1989 Honda Accord Problems
- Complaints
- 86filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 116,000miles, 3 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 23 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 21 city / 27 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1989 Honda Accord (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often write about the front seat belt buckles, which in many complaints either would not stay latched or would not lock when pulled, including in reported crashes. A second frequent theme is the engine running hot and losing coolant, sometimes after a head gasket repair, along with suspension ball joint failures that affected steering control.
- Seat belts
Seat belt buckles do not latch or stay latched
- 30 complaints (35%)
- typically at 7.0 yrs old
- 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2004
Complaints describe front buckle assemblies that pop open, refuse to stay engaged, or release on their own in a collision. Several owners report that buckles were replaced under a safety recall but the same behavior returned, or that the repair amounted to adding a belt guide rather than replacing the buckle. Some note that retractors do not lock when the belt is pulled sharply, and a few say the dealer did not have recall parts when the vehicle was brought in. Reported across a wide range of vehicle ages in the sample, with no clear mileage pattern and several reports tied to crash events.
What to check: Ask whether recall 95V103001 was completed and whether the front buckles themselves, not just the guides, were replaced. Buckle each front belt and tug it firmly, then pull the belt out sharply to confirm the retractor locks.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The consumer has been experiencing problems with safety belts. The base of the belts are attached to the door, which poses as a safety defect. The manufacturer has been contacted. *akconsumer states that the threat is if the doors open on impact of a crash, the belt would drag one out of the vehicle within the car, resulting in unnecessary injury or death.”
NHTSA complaint #830578, filed 1998-11“Vehicle was broadsided on the passenger's side and driver's seat belt failed to lock up, forcing driver into steering wheel , etc. Dealer and manufacturer have been notified. Feel free to provide any further information.”
NHTSA complaint #8017455, filed 2002-08 - Engine cooling
Engine overheating and coolant loss
- 6 complaints (7%)
- typically at 11.2 yrs old
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2006
Owners describe the temperature gauge climbing into the red, especially while idling in traffic on warm days, with the engine also revving high at the same time. Some report head gasket replacement followed by continued coolant leaks, and one describes an engine compartment fire after the gauge went into the red while driving. Others mention oil seepage that was addressed by replacing a valve cover gasket. The overheating reports in the sample cluster at higher mileage, with one at 116,000 miles, and several describe it happening after extended idling on days of 70 degrees or warmer.
What to check: Check coolant level and condition, look for residue or staining around the head gasket and radiator, and let the car idle in warm weather to watch the temperature gauge and cooling fan. Ask whether the head gasket or cooling components have been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I wish I had known earlier that this complaint to the NHTSA was possible. For years, I did not know what to do about a serious problem with my 1989 Honda Accord. Since the first year of ownership the car overheated and revved very high whenever I had to wait in traffic for more than 15 minutes on a 70 degree or higher days. I've taken the car to several repair facilities and despite my spending nearly $3,000 on repair-work , the problem caused the car's demise at 116,000 miles on june 11, 2003. …”
NHTSA complaint #10023058, filed 2003-06, 116,000 miles“My problem continues. So I repair, it continues. It is hard to get a new car and at the present time finances aren't allowing me to purchase a new vehicle. My health is suffering for that reason. When I warm my car upin the mornings, it revs very hard, the carbon monoxide gets into the house...I am suffering from really bad headaches. I need my car to gt back and forth to work. Without a vehicle I have no job. What do I do. I ave complained til I a blue in the face. The car is now costing more to fix than it is worth.”
NHTSA complaint #10069015, filed 2004-01 - Suspension
Ball joint failure and wheel separation
Mentioned in 4 of 33 sampled complaints
Complaints describe ball joints breaking or shearing off while driving, leaving the driver unable to steer and in one case causing a guardrail strike with occupant injuries. One owner reports a wheel coming loose because an upper control arm failed, and another says rear ball joints broke twice before a dealer found the same condition at the front. In a further complaint the underside is described as heavily rust-damaged, affecting several components. Reported on older, higher-mileage cars in the sample, usually discovered after a failure rather than during routine maintenance.
What to check: Have a mechanic inspect all four ball joints and control arms on a lift before driving the car any distance, and check the underside for rust around the suspension and fuel tank.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The vehicle's left ball joint shreared off causing the driver to loose control of the vehicle and strike a guardrail resulting in injury to occupants (abdominal and neck pain) and damage to the vehicle. (ohio traffic crash report)”
NHTSA complaint #562667, filed 2001-07“Wheel fell off while driving. Consumer's wife stated that the right wheel was hanging out. This was the second 1986 Honda Accord that had wheel fall off, due to upper control arm failure.”
