1996 Honda Accord Complaint Log

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

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

A FEW MINUTES AFTER LEAVING A RETAIL BUSINESS, THE BUSINESSMAN CALLED ME ON MY CELL PHONE TO ADVISE ME THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF FRESH OIL WHERE I HAD PARKED. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER ON THE FREEWAY ONLY TO FIND OIL GUSHING OUT OF MY ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE FREEWAY AND WENT TO THE 7-11 AT THE TOP OF THE EXIT RAMP. I ADDED 4 QUARTS OF OIL AND DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES AWAY. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP ALL THE OIL HAD GUSHED OUT AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE SEAL ON THE FRONT BALANCER SHAFT HAD BECOME DISLODGED. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $750 TO REPAIR. THE TIMING BELT WAS FULL OF OIL SO IT TOO HAD TO BE REPLACED. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE ALERT BUSINESSMAN AND THE FLUKE THAT I HAD GIVEN HIM MY PHONE NUMBER, I NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL EITHER THE ENGINE SEIZED UP AND/OR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER SEEMED UNFAZED BY THE POTENTIAL DISASTER THAT I NARROWLY AVERTED SIMPLY BY A FLUKE OF CHANCE. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD RESULT IN A RECALL TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM GETTING KILLED IF THE CAR CATCHES ON FIRE AND SEIZES UP WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS!!

BOTH UNDERFENDERS FOR FRONT FENDERS SPONTANEOUSLY DETACHED ON FLAT, DRY HIGHWAY WHEN I WAS GOING AT A STEADY SPEED OF 45 MPH. DRIVER'S SIDE REMAINED ATTACHED AT FRONT END AND TWISTED AROUND TIRE, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF CAR AND VEER ONTO VERGE. PASSENGER SIDE ABRUPTLY DETACHED COMPLETELY AND FLEW ONTO ROADWAY. FRONT END OF CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN COLLISION. HONDA DEALER CLAIMS THEY NEVER SEE THIS HAPPENING AND CONTINUES TO BLAME DRIVER FOR FAULTY DRIVING

LOST ENGINE OIL. BLANCE SHAFT SEAL POPPED OUT. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF SEAL, TIMING BELT AND BALANCE SHAFT BELT.

I HAVE HAD A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR OF MY ACCORD EX COUPE. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCURRED ON JULY 27, 1997 AT AN ODOMETER READING OF 21536. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED FOR NO COST. THE NEXT FAILURE OCURRED ON OCTOBER 20, 1998 WHEN THE ODOMETER READING WAS 43050. THIS WAS ALSO FIXED WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER A GOODWILL WARRANTY. THE LAST FAILURE OCURRED ON 9/28/99 WHEN THE ODOMETER READ APPROXIMATELY 61442. THE DEALER (WOODLAND HILLS HONDA) INDICATED THE CAR WAS WELL PAST WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD DO A ONE TIME ONLY WARRANTY REPAIR FOR 50% OF THE REPAIR COST. I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY THE BALANCE OF $182.09. I TOLD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND THOUGHT HONDA SHOULD COVER THE ENTIRE REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER DENIED THE REQUEST. DO I HAVE RECOURSE? PLEASE ADVISE AT THE INDICATED TELEPHONE.

TAIL LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT DUE TO A FUSE WHICH KEPT BLOWING OUT. *AK

SECOND FAILURE OF SEAL.SEE PREV. QUESTIONNAIRE FILED . REF. #827854, 14 SEP 1998. *AK

THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE CHATTERING WHEN EVER THE BRAKES WOULD BE APPLIED. BEEN TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THE ROTORS HAD TO BE CUT DOWN & THEN TURNED. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. *AK

OIL PUMP SEAL BLEW WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION CAUSING ALL THE OIL TO IMMEDIATELY DRAIN FROM THE CAR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAR'S TIMING BELTS AND AND REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE TIME BELT. IF THE CAR HADN'T BEEN IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE ENGINE WOULD'VE SEIZED. HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE ISSUED AN UPGRADE KIT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. BUT THEY HAVE NOT NOTIFIED CAR OWNERS. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED SO THEY CAN GET IT FIXED BEFORE IT BLOWS AND CAUSES ADDITIONAL DAMAGE.

THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL OF OIL AS RESULT OF RUPTURE OF ENGINE SEAL. THIS IN TURN CAUSED DAMAGE TO TIMING BELT AND CRANKSHAFT BELT. SPOKE WITH WRECKER OPERATOR (FORMER CONTRACTOR FOR HONDA) AND MECHANIC AND BOTH INDICATED THIS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM IN HONDA'S OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL.

MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY AND GAVE THE CAR TO HER GRANDSON. HE WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO BLINK. HE PROCEEDED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE SPEED AT ENGINE STOP WAS APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. HE HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN 961001B, NHTSA ID #SB049981, ISSUED 1096, LISTED IN THE NHTSA DATABASE ON THE BALANCE SHAFT SEAL WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE FAILED. THE CAR IS NOW AT JACK ELLENA HONDA IN LAWRENCE, KS (785) 843-0550 WITH A BLOWN ENGINE. AMERICAN HONDA DOEST NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD COVER THE BURDEN OF A NEW REPLACEMENT ENGINE, THOUGH THEY HAVE AGREED TO A 50% REPLACEMENT COST OF A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE. THE CAR IS JUST 2000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY PERIOD.

BALANCE SHAFT SEAL POPPED OUT OF ENGINE AND OIL SOAKED ENTIRE ENGINE INCLD. TIMING BELT,AUX.BELT,SPARK PLUG RINGS. INFORMED BY BOTH HONDA DEALEARSHIP AND AN INDEPENDANT SHOP THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. HONDA REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH PAYMENT. TOOK CAR TO AN INDEPENDANT A

AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT AND THE SRS LIGHT STAYED ON. YH

TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, THE CAR VIBRATES OR AT LEAST THE STEERING COMPONENTS VIBRATE. IT IS SIMILAR TO THE VIBRATION YOU WOULD GET IF THE POWER STEERING BELT WERE LOOSE, BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE, IT WAS CHECKED TWICE.

ENGINE SEAL WENT BAD AND LEAKED OUT OIL. SRS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND MECHANIC TOLD SRS CONTROL UNIT WENT BAD WITH A REPAIR OF $600. CONTACTED HONDA AND THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR EITHER PART.

WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, IT WON'T DEACTIVATE. ALSO, BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT SLOW DOWN VEHICLE, CAUSING A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AFTER ARRIVING HOME. TOOK TO DEALER NEXT DAY. WAS INFORME D BY MECHANIC A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH WHICH NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

CV BOOT AND JOINTS WERE REPLACED . CAR NOW PULLS TO THE SIDE, AND SERVICE DEPT. SAYS THAT IT CAN NOT BE ALIGNED W/OUT 700.00 REPLACEMENT PART. *AK

NO SUMMARY

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, BROADSIDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING. MUST BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE AND THROW CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP CAR. HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. TOOK IT TO BOTH DEALER MECHANIC AND MY MECHANIC. THEY SAID "NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR." UNBELIEVABLE.

AIR CONDITIONER WIRE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (98V-231) CAUSED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY TO FAIL. YH

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED HIGH ACCELERATION WHEN VEHICLE WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BACK INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. *AK

THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION DUE TO TRANMISSION BLOWING OUT.CONSUMER HAS TO REDUCE THE SPEED IN ORDER FOR THE NOISE TO STOP. *AK

CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING VEHICLE. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 25 MPH VEHICLE STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE, AND BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER / MANUFACTRURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

RIGHT REAR LOCK MAKES GRINDING NOISE WHILE LOCKING. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT A COST TO ME OF $ 198.00. HOW COMMON IS THIS AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE? *AK

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

ABS NEEDS TO BEE REPLACED AFT 3 YEARS AND 43,000 MILES

OIL LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED THREE DAYS PRIOR TO DRIVING. WHEN CHECKING OIL, THERE WAS NO OIL. DEALER STATED THE CAM SEAL WAS BLOWN AND REPLACED TIMING BELT/BALANCING BELT/OIL AND SEALS, WITH VARIOUS OTHERS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE AT 64,000 MILES WHICH CAUSED OIL TO LEAK, MAY CAUSE A FIRE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML

VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE REAR WHILE WAITING AT A STOP SIGN, NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

REAR STRUCTURE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO WITH STAND AN IMPACT OF 25 MPH WHICH CAUSES TRUCK TO CAVE IN. CONSUMER NOTICED SOME TYPE OF FOAM FOUND BETWEEN TRUNK AND BUMPER AREA . DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED . *AK

