FaultScore

1996 Honda Accord electrical problems

44 of the 579 complaints about the 1996 Honda Accord are about the electrical system — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 120,000 miles.

C

44

Complaints

3

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 16 36.4%
Ignition 10 22.7%
Switch 6 13.6%
Front Underhood 3 6.8%
12V/24V/48V Battery 2 4.5%
Horn 2 4.5%
Module 1 2.3%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 1 2.3%
Interior/Under Dash 1 2.3%
Starter Assembly 1 2.3%

Electrical System across every Honda Accord year

1990 28 0.7%
1991 17 0.4%
1992 26 0.6%
1993 28 0.7%
1994 36 0.9%
1995 46 1.1%
1996 44 1.1%
1997 101 2.5%
1998 319 7.8%
1999 398 9.7%
2000 177 4.3%
2001 79 1.9%
2002 71 1.7%
2003 148 3.6%
2004 152 3.7%
2005 96 2.3%
2006 42 1.0%
2007 60 1.5%
2008 108 2.6%
2009 44 1.1%
2010 34 0.8%
2011 18 0.4%
2012 33 0.8%
2013 417 10.2%
2014 380 9.3%
2015 237 5.8%
2016 192 4.7%
2017 150 3.7%
2018 285 6.9%
2019 100 2.4%
2020 50 1.2%
2021 56 1.4%
2022 90 2.2%
2023 23 0.6%
2024 23 0.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Hemet, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 complaint #11473940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 185,736 miles Thousand Oaks, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 complaint #11032785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

OAK Harbor, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

NHTSA complaint #10925408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albert LEA, MN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

RECALL ON WIRES

NHTSA complaint #10810082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 108,000 miles Farmington, CT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10610921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 108,000 miles Farmington, CT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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.

NHTSA complaint #10610921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Santa Clarita, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 complaint #10415687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 180,000 miles Noblesville, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10393535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 147,365 miles Bishopville, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

NHTSA complaint #10355622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 147,365 miles Bishopville, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

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

NHTSA complaint #10355622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salinas, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10348222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles SAN Leandro, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10303410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 205,759 miles Berlin, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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.

NHTSA complaint #10270054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 208,100 miles Duncanville, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 ???

NHTSA complaint #10253150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 97,360 miles Palo Alto, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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.

NHTSA complaint #10188232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 109,620 miles Seminole, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

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 complaint #10188265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cary, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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.

NHTSA complaint #10160211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 101,000 miles Freeport, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 -

NHTSA complaint #10156366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 27,000 miles Freeport, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

NHTSA complaint #10156367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Lake Forest, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10139534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VAN Nuys, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10131458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salt Lake City, UT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

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.

NHTSA complaint #10089402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ANN Arbor, MI Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

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 complaint #10071155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 104,000 miles Ruidoso, NM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10067679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 180,000 miles FAR Rockaway, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WHEN THE DRIVER STARTED THE VEHICLE THE DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED. SOMEHOW THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.

NHTSA complaint #10059362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 93,000 miles Detroit, MI Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10046331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 93,000 miles Detroit, MI Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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.

NHTSA complaint #10046332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cary, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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

NHTSA complaint #10039098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Staten Island, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND HAD SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM UNIT REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BATTERY NEEDED REPLACING. THIS VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #8017536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roslyn, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

RECALL 98-V-231-000/WIRE HARNESS. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR VEHICLE. NORTH SHORE HONDA GLEN HEADS, NY 516-676-2300. *AK THE DEALER FIXED THE WIRE HARNESS AND FRONT BALANCER SHAFT SEAL.

NHTSA complaint #8010298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Honda Accord problems

← Full 1996 Honda Accord report