1990 Honda ACCORD: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
126 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
152,011 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body:Door is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 126 complaints (15.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 8.7% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 7.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body:Door | 19 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 16 |
| Seat Belts | 11 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 6 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 5 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
Structure:Body:Door: 19; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 16; Seat Belts: 11; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 9; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 6; Electrical System:Ignition: 5; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4
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 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 7
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 112 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 | 39 |
| 1996 | 30 |
| 2000 | 22 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
1995: 39; 1996: 30; 2000: 22; 2001: 7; 2002: 8; 2003: 3; 2004: 6; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 5; 2010: 1; 2014: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body:Door leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10024669 · 2003-06-23 (June 23, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027211 · 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING AT 10 MPH, DRIVER SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT TO THE RIGHT. FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE ON. MECHANIC STATES IT'S THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10027211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046350 · 2003-12-02 (December 2, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. *AK *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 133,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058073 · 2004-02-12 (February 12, 2004)
THE CONSUMER HAD ENGINE TROUBLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND HAD BECOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *PH *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058073 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060059 · 2004-02-29 (February 29, 2004)
IGNITION SWITCH FAULTY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069574 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
MY DAUGHTER WAS HIT HEAD-ON AND HER BODY SLAMMED AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE WAS WEARING BOTH THE LAP AND AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT. APPARENTLY THE LOCKING MECHANISM DID NOT WORK ON THE SHOULDER BELT.
Owner-reported narrative. 226,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083439 · 2004-07-21 (July 21, 2004)
CONSUMER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. ALSO, SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT IN THE BACK WINDOW SHORTED OUT. THIS CAUSED A WIRE TO IGNITE AND THERE WERE FLAMES AND BLACK SMOKE. THE INTENSE HEAT CAUSED THE REAR WINDSHIELD TO EXPLODE. PLEASE HELP AS SHE STATES SHE NEEDS HELP TO REPAIR VEHICLE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095394 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT REQUEST A COMPLETE COPY OF ANY AND ALL RECALL INFORMATION REGARDING THE 1986-1991 SEAT BELT CAMPAIGN. *NM RECALL NUMBERS: ( 93V056000 ,95V103001 ) SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE AND SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY ARE THE ISSUES WITH THE SEAT BELT FOR CONSUMERS VEHICLE. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10095394 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
93V056000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1993-04-22 (April 22, 1993)
THE REAR OUTSIDE SEATING POSITION SAFETY BELTS MAY LOCK UP AT ANGLES OTHER THAN THOSE REQUIRED BY FMVSS 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES". THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD.
Consequence: NON-CONFORMING SAFETY BELTS CAUSE AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE SENSOR IN THE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR.
NHTSA campaign record ↗95V103001 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 1995-05-24 (May 24, 1995)
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUG ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, THEN PRESS THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS ANY SIGN OF BREAKAGE OR CRACKING, OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, PROMPTLY CONTACT YOUR AUTHORIZED HONDA/ACURA DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
NHTSA campaign record ↗