ENGINE BLOCK - HAD PREVIOUS OLD LEAKS FROM OIL PAN GASKET, TOOKEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES FOR REPAIRS AND ON THE FOURTH TIME THEY DISCOVERED A CRACKED BLOCK. THEY ADVISED ME IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY AND I SHOULD BE LUCKY I HAVE A EXTENDED WARRANTY TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. ALSO I WAS TOLD MY HONDA WORLD WHERE THE CAR WAS REPAIRED SOMEWHAT AND MY AMERICAN HONDA THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT (POROUS ENGINE BLOCK). DEALER AND MANUFACTURER TAKES NO RESPONSIBLITY BOTH HAS STATED I BOUGHT THE CAR AND KNOW IT IS MY PROBLEM. ON THE WINDOW REGULATORS THEY HAVE A BULLETIN AND KNOW THEY GO OUT PREMATURELY BUT THEY STATE IT CAN BE FIXED AT MY EXPENSE. AGAIN THE MANUFACTURE KNOWS THEY HAVE PROBLEMS BUT STILL BELIEVE THE CONSUMER SHOULD PAY FOR THEIR SHORT DOINGS. PLEASE HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THERE ERRORS IN MANUFACTURING. *AK

THE CAR HAS LEAKED OIL SINCE 20,000 MILES AND AT 45,000 DEALER FOUND A CRACKED ENGINE

THE OIL SEAL FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS, THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE CAR, HOWEVER READ WHERE THERE WAS A A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL REGARDING A DEFECTIVE OIL SEAL AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED. *SLC

WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AND DID NOT GO OFF. DEALER CONTACTED AND RAN CHECK ON COMPUTER. FOUND A CODE, RESET IT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES WILL INTERMMITENLY FAIL TO ENGAGE. SEEMINGLY WHEN IT'S COLD, THE BUCKLE WILL "CLICK" AS IF IT IS LOCKED, BUT AFTER A SHORT PULL FOR VERIFICATION, IT COMES UNDONE. REQUIRES 5-10 ADDITIONAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE IT WILL LOCK. DRIVER'S BUCKLE STARTED FAILING IN OCT-98; FRONT PASSENGER'S STARTED DEC-98. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING VEHICLE PROPERLY, AND THE TIRES ARE SPINNING ON WET PAVEMENT AND DRY PAVEMENT. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FOR BOTH LEFT DOORS WOULD MAKE NOISE; SOUNDING AS THOUGH THE DOORS WERE BEING UNLOCKED. THIS SOUND COULD BE HEARD WHEN VEHICLE HIT BUMPS, WENT DOWN SLOPS ON A DAILY BASIS. VEHICLE'S INTAKE MANIFOLD ALSO FAILED.

VEHICLE OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE IGNITOR TO BURN OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON. *AK

VEHICLE HAD FAULTY RIGHT SIDE RACK SEAL AND INNER TIE ROD CAUSING STEERING AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS.

BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION, ALSO NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG, CAUSING INJURY. (QC-AW)

ON JUNE 23, 1998, I PULLED INTO THE PARKING GARAGE AT THE STATE HEALTH DEPT. AND CAME TO A STOP IN THE PARKING SPACE. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STARTED RACING, THEN IT RAMMED INTO THE PARKING GRAGE WALL. THE NEXT THING I KNEW THE AIR BAG WAS IN MY FACE AND MY KNEE FELT STRANGE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN AND A POWDERY SUBSTANCE WAS IN THE CAR. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND WENT INTO THE HEALTH DEPT. BUILDING AND CALLED MY DAD. I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT STATING THAT THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED I DID NOT CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. WHAT HAPPENED HERE WAS BEYOND MY CONTROL. THERE IS A SAFETY FACTOR HERE THAT AFFECTS ME AND OTHERS.

THIS PROBLEM HAS EXSISTED SINCE MY PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE READ AND EVEN BEEN INFORMED BY MY DEALER THAT THIS FAILURE IS COMMON TO MY MAKE MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THIS IS AT MY COST TO FIX, AND I FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAULTY PART(S) NOT ME. I AM HOPING THAT ENOUGH PEOPLE WILL FILE COMPLAINTS SO THAT HONDA IS ASKED TO PERFORM A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS FAILURE CAUSES A FALSE FUEL READING WHICH COULD LEAVE ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE I MIGHT THINK I HAVE ENOUGH FUEL TO GO SOME WHERE AND END UP NOT HAVING ENOUGH. THIS FAILURE SHOULD BE HONDA'S COST TO FIX NOT MINE, AND MAYBE BY FILING THIS COMPLAINT ALL OF US WITH THIS PROBLEM WILL GET OUR VEHICLES RECALLED TO BE FIXED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER RAN OVER DEBRIS, AND AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT INDICATIONS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS THE CONSUMER CUT THE AIR CONDITIONER OFF, AND THERE WAS COLD AIR COMING OUT OF THE VENTS. *AK

AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY FOR SENSOR. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 55 MPH.

HONDALINE WINDSHIELD HAS DISTORTIONS.