1998

Latches/locks/linkages

A MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WITHIN THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM WHICH CAUSED THE LOCKS TO JAM, CAUSING THE OCCUPANTS TO BECOME TRAPPED WITHIN THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832711

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 1998

Wheels

TIRE FELL OFF VEHICLE DUE TO STUD FAILURE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).

NHTSA ODI #543301

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 1998

Seat Belts

THE SHOULDER BELTS IN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS TIGHTEN UP WITHOUT BRAKES BEING APPLIED. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE SEATBELTS TIGHTEN UP EVEN MORE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #831510

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 1998

Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT BECAUSE IT STARTED TO GRIND INTO SMALL PIECES ADN CAUSED THE CAR NOT OT MOVE.

NHTSA ODI #700697

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1998

Electrical SystemFire

WHILE PARKING/TESTING AND TURNING SIGNALS, UNDER THE DASH BEGAN TO SMOKE, AND FLAMES STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTCTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830034

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1998

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN INTERIOR OF VEHICLE IS HOT (DUE TO WARM WEATHER) THE VEHICLE CRANKS, BUT WILL NOT START, HAS NO DIFFICULTY STARTING IN COOL OR COLD WEATHER.

NHTSA ODI #781442

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 1998

Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. ABOUT FOUR HOURS LATER, WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 200 YARDS, A BURNING SMELL THEN FUMES APPEARED. WHEN HOOD WAS OPENED THE CONSUMER SAW FLAMES. ALTERNATOR, POSSIBLY WIRING HARNESS SYSTEM DEFECT, CAUSED THE FIRE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827442

Official recalls

95V103001 · 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.

93V056000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Apr 22, 1993

THE REAR OUTSIDE SEATING POSITION SAFETY BELTS MAY LOCK UP AT ANGLES OTHER THAN THOSE REQUIRED BY FMVSS 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES". THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: NON-CONFORMING SAFETY BELTS CAUSE AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE THE SENSOR IN THE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