HONDA ACCORD · model year

1990 HONDA ACCORD

229 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990HONDAACCORD carries 229 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 8 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 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 1990 ACCORD is structure:body:door with 32 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (28) and electrical system:ignition (12). 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 1990 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.

229
Complaints
12
Crashes
8
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

229 filings

Crashes Reported

12 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR32
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH28
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION12
SEAT BELTS12
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY11
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH7
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE5
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR4
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD4
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR3

Recent Complaints

20220602SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

The contact owns a 1990 Honda Accord. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the driver’s side seat belt retractor failed to work as needed. The seat belt warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by the local dealer with seat belt failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 155,022.

Mileage: 155,022

20200104STRUCTURE:BODY

HI WE'LL ALL I COULD SAID THAT PARK MY CAR ON 53TH ST AND HOOPER YESTERDAY AT 11PM WAS MY LAST SEEN OF THE CAR IS A HONDA ACCORD 90 GREEN THE PROBLEM IS THAT IS NOT REGISTER UNDER MY NAME BUT I HAVE THE PAPERS ON HAND.

20140502ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR STREET WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. I REACTED QUICKLY AND WAS ABLE TO COAST AND PULL OFF ONTO A SIDE STREET WITHOUT INTERRUPTING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I BARELY MADE THE TURN WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. I DID SOME INVESTIGATING AND FOUND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD SOME BURNED CONTACTS. THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20101228SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 HONDA ACCORD EX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WARNING SYSTEM LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A SEATBELT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEATBELTS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 95V103001 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY). THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR NEEDED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 248,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 250,000. UPDATED 5/2/11 *CN

Mileage: 248,000

20081229SEAT BELTS

1990 HONDA ACCORD TWO DOOR COUPE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION. MY FRONT TRACK SEAT BELT IS LOCKED IN THE FORWARD POSITION. NORMALLY IT RETRACTS TO REAR POSITION AFTER DOOR CLOSES. I TOOK MY CAR TO LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP AFTER THEY SAID OVER THE PHONE THAT SEAT BELT REPAIR WAS COVERED FOR LIFETIME OF VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS THEN SAID I NEEDED A SEAT BELT CONTROL UNIT, NOT COVERED BY LIFETIME WARRANTY. DEALER DID NOT FIX MALFUNCTIONING SEAT BELT. I CALLED HONDA USA IN TORRENCE, CA.(1-800-999-1009), THEY ALSO SAID SEAT BELT CONTROL UNIT WAS NOT WARRANTED. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO OTHER THAN FIX PROBLEM AT MY OWN EXPENSE. IS HONDA'S ASSUMPTION CORRECT IN STATING SEAT BELT CONTROL UNIT IS NOT PART OF THE SEAT BELT, THUS NOT COVERED UNDER LIFETIME WARRANTY? *TR

Mileage: 211,000

20080911SEAT BELTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 HONDA ACCORD. FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 270,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

Mileage: 220,000

20080904TIRES:VALVE

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 HONDA ACCORD. THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE WENT TOTALY FLAT ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE TIRE SHOP HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE BECAUSE THE SIDEWALL HAD BEEN DAMAGED. ALL OF THE VALVE STEMS ON THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. SHE ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE LOOSING AIR, THAT TIRE WAS OKAY. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THE VALVE STEMS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,000. KG UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE HAD SUDDENDLY DEFLATED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO A CUT VALVE STEM. THE SESCOND TIME THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SUDDENLY DEFLATED. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THE TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACEDDUE TO SIDEWALL DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD ALL 4 VALVE STEMS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/06/08. *JB

20080814SEAT BELTS

THE PASSANGER FRONT LAP BELT HAS FAILED. IT IS UNDER A LIFETIME WARRANTY. HANDA HAS FAILED TO FIX IT. *TR

Mileage: 185,000

20080422SEAT BELTS:FRONT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHOULDER STRAP OF HER SEAT BELT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER AND THEY BOTH STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER THE SEAT BELTS WERE INSPECTED, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT CONTROL UNIT WAS PART OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONTROL UNIT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, AND WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,020.