NHTSA complaint #858831, filed 2000-03
Buying note. On a car of this age, the seat belt recall history and the condition of the ball joints are worth confirming first, since both show up repeatedly in owner complaints. A pre-purchase inspection on a lift, plus a warm-weather idle test watching the temperature gauge, will tell you more than service records alone.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 33 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 86 consumer complaints for the 1989 Honda Accord. 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 116,000 miles. Of all complaints, 13 involved a crash, 9 a fire, 13 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
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.
- Seat belts32 37%
- Engine cooling12 14%
- Fuel system7 8.1%
- Suspension7 8.1%
- Electrical system6 7.0%
- Brakes5 5.8%
- Steering4 4.7%
- Body and structure3 3.5%
Also reported: Tires (3), Transmission and drivetrain (3), Wheels (3), Equipment (2), Other or unknown (2), Seats (2).
Example complaints
Seat belts: “Recall #95v103001: vehicle has been taken in three times for repair since january, and each time they didn't have the parts. Went in three weeks ago, and they still didn't have the parts.”
NHTSA complaint #813857, filed 1997-08Engine cooling: “I bought the car for my son, who is 18, and when a friend was going to change the oil and he hoisted it to work underneath it, the whole underside of the car is damaged. The muffler isn't secured as it is rusted out, the gas tank is smashed in. It's running off the catalytic converter and the car dealer said the car made so much noise because of a piece they had connected to the exhaust pipe to make it that way. I was lied to and I will have to invest even more money into the car because of the dealers intentional misinformation.”
NHTSA complaint #10195961, filed 2007-07Vehicle speed control: “Front rotors/calipers failed; appleid brakes and they did not stop, causing a accident (no injury but $3,000 in damage); right front power window motor failed; power steering hose failed; and the speed control failed.”
NHTSA complaint #780629, filed 1998-10Fuel system: “(1) event hybrid design flaw: 1989 Honda Accord 2.0l fuel injection: manufactured as a hybrid, july 1989. Proof of hybridization: auto part dealers show different parts for this model before, during, and after july 1989. Also, the hybrid fuel injection is visible from the number of wire and tubes from the valve cover for the carburetor and the official fuel-injected model. An original equipment installed yet unused valve-drive cog sits idly under a cover while a hybrid timing chain system runs the valves in perfect timing. …”
NHTSA complaint #10086374, filed 2004-08Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 88,000 and 200,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1989 Honda Accord version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accord FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 22 | 28 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Accord FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 21 | 27 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Accord FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,050 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 95V103001May 24, 1995Seat belts › Front › Buckle assemblyCovers: Honda Accord 1986–1991, Civic 1986–1991, Prelude 1986–1991 +3 more
The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." if a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.
Recall details for the 1989 Honda Accord → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1989 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 | 97 | 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 | 88 | 37,200 | 5 | 5 | 32 | 0 · Fewer | Too new |
| 2022 | 262 | 23,343 | 4 | 5 | 32 | 19 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2021 | 246 | 69,000 | 4 | 5 | 32 | 14 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2020 | 368 | 13,000 | 5 | 5 | 30 | 50 · Typical | Rising |
| 2019 | 698 | 19,000 | 6 | 5 | 30 | 63 · Typical | Rising |
| 2018 | 1,897 | 22,000 | 6 | 5 | 30 | 100 · More | Rising |
| 2017 | 540 | 25,000 | 3 | 5 | 26 | 39 · Typical | Rising |
| 2016 | 613 | 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 | 74 · 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 | 83 · 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
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Honda Accord?
Owners of this model year most often write about the front seat belt buckles, which in many complaints either would not stay latched or would not lock when pulled, including in reported crashes. The issues reported most often: Seat belt buckles do not latch or stay latched; Engine overheating and coolant loss; Ball joint failure and wheel separation.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1989 Honda Accord have?
NHTSA recorded 86 consumer complaints for the 1989 Honda Accord as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1989 Honda Accord is reported most often?
Seat belts is named most often, in 32 complaints (37% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 12.
Has the 1989 Honda Accord been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1989 Honda Accord get?
The EPA rates the 1989 Honda Accord (Accord, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 21 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1989 Honda Accord reported?
Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 116,000 miles and the middle half falls between 88,000 and 200,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
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.