MASSIVE OIL LEAK DUE TO FAILURE OF BALANCER SHAFT OIL SEAL. $1,700 PERIPHERAL ENGINE DAMAGE. ITEM RECALLED, BUT HONDA WILL NOT HONOR MAJORITY OF REPAIR COST. VERY LATE RECALL; 1.2 MILLION VEHICLES INVOLVED ACCORDING TO HONDA.
1994 Honda Accord
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 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: 52 of 369 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
84 reports11-7-2000 INCURRED AN EXPENSE OF $827.93 RESULTING FROM A BLOWN OUT BALANCE SHAFT SEAL. 11-29-2000 MAILED TO HONDA A REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT WITH: THE PROCARE INVOICE FOR 827.93, COPY OF THE RECEIPT, AND CENTURY HONDA INVOICE CONFIRMING INSPECTION OF BALANCE SHAFT SEAL CORRECTION. 1-13-2001 RECEIVED POSTCARD FROM HONDA CO…
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11-7-2000 INCURRED AN EXPENSE OF $827.93 RESULTING FROM A BLOWN OUT BALANCE SHAFT SEAL. 11-29-2000 MAILED TO HONDA A REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT WITH: THE PROCARE INVOICE FOR 827.93, COPY OF THE RECEIPT, AND CENTURY HONDA INVOICE CONFIRMING INSPECTION OF BALANCE SHAFT SEAL CORRECTION. 1-13-2001 RECEIVED POSTCARD FROM HONDA CONFIRMING RECEIPT OF CLAIM. THEY CLAIMED THE DID NOT RECEIVE THE CENTURY HONDA INVOICE. 1-23-2001 AFTER DAYS, YES DAYS, OF BUSY SIGNALS I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO FAX THE INVOICE THEY SAID THEY DID NOT RECEIVE. ALL PHONE CALLS IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF THIS ORDEAL HAVE RESULTED IN BUSY SIGNALS OR BEING PUT ON HOLD. I HAVE PUT THE PHONE ON SPEAKER AT WORK AND WAITED AS LONG AS AN HOUR BEFORE GIVING UP. HONDA HAS BASICALLY MADE THEIRSELVES INACCESIBLE. 3-2-2001 TO DATE NO RESPONSE FROM HONDA EXCEPT PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED POSTCARD.HAVE
A/C RECALL - COOLING SYSTEM NEVER WORKS PROPERLY. DEFROST DOESN'T CLEAR WINDOWS ON LEFT SIDE. ENGINE STARTED LEAKING OIL PROFUSELY (PART RECALL?) ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WENT OUT. LIGHTING SWITCH WENT OUT & ALL LIGHTS BLEW. ANTENNA DOES'NT WORK PROPERLY. WINDOWS ARE COMING DOWN SLOWER AND SLOWER. SEEMS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION …
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A/C RECALL - COOLING SYSTEM NEVER WORKS PROPERLY. DEFROST DOESN'T CLEAR WINDOWS ON LEFT SIDE. ENGINE STARTED LEAKING OIL PROFUSELY (PART RECALL?) ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WENT OUT. LIGHTING SWITCH WENT OUT & ALL LIGHTS BLEW. ANTENNA DOES'NT WORK PROPERLY. WINDOWS ARE COMING DOWN SLOWER AND SLOWER. SEEMS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION MIGHT BE THE NEXT TO GO. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A CONTINUAL CASE OF MURPHY'S LAW.*AK
HONDA IS NOW GIVING ME THE RUN-AROUND ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT. THEY HAVE SET UP A SERIES OF HOOPS THAT ARE GOING TO COST ME TIME, MONEY AND THE USE OF MY CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
WHILE INTERSTATE DRIVING, CAR (ENGINE) SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN . NOTICED RPM DROPS TO 0 AT THE INSTANT OF THE SHUTDOWN. LOST STEERING CAPABILITY (STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION), LOST ACCELERATION POWER. HAD TO DRIFT OFF TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY. LUCKILY NO TRAFFIC IMMEDIATELY BEHIND. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DETERM…
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WHILE INTERSTATE DRIVING, CAR (ENGINE) SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN . NOTICED RPM DROPS TO 0 AT THE INSTANT OF THE SHUTDOWN. LOST STEERING CAPABILITY (STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION), LOST ACCELERATION POWER. HAD TO DRIFT OFF TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY. LUCKILY NO TRAFFIC IMMEDIATELY BEHIND. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED IGNITOR COIL, IGNITOR U AND ENGINE OIL SEAL ALL FAILED. LOST ALL OIL FROM ENGINE. DEALER REPLACED COIL IGNITOR, IGNITOR U, T-BELTS, OIL SEALS, WATER PUMP, COOLANT AND RUBBER, ACCORDING TO PARTS LISTING ON INVOICE. DAMAGE AMOUNTED TO $837.33. HONDA NOW RECALLING AND REPAIRING OIL SEAL BUT WILL NOT REIMBURSE FOR WATER PUMP, EXTERIOR BELTS OR THE TWO IGNITION/IGNITOR PARTS REPLACED. THIS WAS A MAJOR FAILURE THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH ON THE INTERSTATE. IF HONDA RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF A PART TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURE AS IN THE CASE OF THE WATER PUMP, THEN HONDA SHOULD REIMBURSE FOR SAME. *AK
OIL PAN GASKET SUDDENLY BLEW, SPRAYING HOT OIL ALL OVER ENGINE, DESTROYING NEW TIMING BELT, ALL OTHER ENGINE BELTS AND HOSES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 1800 RPM, THERE IS A BUZZ IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *SLC
BALANCER SHAFT SEAL POPPED OUT. ALL ENGINE OIL QUICKLY LOST. CAMSHAFT FROZE IN HEAD. CRANKSHAFT CONTINUED TO TURN, STRIPPING TEETH OFF OF TIMING BELT. OIL SOAKED BRAKE PADS, TIRES AND BELTS. MECHANIC SAID ENGINE NEEDS REPLACEMENT, DAMAGE IRREPAIRABLE. HEAD, CRANKSHAFT, AND PISTONS DAMAGED. REPAIR COSTS $2000 -$4000. CAR LOST ALL…
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BALANCER SHAFT SEAL POPPED OUT. ALL ENGINE OIL QUICKLY LOST. CAMSHAFT FROZE IN HEAD. CRANKSHAFT CONTINUED TO TURN, STRIPPING TEETH OFF OF TIMING BELT. OIL SOAKED BRAKE PADS, TIRES AND BELTS. MECHANIC SAID ENGINE NEEDS REPLACEMENT, DAMAGE IRREPAIRABLE. HEAD, CRANKSHAFT, AND PISTONS DAMAGED. REPAIR COSTS $2000 -$4000. CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WAS STRANDED IN THE ROAD, COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT. IF I HAD TO STOP IN A HURRY, COULD HAVE CRASHED DUE TO OIL SOAKED BRAKES. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE. I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLANTS ON THIS SAME FAULTY OIL SEAL. *AK
BALANCER SEAL FAILED, ENGINE LOST OIL NOW ENGINE BLOCK IS CRACKED. *AK
VEHICLE BEGAN POURING OUT OIL FROM WITHIN THE TIMING COVER. ENDED UP REPLACING ALL BELTS INCLUDING TIMING BELT DUE TO OIL HAVING COVERED EVERYTHING. ALSO REPLACED WATER PUMP WHILE UNIT WAS OPEN. MECHANIC SAID BALANCE SHAFT SEAL WAS CAUSE OF PROBLEM - SAID IT WAS THE 4TH HE HAD SEEN IN ABOUT THE LAST WEEK THAT INVOLVED AN ACCORD.…
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VEHICLE BEGAN POURING OUT OIL FROM WITHIN THE TIMING COVER. ENDED UP REPLACING ALL BELTS INCLUDING TIMING BELT DUE TO OIL HAVING COVERED EVERYTHING. ALSO REPLACED WATER PUMP WHILE UNIT WAS OPEN. MECHANIC SAID BALANCE SHAFT SEAL WAS CAUSE OF PROBLEM - SAID IT WAS THE 4TH HE HAD SEEN IN ABOUT THE LAST WEEK THAT INVOLVED AN ACCORD. RESEARCHED RECALL INFO ON INTERNET AND DISCOVERED IN USA TODAY SEPT 19,2000 THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN OHIO MANUFACTERED CARS AND THOSE WERE BEING RECALLED FOR WHAT APPEARS AS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN HOWEVER. MADE A CALL TO HONDA MOTOR CO., SAID THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE IN PARTICULAR BUT THAT THEY RECEIVED THEIR INFO FROM NHTSA AND COULD NOT HELP ME SINCE THERE WAS NO EXISTING RECALL. SEEMS A HONDA SHOULD GO MORE THAT 50,000 WITHOUT MAJOR ENGINE REPAIR WORK. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!*AK
Official recalls
194V155000 · Tires:valve
Aug 16, 1994
THE TIRE VALVE STEMS WERE DAMAGED DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS. THIS CAN CAUSE THE TIRE TO LOSE AIR PRESSURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SIGNIFICANT AIR LOSS CAN RESULT IN STEERING PULL,TIRE OVERHEATING, AND EVENTUAL TIRE FAILURE WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT ALL TIRES TO DETERMINE IF THE VALVE STEMS WERE DAMAGED. ANY DAMAGED TIRE STEMS WILL BE REPLACED.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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