Problems · by component
1996 Honda Accord engine and engine cooling problems
95 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Honda Accord cite engine and engine cooling, 20% of all 478 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
95
20% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“AS I PREPARED TO SLOW TO A STOP IN A RELATIVES CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UP WITH A HIGH PITCHED WHINE. I TURNED THE WHEEL TO AVOID HITTING A PARKED CAR IN HOPES OF STOPPING THE CAR BUT IT CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED AND ENDED UP HITTING A PICKUP IN THE SAME CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO FUNCTION AS THE CAR PICKED UP SPEED.”
“DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE BALANCE SHAFT SEAL POPPED OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THEY STATED THE ENGINE SEAL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK”
“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. *NM”
“WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS. *MR”
“WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DIED AND WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM IN WHICH THERE HAD BEEN A PRODUCT RECALL. *LA *MR”
“AFTER THE SEAL BROKE, OIL DRAINED FROM THE ENGINE AND CAUSED SOME DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *PH THERE WAS A PRODUCT UPDATE REGARDING THE SHAFT OIL SEAL, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BECAUSE HE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *JB”
Showing 6 of 95 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.