MYRModel Year Report

1996 Honda Accord

● Typical for this model
1996 Honda Accord
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
472
Recalls
13

Campaigns on file for 1996

Investigations
0

None on file

Top problem
Air bags

23% of complaints

Complaints per year

1980: 2 complaints 1980 1981: 7 complaints 1982: 10 complaints 1983: 7 complaints 1984: 22 complaints 1985: 13 complaints 1986: 56 complaints 1986 1987: 112 complaints 1988: 90 complaints 1989: 86 complaints 1990: 193 complaints 1991: 212 complaints 1992: 208 complaints 1993: 186 complaints 1994: 395 complaints 1995: 544 complaints 1996: 472 complaints 1996 472 1997: 460 complaints 1998: 1,200 complaints 1999: 1,135 complaints 2000: 1,183 complaints 2001: 922 complaints 2002: 1,050 complaints 2003: 1,987 complaints 2004: 1,017 complaints 2004 2005: 656 complaints 2006: 431 complaints 2007: 524 complaints 2008: 1,520 complaints 2009: 725 complaints 2010: 580 complaints 2010 2011: 296 complaints 2012: 373 complaints 2013: 1,421 complaints 2014: 981 complaints 2015: 601 complaints 2016: 608 complaints 2016 2017: 536 complaints 2018: 1,886 complaints 2019: 690 complaints 2020: 360 complaints 2021: 236 complaints 2022: 253 complaints 2022 2023: 88 complaints 2024: 146 complaints 2025: 87 complaints 2026: 10 complaints
1980: 2 complaints 1980 1981: 7 complaints 1982: 10 complaints 1983: 7 complaints 1983 1984: 22 complaints 1985: 13 complaints 1986: 56 complaints 1986 1987: 112 complaints 1988: 90 complaints 1989: 86 complaints 1989 1990: 193 complaints 1991: 212 complaints 1992: 208 complaints 1992 1993: 186 complaints 1994: 395 complaints 1995: 544 complaints 1996: 472 complaints 1996 472 1997: 460 complaints 1998: 1,200 complaints 1999: 1,135 complaints 2000: 1,183 complaints 2001: 922 complaints 2001 2002: 1,050 complaints 2003: 1,987 complaints 2004: 1,017 complaints 2004 2005: 656 complaints 2006: 431 complaints 2007: 524 complaints 2007 2008: 1,520 complaints 2009: 725 complaints 2010: 580 complaints 2010 2011: 296 complaints 2012: 373 complaints 2013: 1,421 complaints 2013 2014: 981 complaints 2015: 601 complaints 2016: 608 complaints 2016 2017: 536 complaints 2018: 1,886 complaints 2019: 690 complaints 2019 2020: 360 complaints 2021: 236 complaints 2022: 253 complaints 2022 2023: 88 complaints 2024: 146 complaints 2025: 87 complaints 2025 2026: 10 complaints
1980: 2 complaints 1980 1981: 7 complaints 1982: 10 complaints 1982 1983: 7 complaints 1984: 22 complaints 1984 1985: 13 complaints 1986: 56 complaints 1986 1987: 112 complaints 1988: 90 complaints 1988 1989: 86 complaints 1990: 193 complaints 1990 1991: 212 complaints 1992: 208 complaints 1992 1993: 186 complaints 1994: 395 complaints 1994 1995: 544 complaints 1996: 472 complaints 1996 472 1997: 460 complaints 1998: 1,200 complaints 1998 1999: 1,135 complaints 2000: 1,183 complaints 2000 2001: 922 complaints 2002: 1,050 complaints 2002 2003: 1,987 complaints 2004: 1,017 complaints 2004 2005: 656 complaints 2006: 431 complaints 2006 2007: 524 complaints 2008: 1,520 complaints 2008 2009: 725 complaints 2010: 580 complaints 2010 2011: 296 complaints 2012: 373 complaints 2012 2013: 1,421 complaints 2014: 981 complaints 2014 2015: 601 complaints 2016: 608 complaints 2016 2017: 536 complaints 2018: 1,886 complaints 2018 2019: 690 complaints 2020: 360 complaints 2020 2021: 236 complaints 2022: 253 complaints 2022 2023: 88 complaints 2024: 146 complaints 2024 2025: 87 complaints 2026: 10 complaints 2026

1996: 472 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19802
19817
198210
19837
198422
198513
198656
1987112
198890
198986
1990193
1991212
1992208
1993186
1994395
1995544
1996472
1997460
19981,200
19991,135
20001,183
2001922
20021,050
20031,987
20041,017
2005656
2006431
2007524
20081,520
2009725
2010580
2011296
2012373
20131,421
2014981
2015601
2016608
2017536
20181,886
2019690
2020360
2021236
2022253
202388
2024146
202587
202610

