RoadVitals

1996 Honda Accord Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
97
Latest Oct 10, 2017
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.
21%
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.
2
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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 97 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 engine

The 25 most recent of 97, in the owner's own words

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
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 17, 2013
Crash reported

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.

NHTSA ID
10549080
Incident
Oct 6, 2013
Mileage
207,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 7, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE BALANCE SHAFT SEAL POPPED OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THEY STATED THE ENGINE SEAL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10144693
Incident
Nov 30, 2005
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
Engine
Filed Apr 6, 2004

WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS. *MR

NHTSA ID
10066680
Incident
Apr 2, 2004
Mileage
113,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 23, 2004

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DIED AND WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM IN WHICH THERE HAD BEEN A PRODUCT RECALL. *LA *MR

NHTSA ID
10061021
Incident
Nov 28, 2003
Engine
Filed Jan 21, 2004

AFTER THE SEAL BROKE, OIL DRAINED FROM THE ENGINE AND CAUSED SOME DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *PH THERE WAS A PRODUCT UPDATE REGARDING THE SHAFT OIL SEAL, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BECAUSE HE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10057326
Incident
Nov 28, 2003
Mileage
93,000 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
Engine
Filed Dec 29, 2003

CONSUMER REQUESTING REFUND FOR A REPAIR THAT WAS SUBJECT OF A PRIOR RECALL. *LA THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN WAS ISSUED FOR THE FRONT BALANCER SHAFT OIL SEAL REPLCAEMENT. THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEVED ANY NOTIFICATION ABOUT THE PROBLEM. ONLY AFTER REQUESTING SERVICE FOR A MAJOR OIL LEAK DID THE CONSUMER BECOME AWARE OF THE RECALL. *PH *NM

NHTSA ID
10053591
Mileage
72,344 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 13, 2003

ON AUGUST 19, 2003 THE OIL LIGHT ON MY CAR STARTED FLASHING. I CHECKED MY OIL AND NONE WAS TOUCHING THE OIL STICK. I CALLED WADE'S HONDA WHICH IS A SERVICE CENTER IN CLINTON, NC. MR. WADE CAME OUT AND CHECKED MY CAR AT WHICH TIME HE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN MY OIL SHAFT. HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE CAMPAIGN HAD ENDED. I ADVISED HIM THAT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL. MR. WADE CALLED AMERICAN HONDA AND WAS TOLD THAT I WAS NOTIFIED BY MAIL, BUT THE NOTICE CAME BACK AS UNDELIVERABLE. THIS NOTICE WAS SENT TO MY RESIDENCE ADDRESS (307 CARLTON STREET). I RECEIVE MY MAIL AT THE ABOVE OFFICE BOX ADDRESS. I HAVE BEEN LIVING AT THIS ADDRESS FOR 25 PLUS YEARS AND HAVE HAD THE SAME MAILING ADDRESS SINCE I MOVED HERE. I CALLED AMERICAN HONDA MYSELF AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. MY COMPLAINT IS: I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS DOCUMENTED THAT THE NOTICE WAS UNDELIVERABLE; THAT IS PROOF THAT I NEVER RECEIVED IT. I FEEL THAT AMERICAN HONDA SHOULD REIMBURSE ME $139.00 FOR THAT REASON. I ALSO CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR OTHER RECALLS AND THERE WAS ONE IN 1999 REGARDING VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND ANOTHER ONE IN 1998 ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD THAT I NEVER RECEIVED OR HAD KNOWLEDGE OF. *LA

NHTSA ID
10046842
Incident
Aug 19, 2003
Engine
Filed Oct 15, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S FANS BEING INOPERATIVE AND AN OIL LEAK. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED AS A PRECAUTIONARY ACTION TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP, ALL THE DRIVE BELTS, AND FRONT END WORK. THE CONSUMER THEN COMPLAINED THAT THE FANS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER THAN WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A FRONT ENGINE MOUNT. THE CONSUMER NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. IN FACT, THERE WERE SEVERAL LEAKS AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW FAN, SHROUD, MOTOR, COOLANT, AND FUSE. AS A RESULT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE REPEATEDLY APPROACH A DANGEROUS LEVEL (HAD TO MODIFY DRIVING HABITS), AND WAS UNABLE TO USE THE A/C DUE TO POSSIBLE OVERHEATING. THERE WERE TWO NEW LOCATIONS OF HIGH CONCENTRATION OF OIL; REAR MAIN OIL SEAL LEAK WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REMOVED, AND THE BALANCE SHAFT LEAKED (UNDER WARRANTY) WHICH REQUIRED AN OIL PUMP, GASKETS, AND SEALS.*SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10044152
Incident
Mar 3, 2003
Engine
Filed Sep 4, 2003

WHILE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC DROVE THE VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS SEAL BALANCE SHAFT BLEW OUT, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10038230
Incident
Sep 4, 2003
EngineTransmission
Filed May 29, 2003

I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 10 MONTHS WITH REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DEALER AND NUMEROUS CALLS TO THE POINT OF PURCHASE, WITH NO RESULTS, I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN-A-ROUND TO MANY TIMES TO COUNT. I HAVE A 1996 HONDA ACCORD AND IT HAS A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE IS HAVING TO BE REBUILT. THE HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE ARE BADLY WATER DAMAGED AND WARPED, AND IT IS COSTING ME IN EXCESS OF $2,400.00 TO GET IT REPAIRED. I WAS TOLD THAT REPAIRS WERE MADE TO MY CAR BUT NEVER RECEIVED A WORK ORDER PROVING THAT SAID WORK WAS ACTUALLY DONE. I AM TRYING TO SEEK PROTECTION UNDER THE LEMON LAW SO ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME IN THAT EFFORT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!

NHTSA ID
10020727
Incident
Sep 15, 2002
Engine
Filed May 7, 2003

THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL FROM THE HEAD GASKET. *NLM.

NHTSA ID
10019403
Incident
May 7, 2003
Engine
Filed Apr 16, 2003

AN INTERNAL OIL LEAK CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE (REFER TO TSB 618908). *NLM

NHTSA ID
10015952
Incident
Apr 2, 2003
Mileage
120,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 14, 2003

THE ENGINE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE. *JB THE ENGINE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 60 MPH IN THE MIDDLE LANE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROMT HE ENGINE STARTED . VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WAS RUINED. *MR

NHTSA ID
10011838
Incident
Mar 14, 2003
Engine
Filed Jan 30, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING OIL IS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REFILL MORE THEN OFTEN. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID
10005984
Incident
Jan 27, 2003
Engine
Filed Jan 28, 2003

THE FRONT BALANCER SHAFT SEAL BLEW AND OIL GUSHED OUT OF THE ENGINE IN LESS THAN TEN MINUTES. MY WIIFE AND I HAD JUST MADE IT OFF THE INTERSTATE WHEN WE NOTICED THE SMELL OF OIL. UPON PARKING, WE SAW OIL POURING OUT OF ENGINE. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON AND NO SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THE SEAL IS DEFECTIVE BUT HONDA DOESN'T HAVE A FULL RECALL AND WILL ONLY FIX THE SEAL WHEN IT BLOWS WHICH COULD CAUSE PERMANENT ENGINE DAMAGE IF THE ENGINE IS NOT STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. I'VE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM IN THE US. IT SEEMS THE SEAL IS DEFINETLY DEFFECTIVE, BUT HONDA WON'T REPAIR IT UNTIL THE PROBLEM HAPPENS. OF COURSE, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE SEAL BLEW. I WAS INFORMED BY HONDA AMERICA THAT I JUST MISSED THEIR REIMBURSEMENT DEADLINE (JANUARY 1, 2003) BECAUSE MY SEAL BLEW ON JANUARY 24, 2003. I THINK HONDA SHOULD CONTINUE TO PAY FOR THIS FAULTY SEAL REPAIR SINCE IT IS A DEFECT THEY ALLOWED IN THEIR VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID
10003568
Incident
Jan 24, 2003
Engine
Filed Nov 6, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THE "CHECK OIL" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO INSPECT VEHICLE. AS CONSUMER WAS REFILLING OIL, IT WAS POURING BACK OUT OF THE "SEAL". MR *JG

NHTSA ID
8022255
Incident
Aug 25, 2002
Mileage
89,123 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 12, 2002

THE BALANCER SHAFT SEAL ON THE CAR HAS BLOWN. CAUSING THE OIL TO DRAIN OUT AT AN ALARMING RATE. TO FIX THE PROBLEM THE ENGINE MUST BE PULLED OUT TAKE APART THEN REPLACED. ALL OF THIS FOR A SEAL THAT COSTS NO MORE THAN 20 DOLLARS. MR

NHTSA ID
768379
Incident
Oct 12, 2002
EngineTransmission
Filed Aug 15, 2002

DEFECTIVE BALANCER SHAFT SEAL BROKE LOOSE, CAUSING AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE OF IMMEDIATE OIL LOSS W/NO WARNING INDICATORS. JUST HAD OIL CHANGE AND TRANSMISSION OIL FLUSH A MONTH AGO. HONDA NEEDS TO REIMBURSE COSTS OF TOTAL REPAIR DUE TO DEFECTIVE ITEM. NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE EITHER.*AK

NHTSA ID
765671
Incident
Aug 12, 2002
Engine
Filed Jul 19, 2002

THERE IS A RATTLE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AT 2000 RPM'S, WHICH APPEARS TO CAUSE A DELAY IN ACCELERATION. THE SERVICE TECH INFORMED ME HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS BUT FEELS THAT IT DOESN'T WARRANT REPAIR AT THEIR COST.*AK

NHTSA ID
764458
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Engine
Filed Apr 19, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF, AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE OIL SEAL HAD BLOW OUT OF ITS PLACE AND ALL THE OIL LEAKED OUT. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM

NHTSA ID
8008082
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Engine
Filed Apr 1, 2002

AT 65 MPH OIL LIGHT CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER ENGINE STALLED. DEALER DETERMINED THAT AN OIL SEAL BLEW. *AK

NHTSA ID
8006732
Incident
Mar 23, 2002
Engine
Filed Dec 6, 2001

WHILE DRIVING BALANCE SHAFT SEAL BROKE OFF, AND THE ENIGNE LEAKED OIL. OIL LEAKED OUT AND ENGINE BLEW. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
899956
Incident
Nov 1, 2001

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 .