Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Honda Accord submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 82 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 82, in the owner's own words
AS I PREPARED TO SLOW TO A STOP IN A RELATIVES CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UP WITH A HIGH PITCHED WHINE. I TURNED THE WHEEL TO AVOID HITTING A PARKED CAR IN HOPES OF STOPPING THE CAR BUT IT CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED AND ENDED UP HITTING A PICKUP IN THE SAME CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO FUNCTION AS THE CAR PICKED UP SPEED.
1996 HONDA ACCORD. CONSUMER STATES BRAKE FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WAS VERY HARD AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT APPEARED THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE ABS RESERVOIR. *JB
1996 HONDA ACCORD BRAKE LINES UNDER CAR RUSTED THRU TO FAILURE WHERE PLASTIC CLAMPS HOLD THEM IN PLACE. BRAKES FAILED CANNOT SEE CORROSION WITH OUT REMOVING PLASTIC COVER. FUEL LINE ALSO SEVERLY RUSTED IN SAME LOCATION WHERE CLAMPED. *TR
ABS LIGHT CAME ON ACCOMPANIED BY BUZZER. CHECKED BRAKE FLUID AND FOUND THAT I WAS ALMOST EMPTY IN ABS RESERVOIR. ADDED FLUID AND HAD ABS MODULATOR CHECKED. MODULATOR WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FROM FITTING ON UNDERSIDE. I CONTACTED DEALER TO EFFECT REPAIR,AND WAS TOLD A NEW ABS MODULATOR WOULD BE ABOUT $1500-$1600 DOLLARS. SINCE VEHICLE WAS JUST PAST WARRANTY LIMITS, I INQUIRED IF SOME CONSIDERATION MIGHT BE MADE SINCE IT WAS CONSIDERED A NON-WEAR ITEM. DEALER DENIED ANY CONSIDERATIONS. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THE MATTER, I DISCOVERED A HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN RELEASED TO DEALERS PRIOR TO MY COMPLAINT THAT ACKNOWLEDGES A PROBLEM WITH "LEAKING ABS MODULATORS" HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN # 960-50 JUNE 30,1998. IT STATES THAT THE PLUGS IN THE ABS MODULATOR MAY NOT BE PROPERLY TIGHTENED,AND GOES ON TO DESCRIBE A SIMPLE INEXPENSIVE FIX FOR THIS SYMPTOM. WHEN I AGAIN CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MADE THEM AWARE OF THIS,THEY AGAIN SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT BY REPLACING THE UNIT FOR $1500-$1600-NO WARRANTY-NO EXCEPTIONS. I INQUIRED ABOUT THE REGIONAL WARRANTY REPRESENTATIVE,GOT HIS PHONE NUMBER,AND CALLED HIM. AGAIN I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM,MY CONCERNS,AND THE HONDA ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN. HE SAID THAT WHILE THE BULLETIN DOES DESCRIBE ONE POSSIBLE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM,THE HONDA DEALERS WERE NOT BOUND TO FOLLOW THAT RECOMMENDED AVENUE OF REPAIR. IN OTHER WORDS,"SPEND 1/2 HR. FIXING SOMETHING FOR $100, OR SPEND 1/2 HR FIXING IT FOR $1500". I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THAT,SINCE I WORK IN A CONSUMER RELATED FIELD, AT NO TIME DID I PRESENT MYSELF UNPROFESSIONALLY,OR FAIL TO SHOW RESPECT TO THE PERSON TO WHOM I WAS SPEAKING,AS I BELIEVED THAT ULTIMATELY,"REASON" WOULD WIN OUT. *NM
SHOULDN'T SAFETY EQUIPMENT BE REPAIRED BY MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO CONSUMER IF CONSUMER HAS DONE NOTHING TO CAUSE MALFUNCTION? MY SRS LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT IS ON(1996 HONDA ACCORD EX). MY HONDA DEALER WANTS $1000+ TO FIX THE SRS LIGHT AND $1500-$1700 TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULATOR/ACCUMULATOR. I HAD THE CAR FOR 3 WEEKS WHEN THE FIRST PROBLEM LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW I HAVE TWO SAFETY PROBLEMS. CAN YOU HELP ME OUT ON THIS?*JB
1996 HONDA ACCORD WITH 48000 MILES: ABS SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON; EXPENSIVE PART TO REPLACE; SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER ACCORDS. *AK
WHILE BRAKING ABS PUMP FAILED. THIS CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. ELECTRICAL-HEADLIGHTS, POWER WINDOWS-DRIVER SIDE FAILED. *AK
ABS IS FAILING DUE TO FLUID LEAK AND LACK OF PRESSURE. THIS CAR IS RELATIVELY YOUNG AND SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING THIS TYPE OF DEFECT. THE NUMBER OF RELATED POSTINGS FOR THIS PROBLEM WOULD INDICATE A SITUATION DESERVING FURTHER INVESTIGATION. LOSS OF ABS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND CONSIDERABLE INJURY.*AK
BOTH THE ABS AND THE SRS INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. HAD DEALER CHECK AND WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW ABS ACCUMULATOR AND MODULATOR, IN ADDITION TO A NEW SRS CONTROLUNIT, ( AIR BAG SYSTEM). THESE ARE BOTH COST PROHIBITIVE, WERE VERY EXPENSIVE OPTIONAL SAFTEY FEATURES OFFERED AT THE TIME OF SALE. I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THE ACCORD 1994-1999 AND THE ODYSSEY, BOTH OF WHICH USE THE SAME ABS MODULATOR/ACCUMULATOR. UPON DIAGNOSIS, THE DEALER ASSURED ME THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR."
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MODULATOR FAILURE. LEAKING FLUID IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EXHAUST MANAFOLD. FIRE HAZARD. DEALER REPAIR PRICE QUOTED AT $1400 - $1600. THIS ABS MODULATOR APPEARS TO HAVE A MUCH HIGHER FAILURE RATE THAN EXPECTED, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I'VE SEEN ON THE INTERNET. BASED ON THE EXCESSIVE REPAIR PRICE MANY PEOPLE WILL CHOSE TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM, OR CONTINUE TO ADD FLUID, WHICH WILL ONLY INCREASE THE FIRE HAZARD. OTHERS HAVE CHOSE TO BYPASS THE ABS, WHICH DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF HAVING THE ABS SAFETY ENHANCEMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE
WHILE DRIVING THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. *PH THE DEALER REPLACED THE ABS ACCUMULATOR AND MODULATOR. *NM
WHILE DRIVING THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. *PH THE DEALER REPLACED THE ABS ACCUMULATOR AND MODULATOR. *NM
WHEN CAR WAS TURNED ON YOU HEARD A WEED EATER NOISE FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND THEN NOISE WNET AWAY AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO HAVE THE ABS MODULATOR AND ACCUMULTOR REPLACED. DEALER THOUGHT IT WAS ODD FOR A DAR WITH NOT THAT MANY MILES ON IT. THEN LOOKED ON INTERNET AND SAW MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME THING. I THINK THE ABS SHOULD BE RECALLED IN 1996 ACCORDS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THERE WAS NO BRAKING FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR. THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE ABS MODULATOR. TSB#96-050. *SCC *JB
ABS LIGHT ON 1996 HONDA COMES ON AFTER 1-2 MILES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. PUMP MAKES NOISE AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. SLIGHT LEAK. A HONDA SPECIALTY SHOP HAS ALREADY REPLACED THE RESEVOIR AND TORQUED THE O-RINGS, BUT THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. THE HONDA DEALER SAYS THAT THE MODULATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACEE AT A COST OF $1100. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A BIG PROBLEM FOR 94-96 HONDA ACCORDS, EXPECIALLY THOSE MANUFACTURED IN OHIO WITH THE VIN# BEGINNING WITH 1HG, WHICH MY CAR IS ONE OF THOSE VECHICLES FROM OHIO. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT WITH THIS UNIT AND THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY YOUR OFFICE FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL. HONDA SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR THEIR COMSUMERS. PLEASE ADVISE ON ANY ACTIONS.*AK
ABS BRAKE MODULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 66K MILES ON THE VEHICLE, IT WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP TWO TIMES TO REPLACE THE PART DUE TO THE FACT THE FIRST NEW PART RECEIVED FROM HONDA WAS DEFECTIVE. THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON WHEN THE ENGINE WAS FIRST STARTED THEN WENT OUT. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT. *MR *SCC *JB
WHEN STARTING ENGINE VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD "ROARING" NOISE THAT CEASES WHEN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES. WARNING LIGHT THEN REMAINS LIT. DEALER HAS SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT REPAIR LASTS TEMPORARILY.*AK
THE ABS MODULATOR FAILED DUE TO A BRAKE FLUID LEAK. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. *JB
WITHOUT WARNING THE AIR BAG AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON THE ENTIRE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *JB
THE ABS AND AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THE ABS MODULATOR, ABS ACCUMULATOR, AND THE AIR BAG CONTROLLER UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB *TS
ABS AND AIR BAG SAFETY SYSTEM FAILED AT THE SAME TIME ON A 1996 HONDA ACCORD W/ 90,000 MILES. *JB
THE ANTI-LOCK MODULE NO LONGER WORKED ON THE VEHICLE. *JB
ON 2/10/03 OUR ABS LIGHT ON 1996 HONDA ACCORD CAME ON SOLID. HONDA OF OXNARD STATED THE PROBLEM WAS A LEAKY MODULATOR AND BOTH MODULATOR AND ACCUMULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE AUTHORIZED SERVICE AT A COST OF $1425.00. I WROTE AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO AND ASKED THEM TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OR SHARE IN THE COST SINCE I RESEARCHED MANY TSB'S ON NHTSA WEBSITE INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS ON THE 1996 HONDA ACCORD. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THEY HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF DEFECTS IN THE ABS MODULATOR AND ACCUMULATOR AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THIS SYSTEM. ON 2/20/03 I RECEIVED A CALL FROM ANGIE OF AMERICAN HONDA CUSTOMER RELATIONS DENYING MY REQUEST.
ABS SYSTEM FAILED AT 67,548 MILES. ABS LIGHT CAME ON. HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPLACED ACCUMULATOR AND REBUILT MODULATOR FOR $590. 14 MONTHS LATER DURING STATE INSPECTION SAME HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID ABS SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN LATER AT 84,300 MILES. ABS LIGHT DID NOT COME ON THIS TIME. ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE MODULATOR IS $1,270. CAR CANNOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT THAT REPLACED.
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 .