RoadVitals

1991 Honda Accord Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
18
Latest Dec 4, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 212 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1991 Honda Accord submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Dec 17, 2013

MY AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE STOPPED RETRACTING, AND NOW THE SEATBELT LIGHT FLASHES AND WARNING BELL KEEPS BEEPING. EVEN WHEN I HAVE THE SEAT BELT FASTENED. I CALLED MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, BUT I HAVE THE WARRANTY AND IT SAYS IT IS COVERED. WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT, I WAS TOLD I COULD BRING THE CAR IN AND PAY TO DETERMINE IF IT IS COVERED. BUT THEY SAY ONLY THE BELT BUCKLE IS COVERED. MY WARRANTY STATES THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS COVERED. IT WAS LARRY MILLER HONDA IN BOISE IDAHO THAT I CALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10556306
Incident
Nov 27, 2013
Mileage
256,000 mi
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed Oct 29, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSED THE SEAT BELT LIGHT TO TURN ON. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,382 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,800. UPDATED 01/13/11*BF UPDATED 01/24/11*JB

NHTSA ID
10362895
Incident
Oct 29, 2009
Mileage
123,382 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 23, 2009

1991 HONDA ACCORD SEAT BELT LIGHT BLINKS AND BEEPS ALL THE TIME. HONDA WILL NOT COVER UNDER LIFETIME WARRANTY, WANTS $685.00 TO REPLACE SEAT BELT WARNING CONTROL UNIT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10262774
Incident
Mar 15, 2009
Mileage
207,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 17, 2007

MY 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT COMES ON WHILE I AM DRIVING AND THE CAR JERKS, OR IF IT HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS IDLING THE CAR STALLS. IT THE LIGHT IS ON I HAVE TO SHIFT BEFORE THE RPM 'S GET TO 3500 OR THE CAR SHAKES AND LOOSES POWER. WHEN THE LIGHT IS OFF THE CAR RUNS FINE. I CAN ONLY DRIVE ABOUT 10 MILES BEFORE THE LIGHT COMES ON. THE LIGHT COMES ON EITHER WHEN I START THE CAR OR SHORTLY AFTER EVERYTIME I DRIVE THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10188180
Incident
Apr 4, 2007
Electrical
Filed Jun 9, 2004

SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE DISTRIBUTOR. CUT OFF ON THE FREEWAY. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THE DRISTRIBUTOR WENT BAD. I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE WAS RECALLS A WHILE AGO FOR THIS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10075040
Incident
Jun 3, 2004
Mileage
175,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 15, 2004

D4 GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH FAILED: BURNED BULB OR ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT FAILUTE (RECALL)?

NHTSA ID
10069014
Incident
Dec 15, 2002
ElectricalSeat belts
Filed May 20, 2003

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ON DRIVER-SIDE ONLY WILL NOT MOVE FROM RETRACTED POSITION AS IF DOOR IS OPEN AT ALL TIMES AFTER SENSOR ON DASHBOARD MALFUNCTIONED TEMPORARILY. AS A RESULT, LAP BELT IS ONLY AVAILABLE RESULTING IN LACK OF SAFETY FOR DRIVER. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10019022
Incident
May 18, 2003
Mileage
97,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 9, 2003

LETTER FROM DAVID WYNNE (NJ) RE HIS 1991 HONDA, ACCORD. HE WAS NEVER CONTACTED RE THE 1993 HONDA RECALL OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM DISTRIBUTOR DEFECT, REPLY ATTN DEE DENTON/ MT, HOLLY OFFICE, NO RECORD SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN FOUND ON PREVIOUS LETTER. IGNITION SYSTEM DISTRIBUTOR FAILURE IN THE 1993, HONDA RECALL OF THE IGNITION SYSTEM DISTRIBUTOR DEFECT, REPLY ATTEN DEE DENTON/MT, HOLLY OFFICE. HAD NOT FOUND A PREVIOUS LETTER. MR WYNNE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND DEALER NOTIFIED HIM THAT PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR. HE WANTED TO KNOW IF HONDA RECALL OF THE IGNITION DISTRIBUTE IN 1993 WOULD ALSO AFFECT HIS 1991 HONDA, ACCORD.*AK *CB *JB

NHTSA ID
10015510
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Electrical
Filed Mar 31, 2003

IGNITION SYSTEMS - DISTRIBUTOR DEFECT.

NHTSA ID
10011600
Electrical
Filed Sep 24, 2001

WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS CAR SUDDENLY WENT DEAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STED THAT IT WAS WIRE TO ALTERNATOR THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY REPAIRED WIRE. A WEEK LATER ALTERNATOR WENT BAD AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
896750
Incident
Apr 1, 2001
Electrical
Filed Apr 11, 2000
Fire reported

CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY FOURTYFIVE MINUTES AFTER USE. CAR STARTS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD DRIVERS FRONT . THE MAJORITY OF THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TOTHE BUMPER AREA. VERY EXTREME HEAT THERE. THE FIRE DAMAGED WIRING MAINLY ON THE DRIVERSIDE WHEEL WELL. ALSO BURNT MANY ELECTRICAL DEVICES, THE POWERESTEERING RESIVOUR , CRUISE CONTROL DIGHFRAM,WINDOWWASHER BOTTLE. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY STORIES OF SIMMILAR FIRES ON AT LEAST SIX OR SEVEN VEHICLES. THER MUST BE A DEFECT SOME WHERE TO CAUSE A FIRE LIKE THAT. *AK

NHTSA ID
721340
Incident
Dec 15, 1999
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Sep 29, 1999

ON WAY TO WORK CONSUMER PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY CALLED AAA, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW STEERING RACK. THE STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING ON THE FRONT SWAY BAR BUSHING. THEY ALSO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW RADIATOR, WATER PUMP AND DISTRIBUTOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
849108
Incident
Sep 9, 1999
ElectricalEngineVisibility
Filed Feb 5, 1999

FAULTY CONTROL PANEL FOR A/C/HEATER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
543777
Electrical
Filed Oct 12, 1998

DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID
781174
Incident
Oct 11, 1998
Electrical
Filed Aug 24, 1998

THE IGINTION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY, WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER SAID THAT A PIN BROKE IN THE IGINTION SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
827150
Incident
Aug 21, 1998
Electrical
Filed Apr 22, 1996

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. DLRS OBSERVATION DISTRIBUTOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
983227
Incident
Mar 22, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 17, 1995

VEHICLE TURNED OFF AT 60MPH ON HWY DUE TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH. TT

NHTSA ID
965467
Incident
May 15, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .