1996 Honda Accord Electrical Problems

Your car's airbag warning light came on, indicating a problem with your SRS (Supplemental Restraint System). This means your airbags may not deploy properly in an accident, which is a serious safety concern. The dealer estimates the SRS unit will need to be replaced, which could take 2-3 weeks to repair.

Your car has an electrical wiring issue that poses a fire risk. This is a safety concern that requires immediate attention. The fix will likely involve inspecting and replacing damaged wiring harnesses or connections in the electrical system.

Your check engine light has been staying on while parked and while driving at various speeds. Your speedometer isn't reading the correct speed or mileage. Additionally, your battery is draining quickly and needs replacement every six months or less. The underlying electrical or engine issue may need diagnosis with a code reader and battery testing.

Your alternator isn't charging your battery, and you've identified a faulty wire harness as the likely cause. This means your battery will eventually drain and your car may not start or run properly. The fix will involve inspecting and repairing or replacing the faulty wiring in the alternator circuit and possibly the alternator itself.

FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH...RECURRENT INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. FAILS TO START. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING OFF AND ON FOR YEARS. SOMETIMES THE KEY SENSOR SENSES A KEY IN THE IGNITION WHEN A KEY ISN'T INSERTED, THUS A BEEPING SOUND WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED EVEN IF THE KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION. CAR HAS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS. *TR

I HAVE A 1996 HONDA ACCORD WHICH WAS SUDDENLY STALLING WITH ALL THE POWER DOWN FOR FEW MINUTES. AFTER FEW TESTS MY MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM IS WITH IGNITION KEY SWITCH. AFTER SPENDING $600 PLUS THE PROBLEM STOPPED. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT FOR MODEL YEAR 1997 ONWARDS FOR THE SAME CAR. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THERE WERE LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE MODEL YEAR 1996 WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WHOSE CAR WERE NOT RECALLED AND FIXED BY HONDA. SO I THINK HONDA SHOULD ALL INCLUDE THE MODEL YEAR 1996 FOR RECALL OR REIMBURSE PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND WHOSE CAR WERE NOT RECALLED AND WHO ENDED UP SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. HONDA SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED MODEL YEAR 1996 ALONG WITH OTHER YEAR FOR RECALL.

I WAS DRIVING MY 96 ACCORD AT 45 MPH ON A SPRING DAY AND IT SHUT OFF AS THOUGH I HAD TURNED THE KEY OFF. IT WOULD RESTART FOR AS LONG AS THE KEY WAS HELD IN THE "START" POSITION, BUT AS SOON AS THE KEY WAS RELEASED (TO NORMAL OPERATING POSITION) IT WOULD DIE. THE CAUSE WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH WHICH I HAD REPLACED BY A REPAIR TECHNICIAN. WHILE I FORTUNATELY SUFFERED NO HARM, HAD IT HAPPENED TRAVELING UPHILL OR THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. *TR

HORN WORKS OCCASIONALLY, SRS LIGHT WON'T GO OFF,SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING. *TR

HONDA ACCORD 1996, WINDOWS AUTOMATICALLY OPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT OCCUPIED, BUT IS PARKED AND LOCKED. UPON RETURN, HONDA ACCORD WINDOWS ARE OPEN TO HALF WAY. THIS CREATES A DANGER FOR THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AS IF PARKED WHEN THERE IS NO DAYLIGHT, SOMEONE COULD ENTER THE VEHICLE UNKNOWN TO THE DRIVER, OR CARJACKING COULD OCCUR DUE TO EASY ENTRY TO VEHICLE AS WELL AS CAR THEFT TO INTERIOR OF VEHICLE AND TRUNK OF VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO HONDA AND STATED ANSWER IS - WHEN KEY IS CLICKED MORE THEN ONCE, THIS WILL CAUSE WINDOWS TO OPEN, EVEN WHEN OWNER IS INDOORS AND ACCIDENTALLY HITS THE KEY. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. *TR

1996 HONDA ACCORD. DRIVING ON FREEWAY ON THE THIRD LINE. SUDDENLY CAR LIGHTS ON THE FRONT PANEL TURN ON. ENGINE STOPPED. CAR SLOWED DOWN AND ALMOST WAS HIT BY A TRUCK ON THE REAR OF THE CAR. FELT LIKE THE TRUCK WOULD READ END MY CAR AND THAT WAS THE DAY TO DIE. EMERGENCY LIGHTS WERE TURN ON. WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING, THE ENGINE STARTED AFTER SO TRYING SO MAN TIMES AND GOT CAR OUT OF THE FREEWAY. AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY, THE CAR LIGHTS CAME ON AND ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. A TOW TRUCK TOOK THE CAR TO A SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A IGNITION ELECTRICAL SWITCHED IS BAD FAULTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HONDA ACCORD. THE VEHICLE HAS AN IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE. ONCE THE KEY IS RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE STALLS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT A STORE ONCE AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE MECHANIC INITIALLY THOUGHT THERE WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION ON THE BATTERY, BUT HE LATER DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS A SWITCH ISSUE. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1997 ACCORDS ARE UNDER RECALL FOR THIS SAME FAILURE, BUT NOT THE 1996 ACCORDS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 185,000. UPDATED 6/8/09 *CN UPDATED 06/11/09.*JB

1996 HONDA ACCORD, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, HAVING TROUBLE REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, SEEMS LIKE THE SYSTEM DOESN'T REALIZE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK. THE PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY OTHER TIME SO FAR, SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS WORN OUT OR ON THE VERGE OF A DEFECT. PLEASE ADVISE ASAP, I DON'T WANT TO GET STUCK SOMEPLACE. IS THIS PROBLEM ON A RECALL BASIS ??? *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL FREEWAY SPEED, ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT, TACHOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO, FAN, RADIO STILL WORKED. A FEW SECONDS LATER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL COASTING, ENGINE STARTED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, QUITE SCARY, AND DANGEROUS WITH TWO KIDS IN THE CAR ON A BUSY FREEWAY. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ODOMETER HAD STOPPED. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 50 DEGREES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109,620.

IT BEGAN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR WOULD STOP RUNNING FOR NO REASON. IT WOULD START UP AGAIN WITH NO PROBLEM. NOW, THE CAR WILL ONLY RUN WHILE HOLDING THE KEY BETWEEN THE RUN AND START POSITION. AS WHEN IT BEGAN HAPPENING, IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE CAR IS IN GEAR OR NOT, SITTING IDLE OR DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK/UNLOCK FROM THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROLS, IT MUST BE PERFORMED MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A REMOTE LOCKING DEVICE. THE CONTACT IS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DETERMINED THE DOOR ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK UPDATED 5/16/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK/UNLOCK USING THE REMOTE LOCKING DEVICE IT MUST BE PERFORMED MANUALLY. THIS BEGAN AS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT GRADUALLY GOT WORSE. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. UPDATED 05/16/2006. *AK *NM

IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 1996 ACCORD SEDAN IS SOMETIMES FAULTY/INTERMITTENT. I WOULD TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION AND THE ENGINE IS TOTALLY SILENT, WILL NOT CRANK OVER. I WOULD DO THIS UNTIL THE ENGINE CRANKS OVER AND TURNS ON. THE PROBLEM IS STILL INTERMITTENT TO THIS DAY. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO NOTICED SMOKE AND SPARKS EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ADDITIONALLY HE NOTICED THAT THE LINING OVER ONE OF THE WHEELS HAD FALLEN OFF AND THE WIRES WERE EXPOSED, TOUCHING THE TIRE. RECALL 98V231000 WAS INITIATED REGARDING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALL. THE FAILURE CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S A/C AND BATTERY, CD PLAYER, BLINKERS, LIGHT, ETC. *AK

I OWN A 1996 HONDA ACCORD AND IT HAS BEEN A RELIABLE CAR UNTIL RECENTLY. IT HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTED. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN THE CAR KEPT ACTING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL WHEN I HIT THE GAS. IT FINALLY STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE HONDA DEALER AND SPENDING $300 FOR REPAIRS WHICH INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF SPARK PLUGS, FUEL INDUCTION SERVICE AND THROTTLE BODY CLEANING, THE CAR WAS STILL NOT REPAIRED. AFTER THE CAR WOULD NOT START, I MYSELF REPLACED THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP, ROTOR AND IGNITION COIL. IT IS NOW SITTING AT A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM WAS THE DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY. SO $1,000.00 LATER MY CAR IS FIXED BUT I STILL FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING IT AND WILL NEVER TRUST IT AGAIN.*AK

WHEN THE DRIVER STARTED THE VEHICLE THE DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED. SOMEHOW THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *NM

CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WITH VEHICLE STILL IN DRIVE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL, AND DAMAGED THE REAR END. *AK

CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION WITH VEHICLE STILL IN DRIVE. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND DAMAGED THE REAR END. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND HAD SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM UNIT REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BATTERY NEEDED REPLACING. THIS VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JG

RECALL 98-V-231-000/WIRE HARNESS. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR VEHICLE. NORTH SHORE HONDA GLEN HEADS, NY 516-676-2300. *AK THE DEALER FIXED THE WIRE HARNESS AND FRONT BALANCER SHAFT SEAL. *YH

VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHEN DECELERATING. VEHICLE WILL START BACK, BUT IS VERY HAZARDOUS IN TRAFFIC. DEALER HAS CHANGED IGINITION SWITCH. BUT BECAUSE PROBLEM IS SO INTERMITTENT, THEY CAN'T FIND A REMEDY. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER WIRE FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (98V-231) CAUSED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY TO FAIL. YH

THIS LATEST ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE HAS YET TO BE DIANOSED BY A MECHANIC; I AM GUESSING THE CAUSE IS THE SAME AS THE 2 PREVIOUS FAILURES. WHETHER MY GUESS IS CORRECT, THE BIKE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED COMPLETELY, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER WITH NO WARNING, WHILE I WAS RIDING IN THE MIDDLE (THIRD) LANE OF THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH. A HONDA TECHNICIAN WHO REPLACED A DEFECTIVE REGULATOR ON THIS BIKE BEFORE TOLD ME THE UNITS TENDED TO FAIL BECAUSE THEY WERE INTENDED FOR TOURING AND DIDN'T PERFORM WELL IN COMMUTER CONDITIONS. HAVE YOU HEARD THIS BEFORE? *AK

TAIL LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT DUE TO A FUSE WHICH KEPT BLOWING OUT. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AFTER ARRIVING HOME. TOOK TO DEALER NEXT DAY. WAS INFORME D BY MECHANIC A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH WHICH NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

IGNITION KEY FUSE LIGHT FAILED.

STARTER AND IGNITION FAILURE,DEALER CAN NOT DETERMINE PROBLEM.

DUE TO THE LOCATION AND THE SIZE OF THE HORN, IN A EMERGENCY THE HORN IS DIFFICULT OF DEPRESS. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES PORBLEMS KEEPS REACCURING, KEEP REPLACING COMPUTER SYSTEM. *AK

THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE OTHER DEFICIENIES. *AK

VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE OTHER DEFICIENIES. *AK