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

23% · 110 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASHINJURYDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

Takata inflators & safety belt failed on impact in motion on the highway.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-10-03

1996 Honda Accord ex-l. Consumer writes in regards to airbags in vehicle did not deploy after accident.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-09-20

Takata recall. I was in a accident on sycamore street in baton rouge Louisiana on 1/3/18 and a piece of metal shard punctured my leg and fracture my tibia. I was treated for contusions of chest wall also at ochsner on o'neal lane .

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-01-08

Engine and engine cooling

22% · 104 reports

Most commonly citing engine and gasoline.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

As I prepared to slow to a stop in a relatives circular driveway, the engine began to rev up with a high pitched whine.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-10-17

Also filed under Vehicle speed control and service brakes, hydraulic

Service brakes

17% · 81 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURYDEATH

Electrical system

9% · 43 reports

Most commonly citing ignition and switch.

CRASHFIRE

Vehicle speed control

6% · 29 reports

Most commonly citing linkages and accelerator pedal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I was pulling into a parking space and suddenly the car surged forward, I tried hitting the brakes but they would not stop, it was hard as a rock.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-09-12

Also filed under Service brakes, hydraulic

While trying to park on an incline surface, vehicle accelerated by itself, hitting a concrete colum. Please describe.

NHTSA ODI report, 1996-04-01

Safety timeline

13 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    1998-10-08Electrical system98V231000 Vehicle description: sedan, coupe and wagon passenger vehicles except the dx model and models with V6 engines. The factory installed air conditioner wire harness was improperly routed allowing…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles for proper routing of these wires. Any harness improperly routed will be inspected for damage and the routing will be corrected. If any insulation is worn through…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber…

    Remedy: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2006-04-17Exterior lighting06E032000 Certain eagle eyes and sonar headlights and corner lights sold as aftermarket for use on 1988-2005 Honda civic, 1990-2005 Honda Accord, and 1990-2001 Acura integra passenger vehicles listed above.…

    Remedy: Tom motorsport will notify owners and offer reimbursement for the purchase of noncompliant lights. The recall began April 17, 2006. Owners may contact tom motorsport at 626-968-4007.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2006-05-02Exterior lighting06E025000 Certain poli-auto combination headlamp assemblies, p/nos. 11-728, 11-728D, 11-710, 11-419, 11-713, 11-703, 11-704, 11-708P, 11-735, 11-725, 11-726, 11-716 (P&c), 11-721-1, 11-733, 11-729, 11-730…

    Remedy: Poli-auto will notify owners and offer to repurchase the headlamps at its original purchase price. The recall is expected to begin during April 2006. Owners may contact poli-auto at 305-477-1356.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2006-05-09Exterior lighting06E023000 Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to…

    Remedy: Anzo will notify owners and replace the headlamps free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2006. Owners may contact anzo USA at 909-468-3688.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2006-05-10Exterior lighting06E040000 Certain e speed racing combination lamps sold as replacement equipment for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors…

    Remedy: E speed racing will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began May 10, 2006. Owners may contact e speed racing 909-923-3636.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2006-07-01Exterior lighting06E049000 Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are…

    Remedy: Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2006-07-10Exterior lighting06E044000 Certain j & a auto accessories combination headlamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side…

    Remedy: J & a auto accessories will notify owners and offer to repurchase the headlamps. The recall began on July 10, 2006. Owners may contact j & a auto accessories at 310-327-4981.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2006-07-31Exterior lighting06E065000 Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the…

    Remedy: Aj motorsport will notify owners and offer reimbursement for the lamps. The recall began on July 31, 2006. Owners may contact aj motorsport at 626-618-2026.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2006-08-01Exterior lighting06E060000 Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the…

    Remedy: Aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2006. Owners may contact aai motorsports at 909-923-9188.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2008-12-17Exterior lighting08E050000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    Date not on fileExterior lighting06E064000 Certain tradesonic combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles.

    Remedy: Tradesonic will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2006. Owners may contact tradesonic at 626-934-8884.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1996 Honda Accord — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 110 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine and engine cooling: 104 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 81 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 06E064000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 98V231000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E032000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E023000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E040000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E044000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E065000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E060000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 08E050000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1996 Honda Accord reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Honda Accord is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Honda Accord?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 23% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1996 Honda Accord have?
13 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.