RoadVitals

1996 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.
43
Latest Jul 14, 2022
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.
9%
of 472 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.
4
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 1996 Honda Accord submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 43 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

The 25 most recent of 43, in the owner's own words

AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed Jul 14, 2022

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 ID
11473940
Incident
Jul 13, 2022
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 10, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE STATIONARY AND DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT RECORD THE PROPER SPEED/MILEAGE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THE BATTERY LIFE OF THE VEHICLE LASTED SIX MONTHS OR LESS. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,736.

NHTSA ID
11032785
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Mileage
185,736 mi
ElectricalFuel systemVisibility
Filed Nov 10, 2016

MY ALTERNATOR IS NOT CHARGING MY BATTERY. MY WIRE HARNESS IS HAVING A FAULTY AND I CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT

NHTSA ID
10925408
Incident
Oct 1, 2016
Electrical
Filed Dec 14, 2015
Fire reported

RECALL ON WIRES

NHTSA ID
10810082
Incident
Dec 7, 2015
Electrical
Filed Jul 16, 2014

FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH...RECURRENT INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. FAILS TO START. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING OFF AND ON FOR YEARS. SOMETIMES THE KEY SENSOR SENSES A KEY IN THE IGNITION WHEN A KEY ISN'T INSERTED, THUS A BEEPING SOUND WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED EVEN IF THE KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION. CAR HAS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10610921
Incident
Jul 20, 2005
Mileage
108,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 22, 2011

I HAVE A 1996 HONDA ACCORD WHICH WAS SUDDENLY STALLING WITH ALL THE POWER DOWN FOR FEW MINUTES. AFTER FEW TESTS MY MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM IS WITH IGNITION KEY SWITCH. AFTER SPENDING $600 PLUS THE PROBLEM STOPPED. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT FOR MODEL YEAR 1997 ONWARDS FOR THE SAME CAR. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THERE WERE LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE MODEL YEAR 1996 WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WHOSE CAR WERE NOT RECALLED AND FIXED BY HONDA. SO I THINK HONDA SHOULD ALL INCLUDE THE MODEL YEAR 1996 FOR RECALL OR REIMBURSE PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND WHOSE CAR WERE NOT RECALLED AND WHO ENDED UP SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. HONDA SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED MODEL YEAR 1996 ALONG WITH OTHER YEAR FOR RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10415687
Incident
Feb 23, 2011
Mileage
125,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 28, 2011

I WAS DRIVING MY 96 ACCORD AT 45 MPH ON A SPRING DAY AND IT SHUT OFF AS THOUGH I HAD TURNED THE KEY OFF. IT WOULD RESTART FOR AS LONG AS THE KEY WAS HELD IN THE "START" POSITION, BUT AS SOON AS THE KEY WAS RELEASED (TO NORMAL OPERATING POSITION) IT WOULD DIE. THE CAUSE WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH WHICH I HAD REPLACED BY A REPAIR TECHNICIAN. WHILE I FORTUNATELY SUFFERED NO HARM, HAD IT HAPPENED TRAVELING UPHILL OR THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10393535
Incident
Mar 27, 2011
Mileage
180,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Sep 14, 2010

HORN WORKS OCCASIONALLY, SRS LIGHT WON'T GO OFF,SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10355622
Incident
May 13, 2010
Mileage
147,365 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 9, 2010

HONDA ACCORD 1996, WINDOWS AUTOMATICALLY OPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT OCCUPIED, BUT IS PARKED AND LOCKED. UPON RETURN, HONDA ACCORD WINDOWS ARE OPEN TO HALF WAY. THIS CREATES A DANGER FOR THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AS IF PARKED WHEN THERE IS NO DAYLIGHT, SOMEONE COULD ENTER THE VEHICLE UNKNOWN TO THE DRIVER, OR CARJACKING COULD OCCUR DUE TO EASY ENTRY TO VEHICLE AS WELL AS CAR THEFT TO INTERIOR OF VEHICLE AND TRUNK OF VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO HONDA AND STATED ANSWER IS - WHEN KEY IS CLICKED MORE THEN ONCE, THIS WILL CAUSE WINDOWS TO OPEN, EVEN WHEN OWNER IS INDOORS AND ACCIDENTALLY HITS THE KEY. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10348222
Incident
Aug 9, 2010
Electrical
Filed Jan 31, 2010

1996 HONDA ACCORD. DRIVING ON FREEWAY ON THE THIRD LINE. SUDDENLY CAR LIGHTS ON THE FRONT PANEL TURN ON. ENGINE STOPPED. CAR SLOWED DOWN AND ALMOST WAS HIT BY A TRUCK ON THE REAR OF THE CAR. FELT LIKE THE TRUCK WOULD READ END MY CAR AND THAT WAS THE DAY TO DIE. EMERGENCY LIGHTS WERE TURN ON. WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING, THE ENGINE STARTED AFTER SO TRYING SO MAN TIMES AND GOT CAR OUT OF THE FREEWAY. AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY, THE CAR LIGHTS CAME ON AND ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. A TOW TRUCK TOOK THE CAR TO A SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A IGNITION ELECTRICAL SWITCHED IS BAD FAULTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10303410
Incident
Jan 29, 2010
Mileage
120,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 27, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HONDA ACCORD. THE VEHICLE HAS AN IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE. ONCE THE KEY IS RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE STALLS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT A STORE ONCE AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE MECHANIC INITIALLY THOUGHT THERE WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION ON THE BATTERY, BUT HE LATER DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS A SWITCH ISSUE. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1997 ACCORDS ARE UNDER RECALL FOR THIS SAME FAILURE, BUT NOT THE 1996 ACCORDS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 185,000. UPDATED 6/8/09 *CN UPDATED 06/11/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10270054
Incident
May 20, 2009
Mileage
205,759 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 29, 2008

1996 HONDA ACCORD, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, HAVING TROUBLE REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, SEEMS LIKE THE SYSTEM DOESN'T REALIZE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK. THE PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY OTHER TIME SO FAR, SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS WORN OUT OR ON THE VERGE OF A DEFECT. PLEASE ADVISE ASAP, I DON'T WANT TO GET STUCK SOMEPLACE. IS THIS PROBLEM ON A RECALL BASIS ??? *TR

NHTSA ID
10253150
Incident
Dec 22, 2008
Mileage
208,100 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 18, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ODOMETER HAD STOPPED. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 50 DEGREES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109,620.

