The 1989 Honda Accord has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 3,700,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 114 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS95V1030011995-05-243,700,000 affected
Defect
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence
THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES. CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. CHECK THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUG ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, THEN…
Complaints by component
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
12
1crashes1injuries
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
10
3crashes2injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
7
4crashes1injuries
SEAT BELTS
5
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
5
1crashes3injuries
SUSPENSION:FRONT
5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
4
2fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
4
2fires
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
4
2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
1fires
Total complaints114
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I bought the car for my son, who is 18, and when a friend was going to change the oil and he hoisted it to work underneath it, the whole underside of the car is damaged. The muffler isn't secured as it is rusted out, the gas tank is smashed in. It's running off the catalytic converter and the car…”
“I bought the car for my son, who is 18, and when a friend was going to change the oil and he hoisted it to work underneath it, the whole underside of the car is damaged. The muffler isn't secured as it is rusted out, the gas tank is smashed in. It's running off the catalytic converter and the car…”
“1989 accord engine compartment caught on fire. *ts the vehicle caught on fire while the consumer was driving 65 mph. The consumer noticed the temperature gauge in the red prior to the fire. *nm”
“(1) event hybrid design flaw: 1989 honda accord 2.0l fuel injection: manufactured as a hybrid, july 1989. Proof of hybridization: auto part dealers show different parts for this model before, during, and after july 1989. Also, the hybrid fuel injection is visible from the number of wire and tubes…”
“(1) event hybrid design flaw: 1989 honda accord 2.0l fuel injection: manufactured as a hybrid, july 1989. Proof of hybridization: auto part dealers show different parts for this model before, during, and after july 1989. Also, the hybrid fuel injection is visible from the number of wire and tubes…”
“(1) event hybrid design flaw: 1989 honda accord 2.0l fuel injection: manufactured as a hybrid, july 1989. Proof of hybridization: auto part dealers show different parts for this model before, during, and after july 1989. Also, the hybrid fuel injection is visible from the number of wire and tubes…”
“(1) event hybrid design flaw: 1989 honda accord 2.0l fuel injection: manufactured as a hybrid, july 1989. Proof of hybridization: auto part dealers show different parts for this model before, during, and after july 1989. Also, the hybrid fuel injection is visible from the number of wire and tubes…”
“Consumer had to stop driving because seat belts did not stay latched. *ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA94035 Opened 1994-10-27 · closed 1995-07-31
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 Honda Accord as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.