Honda AccordModel year report

1981 Honda Accord Problems

Complaints: 7filed with NHTSA
Median mileage: —no mileage reported
Recalls: 0campaigns on record
Trend: Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1981 Honda Accord (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 1981 Honda Accord. The part named most often is body and structure, with 3 complaints (43% of the total), followed by fuel system (2) and electrical system (1). NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Body and structure: “Front cross member mount to frame of vehicle is completely rusted out, causing front end to shift and right rear tire to wear out. Engine may fall out at any time. The vehicle presently is not driveable, vibrates while driving.”

NHTSA complaint #522100, filed 1997-09

Fuel system: “While downshifting the rpms dropped to 400 and then car died. This caused the vehicle to slow down in the middle of the freeway. Contacted the dealer, and they said it was since vehicle was purchased, and involved the carburetor.”

NHTSA complaint #851605, filed 1999-10

Electrical system: “When traveling at any speed with the air condtioner on vehicle loses all electrical component lights and the vehicle cuts off without prior warning. Consumer has yet to contact the dealer. Please provide any further details.”

NHTSA complaint #825728, filed 1998-07

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1981 Honda Accord in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

NHTSA investigations

DP86013Seat belt retractorsClosed · Jul 8, 1986

Technical service bulletins

No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1981 Honda Accord.

Other model years of the Honda Accord

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	Crash ★	MPG	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2026	14	500	0	5	32	—	Too new
2025	96	5,045	0	5	32	Too new to compare	Too new
2024	153	15,700	3	5	32	Too new to compare	Too new
2023	87	37,200	5	5	32	0 · Fewer	Too new
2022	260	23,343	4	5	32	19 · Fewer	Rising
2021	245	69,000	4	5	32	14 · Fewer	Rising
2020	365	12,500	5	5	30	50 · Typical	Rising
2019	698	19,000	6	5	30	64 · Typical	Rising
2018	1,896	22,000	6	5	30	100 · More	Rising
2017	539	25,000	3	5	26	39 · Typical	Rising
2016	610	36,000	4	5	27	48 · Typical	Rising
2015	601	40,000	5	5	27	42 · Typical	Falling
2014	982	46,000	4	5	27	50 · Typical	Falling
2013	1,427	45,000	5	5	27	75 · More	Stable
2012	373	25,284	8	5	26	55 · Typical	Stable
2011	296	44,000	9	5	26	28 · Fewer	Stable
2010	581	41,000	12	—	25	56 · Typical	Falling
2009	727	32,944	10	—	24	84 · More	Stable
2008	1,521	27,046	8	—	24	100 · More	Falling
2007	524	68,510	9	—	25	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2006	433	77,300	12	—	25	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2005	656	72,674	15	—	24	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2004	1,018	90,000	13	—	24	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2003	1,987	88,000	13	—	25	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2002	1,050	88,324	5	—	24	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
2001	922	85,000	7	—	23	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2000	1,183	90,400	8	—	23	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1999	1,135	105,689	4	—	23	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1998	1,200	100,000	6	—	23	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1997	460	107,000	3	—	22	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1996	472	106,602	1	—	22	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1995	543	115,000	2	—	23	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1994	369	118,750	1	—	23	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1993	186	155,250	1	—	22	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1992	206	125,000	2	—	22	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1991	212	166,219	3	—	22	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1990	192	152,011	2	—	23	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
1989	86	116,000	1	—	23	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1988	88	200,000	2	—	24	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1987	111	73,512	3	—	25	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1986	54	164,200	2	—	24	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1985	13	117,000	1	—	24	—	Not enough data
1984	22	165,367	2	—	26	—	Stable
1983	7	—	1	—	—	—	Not enough data
1982	10	—	2	—	—	—	Not enough data
1981	7	—	0	—	—	—	Not enough data

All Honda Accord model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1981 Honda Accord have?

NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 1981 Honda Accord as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1981 Honda Accord is reported most often?

Body and structure is named most often, in 3 complaints (43% of the total), followed by fuel system with 2.

Has the 1981 Honda Accord been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.