RoadVitals

1991 Honda Accord

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
212
Latest Aug 17, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
13
Latest May 11, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
23
19 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 212 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Honda Accord, most frequently naming the seat belts, body & structure and interior & seats categories. 13 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 18 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

13 campaigns cover this model year

View all 13

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
09E025000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

May 11, 2009
42,540 units potentially affected
The defect: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
The risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
DOPE, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
09E012000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Apr 7, 2009
16,270 units potentially affected
The defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
The risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
SABERSPORTView on NHTSA.gov
08E050000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Aug 11, 2008
1,921 units potentially affected
The defect: K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
K2 MOTOR CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA94035ClosedEngineering Analysis

SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE

Opened Oct 27, 1994
Closed Jul 31, 1995

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLYLed to recall 95V103001

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 212
Seat belts
Filed Aug 17, 2018

THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON MY DRIVER SIDE IS STUCK IN THE FORWARD POSITION. THE PASSENGER SIDE BELT WORKS JUST FINE, JUST NOT THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS HAPPENED AFTER I HAD MY DISTRIBUTOR REPLACED AND WHEN I STARTED MY CAR UP, IT WOULDN'T WORK.

NHTSA ID
11120596
Incident
Aug 16, 2018
Mileage
213,869 mi
Filed May 14, 2017

CAR DIED WHEN I'M STOPPED AND WHEN I ACCELERATE. NOW I CAN'T GET IT TO START AT ALL. THE SPARKS ARE GOOD, THE FUEL PUMP IS GOOD AND IT HAS GAS IN IT .

NHTSA ID
10985573
Incident
Mar 2, 2017
Mileage
123,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Dec 4, 2016

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR BECAME LOOSE AND NOW STAYS IN A DOWN POSITION AND SWINGS FREELY. WAS TOLD TO VISIT JUNK YARD TO FIND A FUNCTIONAL VISOR (WHOLE UNIT HAS TO BE REPLACED). THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED 5 YEARS AGO. THE WINDSHIELD SUN VISOR IS A BIG ISSUE SINCE IT OBSTRUCTS MY VISION (ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT) AND SINCE IT IS SO ANNOYING, I'VE REMOVED IT. NOW I HAVE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING BRIGHTLY DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I'M DRIVING. APPROXIMATELY 8 YEARS AGO THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SIDE WINDOW QUIT WORKING. I HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED, BUT IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM - IT WON'T GO UP THE ENTIRE WAY. ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE - SIDE WINDOW STOPPED GOING DOWN ALL THE WAY. AGAIN, I HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED, BUT IT STILL WON'T GO DOWN WITHOUT HESITATION AND STOPS AT THE HALFWAY POINT. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON PERMANENTLY APPROXIMATELY 7 YEARS AGO AND I'VE HAD 3 REPAIR SHOPS TELL ME THEY CANNOT GET IT TO TURN OFF. NOW I DON'T KNOW WHEN I'M HAVING AN ISSUE. CURRENTLY, I KEEP SMELLING A BURNING RUBBER SMELL, BUT NO ISSUES W/RADIATOR ARE PRESENT. NOT SURE IF THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' WOULD HAVE ALERTED ME TO A PROBLEM, BUT I DO COUNT ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS TO WARN ME OF ISSUES I WOULDN'T BE AWARE OF SINCE I'M NO MECHANIC. I PURCHASED A HONDA DUE TO THEIR SAFETY RECORDS AND DURABILITY AND COUNTED ON KEEPING MY CAR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. I'M NOW HAVING TO RECONSIDER PURCHASING A CAR IN THE NEXT YEAR AND AS MUCH AS I WAS ABLE TO DEPEND ON MY HONDA, I'M STRONGLY CONSIDERING A DIFFERENT CAR MAKE (NOT A HONDA). *TR

NHTSA ID
10929774
Incident
Oct 29, 2008
Mileage
180,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 23, 2016

NTSB: 1991 HONDA ACCORD: CONSUMER STATES THEY WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION TO REFERENCE THE SAFETY OF TURN SIGNAL. *SS

NHTSA ID
10909293
Incident
Aug 15, 2016
Seat belts
Filed Jun 13, 2016

THE DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC RETRACTABLE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT IS CURRENTLY STUCK IN THE FORWARD POSITION BY THE WINDOW AND WILL NOT RETRACT. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK TO VERIFY THAT IT NEEDS REPLACED. THE PART IS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED UNDER THE LIFETIME SEATBELT WARRANTY BUT WE ARE HAVING CONTINUED ISSUES GETTING SOMETHING DONE. THEY HAVE TOLD US THEY CAN'T LOCATE A PART, THAT THEY AREN'T "SURE" IF IT'S COVERED, AND HAVE BASICALLY BRUSHED US OFF.

NHTSA ID
10873862
Incident
May 1, 2016
Seat belts
Filed May 31, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND EXPAND. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOULDER RESTRAINT FAILED AND THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE ON THE CONTACT'S BEHALF. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 229,000.

NHTSA ID
10871596
Incident
Mar 1, 2016
Mileage
229,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jan 26, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE SEAT BELT WARNING SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH A BEEPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 202,000.

NHTSA ID
10822354
Incident
Dec 15, 2015
Mileage
202,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Feb 11, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT LATCH OR RETRACT. IN ADDITION, THE BUCKLE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE SEAT BELT WAS BUCKLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 268,000.

NHTSA ID
10682781
Incident
Aug 11, 2014
Mileage
268,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

98074

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONCERNS WITH ENGINE HESITATION OR STUMBLE CAN BE FELT UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION BETWEEN 1,500 AND 2,000 RPM. *YC UPDATED 10/09/07. *NJ

05012004

EQUIPMENT

AUDIO UNIT AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM ANTI-THEFT CODES AVAILABLE ON INTERACTIVE NETWORK. *NM

404

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

AUDIO, ANTI-THEFT CODES. HONDA. TECH LINE SUMMARY. *TT

11012003

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

HEATER BLOWER MOTOR GETS HOT OR BLOWS A FUSE. HONDA. SERVICENEWS. *TT

110102

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

USE '94 ACCORD SERVICE MANUAL TO ADJUST TIMING BELT TENSION. *TT

1002

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

TIMING BELT ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE. HONDA OCTOBER TECH LINE INFORMATION. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Honda Accord by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026400—
2025770047.2
20241353164.6
2023835170.2
20222214164.0
20212174166.2
20203455164.4
20196636266.2
20181,8336264.5
20175293058.9
20165944058.8
20155995261.7
20149754260.8
20131,4185563.2
20123728164.1
20112969058.9
201057913158.7
200972011259.5
20081,5209359.4
200752410467.5
200643017464.5
200565624465.6
20041,01622465.3
20031,98724564.2
20021,05016767.4
2001920191068.0
20001,18321563.5
19991,13517561.4
19981,20019361.3
199746015055.3
199647213055.4
199554314265.0
199436913058.9
199318611058.8
199220612058.9
1991Viewing21213159.8
199019212663.1
1989861156.3
1988882160.5
19871113363.2
1986542663.4
1985131256.5
1984222354.1
1983710—
1982102050.0
1981701—
1980201—
1979211—
1978010—
1977010—
1976010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.