The Honda Accord is one of the most appealing choices if you’re looking for a good used family car. The latest models of the Honda Accord are some of the best in their class. The Accord offers powerful, fuel-efficient engines, lots of advanced driver-assist features, an upscale interior with lots of room, and peppy handling.
Were the older models just as good as the new models? It depends on the year you’re looking at. There are some older models of the Honda Accord that you’ll want to avoid because of consumer complaints.
A Look At The Honda Accord’s History of Reliability
Now, in its 11th generation, which started in 2023, the Honda Accord is known as one of the most reliable cars on the road. The current generation has certainly earned that reputation. They’ve appeared on multiple Car and Driver 10 Bests lists because it’s hard to beat for a family sedan. With a nice balance of efficiency, power, versatility, and comfort, the current generation that began with the 2018 models offers impressive sedans.
Before buying an older model Honda Accord, do some research about the reliability of the vehicle. According to CarComplaints.com, the sixth generation (1998-2002), the seventh generation (2003-2007), and the ninth generation (2013-2017), all have one-out-of-five-star reliability ratings. The three generations are among the worst vehicles rated for reliability among the automaker’s entire slate of vehicles.
- Severe Transmission Failure
The biggest problem consumers face with older Honda Accords, particularly the seventh generation, has been transmission failure. There were more than 3,000 complaints, and 24 recalls for the 2003 models and over a thousand complaints and 21 recalls for the 2004 models.
There were more than 500 complaints on the transmission failure alone, with models almost making it to 98,000 miles on average when the failure occurred. The average cost of the repair is expensive for the average car owner in Nigeria.
- Faulty ignition switch
According to RepairPal, another major issue facing several models of the Honda Accord was a faulty ignition switch. When an ignition switch fails, you may not be able to start the car, or it may stall out.
The switch provides power from the battery of the vehicle to most car electronics and the voltage that the engine requires. When the switch goes bad, the engine won’t start or stall while in use, posing dangerous situations. There may be sporadic loss of lights or accessories in the vehicle. You may have trouble even removing the vehicle’s key from the switch. While the repairs are expensive, the inconvenience and potential safety risks make this complaint one to take seriously. There are 25 models affected: 1990-99, 2000-10, and 2012-15.
Other Problems Found in the Honda Accord
There were other problems that plagued the Accord in past years. In 2008 models, there were more than a thousand complaints about premature brake wear. Some customers expressed frustration with having to replace their rear brakes every year in their 2008 Accord. The 2008 models also had several hundred complaints about excessive oil consumption.
Other problems reported were highly uncomfortable seating, grinding sounds when starting the engine, exterior accessory problems, and several more.
Conclusion
While later models of the Honda Accord are doing well as far as safety and reliability, do your research before buying an older one. If you find a model affected by complaints of costly repairs or potential dangers, you’ll want to consider either another model of Accord or another used car altogether.