Mileage: 88,000

20070928EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 HONDA ACCORD. A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT FILLED THE FUEL TANK AND NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. SHE ALSO SMELLED GAS FUMES IN THE GARAGE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK AND THAT THE VEHICLE COULD EXPLODE AT ANY TIME. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT SOMEONE ATTEMPTED TO RIG THE FUEL TANK DURING A PREVIOUS REPAIR. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE ALSO NOT WORKING WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 214,000.

Mileage: 214,000

20070928SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 HONDA ACCORD. A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT FILLED THE FUEL TANK AND NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. SHE ALSO SMELLED GAS FUMES IN THE GARAGE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK AND THAT THE VEHICLE COULD EXPLODE AT ANY TIME. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT SOMEONE ATTEMPTED TO RIG THE FUEL TANK DURING A PREVIOUS REPAIR. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE ALSO NOT WORKING WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 214,000.

Mileage: 214,000

20070928FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 HONDA ACCORD. A FEW DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT FILLED THE FUEL TANK AND NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. SHE ALSO SMELLED GAS FUMES IN THE GARAGE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK AND THAT THE VEHICLE COULD EXPLODE AT ANY TIME. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT SOMEONE ATTEMPTED TO RIG THE FUEL TANK DURING A PREVIOUS REPAIR. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE ALSO NOT WORKING WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 214,000.

Mileage: 214,000

20050329LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

THE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN WHETHER THE KEY OR THE REMOTE WAS USED TO UN LOCK. THE CONSUMER HAS TO CLIMB THROUGH THE WINDOWS TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED.

Mileage: 80,000

20041207VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 85 MPH, AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHUT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. TAPPING THE BRAKES DID NOTHING. FINALLY, CONSUMER EXITED THE HIGHWAY, AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF.*AK

Mileage: 149,000

20041019CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT REQUEST A COMPLETE COPY OF ANY AND ALL RECALL INFORMATION REGARDING THE 1986-1991 SEAT BELT CAMPAIGN. *NM RECALL NUMBERS: ( 93V056000 ,95V103001 ) SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE AND SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY ARE THE ISSUES WITH THE SEAT BELT FOR CONSUMERS VEHICLE. *TC

20041019CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT REQUEST A COMPLETE COPY OF ANY AND ALL RECALL INFORMATION REGARDING THE 1986-1991 SEAT BELT CAMPAIGN. *NM RECALL NUMBERS: ( 93V056000 ,95V103001 ) SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE AND SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY ARE THE ISSUES WITH THE SEAT BELT FOR CONSUMERS VEHICLE. *TC

20040721FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

CONSUMER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. ALSO, SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT IN THE BACK WINDOW SHORTED OUT. THIS CAUSED A WIRE TO IGNITE AND THERE WERE FLAMES AND BLACK SMOKE. THE INTENSE HEAT CAUSED THE REAR WINDSHIELD TO EXPLODE. PLEASE HELP AS SHE STATES SHE NEEDS HELP TO REPAIR VEHICLE. *LA

20040422CrashSEAT BELTS

MY DAUGHTER WAS HIT HEAD-ON AND HER BODY SLAMMED AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE WAS WEARING BOTH THE LAP AND AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT. APPARENTLY THE LOCKING MECHANISM DID NOT WORK ON THE SHOULDER BELT.

Mileage: 226,000

20040229ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FAULTY. *JB

Mileage: 97,000

20040223FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE CONSUMER HAD ENGINE TROUBLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND HAD BECOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *PH *SC

Compare 1990HONDAACCORD to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 HONDA ACCORD have?
The 1990 HONDA ACCORD has 229 NHTSA complaints, 12 crashes, 8 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 HONDA ACCORD?
The most-complained component for the 1990 HONDA ACCORD is STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR with 32 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION.
Is the 1990 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.