1988 Honda Accord LX review from North America

Radiator and all hoses. (One hose itself cost $200 if I remember correctly because it was an odd shape.)

Water Pump.

Replaced timing belt (twice, though didn't ever break thankfully.)

Power steering pump.

Heater Core (Cost about $900 to replace due to labor. Essential to fix though. It's not good to breathe antifreeze.)

After changing air conditioning from freon to new coolant it started to leak and now has to be recharged, though I don't bother anymore.

All gaskets in engine (major oil leak. They reappeared, though, probably due to the transmission problem.)

Motor mounts have been replaced twice.

Needs transmission work.

Needs CV joint/front axle.

Brakes (2x)

Battery -- might need another one.

Tires.

Muffler.

Brake line leak.

I believe there is a carburetor problem or an air intake problem that causes the carburetor to ice up when it is cold and wet outside. This makes the car stall, but after sitting for 20 minutes it will start again.

Whomever owned this car before didn't install the spark plugs correctly and one flew out of the engine while in rush hour traffic. Talk about an engine "missing." This actually happened twice. The second time I was smarter and had all of the spark plugs replaced. (Note: if this ever happens to you, and you want to screw the plug in yourself by hand in order to drive to a garage, wait awhile for it to cool off before trying to handle it.)

The passenger front seat belt has issues. Many passengers have had to crawl out without unlocking it. It was recalled, but I have never done anything about it and apparently the previous owner (s) didn't either.

There is now a bit of rust around the back fenders and near the gas tank cover. Not excessive for the age of the car.

There is a leak somewhere that allows rain water in around the front doors, possibly around the front door seals. I haven't been diligent at tracing it, as it isn't really bad.

I like the car and am sad to see it go, but I think the newest batch of problems will cost far more to fix than the worth of the car.

I drove it across the country right after purchasing it without any problems, putting on about 4K miles. Soon thereafter the problems started. I kept thinking that I had replaced all the major items that would break in the near future, but they just kept coming. Repairs have been over $1000 per year of ownership not counting oil changes. I think that it is a good car, but that perhaps the previous owner (s) didn't take great care of it mechanically.