24 complaints reported

1990 Honda Accord Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
24
Crashes
0
Fires
7
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Feb 2014

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR STREET WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. I REACTED QUICKLY AND WAS ABLE TO COAST AND PULL OFF ONTO A SIDE STREET WITHOUT INTERRUPTING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I BARELY MADE THE TURN WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING. I DID SOME INVESTIGATING AND FOUND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD SOME BURNED CONTACTS. THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2014
Jul 2004 Fire

CONSUMER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. ALSO, SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT IN THE BACK WINDOW SHORTED OUT. THIS CAUSED A WIRE TO IGNITE AND THERE WERE FLAMES AND BLACK SMOKE. THE INTENSE HEAT CAUSED THE REAR WINDSHIELD TO EXPLODE. PLEASE HELP AS SHE STATES SHE NEEDS HELP TO REPAIR VEHICLE. *LA

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2004
Feb 2004

IGNITION SWITCH FAULTY. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2003
Feb 2003

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. *AK *TT *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Nov 2002

1ST REPLACEMENT OF SAME PART DONE BY DEALER AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE REPORTED ITERMITTENT PROBLEMS PRIOR TO END OF WARRANTY. SECOND FAILURE OF SAME PART OCCURRED WITHOUT PRIOR INDICATIONS OR WARNINGS.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2002
Jan 2002

HONDA HAS A RECALL ON THIS ITEM, BUT IT HAS EXPIRED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2001
Oct 2001

THE DEVICE THAT LOCKS THE SHIFT AND STEERING BECOMES INOPERATIVE DURING COLD WEATHER. THIS CAUSES THE KEY NOT TO RELEASE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO THE SHIFTER WILL NOT FUNCTIONING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Dec 2000

THIS SENSOR PROBLEM LOCKS THE GEAR SHIFTER IN THE PARK POSITION AND ALSO PROHIBITS THE DRIVER FROM REMOVING THE KEY FROM THS IGNITION SWITCH. THIS PROBLEMS STARTED IN THE EARLY YEARS FO THE VEHICLE AND HAVE PROGRESSED WITH THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE BUT NO PROBLEMS WERE DISCOVERED. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER HONDA OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE EXACT SYMPTONS. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 1992
Dec 2000

UNABLE TO RELEASE KEY FROM IGNITION SWITCH DURING COLD WEATHER SEASON. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 1998
Oct 1999

THE ORIGINAL DISTRIBUTER WAS REPLACED IN 1995 - AND REIMBURSED BY HONDA. THE REPLACEMENT FAILED IN SEPTEMBER 1998 AND WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. THE THIRD DISTRIBUTER IS BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE NOW (MOMENTARY TOTAL POWER LOSS - AND OCCASIONAL TOTAL LOSS, WITH RESTORATION AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES.)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 1999
Apr 1998

DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 1998
Mar 1998 Fire

WHILE PARKING/TESTING AND TURNING SIGNALS, UNDER THE DASH BEGAN TO SMOKE, AND FLAMES STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTCTED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 1998
Jan 1998 Fire

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. ABOUT FOUR HOURS LATER, WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 200 YARDS, A BURNING SMELL THEN FUMES APPEARED. WHEN HOOD WAS OPENED THE CONSUMER SAW FLAMES. ALTERNATOR, POSSIBLY WIRING HARNESS SYSTEM DEFECT, CAUSED THE FIRE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 1998
Dec 1997 Fire

FIRE BEGAN IN ALTERNATOR WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 1997
Aug 1997

THE VEHICLE'S DISTRIBUTOR BROKE. CAN'T START THE VEHICLE. HAS HAD IT REPLACED ONCE ON A RECALL, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 1997
Jun 1997

IGNITION SWITCH STICKS AND WILL NOT RELEASE SEAT BELT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
May 1997

STARTER FAILED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Sep 1996

DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 1996
Aug 1996

DISTRIBUTOR FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Aug 1996 Fire

UPON PARKING, MOMENTS LATER VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER HOOD, DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Jun 1996 Fire

DRIVING VEHICLE, PARKED VEHICLE IN COMPANY GARAGE, GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD, LIFTED THE HOOD OF VEHICLE, NOTICED FLAMES. *AK *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 1996
Mar 1996

DRIVER IS UNABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, KEY DOES COME OUT AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 1996
Mar 1995 Fire

DROVE ONE TENTH OF MILE; STOPPED CAR; PUMPED GAS; SMELLED ODOR; TURNED ON IGNITION; NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERHOOD; FIRE CAUSED BY FAULTY ALTERNATOR. TT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 1995
Feb 1995

EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BAD CONNECTIONS. CABLE FROM IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT FUNCTION, REPLACED. TT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1990 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 1995

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 1990 Honda Accord has 24 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.