IllustrationSPORT MODE LIGHT FLASHES THEN TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE IN GEARS. IT STARTS TO MAKE A WHINING SOUND ,CAR MOVES SLOWLY WHEN GAS IS PRESSED. HAPPENS MORE WHEN WEATHER IS HOT. POSSIBLE PROBLEM: TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT (TCU). *TR
1991 Honda Accord
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 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: 42 of 212 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 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
17 crash reports6 fire reports17 injury reports
Power Train complaints
18 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 HONDA ACCORD. IN JUNE OF 2008, THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SWITCH WAS REPLACED. IT FAILED AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2008. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE PART ITSELF. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.
I WAS NOT TOLD AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE HAD A SALVAGED TITLE. THEREFORE LEADING TO MANY MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. THERE WAS A DEFECTED PART PUT ON THAT WAS OLD AND RUSTED,AND SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE,THUS LEADING TO NEAR FATAL ACCIDENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO WARN EVERYONE WHO IN THE FUTURE IS PURCHASING AN AUTOMOBILE (US…
Read full complaint
I WAS NOT TOLD AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE HAD A SALVAGED TITLE. THEREFORE LEADING TO MANY MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. THERE WAS A DEFECTED PART PUT ON THAT WAS OLD AND RUSTED,AND SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE,THUS LEADING TO NEAR FATAL ACCIDENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO WARN EVERYONE WHO IN THE FUTURE IS PURCHASING AN AUTOMOBILE (USED) PLEASE CHECK OUT THE CARFAX REPORT ON IT FIRST SINCE CAR DEALERS WON'T TELL YOU FIRST. THIS WAS MY LAST MISTAKE I'LL MAKE IN BUYING A USED CAR. I DON'T THINK ITS FAIR OR LEGAL THAT THEY GET AWAY WITH THIS. THANK YOU. *NM
D4 GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH FAILED: BURNED BULB OR ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT FAILUTE (RECALL)?
AFTER CONSUMER STARTS VEHICLE, AND SHIFT INTO DRIVE GEAR, VEHICLE WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND STICK. CONSUMER UNABLE TO SHIFT TO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING KNOCKING NOISE. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE STALLED. *AK
TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CONTROL WIRE CABLES FAILED. MJS
VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR SEVERAL TIMES.
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS. PRIOBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE 10,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
SEAT BELT RECALL REPAIR DELAYED BECAUSE DEALER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS.
Official recalls
395V103001 · 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.
91V195000 · Interior Lighting
Nov 8, 1991
A WASHER IN THE CARGO AREA LIGHT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ATTACHED, AND MAY HAVE FALLEN IN THE CARGO LIGHT DURING ASSEMBLY. IF THIS OCCURRED, AND THE THREE POSITION LIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE MIDDLE POSITION, AND THE TAILGATE IS OPEN, THE WASHER CAN CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE LIGHT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LIGHT SHORT CIRCUIT COULD CAUSE THE SWITCH TOOVERHEAT AND RESULT IN A CARGO COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: REMOVE THE WASHERS BEHIND THE CARGO AREA LIGHT AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED LIGHT ASSEMBLIES.
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