IllustrationDT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SRS LIGHT STAYING ON. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED DUE TO THE COST OF HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE. *AK THE DEALER SUGGESTED THE CONSUMER WAIT TO SEE IF A RECALL WOULD BE ISSUED. UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB UPDATED 01/04/06.
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 reportsTHE SRS LIGHT REMAINS ON. *JB
I STARTED THE IGNITION OF MY 1996 HONDA ACCORD EX AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE EXPLOSION WAS VERY LOUD AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR. I WAS NOT MOVING AT THE TIME. THE CAR WAS STILL IN PARK WITH THE BRAKE ON. I GOT VERY SCARED.
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
IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 1996 ACCORD SEDAN IS SOMETIMES FAULTY/INTERMITTENT. I WOULD TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION AND THE ENGINE IS TOTALLY SILENT, WILL NOT CRANK OVER. I WOULD DO THIS UNTIL THE ENGINE CRANKS OVER AND TURNS ON. THE PROBLEM IS STILL INTERMITTENT TO THIS DAY. *NM
MY CAR (1996, HONDA ACCORD EX) WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER THE LAST TIME IT WAS DRIVEN PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE NEXT WE NOTICED WAS THE CAR WAS ROLLED OFF THE DRIVEWAY (IN REVERSE) AND HAD CLIMBED THE CURB (BOTH REAR AND FRONT WHEELS) AND ENDED UP ON THE LAWN OF THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR HOUSE. ADDITIONALLY TH…
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MY CAR (1996, HONDA ACCORD EX) WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER THE LAST TIME IT WAS DRIVEN PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE NEXT WE NOTICED WAS THE CAR WAS ROLLED OFF THE DRIVEWAY (IN REVERSE) AND HAD CLIMBED THE CURB (BOTH REAR AND FRONT WHEELS) AND ENDED UP ON THE LAWN OF THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR HOUSE. ADDITIONALLY THE CARS GEAR WAS NOT IN PARK (MY SON WHO DROVE THE CAR BACK TO OUR DRIVEWAY FROM THE LAWN FAILED TO NOTICE IN HIS HASTE AND EXCITEMENT WHAT THE GEAR WAS IN). ADDITIONALLY NOW THE CARS GEAR CAN BE SWITCHED WITHOUT THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE. ALSO, THE IGNITION KEY CAN BE TURNED AND THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE. FORTUNATELY NOBODY WAS HURT IN THE INCIDENT.
THE LAP BUCKLE OF THE HARNESS ON THE CAR SEAT UNLATCHED DURING AN ACCIDENT. *JB THE CONSUMER CHECKED HER SON AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND FOUND HIM UNDONE. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO A CURB. *SC *JB
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. *JB *NM
PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE PROPLERY. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYES ON WHILE DRIVING. APPOINTMENT WILL BE MADE FOR THE DEALER.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO NOTICED SMOKE AND SPARKS EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ADDITIONALLY HE NOTICED THAT THE LINING OVER ONE OF THE WHEELS HAD FALLEN OFF AND THE WIRES WERE EXPOSED, TOUCHING THE TIRE. RECALL 98V231000 WAS INITIATED REGARDIN…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO NOTICED SMOKE AND SPARKS EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ADDITIONALLY HE NOTICED THAT THE LINING OVER ONE OF THE WHEELS HAD FALLEN OFF AND THE WIRES WERE EXPOSED, TOUCHING THE TIRE. RECALL 98V231000 WAS INITIATED REGARDING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALL. THE FAILURE CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S A/C AND BATTERY, CD PLAYER, BLINKERS, LIGHT, ETC. *AK
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.