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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.
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: 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
What owners actually said
472 reportsON JUNE 23, 1998, I PULLED INTO THE PARKING GARAGE AT THE STATE HEALTH DEPT. AND CAME TO A STOP IN THE PARKING SPACE. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STARTED RACING, THEN IT RAMMED INTO THE PARKING GRAGE WALL. THE NEXT THING I KNEW THE AIR BAG WAS IN MY FACE AND MY KNEE FELT STRANGE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN AND A POWDERY SUBSTANCE W…
Read full complaint
ON JUNE 23, 1998, I PULLED INTO THE PARKING GARAGE AT THE STATE HEALTH DEPT. AND CAME TO A STOP IN THE PARKING SPACE. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STARTED RACING, THEN IT RAMMED INTO THE PARKING GRAGE WALL. THE NEXT THING I KNEW THE AIR BAG WAS IN MY FACE AND MY KNEE FELT STRANGE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN AND A POWDERY SUBSTANCE WAS IN THE CAR. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND WENT INTO THE HEALTH DEPT. BUILDING AND CALLED MY DAD. I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT STATING THAT THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED I DID NOT CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. WHAT HAPPENED HERE WAS BEYOND MY CONTROL. THERE IS A SAFETY FACTOR HERE THAT AFFECTS ME AND OTHERS.
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER RAN OVER DEBRIS, AND AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT INDICATIONS. *AK
OCCASIONALLY WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE GEAR THE VEHICLE WILL GO FORWARD.
BUBBLES ON SIDE OF MICHELIN TIRES TWICE.
CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 55 MPH.
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS COMING ON EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE SRS MODULE WAS REPLACED TWICE. FIRST TIME IN SEPTEMBER OF 97, SECOND TIME ON APRIL 9, 1998. CURRENTLY THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. *AK
LOCKING MECHANISM THAT SECURES THE CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT BECAME INOPERABLE, CAUSING THE TENSION BELT NOT TO RELEASE WHICH HAD TO BE CUT TO REMOVE THE CHILD. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
DRIVING ON A RAMP AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH THERE WASN'T ANY TRAFFIC AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT..
Official recalls
198V231000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.