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1996 Honda Accord

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Honda Accord do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 356.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 85 of 472 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 96 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

52 crash reports3 fire reports21 injury reports

Power Train complaints

27 reports
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230,000 miles · Sep 29, 2020
Power Train

ONE DAY JUST LIKE THAT I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND I CAME TO A RED LIGHT SO AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN MY CAR WAS ON IN DRIVE AND I ACCELERATED AND THE CAR JUST WOULDN'T MOVE. GOT IT TOWED AND I GOT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODES AND IT WAS P0401 AND P0108 SO I CLEANED THE EGR VALVE AND BOUGHT A NEW MA…

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ONE DAY JUST LIKE THAT I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND I CAME TO A RED LIGHT SO AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN MY CAR WAS ON IN DRIVE AND I ACCELERATED AND THE CAR JUST WOULDN'T MOVE. GOT IT TOWED AND I GOT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODES AND IT WAS P0401 AND P0108 SO I CLEANED THE EGR VALVE AND BOUGHT A NEW MAP SENSOR AND INSTALLED IT. THE CAR HAD A NEW BATTERY, THE TRANSMISSION OIL WAS FULL AND WITH NO VISIBLE BLACK COLOR OR SMELL, THE CAR STARTED BUT WOULD NOT GET INTO GEAR AND JUST WOULDN'T MOVE. CALLED A SPECIALIST MECHANIC AND HE BROUGHT HIS TOOL TO CHECK THE WHOLE COMPUTER PART OF THE CAR WICH IS THE NEXT BEST THING TO TOWING IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP, THE RESULT CAME BACK INCONCLUSIVE WITH ALMOST CERTAIN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AFTER CORONA A LOST OF VEHICLE AND JOB I AM JUDT ABOUT TO SELL IT AS IS CUT MY LOSSES AND MAYBE BUY A BICYCLE FOR NOW. I JUST NEED TO LEAVE ABOUT ONE HOUR BEFORE WORK AND BUY A GOOD AXE BODY SHOWER SPRAY AND ATTACH LIFE ONES AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #11361702

79,758 miles · Jun 24, 2009
Power Train

96 HONDA ACCORD LX 2.2L TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 79,758 MILES. A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED ON 11/28/08 DUE TO TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY SLIPPING AND ACTUALLY LEAVING MY 23 YR OLD SON, AWAY AT SCHOOL STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXPRESSWAY. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT MANY HONDA ACCORD OWNERS HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AS …

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96 HONDA ACCORD LX 2.2L TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 79,758 MILES. A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED ON 11/28/08 DUE TO TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY SLIPPING AND ACTUALLY LEAVING MY 23 YR OLD SON, AWAY AT SCHOOL STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXPRESSWAY. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT MANY HONDA ACCORD OWNERS HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AS WELL. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT AMERICAN HONDA NEVER CONTACTED US REF TO THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY BEING EXTENDED TO 14 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES [BULLETIN 98-081 HTTP://WWW.EPA.GOV/OTAQ/CERT/RECALL/FR33394.HTM ]. WE FOUND OUT OURSELVES WHILE ON THE INTERNET LAST MONTH DOING RESEARCH ON HONDA TRANSMISSIONS. THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION REPLACED 11/28/08 FAILED US AGAIN WHEN OUR SON WAS RETURNING TO ORLANDO. WE HAD TO GO AND TOW THE CAR BACK TO MIAMI FOR ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. THIS TIME IT WAS DUE TO A TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274888

148,988 miles · Aug 22, 2007
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING ON THE NJ TURNPIKE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION UNEXPECTEDLY SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL (SLIPPED FROM D4 TO NEUTRAL). ENGINE REVVED TO RED LINE BEFORE I PULLED OVER. JUST NARROWLY MISSED GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10200527

125,000 miles · Oct 13, 2005
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, WITH DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS AND SRS SYSTEMS WHEEL ALIGNMENT BRAKE PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS YES , PARTS WERE REPLACED, REPAIRED BUT I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10139534

62,873 miles · Jan 5, 2004
Power Train

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER BECAUSE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING A WHINING NOISE. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10053323

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2003
Electrical SystemPower Train

KEY COMES OUT OF IGNITION WITHOUT TRANSMISSION IN PARK. CAR IS A 1996 HONDA ACCORD. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10039098

Mileage unknown · May 29, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 10 MONTHS WITH REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DEALER AND NUMEROUS CALLS TO THE POINT OF PURCHASE, WITH NO RESULTS, I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN-A-ROUND TO MANY TIMES TO COUNT. I HAVE A 1996 HONDA ACCORD AND IT HAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE IS HAVING TO BE REBUILT. THE HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE ARE BADLY WATER D…

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I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 10 MONTHS WITH REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DEALER AND NUMEROUS CALLS TO THE POINT OF PURCHASE, WITH NO RESULTS, I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN-A-ROUND TO MANY TIMES TO COUNT. I HAVE A 1996 HONDA ACCORD AND IT HAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE IS HAVING TO BE REBUILT. THE HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE ARE BADLY WATER DAMAGED AND WARPED, AND IT IS COSTING ME IN EXCESS OF $2,400.00 TO GET IT REPAIRED. I WAS TOLD THAT REPAIRS WERE MADE TO MY CAR BUT NEVER RECEIVED A WORK ORDER PROVING THAT SAID WORK WAS ACTUALLY DONE. I AM TRYING TO SEEK PROTECTION UNDER THE LEMON LAW SO ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME IN THAT EFFORT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!

NHTSA ODI #10020727

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2002
Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #765950

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

DEFECTIVE BALANCER SHAFT SEAL BROKE LOOSE, CAUSING AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF IMMEDIATE OIL LOSS W/NO WARNING INDICATORS. JUST HAD OIL CHANGE AND TRANSMISSION OIL FLUSH A MONTH AGO. HONDA NEEDS TO REIMBURSE COSTS OF TOTAL REPAIR DUE TO DEFECTIVE ITEM. NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE EITHER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #765671

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2002
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

STARTING IN SEPT. OF 2001 MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. AFTER CHECKING IT WITH HIS COMPUTER HE FOUND NO PROBLEM, RESET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HE RESEARCHED THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THAT HONDA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSIONS WHEN IT WAS HUMID!?!?…

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STARTING IN SEPT. OF 2001 MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. AFTER CHECKING IT WITH HIS COMPUTER HE FOUND NO PROBLEM, RESET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HE RESEARCHED THE VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THAT HONDA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSIONS WHEN IT WAS HUMID!?!?! SO I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD SEE IF IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS WHEN IT COOLED OFF. IT HAS AND IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT EVERY MORNING IT WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS UNTIL I HAVE DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE, STOP AND GO AGAIN. EVEN THEN SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T CHANGE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #759256

Official recalls

1

98V231000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Sep 22, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDAN, COUPE AND WAGON PASSENGER VEHICLES EXCEPT THE DX MODEL AND MODELS WITH V6 ENGINES. THE FACTORY INSTALLED AIR CONDITIONER WIRE HARNESS WAS IMPROPERLY ROUTED ALLOWING SOME WIRES TO RUB AGAINST EACH OTHER, EVENTUALLY CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SHORT CIRCUIT CANPOSSIBLY CAUSE THE UNDERHOOD WIREING TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN ALSO RESULT IN A BLOWN FUSE OR DEAD BATTERY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR PROPER ROUTING OF THESE WIRES. ANY HARNESS IMPROPERLY ROUTED WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND THE ROUTING WILL BE CORRECTED. IF ANY INSULATION IS WORN THROUGH AND THE COPPER WIRES ARE EXPOSED, THE HARNESS WILL BE REPLACED. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL PLASTIC TUBING TO PROTECT THE HARNESS.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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