NHTSA ID
10188265
Incident
Apr 17, 2007
Mileage
109,620 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 18, 2007

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL FREEWAY SPEED, ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT, TACHOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO, FAN, RADIO STILL WORKED. A FEW SECONDS LATER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL COASTING, ENGINE STARTED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, QUITE SCARY, AND DANGEROUS WITH TWO KIDS IN THE CAR ON A BUSY FREEWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10188232
Incident
Apr 15, 2007
Mileage
97,360 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 19, 2006

IT BEGAN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR WOULD STOP RUNNING FOR NO REASON. IT WOULD START UP AGAIN WITH NO PROBLEM. NOW, THE CAR WILL ONLY RUN WHILE HOLDING THE KEY BETWEEN THE RUN AND START POSITION. AS WHEN IT BEGAN HAPPENING, IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE CAR IS IN GEAR OR NOT, SITTING IDLE OR DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10160211
Incident
Jun 10, 2006
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Apr 28, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK/UNLOCK USING THE REMOTE LOCKING DEVICE IT MUST BE PERFORMED MANUALLY. THIS BEGAN AS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT GRADUALLY GOT WORSE. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. UPDATED 05/16/2006. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10156367
Incident
Mar 1, 2004
Mileage
27,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Apr 28, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK/UNLOCK FROM THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROLS, IT MUST BE PERFORMED MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A REMOTE LOCKING DEVICE. THE CONTACT IS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DETERMINED THE DOOR ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK UPDATED 5/16/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10156366
Incident
Aug 1, 2004
Mileage
101,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine+4 more
Filed Oct 13, 2005

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, WITH DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS AND SRS SYSTEMS WHEEL ALIGNMENT BRAKE PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS YES , PARTS WERE REPLACED, REPAIRED BUT I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, AFTER SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10139534
Incident
Oct 12, 2005
Mileage
125,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 3, 2005

IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 1996 ACCORD SEDAN IS SOMETIMES FAULTY/INTERMITTENT. I WOULD TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION AND THE ENGINE IS TOTALLY SILENT, WILL NOT CRANK OVER. I WOULD DO THIS UNTIL THE ENGINE CRANKS OVER AND TURNS ON. THE PROBLEM IS STILL INTERMITTENT TO THIS DAY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10131458
Incident
Jul 1, 2005
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO NOTICED SMOKE AND SPARKS EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ADDITIONALLY HE NOTICED THAT THE LINING OVER ONE OF THE WHEELS HAD FALLEN OFF AND THE WIRES WERE EXPOSED, TOUCHING THE TIRE. RECALL 98V231000 WAS INITIATED REGARDING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALL. THE FAILURE CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S A/C AND BATTERY, CD PLAYER, BLINKERS, LIGHT, ETC. *AK

NHTSA ID
10089402
Incident
Aug 14, 2004
Electrical
Filed Apr 22, 2004

I OWN A 1996 HONDA ACCORD AND IT HAS BEEN A RELIABLE CAR UNTIL RECENTLY. IT HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTED. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN THE CAR KEPT ACTING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL WHEN I HIT THE GAS. IT FINALLY STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE HONDA DEALER AND SPENDING $300 FOR REPAIRS WHICH INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF SPARK PLUGS, FUEL INDUCTION SERVICE AND THROTTLE BODY CLEANING, THE CAR WAS STILL NOT REPAIRED. AFTER THE CAR WOULD NOT START, I MYSELF REPLACED THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP, ROTOR AND IGNITION COIL. IT IS NOW SITTING AT A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM WAS THE DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY. SO $1,000.00 LATER MY CAR IS FIXED BUT I STILL FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING IT AND WILL NEVER TRUST IT AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10067679
Incident
Apr 2, 2004
Mileage
104,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 15, 2004
Crash reported

I BOUGHT THE CAR ON OCT 22ND, AND ON THE SECOND DAY IT STALLED BECAUSE OF WRONG FUSE BEING PLACED IN THE CAR. DURING THAT CHECK UP I FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR HAS HAD EXTENSIVE BODY DAMAGE AND NONE OF THIS IS SHOWN UP IN CARFAX REPORT AND ALSO THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT. SO I WANT TO RETURN THE CAR UNDER CONSUMER FRAUD.

NHTSA ID
10071155
Incident
Nov 15, 2003
Electrical
Filed Nov 4, 2003
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION WITH VEHICLE STILL IN DRIVE. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND DAMAGED THE REAR END. *AK

NHTSA ID
10046332
Mileage
93,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 4, 2003
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WITH VEHICLE STILL IN DRIVE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL, AND DAMAGED THE REAR END. *AK

NHTSA ID
10046331
Mileage
93,000 mi
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Sep 18, 2003

KEY COMES OUT OF IGNITION WITHOUT TRANSMISSION IN PARK. CAR IS A 1996 HONDA ACCORD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10039098
Incident
Sep 10, 2003

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .