Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
As I prepared to slow to a stop in a relatives circular driveway, the engine began to rev up with a high pitched whine. I turned the wheel to avoid hitting a parked car in hopes of stopping the car but it continued to gain speed and ended up hitting a pickup in the same circular driveway. The brakes did not seem to function as the car picked up speed.
Consumer complained about intermittent acceleration. It occurred unexpectedly. Consumer was parking vehicle in a handicap parking space when it accelerated on its own. Consumer lost control and vehicle smashed into a fence.
I was pulling into a parking space and suddenly the car surged forward, I tried hitting the brakes but they would not stop, it was hard as a rock. I tried to steer the car between 2 cars and the car continue to surge forward and I manage to hit another car, a trucks rear bumper, even after this the car continued on it own course until it stopped on its own. This was not the first time this happened, one other time, I was on the freeway driving about 50 MPH and the car again surged forward but there were no cars in front of me and again, it stopped on its own.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, she attempted to engage the brakes but the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact stated that there was an increase in the engine rpms. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be cleaned. The remedy failed to repair the problem. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 163,000 and the current mileage was 173,000.
My car would not stop when I attempted to park it. As a result, the car drove over a sidewalk and through the front window of a business establishment causing serious damage to both the store and my vehicle. Someome could have been seriously injured. The car has been fixed, but I am very afraid to drive it. This has been very costly for me in terms of my deductable and the increase in my insurance this will cause. I was not cited for the accident as the police did not feel I was driving carelessly.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the engine rpms increased excessively as the vehicle accelerated without warning. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for a diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 192,000.
While drving vehicle suddenly accelerated. Driver had foot on the brake but would not slow down vehicle and it crashed. There was an improvement campaign 99i002000 for throttle which May cause sudden accleration. Insurance company and Honda not willing to assist the consumer.
While making a turn, shifted into reverse, engene accelerated to high speed, vehicle flew forward, brakes applied, went over curb, landed on tree stump, speed unkown, no warning, dealer has not duplicated problem, referred to NHTSA by state farm.
Consumer experienced high acceleration when vehicle was backing out of parking space, causing vehicle to back into another parked vehicle. Dealer notified, and informed consumer that nothing could be found.
On June 23, 1998, I pulled into the parking garage at the state health dept. And came to a stop in the parking space. The engine immediately started racing, then it rammed into the parking grage wall. The next thing I knew the air bag was in my face and my knee felt strange. The windshield was broken and a powdery substance was in the car. I got out of my car and went into the health dept. Building and called my dad. I want to file a complaint stating that the car malfunctioned I did not cause this to happen. What happened here was beyond my control. There is a safety factor here that affects me and others.
Acceleration complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 1996 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 1996 Honda Accord, 6% of the model year's 472 complaints. The component named most often is linkages (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Honda Accord acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 1996 Honda Accord, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Honda Accord acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 192,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 14 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.