1988 Honda ACCORD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
60 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
200,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 60 complaints (23.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 3.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 14 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 2 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 14; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 5; Seat Belts: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Power Train:Axle Assembly: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 5
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 54 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 25 |
| 1996 | 9 |
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1995: 25; 1996: 9; 2000: 4; 2001: 8; 2002: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2008: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10069893 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO OVER HEAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE REPLACED THE RADIATOR, RADIATOR HOSE, AND BACK UP FOR THE RADIATOR. ALSO THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT COME UNDONE ONCE SOMEONE HAS LOCKED THEMSELF IN. WE HAVE TO TAKE A SCREW DRIVER TO GET THE LOCK OUT. THE CAR HAS A HARD TIME SHIFTING GEARS AND WHEN IT DOES IT SLAMS INTO GEAR OR WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 754906 · 2001-11-26 (November 26, 2001)
I STARTED THE CAR AND REVERSED IT FROM GARAGE. CAR STALLED. I FORGOT TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK BEFORE TAKING THE KEY OUT OF IGNITION. AFTER SOME TIME I STARTED THE CAR STANDING OUTSIDE WHILE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS STILL WIDELY OPENED. IMMEDIATELY THE CAR WENT BACKWARD PULLING ME WITH THE OPEN DOOR. I FELL ON THE GROUND. MY LEG GOT CAUGHT IN THE FRONT WHEEL. I GOT SOME SCRATCH ON MY LEFT LEG WITH SEVERE PAIN THROUGH OUT MY LEFT LEG. THE DOOR OF THE CAR HIT ON THE SIDE OF HOUSE WHICH STOPPED THE FURTHER MOVEMENT OF THE CAR. OTHERWISE I COULD H…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 754906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001000 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
ON 12/24/02 I WAS REAR-ENDED BY A DODGE NEON TRAVELING ABOUT 25-30 MPH. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AT THE TIME. MY CAR HONDA [VIN [XXX]] WAS TOTALED. DURING THE CRASH THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT FAILED. THE RESULT WAS I WAS THROWN FORWARD INTO THE STEERING COLUMN WITH GREAT FORCE. I SUFFERED MULTIPLE INJURIES BUT IN PARTICULAR I BROKE THREE RIBS ON THE LOWER RIGHT SIDE OF MY RIB CAGE . THERE IS NO QUESTION BUT THAT THE BROKEN SEAT CONTRIBUTED TO MY INJURIES. IT IS MY PRACTICE TO ALWAYS WEAR A SEAT BELT. BROKEN SEAT = BROKEN RIBS + CHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 739365 · 2001-01-15 (January 15, 2001)
MY STEERING WENT OUT. WONDERING IF THERE WERE SIMILAR REPORTS ON THIS SPECIFIC CAR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 739365 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8001759 · 2002-01-08 (January 8, 2002)
WAS EXITING FROM TRAFFIC WHEN BRAKES FAILED AFTER BEING APPLIED. THIS CAUSED DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAD CONTACTED DEALERSHIP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8001759 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 969164 · 1995-07-20 (July 20, 1995)
BRAKE FAILURE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 969164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 550808 · 2000-05-09 (May 9, 2000)
DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT 2 FUSES FAILED. WIRING HARNESS AT LAS TSTRAP TOO SHORT, AND ALL THREE CONDUCTORS HAD BARE INSULATION AND SHORTED OUT AGAINST EACH OTHER. ONE CONDUCTOR WAS NEGATIVE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 761895 · 2002-05-14 (May 14, 2002)
THE HIDE AWAY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY KEEPS CUTTING THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS IN TWO AFTER THE HEADLIGHTS OPEN AND SHUT SEVERAL TIMES. THIS LOOKS LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I HAVE PERSONALLY FIXED THIS PROBLEM TWICE IN 76000 MILES WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER DOING IT TWICE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 761895 at NHTSA ↗