U.S. public vehicle records

Honda ACCORD problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

23,250 owner complaints analyzed

80 distinct recall campaigns

66,960 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1976 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 12,995 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3,057 of 23,250 complaints (13.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	4,215	18.1%
Transmission and shifting	3,188	13.7%
Steering behavior	2,021	8.7%
Electrical and battery issues	1,476	6.3%
Engine operation	1,223	5.3%
Fuel system concerns	558	2.4%

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.

Air Bags

3,057

Electrical System

3,042

Engine

2,223

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

1,809

Power Train

1,699

Unknown Or Other

1,698

Steering

1,503

Service Brakes

1,096

Air Bags: 3,057; Electrical System: 3,042; Engine: 2,223; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1,809; Power Train: 1,699; Unknown Or Other: 1,698; Steering: 1,503; Service Brakes: 1,096

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

3,164

25,000 to 49,999

1,941

50,000 to 74,999

2,002

75,000 to 99,999

1,987

100,000 to 149,999

2,508

150,000 and above

1,393

Under 25,000: 3,164; 25,000 to 49,999: 1,941; 50,000 to 74,999: 2,002; 75,000 to 99,999: 1,987; 100,000 to 149,999: 2,508; 150,000 and above: 1,393

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3,164). 10,255 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.

1995

352

1996

232

2000

522

2001

510

2002

720

2003

806

2004

875

2005

505

2006

461

2007

417

2008

722

2009

1,042

2010

1,323

2011

920

2012

828

2013

730

2014

949

2015

1,088

2016

1,059

2017

980

2018

952

2019

1,080

2020

789

2021

743

2022

707

2023

739

2024

997

2025

1,199

2026

1,003

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1995	352
1996	232
2000	522
2001	510
2002	720
2003	806
2004	875
2005	505
2006	461
2007	417
2008	722
2009	1042
2010	1323
2011	920
2012	828
2013	730
2014	949
2015	1088
2016	1059
2017	980
2018	952
2019	1080
2020	789
2021	743
2022	707
2023	739
2024	997
2025	1199
2026	1003

1995: 352; 1996: 232; 2000: 522; 2001: 510; 2002: 720; 2003: 806; 2004: 875; 2005: 505; 2006: 461; 2007: 417; 2008: 722; 2009: 1,042; 2010: 1,323; 2011: 920; 2012: 828; 2013: 730; 2014: 949; 2015: 1,088; 2016: 1,059; 2017: 980; 2018: 952; 2019: 1,080; 2020: 789; 2021: 743; 2022: 707; 2023: 739; 2024: 997; 2025: 1,199; 2026: 1,003

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4,215 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3,188 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2,021 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 504296 · 1996-05-15 (May 15, 1996)

MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT) *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504296 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10033255 · 2003-08-21 (August 21, 2003)

I HAD TAKEN MY 1984 HONDA ACCORD IN FOR BRAKES TO MY MECHANIC. AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR ON THE LIFT HE STATED THAT THE FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH TO THE POINT THAT IT POSED A THREAT TO ME DRIVING AND THEREFORE REFUSED TO MAKE ANY FURTHER REPAIRS ON IT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MARYSVILLE TIRE AND AUTO SVS FOR A 2ND OPINION AND THERE, THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT HE TOO WOULD NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS FOR THAT VERY SAME REASON. HE SUGGESTED THE AUTO BE SALVAGED. REVIEWING MY OPTIONS, I RELUCTANTLY AGREED AND HE OFFERED TO SALVAGE IT FOR ME. THAT FO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033255 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10071163 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

ENGINE: RADIATOR WAS LEAKING-REPLACE RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP. TRANSMISSION: HESITATION DURING EXCELLERATION, CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. REPLACED WITH USED TRANSIMISSION. FUEL SYSTEM: (2X'S) NO REPAIR AS OF YET, HESITATION DURING EXCELLERATION, CANNOT GET INTO GEAR. ENGINE REVES UP BUT CAR WILL NOT GO. MECHANIC CHECKED THE CAR - FILLER NECK IS EXTREMELY RUSTED OUT, HE SAID THEY HAD BEEN RECALLED AND TO GET A HOLD OF THE DEALERSHIP TO GET REPLACED. DEALER SHIP SAID IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. TOOK BACK TO MECHANIC WHO WILL NOT REP…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071163 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 480593 · 1995-01-14 (January 14, 1995)

TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480593 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 501314 · 1996-02-14 (February 14, 1996)

STEERING ASSEMBLY BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT). *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501314 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8022050 · 2002-11-01 (November 1, 2002)

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT SUSPENSION CRADLE BOLTS SNAP, AND CAUSES LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR PHOTOS ATTACHED. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 8022050 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 720830 · 2000-03-31 (March 31, 2000)

WIRING HARNESS TO HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY CONTACTS SHARP METAL RIB WHEN RETRACTED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720830 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10037672 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)

WHILE PARKED, THE BATTERY EXPLODED AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *PH *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037672 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10119825 · 2005-05-31 (May 31, 2005)

CONTACT STATES: 1984 HONDA ACCORD HAS A RUSTED GAS FILLER NECK, RECALL 92V028000. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE FILLER NECK BECAUSE THE AREA IS SO RUSTED THE NEW NECK WILL NOT ATTACH TO IT. THE FUEL LINE IS ALSO CONTAMINATED DUE TO RUST. CAR WOULD NOT START, AND NOW STALLS IN TRAFFIC. FUEL IS LEAKING OUT OF THE CARBURETOR, AND IS A FIRE HAZARD.*AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 165,367 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119825 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 489129 · 1995-04-05 (April 5, 1995)

CARBURATOR CONTAMINATION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/ROUGH IDLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489129 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 959275 · 1995-01-30 (January 30, 1995)

RUSTING OF THE GAS TANK AND FLOOR PANEL. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959275 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 487650 · 1995-11-03 (November 3, 1995)

WHEN GAS TANK IS FILLED, ODOR OF GASOLINE IS PREVALENT IN GARAGE. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487650 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.