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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 →

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

Seat Belts complaints

17 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2022
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

SRS My safety and other person in my car in case of accident worries no air bag protection in case of accident.. YES. Diamond Valley Honda code 7-2 need to start with replacing SRS unit, 2 to 3 wks. to repair meanwhile no transportation. Who knows what els entails. NO not that I know of. It’s in the hands of Diamond Valley H…

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SRS My safety and other person in my car in case of accident worries no air bag protection in case of accident.. YES. Diamond Valley Honda code 7-2 need to start with replacing SRS unit, 2 to 3 wks. to repair meanwhile no transportation. Who knows what els entails. NO not that I know of. It’s in the hands of Diamond Valley Honda Hemet, CA YES warning light yesterday 7/13/2022 coming from my doctor office Wildomar, CA.

NHTSA ODI #11473940

200,000 miles · Oct 3, 2018
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

TAKATA INFLATORS & SAFETY BELT FAILED ON IMPACT IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11133169

111,504 miles · Mar 21, 2010
Air BagsSeat Belts

I OWN A 1996 HONDA ACCORD LX WHICH HAS A FAULTY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND IS QUITE EXPENSIVE. THIS HAPPENED 4 OR FIVE MONTHS AGO AND IS, OF COURSE, A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. NOW, AS OF THIS DATE, THE SRS LIGHT HAS COME ON WHICH APPARENTLY IS ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO THE FACT THA…

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I OWN A 1996 HONDA ACCORD LX WHICH HAS A FAULTY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND IS QUITE EXPENSIVE. THIS HAPPENED 4 OR FIVE MONTHS AGO AND IS, OF COURSE, A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. NOW, AS OF THIS DATE, THE SRS LIGHT HAS COME ON WHICH APPARENTLY IS ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10321273

81,000 miles · Dec 17, 2003
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LATCH PROPERLY INTO THE BUCKLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10051698

109,000 miles · Oct 20, 2003
Seat Belts

THE REAR SEAT BELT BECAME TANGLED AND LOCKED AROUND A CHILD'S NECK. THE MORE THE CONSUMER PULLED TO RELEASE THE BELT THE MORE IT TIGHTENED. THE BELT HAD TO BE CUT FOR IT TO UNLOCK. THE CHILD SUSTAINED BRUISES FROM HIS CHIN TO HIS SHOULDERS. *AK *TS *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10034460

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2002
Seat Belts

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE HAD BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE BCKLE OUT WITH OUT RELEASING THE LOCK.DEALER WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA ODI #8019374

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2002
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8018336

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2001
Seat Belts

WHEN SEAT BELT IS BEING USED BUCKLE RELEASES FROM LOCKING MECHANISM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #884835

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2000
Seat Belts

THE SEAT BELT RETAINER LATCH (THAT RECEIVES THE TIP OF THE SEAT BELT) DOES NOT RETAIN THE SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT LOOKS AS THOUGH IT IS PROPERLY INSTALLED BUT IT CAN BE PULLED LOOSE WITH MODERATE EFFORT. IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE TO THINK THAT THE SEAT BELT IS WORKING OK WHEN ITS NOT. IT MAY BE THAT THIS CONDITION IS …

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THE SEAT BELT RETAINER LATCH (THAT RECEIVES THE TIP OF THE SEAT BELT) DOES NOT RETAIN THE SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT LOOKS AS THOUGH IT IS PROPERLY INSTALLED BUT IT CAN BE PULLED LOOSE WITH MODERATE EFFORT. IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE FOR SOMEONE TO THINK THAT THE SEAT BELT IS WORKING OK WHEN ITS NOT. IT MAY BE THAT THIS CONDITION IS COMMON ENOUGH FOR YOU TO BE KEEPING A FILE ON IT. IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION I WILL SEND IT TO YOU. I AM A RETIRED ENGINEER WITH AUTOMOTICE EXPERIENCE SO YOU CAN GET ACCURATE INFORMATION FROM ME IF YOU WANT IT. THE DEALER HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT LATCH AT NO COST. HONDA HAS A LIFETIME GUARANTEE. I CAN SUPPOSE THAT MANY FAILURES OF THIS TYPE COULD OCCUR IN ACCIDENTS BUT BE ATTRIBUTED TO IMPROPPER SEAT BELT USE. THIS COULD HIDE A CONDITION THAT COULD HAVE KILLED MANY PEOPLE. YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK THE NATIONAL ACCIDENT FILES. I CAN DELAY HAVING THE BELT FIXED FOR A FEW DAYS IF YOU WANT TO CONFIRM THAT IT IS INDEED DEFECTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #734974

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 1999
Seat Belts

FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES WILL INTERMMITENLY FAIL TO ENGAGE. SEEMINGLY WHEN IT'S COLD, THE BUCKLE WILL "CLICK" AS IF IT IS LOCKED, BUT AFTER A SHORT PULL FOR VERIFICATION, IT COMES UNDONE. REQUIRES 5-10 ADDITIONAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE IT WILL LOCK. DRIVER'S BUCKLE STARTED FAILING IN OCT-98; FRONT PASSENGER'S STARTED DEC-98. *AK

NHTSA ODI #701955

Official recalls

1

98V231000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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