1996 Honda Accord EX 2.2L

Summary:

This car is not reliable

Faults:

Check engine light was always an issue. Replaced engine and all fuel injectors. All oil pan gaskets and valves. Condenser fan motor, timing belt, power steering pump, front motor mounts, oil pan gasket leaked, and rear main oil leaks to name a few. Transmission went bad after new engine was replaced.

General Comments:

This car is very unreliable and expensive to maintain.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 4th November, 2004

5th Feb 2005, 23:53

Problem is... the distributor, plus you driving automatic.

1st Jan 2006, 01:32

Also, you bought an eight year old car. For all you know, it may have had its oil changed every 2 years, like my grandma's Buick, which is not on the road anymore.

1996 Honda Accord LX

Summary:

A very reliable car with low maintenance costs

Faults:

Had to get it aligned - Once.

Always seems to have a vibration and after about 4 tries to fix it just decided to live with it. It's better on some tires than others.

General Comments:

This car has been by far the most reliable vehicle I've owned (88 camaro, 94 jeep Cherokee). That's not to say it's been perfect, but I would estimate that the total non-scheduled maintenance for the car in 8 years is less than $500. The driving is predictable and the maintenance costs are low - what more could you ask for in a commuter car. The camaro and jeep were more fun to drive, but not much fun to own (insurance, gas, maintenance, etc.) I live in the South and at least once a year it ices up. The problem with winter weather in the South is that we don't have the equipment to keep the roads cleared. You can get around on icy roads in a rearwheel drive camaro or jeep, but it's so much easier in a frontwheel drive Accord.

Anyways, just wanted to throw my $0.02 in and to the guy with so many Accord problems - Why would you stick with any car that gave you trouble for 100,000 miles? I know there are people that didn't have trouble with their Camaro's, but when I needed to start regularly going to the garage with it -- I sold it (50,000 miles).

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th October, 2004

1996 Honda Accord LX 4 cylinder.

Summary:

Nice riding great gas mileage lemon

Faults:

Transmission started slipping terribly at 60,000 miles.

A/C leaks water all over passenger carpet.

Driver side power window goes down, but not up in cold weather.

General Comments:

I really thought this car was going to last longer considering Honda's reputation. I could not afford a new transmission so I got rid it. It occurs to me that the only two cars I've owned that had major problems was this Honda and a Nissan (cracked head).I've owned a Grand Prix, two Camaros, a Corvette, and an Olds Intrigue. The American cars have never cost me a dime except for routine maintenance.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 23rd October, 2004

17th Apr 2006, 22:13

The Air Conditioning system started leaking water? Usually heater cores leak antifreeze onto carpets when they are cracked. I have never heard of an Air Conditioning System leaking water. There is a filter in the system that accumulates water, this may need replaced.

19th May 2006, 09:55

I just experienced the same thing in my 1996 Accord DX the other day. It is NOT antifreeze. It is certainly water. I touched it and smelled it... plain water. I put my hand up under the glove compartment and there was a metal piece up there that was cool and damp to the touch as if it were sweating. Not sure what that is.

20th Oct 2006, 17:12

I very much doubt your problem is the A/C leaking water into the passenger floor, sounds to me like the same type of problem my Integra had... and the was the fact that my window wasn't sealed properly... other than that, let's just say it really was the A/C, just get a new compressor. Bam Boom! As for your transmission problems, that why they have such as thing called Manual.

16th Nov 2006, 14:28

I also have a 96 accord that had/has the same a/c water leak in the passenger floor area. I checked and cleaned the water drain rubber hose and that's fine. I put towels down to sop-up the water, and this was definitely the a/c system leaking water, because it would leak when it was not raining. Finally, one day out of frustration when it was leaking, I reached under and slapped the under-side of the black molded plastic area under the dash where it was leaking and the water started pouring on from under the car, out of the drain hose (water would normally come out anyway, but this time it was like a river!). This cured the problem for a month, and now every time it acts-up, I just slap it a couple of times and everybody's happy. Especially my wife whose feet were always getting leaked on.