1997 Honda Accord LX from North America - Comments

I have a 94 and a 99 Accord. The 94 has been tearing up since day one, but she still goes! I've replaced Valve Cover Gasket and seals twice. It's also had a ring job. When one stomps on the gas it blows a black clowd of smoke out of tail pipe. When you drive it right, it does right! The transmission shifts a little hard, and I've replaced the ignition switch. She has always cranked for me, and no matter how bad shape she keeps getting into, she still runs. Now I'm a car freak and I know how to take care of a car. I can tell you that some things just happen, and you have to fix it. My 99's transmission went out at 86000 miles. Now, Honda did put bad tranys in their 98-02 model cars, I still feel she was built to last. The motor is in wonderful shape. Do you know many cars that after 3500 miles the engine oil still looks the same as it did when you changed it?, Mine does!!! The 99 has a 3.0 v-tec, and it drives like a V8. I bet if you bought a Cadillac that may have been treated as bad as your accord, it would have the same troubles, but cost tons more! Space is an issue when you go to buy a car. If you wanted a lot of space, then you shouldn't buy a coupe, Duh!!

My 1990 Honda Accord with 150000 miles on it is much like the one at the beginning of the thread here. I have replaced the pulley that connects to the engine main. I have replaced the radiator, valve cover and seals, the seat belt tries to strangle me every other day. The key won't come out of the ignition every morning. On rainy days I have to take everything out of the trunk because it leaks... I found that out after a jacket and hat turned different colors of mildew. I have had a Volvo 240 that I put 220,000 miles on, a Dodge Dakota (my favorite) that I put 205,000...I sold this one to drive the Honda Lesson learned there! The Dodge and the Volvo never had the valve cover open! Before those I had a Subaru GL that I put 200,000 miles on without any problems. If you read all of the motor magazines they rave on Honda's like they own the company (hum maybe...?)

If you knew anything about Honda's you would know that the valve cover comes off so you can adjust the valves so the car runs like a kitten. Why do you think non Hondas with a 16 valve design have so much valve chatter? My Honda has 243,000 miles (490,000 KM). Your ignorance makes me sick!

Amen!!! I own a 1995 Honda Accord LX with 264k miles. It's my 4th car and I have never been happier.

My first car was a 1989 Lincoln Town Car. I had it for a year and it died due to engine failure @ 143k miles.

Then I had a 1999 Chevy Malibu, which was good until summer time, then it ran hot and cooked the heads @ 101k miles, even after I replaced the thermostat and water pump.

I then bought a 1995 Mazda 626, but junked it after replacing the tranny twice...

I've had my Accord ever since (2004) and bought it from the roughest region of the country for cars (New York City) and now live in Atlanta.

I have replaced struts, brakes, one coolant sensor, all tires and 2 upper ball joints.

The engine sounds better than all my previous cars combined. I drive from Georgia to NY every holiday (4 times a year), never been stranded...

I'm 27 years old and wish I would have bought this car sooner... Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus and Nissan/Infinity stand out above the rest. When I'm at a red light and a Chevy or Pontiac pull up beside me, I shake my head and say "damn, is that the best America can do?"...

Check out my ride @ www.cardomain.com... streetlegal1979 (it's hooked up!!!)

Hi, i have a 1996 accord with 180000 miles and runs like new! today I replaced the battery, now the raido truns on, but I can't hear anythnig on am/fm or cd! check all fuses OK also the radio is NOT asking for the code! bpls help tks fred.

I own four honda's, I bought a 1996 new in 96 and it has 196000 miles on it and it ran like a top for 11 years with no problems whatsoever, but I changed my oil every month and I changed the timing belts on time along with the cam seal and crank seal and water pump (as long as you are in there) never a problem until I gave it to my son last month after I bought a 2003 {used} and the transmission went first and then other problems. I know it was the driver and the maintnence that he failed to keep up. I also have a 1991,a 1990 only problem is the air- conditioners. I really believe in Honda.

I have had a 1996 Honda Civic for about 1 month. it had 181,000 miles on it when I bought it. the only problems I have with it is the transmission slips when I go up mountain passes or steep hills. This is easy, but expensive to fix considering the appropriate transmission fluid for this car is $8 per quart!!! I did not know when I got the car that regular transmission fluid should not be used, so the problem that I have had is my fault.

I have had nothing but Hondas for 22 years and my 1996 Accord has 265,000 miles (430,000 KM)

The only "major" trouble: replaced the master cylinder. "Unacceptable" my Honda bashing friends would say... Keep buying American made cars, it's good for the economy because they're always broken down.

The old saying goes: knowledge is power. Now you understand why I have driven Hondas for years.

I have a 1996 Honda Accord, and I have to say it is the only and LAST Honda I would buy!

This car cannot go 1 week without needing something fixed. A poor ride, borderline dangerous rear suspension, and lack luster fuel efficiency for a vehicle this size.

I now ave 110K miles, and have only held on to it this long because it was a gift, and I did not want to offend my mother-in-law.

I always purchased American cars (of course it's hard to get anything that's 100% American). But apparently US car makers are working on their strengths and farming out the rest. Too bad Honda did not do that with my car!

A few of my Honda Accord problems (which I have never had with any of my American cars) :

1. If cornering a bit fast in the rain, the back will unpredictably slide out, and if you are not experienced with auto crossing, say good bye!

2. I have replaced the wiper switch 3 times, several relays, the ignition switch, and the PRNDL switch 2 times. All were poor quality!

3. The interior is falling apart... Arm rest shattered, seat fell of track and is bolted in one position, and cloth is looking very shabby.

4. Struts (which have been replaced twice) ride good for 15-20K miles then it feels like riding on bricks.

5. The clear coat is flaking off like it's sun burnt.

6. The fuel efficiency is around 17 city / 26 highway (my 91 Plymouth got better then this even after 200K miles).

That is all I can list without raising my blood pressure (and there is a lot more). I tend to go off on people who brag about the quality of their Honda and put down American cars. I have had 8 American cars (purchased new) over the last 24 years, and all 8 of my American cars have been superior to my first and last Honda.

I do have one question for Honda owners? Do you just ignore all the problems you have had, or forget about them? My neighbor drives Honda's, and boasts about their quality... He is always dropping his car off for repairs??? How can you keep boasting with your car in the shop? Must be denial or the anti-American car media has brain washed them.

Motor Trend mag rates cars and of the Accords 1996 is not given a high rating. 1991 is given a high rating. I own both these years. My 91 has 225,000 and 96 has 155,000. I have had to do more major work on the 1996. Check this mag for info.

Hondas are predictable!!!

Brian.

My Honda Civic uses a timing chain, not a belt. But it is not uncommon to find a car with a timing belt. Most cars do have timing belts and not chains.

My 1997 Accord has not been a great car. It's had a lot of little things go wrong with it like door locks no longer working, windows that will not go up or down. Those I can deal with, but my biggest disappointment is that it's leaking and using oil. I had always heard so many good things about Honda, but frankly I'm not happy with the service I've had with mine.