Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Honda Accord Quality Control Issues
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I guess modern cars (e.g., V6 Accords) are more complicated and hence more likely to experience problems. Recently, I acquired a '94 Legend GS with 65K miles. The car still looks as new as a 2000 Accord V6 EXL when parked side by side. The Accord owner (my neighbor) still amazed that the car is a '94. I wish that the Legend has a gas mileage as good as the current 3.2TL.
As far as Accord reliability goes, well, I only know one person with a current-gen model, and she's happy with it. I do know several people who own/have owned Accords though the years, and the only one I can think of that was a real POS was my friend's 80, back in college. Now I do have a some friends who used to own a '94 Civic, that proved to be the worst car they've ever owned. But, judging from their previous cars, they probably didn't take good care of this one either. Or maybe it WAS a lemon, who knows? Everybody's entitled to make a lemon every once in awhile, just as long as I don't get stuck with it ;-)
What is up with the balancer shaft seal? Does it affect 6's 4's or both? What are the first signs of failure?
You've got my vote on the paint thing. Chips and scratches very easily. Solution: I have my car detailed twice a year with ZAINO products. It's been helpful. Also spent 2 years going through a NON-touchless carwash every weekend! Learned from that one...
Also noticed the rust issue behind the wheel wells. Very common on Honda products, but I could think of worse things to happen over the course of ownership...
The V6 tranny thing was news to me when I started reading Edmunds forums in 98. Never seen a V6 Accord broken down in my travels.
...Just turned 68,000 on a 98 LX-5spd sedan.
Isell: What some folks seems to want is a place where they can dissemble to a Honda offical. As in feedback. Meaningful feedback. You HAVE been thoughtful, almost objective within your range, knowledgable, and an all round helpful person. But you've almost set yourself up as a target. That's good, we all need a few targets. So, please do not be surprised when a few 'also well meaning' individuals rant a bit. It comes with the territory. But also...Most of us have no axe to grind and DO appreciate your presence. Ya sees, fer example: there have been several "perfect" cars: there was the Chevy Corvair (loved it - my father's that is), the Edsel (ah, talk about quality control), the DeLorrian (sic, but then he "blew" it), and my favorite, the Geo Metro (ah the power).
Thanks for your kind words. I do try to help here whenever I can. Once in awhile I'll run into a Honda hater, or car salesperson hater or a combination of the two.
I'll usually toss off the sarcastic comments but when pushed hard enough, I'll push back sometimes.
It's when someone as much as calls me a liar that gets by blood boiling. I have no reason to do this here.
hkdonhonda...
For crying out loud, spend a few bucks and get your burned out low fuel bulb replaced! No, this has no relationship to anything else. Just a burned out bulb!
The balancer shaft seal, as I understand it applies to some 1994-1997 4 cylinder models.
Most of these will never have a problem but if the seal fails, you will know it quickly.
And, please tell me...how can an application of Zaino or any other car wax protect a car against a thrown rock that chips the paint?
Heck, I'll buy some tomorrow!
Thanks
If someone owns one of these they definately should have the update done. The VAST majority of cars will never blow the seal but it's happened enough that Honda is fixing/updating them at no charge.
When these go, they can go quickly. The oil light will come on way before damage is done but if the driver isn't paying attention or can't pull over the engine could well be damaged.
Information may be found at the following sites.
http://www.liquid-tech.com
http://www,finishfirstpolish.com
Until finding this product I just couldn't get the windows clean, always smudges left where ever I stopped wiping.
I don't consider the poor wear of the tires to be a Honda QC issue - more a Michelin issue.
I personally like the MXV4 for the Accord, based on the smooth ride for highway driving. These tires were recommended, and I didn't even question or consider the X-One. Oh well, maybe next time...
This clearly defines that this definitely was not an isolated problem and confirms that it is an on going problem to date.
Now have 43K on the X-One's and expect to replace them at about 60 or 70K.
Higher compression engines require higher levels of octane in the fuel to prevent pre-detonation, or pinging. The Accord V6 runs a lower compression ratio and hence does not need, nor will it take advantage of higher octane fuels.
Being able to run on 87 octane fuel is a MAJOR BENEFIT of buying an Accord V6, because the Maxima, Camry V6, and Passat V6 (Accord V6's primary competition) all require premium fuel snice they run higher compression ratios. Premium fuel costs $0.20-0.30 more per gallon, so operational costs are much higher with these other cars.
Honda's hi-tech engine designs with technologies such as VTEC and superior engineering allows their 3.0L V6 to make just as much horsepower as the competition without going to a higher compression ratio design that would require more expensive premium fuel, so enjoy the fact that you own the ONLY import V6 that can sip on nice cheap 87 octane fuel without a problem :-D
Just don't pay any attention to his comments.
The original problem involved some 99-2000 V-6 Accords and Odysseys. A small percentage of the production were affected because a supplier decided to change the specs of a part without consulting Honda.
The affected cars would produce a loud "clunk" while backing up. THAT was the problem.
Now..some posters have talked about noises, that happen while putting the car into gear, shifting etc. It's unlikely (although possible) that this is a *problem*. All transmissions make different noises. When pulling a car out of park while on an incline, for example can produce a clunk.
A couple of anti-honda people here just love feeding the fire about "ongoing" problems.
When people read of problems, it's natural to pay closer attention to their own car out of concern that they too may have some terrible problem.
Their local dealer can quickly determine what is normal and what is not.
Having said all of this, no car is perfect. It's entirely possible that troubles will pop up with ANY car.
And, YES, I do sell Hondas. I also have zero motivation to come here to tell lies or make light of real problems.
It must drive the Honda bashers nuts when happy owners come here with tales of their 200,000 mile trouble free Hondas.
Sorry to disappoint you guys but the sky is not falling!
If you don't, then please don't be so critical of Honda's transmission or Isell. I think that first hand experience is much more important than he-said-she-said.
Isell actually contributes more to these discussions than most of you do.
-Dave, trouble-free '94 Accord, now at 109,000 miles.
I have a 98 lx 5speed. Not perfect, but it's a great car. My sister has a 1999 Odyssey EX, which happens to fall into the models that had suspect trannys. She has not been back to the dealer for any warranty claim whatsoever. No clunk, and no problems with the power sliding doors, although they aren't as intuitive to operate as they could be.
A week later, I took the car I would actually buy on another extended test-drive. No clunks/no problems. 13 months & 8000 miles later still no problems. (Except the moonroof rattle which I had fixed.)
So, try to always take an extended test-drive in the actual vehicle you're going to buy, and check it carefully for any problems, and have them fixed before you sign anything.
I'm also a moderator on SuperHonda.org's Accord V6 forum and none of our members have reported any tranny problems on the new models either.
I think isellhondas is right and that whatever problems were REAL were cleared up a LONG time ago and that anything happening now is just PARANOIA when people post about weird clunks that are NORMAL noises an auto tranny will make.
Trust me, if there were any REAL problems on the 2001 Accord V6 transmissions then I would have heard about them on the Accord V6 forum that I look after, but I have not.
This topic was started in post #1 questioning the quality control of new Honda Accords. It seems that the generation 6 Accord doesn't have the same quality standards of previous generations.
One of the quality problems that has been posted numerous times has been the transmission problem in Accord V-6's.
Let's face it, Honda's quality has slipped since 1998 as they are "cutting back" on their once rigid standards. They are building and selling a lot more cars and when this happens, something has to give quality assurance wise.