1989 Honda Accord Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 3%of 86 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 116,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1989 Honda Accord, 3% of the 86 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 116,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. The gear would not engage despite clutch replacements in jan or feb. 2003 and in 1999. …”
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“(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 2004-08Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 5% |
| 2024 | 6 | 4% |
| 2023 | 3 | 3% |
| 2022 | 8 | 3% |
| 2021 | 14 | 6% |
| 2020 | 16 | 4% |
| 2019 | 43 | 6% |
| 2018 | 139 | 7% |
| 2017 | 33 | 6% |
| 2016 | 29 | 5% |
| 2015 | 40 | 7% |
| 2014 | 65 | 7% |
| 2013 | 110 | 8% |
| 2012 | 27 | 7% |
| 2011 | 21 | 7% |
| 2010 | 45 | 8% |
| 2009 | 36 | 5% |
| 2008 | 70 | 5% |
| 2007 | 58 | 11% |
| 2006 | 50 | 12% |
| 2005 | 113 | 17% |
| 2004 | 348 | 34% |
| 2003 | 924 | 47% |
| 2002 | 478 | 46% |
| 2001 | 209 | 23% |
| 2000 | 201 | 17% |
| 1999 | 246 | 22% |
| 1998 | 276 | 23% |
| 1997 | 33 | 7% |
| 1996 | 27 | 6% |
| 1995 | 18 | 3% |
| 1994 | 21 | 6% |
| 1993 | 17 | 9% |
| 1992 | 25 | 12% |
| 1991 | 18 | 8% |
| 1990 | 15 | 8% |
| 1989 | 3 | 3% |
| 1988 | 11 | 13% |
| 1987 | 7 | 6% |
| 1986 | 5 | 9% |
| 1985 | 1 | 8% |
| 1983 | 1 | 14% |
| 1982 | 1 | 10% |
| 1981 | 1 | 14% |
Other parts of the 1989 Honda Accord
32 complaintsEngine cooling
12 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsSuspension
7 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsBrakes
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsSteering
4 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsTires
3 complaintsWheels
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1989 Honda Accord
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology