1996 Honda Accord Honda Accord 1996

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1996 Honda Accord repairs by problem area

Engine (43%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (4%)

Brakes and Traction Control (3%)

Suspension and Steering (25%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (18%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (4%)

Other (4%)

Chart based on 77 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 1996 Honda Accord.

1996 Honda Accord repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (2%)

$500 - $999 (16%)

$100 - $499 (55%)

< $100 (28%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 64 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

1996 Honda Accord

Engine not specified

Honda in Massachusetts, United States
Apr 2011 - Jun 2012
Nov 2011

161000 mi

US $200
Replaced a 5yr old Midas exhaust system due to corrosion. Though the system was warantteed for parts, the replacement would still have been $600 for labor. I got the replacement muffler from Midas and then purchased the remaining dealer. 
Feb 2012

169600 mi

US $100
Replaced drivers side front wheel bearing. (Replaced the passenger side wheel bearing 4 years ago.) 
Honda in Illinois, United States
Oct 2010 - Jun 2011
Nov 2010

87000 mi

US $400
replace radiator, not original 
Honda in Texas, United States
Aug 2008 - Mar 2010
Sep 2008

135000 mi

US $350
Sensor inside distributor failed. 
Honda in New York, United States
Nov 2011 - Mar 2012
Jan 2012

111000 mi

US $180
Running hot on an intermittent basis, since I replaced radiator Right front wheel bearing bad 
Honda in Washington, United States
Aug 2011 - Oct 2011
Sep 2011

202000 mi

US $300
Axle or something related to axle was replaced. When I take left turns there is a this very minor clinking noise and so I took it to the shop. 
Honda in Hawaii, United States
Dec 2012 - Jun 2013
Jan 2013

US $800
Losing AC charge in 1-2 days. Dealer replaced high pressure hose (leaking), filter-drier, evac'ed/recharged. Major attling noise occurring from AC blower-cause unknown. Dealer thought AC condensate drain plugged-not the case. time will tell. VTEC solenoid leaking. Dealer replaced entire solenoid assembly. Several seal parts are available according to internet search - reducing cost of the repair but was not suggested. 

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1996 Honda Accord 4-door

6-cylinder automatic 2WD

Honda in Ontario, Canada
Aug 2008 - Jul 2012
Sep 2008

149420 mi

C $200
Starting motor stuck - replaced 
Nov 2008

150040 mi

C $34
Engine Emission Light came on. Bought code reader but before using same found engine oil fill cap was loose. Tightened cap and emission light went out after driving a few miles. Something to note -tighten caps. 
Apr 2009

159960 mi

C $240
Driver side front wheel bearing worn out - replaced 
Jul 2009

161820 mi

C $58
Replaced both stabilizer bar link bolts and bushings 
Aug 2009

161820 mi

C $100
Replaced both outer tie-rods 
Sep 2009

161820 mi

C $50
Replaced passenger side inner tie rod. 
Jun 2011

169880 mi

C $265
Replace center exhaust pipe and gaskets 
Jul 2012

174840 mi

C $600
Upper tie rod replaced 
Honda in Ohio, United States
Jul 2010 - May 2012
Feb 2011

245000 mi

US $200
Replaced passenger side sun visor. Old one was loose and would not stay up. Front/Rear Shocks, Outer Tie Rods Replaced. Replaced battery and alternator. Battery light on at idle. 
Mar 2011

246000 mi

US $100
Temperature control knob sticking. Replaced HVAC control unit with used part. Shift knob worn out and loose. Also, gear indicator in console was not lighting up. Replaced shift knob and indicator light bulb. Air intake hose ripped. Replace with new part. 

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1996 Honda Accord 4-door

4-cylinder manual 2WD

Honda in Tennessee, United States
Nov 2009 - Apr 2011
Dec 2010

271000 mi

US $100
The single "finger" on the top portion of the vehicle speed sensor that gets bolted to the transmission had completely cracked away from the speed sensor itself causing the sensor not to be properly secured. Oil leak ensued. Fixed. Ball joint on driver's side desperately needed replacing. Common problem with these cars. Passenger side also needs it, but it's not critical. 
Mar 2011

271000 mi
Muffler is rusting out, need exhaust from the catalytic converter back. Happens to almost every 96 Accord. 
Honda in Arizona, United States
Sep 2010 - Oct 2011
Jul 2011

148300 mi

US $550
Wheel bearing replaced. 
Honda in Virginia, United States
Apr 2012 - Jun 2022
Apr 2012

188000 mi

US $250
Brake Master cylinder replaced 
Jun 2018

227000 mi

US $10
Replaced the brake on button 
Apr 2019

234000 mi

US $250
LU Control Arm 
Jun 2021

248000 mi

US $250
RU Control arm 
Jul 2021

249000 mi

US $250
Heater hose 
Dec 2021

252000 mi

US $10
Dash Dimmer 
Honda in Colorado, United States
May 2010 - Jun 2012
Jun 2010

162000 mi

US $90
Clutch Slave cylinder leaking. 
Honda in Arizona, United States
Jul 2010 - Jun 2011
Aug 2010

156000 mi

US $45
Car wouldn't start. Engine turned over but car wouldn't start. Car started but did not run smoothly. Car didn't start again! Brake pedal started slipping to the floor when braking, had to pump brakes to stop. Brake master cylinder had to be replaced. 
Honda in Pennsylvania, United States
Jun 2009 - Oct 2011
Jul 2009

136000 mi

US $550
Radiator was rusted out 
Jun 2011

171000 mi

US $40
Starter/solenoid went bad 
Oct 2011

176000 mi

US $68
Rust hole in Oil pan. Was going to replace for over $300.  Had car inspected as well and repair costs were going to soar to over $1600. Front end repairs. Traded in. 
Honda in Massachusetts, United States
Aug 2008 - Oct 2011
Oct 2008

118000 mi
exhaust pipes and muffler replaced  
Dec 2010

125000 mi

US $450
Front CV joints replaced. 

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1996 Honda Accord 4-door

4-cylinder automatic 2WD

Honda in Texas, United States
Aug 2011 - Jun 2012
Oct 2011

109000 mi

US $130
Broken front engine mount. 
Jan 2012

110200 mi

US $160
Replaced valve cover gasket, spark plug seals, spark plugs, and wires. Spark plug tube seals leaking oil due to age. 
Mar 2012

111000 mi

US $350
Window motor, accessory belts, oil change 
Honda in Illinois, United States
Dec 2011 - Jun 2018
Mar 2012

159000 mi

US $900
Both tie rods replaced. CV boot replaced. 
Honda in Washington, United States
Feb 2011 - Apr 2011
Mar 2011

167000 mi

US $100
Check engine light was on, scanned code and found the second Oxygen sensor bad, very normal for a 167,000 mile car with original O2 sensor, car drove fine w/o any sympton, ordered parts online and replaced, problem resolved 
Honda in Florida, United States
Aug 2008 - Oct 2009
Sep 2008

233000 mi

US $76
Check engine light for Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) restriction ... carbon built up EGR manifold, cleaned it out, replaced gaskets, fixed problem. 
Oct 2008

233000 mi

US $100
SRS Light came on. Module was bad. 
Jan 2009

237000 mi

US $185
AC compressor hoses started leaking, changed both hoses, reserviced system. 
Apr 2009

240000 mi

US $80
Speedometer intermittent ... changed speed sending unit ... didn't fix it, has bad speedometer/odometer. 
Oct 2009

246000 mi

US $150
Speedometer inoperative. Replaced. 
Honda in Minnesota, United States
Jun 2011 - Jan 2012
Dec 2011

149000 mi
original timing belt replaced at 148,000 miles, portion of exhaust replaced for rusting 
Honda in Ontario, Canada
Jan 2009 - Dec 2009
Feb 2009

191580 mi

C $600
Coolant leak, tested and found Upper Radiator Hose was leaking. Replaced. 
Honda in California, United States
Nov 2009 - Jun 2010
Feb 2010

142000 mi

US $270
Timing belt replacement. Shop messed up first time, was making a strange warbling noise. Did it twice more, problem keeps resurfacing. New warbling noise seems a permanent addition to the car with the new timing belt.  Car was steaming the day I got it back from the shop for the timing belt. Radiator had cracked on top near the top hose. They put a new radiator, coolant, and thermometer in it. 
Jun 2010

143000 mi
Dealer said it was a blown head gasket, as per a Block Test. 
Honda in Virginia, United States
Apr 2010 - Sep 2016
Sep 2010

143000 mi

US $100
Safety inspection failed, had to replace steering boot and a broken tail light. 
Jan 2011

US $110
Windshield washer fluid problem 
Sep 2011

145000 mi

US $800
Car would not pass state inspection. Exhaust Pipe Leak, exhaust pipe replaced. Oxygen sensor somehow broke during repair, shop replaced for free. Front left & right suspension tie arms & ball joints were replaced. 
Jan 2012

143300 mi

US $600
Oil clogging fuel injectors. Mechanic did full engine tuneup, replaced fuel filter, air filter, distributor cap, spark plugs, spark plug wiring 
Honda in California, United States
Mar 2009 - Jun 2018
Sep 2009

155000 mi

US $191
O2 sensor malfunctioned. Check Engine light went on. Went off when sensor was replaced 
Feb 2012

220000 mi

US $330
Motors for 2 front windows no longer work 
Honda in Quebec, Canada
Oct 2009 - Jun 2011
Nov 2009

117180 mi

C $600
But the biggest problem was balljoints. Had to replace 8 of them. 
Jun 2010

122140 mi

C $100
Had to replace couple front ball joints. 
Dec 2010

125860 mi
The car would not start. I figured out that it could be the starter. Gave couple taps with a hammer and the car started. Changed the starter because of the cold weather being afraid that one day it wont start even after hammering it. 
Jun 2011

125860 mi
The front right ball joint broke. The wheel fell off. Scrapped the car due to the high repair cost. 

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1996 Honda Accord 2-door

4-cylinder automatic 2WD

Honda in Indiana, United States
Aug 2008 - Nov 2010
Sep 2008

159000 mi

US $150
Replaced door panel and interior door handle. 
Mar 2009

187000 mi

US $350
R&R ignition lock. 
Dec 2009

190000 mi

US $350
Electrical wiring fault 
Honda in Illinois, United States
Aug 2010 - Jun 2011
Nov 2010

181100 mi

US $300
new radiator 
Dec 2010

182000 mi

US $50
Left headlight assembly. Clips broke off and the light was about to fall off. With a car this age, a lot of the plastic clips are starting to get old. Will need to soon order the R-front assembly - clips starting to break there also. auto door lock, left, inside 

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1996 Honda Accord Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 1996 Honda Accord problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.