Total Complaints
19 filings
HONDA ACCORD · model year
1985 HONDA ACCORD
19 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985HONDAACCORD carries 19 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1985 ACCORD is suspension:front with 2 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline (1) and fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 11 investigation files overlapping the 1985 ACCORD, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
19
Complaints
5
Crashes
2
Fires
6
Injuries
2
Deaths
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20031028CrashFireFUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
HONDA ACCORD GOING 45 MPH WAS STRUCK ON LEFT REAR BY ANOTHER CAR GOING ALSO FORTY 45 MPH HITTING GAS TANK LOCATED BEHIND LEFT BACK PASSENGER DOOR. CAR INGNITED UNDER CAR AS CAR WAS SPINNING FOR AT LEAST ONE MINUTE. FIRE BURNED THOURGH BACKSEAT IGNITING SEAT AND SEATBELT TENNSIONIERS.CAR DOORS DID NOT OPEN BUT WINDOWS WERE DOWN. ONE ADULT TWO CHILDREN WERE PASSENGERS,ONE CHILD SUFFERED SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS FROM BEING IN BACK SEAT. OLDER BROTHER EXTRICATED GRANDMOTHER AND YOUNGER SISTER FROM BACKSEAT OF BURNING CAR OUT OF RIGHT FRNOT PASSENGER WINDOW.AK
20031028CrashFireSEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
HONDA ACCORD GOING 45 MPH WAS STRUCK ON LEFT REAR BY ANOTHER CAR GOING ALSO FORTY 45 MPH HITTING GAS TANK LOCATED BEHIND LEFT BACK PASSENGER DOOR. CAR INGNITED UNDER CAR AS CAR WAS SPINNING FOR AT LEAST ONE MINUTE. FIRE BURNED THOURGH BACKSEAT IGNITING SEAT AND SEATBELT TENNSIONIERS.CAR DOORS DID NOT OPEN BUT WINDOWS WERE DOWN. ONE ADULT TWO CHILDREN WERE PASSENGERS,ONE CHILD SUFFERED SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS FROM BEING IN BACK SEAT. OLDER BROTHER EXTRICATED GRANDMOTHER AND YOUNGER SISTER FROM BACKSEAT OF BURNING CAR OUT OF RIGHT FRNOT PASSENGER WINDOW.AK
20021101SUSPENSION:FRONT
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT SUSPENSION CRADLE BOLTS SNAP, AND CAUSES LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR PHOTOS ATTACHED. *TT
Mileage: 117,000
20010919TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE TREAD SEPARATION ON TWO JUPITER YP-701 TIRE MADE BY WOOSUNG. 3/14/01, REAR PASSENGER SIDE, TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATION OCCURRED, TIRE WAS NOT BALD BUT STILL HAD AN ESTIMATED 10,000 OR MORE TREADLIFE. 6/28/01, REAR DRIVERS SIDE,TREAD SEPARATION, 37,000 MILES ON TIRE, TRAVELING 50-55 MPH WHEN HE TIRE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY ADVANCED WARNING.
20000908POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH FAILED. NLM
20000908EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAILED. NLM
19991109ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING OIL LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO THE ENGINE LEAKING OIL ALSO, DEALER REPLACED SEALS AND BELTS. *AK
19991109ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
WHILE DRIVING OIL LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO THE ENGINE LEAKING OIL ALSO, DEALER REPLACED SEALS AND BELTS. *AK
19991109UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING OIL LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO THE ENGINE LEAKING OIL ALSO, DEALER REPLACED SEALS AND BELTS. *AK
19970603CrashFatalVISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
18-YEAR OLD SON DROWNED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A CANAL AND THE POWER WINDOWS/POWER LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE. *AK
19970603CrashFatalSTRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
18-YEAR OLD SON DROWNED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A CANAL AND THE POWER WINDOWS/POWER LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE. *AK
19970519SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELTS IN REAR DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. PARKED VEHICLE, TOOK TIRE OFF & NOTICED THAT REAR SEAT BELT CAME DETACHED FROM ANCHOR ATTACHMENT. WILL BE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK
19970417CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
HIGH SPEED INVOLUNTARY EXCELLERATION, RESULTING IN CRASH. *AK
19970102SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
REPLACEMENT ROTORS BECAME WARPED AFTER SIX MONTHS AND LESS THAN 6000 MPH; ALSO, FRONT OF VEHICLE MAKES NOISE AFTER FRONT BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED. *AK
19970102SUSPENSION:FRONT
REPLACEMENT ROTORS BECAME WARPED AFTER SIX MONTHS AND LESS THAN 6000 MPH; ALSO, FRONT OF VEHICLE MAKES NOISE AFTER FRONT BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED. *AK
19961231VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
IN THE MORNING WHEN OPENING UP THE TRUNK THERE'S OVER CONDENSATION OF WATER BECAUSE THERE MAY NOT BE ANY AIR CIRCULATION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAIL. *AK
19960416FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
FUEL LEAKAGE DUE TO RUSTING OF THE GAS LINE. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN MORE DETAIL. *AK
19951127FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
SUN WEST HONDA IN COLORADO SPRINGS REFUSED TO PERFORM RECALL FOR FILLER NECK DUE TO OWNER NOT BEING IN SERVICE AREA. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
19951116FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
RUSTED FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO WRONG ADDRESS (92V-028). *AK
Compare 1985HONDAACCORD to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA24002Engineering AnalysisOpen
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
PE22003Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
EA21001Engineering AnalysisClosed
Loss of Direction Control
DP20005Defect PetitionClosed
Loss of Direction Control
PE14033Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Power Steering Failure
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 HONDA ACCORD have?▼
The 1985 HONDA ACCORD has 19 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 HONDA ACCORD?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 HONDA ACCORD is SUSPENSION:FRONT with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP.
Is the 1985 HONDA ACCORD safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.