Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1990 Honda Accord submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 28 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 28, in the owner's own words
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR STREET WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. I REACTED QUICKLY AND WAS ABLE TO COAST AND PULL OFF ONTO A SIDE STREET WITHOUT INTERRUPTING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I BARELY MADE THE TURN WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. I DID SOME INVESTIGATING AND FOUND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD SOME BURNED CONTACTS. THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. *TR
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
IGNITION SWITCH FAULTY. *JB
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
1ST REPLACEMENT OF SAME PART DONE BY DEALER AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE REPORTED ITERMITTENT PROBLEMS PRIOR TO END OF WARRANTY. SECOND FAILURE OF SAME PART OCCURRED WITHOUT PRIOR INDICATIONS OR WARNINGS.*AK
HONDA HAS A RECALL ON THIS ITEM, BUT IT HAS EXPIRED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
THE DEVICE THAT LOCKS THE SHIFT AND STEERING BECOMES INOPERATIVE DURING COLD WEATHER. THIS CAUSES THE KEY NOT TO RELEASE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO THE SHIFTER WILL NOT FUNCTIONING.
THIS SENSOR PROBLEM LOCKS THE GEAR SHIFTER IN THE PARK POSITION AND ALSO PROHIBITS THE DRIVER FROM REMOVING THE KEY FROM THS IGNITION SWITCH. THIS PROBLEMS STARTED IN THE EARLY YEARS FO THE VEHICLE AND HAVE PROGRESSED WITH THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE BUT NO PROBLEMS WERE DISCOVERED. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER HONDA OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE EXACT SYMPTONS. *AK
UNABLE TO RELEASE KEY FROM IGNITION SWITCH DURING COLD WEATHER SEASON. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE ORIGINAL DISTRIBUTER WAS REPLACED IN 1995 - AND REIMBURSED BY HONDA. THE REPLACEMENT FAILED IN SEPTEMBER 1998 AND WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. THE THIRD DISTRIBUTER IS BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE NOW (MOMENTARY TOTAL POWER LOSS - AND OCCASIONAL TOTAL LOSS, WITH RESTORATION AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES.)
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. ABOUT FOUR HOURS LATER, WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 200 YARDS, A BURNING SMELL THEN FUMES APPEARED. WHEN HOOD WAS OPENED THE CONSUMER SAW FLAMES. ALTERNATOR, POSSIBLY WIRING HARNESS SYSTEM DEFECT, CAUSED THE FIRE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEEL BEARING FAILED.
DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.
FIRE BEGAN IN ALTERNATOR WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING.
THE VEHICLE'S DISTRIBUTOR BROKE. CAN'T START THE VEHICLE. HAS HAD IT REPLACED ONCE ON A RECALL, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK
STARTER FAILED.
IGNITION SWITCH STICKS AND WILL NOT RELEASE SEAT BELT.
DISTRIBUTOR FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
MICHELIN TIRES SIZE 185/70R14 REPLACED.
DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER.
FAILURE OF THE ENGINE, WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF.*AK
UPON PARKING, MOMENTS LATER VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER HOOD, DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
DRIVING VEHICLE, PARKED VEHICLE IN COMPANY GARAGE, GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD, LIFTED THE HOOD OF VEHICLE, NOTICED FLAMES. *AK *JB
ANTENNA'S MOTOR WILL NOT SHUT OFF, CAUSING OVERHEATING OF THE FENDER NEAR THE GAS TANK PIPE FILLER, DISCONNECTED THE WIRING TO THE MOTOR. *AK
DRIVER IS UNABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, KEY DOES COME OUT AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .