HondaAccord1988Overview/honda/accord/1988/base/

1988 Honda Accord

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 Accord.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1988 Honda Accord calls for 3.7 qt of 10W‑30 or 5W‑30 API‑rated engine oil and is paired with a four‑speed automatic transmission. It delivers EPA fuel‑economy figures of 21 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined. Owner‑reported issues total 97 complaints, with two recalls most often concerning the seat‑belt system. Compared with the 1990‑2022 complaint history—where the peak year 2003 logged 2,013 complaints and the low‑point year 2022 logged 213—the 1988 model’s figure sits at the low end, indicating a strong early reliability foundation for the Accord line.

Model year202420232022202120202019201820171988

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy21/28/24 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length178.7 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height53.5 in
Wheelbase102.4 in
Curb weight2414 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined21 / 28 / 24 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume89 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Accord of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.7–15.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.70 sec — 1998 LX V-6 Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1989LXi Coupe 2.0L I-411.40 sec18.40 sec120 hpFWD
1990EX Sedan 2.2L I-49.70 sec17.10 sec125 hpFWD
1991EX Wagon 2.2L I-49.00 sec16.80 sec125 hpFWD
1994EX Sedan 2.2L I-49.40 sec17.00 sec145 hpFWD
1981Sedan 1.8L I-413.40 sec19.20 sec75 hpFWD
1995LX V-6 Sedan 2.7L V68.50 sec16.50 sec170 hpFWD
1995EX V-6 Sedan 2.7L V68.80 sec16.80 sec170 hpFWD
1979CVCC Sedan 1.8L I-412.00 sec18.80 sec72 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.7 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.7 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miBrake Line (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect) · Suspension System (torque) · Tie Rod (inspect)
Every 7,500 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
At 15,000 miParking Brake System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (torque) · Suspension System (inspect alignment)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miAir Injection System (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record begins in 1990, showing 220 complaints, 12 recalls, 6 investigations and 16 TSBs for that year. From 1990 onward complaints and recalls generally rise, peaking in 2003 with 2,013 complaints and 24 recalls before declining through the 2010s. Since 1988 precedes the earliest recorded year, the JSON provides no complaint, recall, investigation or TSB figures for that specific model year. Without direct data we cannot state the exact level of issues for the 1988 Accord, though the upward trend suggests earlier years may have experienced fewer problems. Consequently, based solely on the available federal record, there is insufficient evidence to deem the 1988 Honda Accord a particularly good or bad year to buy; a pre‑purchase mechanical inspection is advised.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
97
Owner complaints
16 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 97 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts30
Vehicle Speed Control11
Power Train10
Tires6
Engine & Engine Cooling6
Electrical System4
Fuel System, Gasoline3
Equipment3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V103001Seat Belts:Front:Buckle AssemblyReported 24/05/1995

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. 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…

87V171000Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other ManualReported 29/10/1987

OWNERS MANUAL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210, SECTIONS 6A AND 6B WAS OMITTED FROM THE MANUAL. Remedy: UPGRADE EXISTING MANUALS BY INSERTING ADHESIVE BACKED CORRECTION PAGES.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Accord. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1988 Accord take?

3.7 qt of ABOVE 20 degrees F: 10W-30 API, ALL TEMPERATURES: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1988 Accord have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Accord get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 28 highway / 24 combined mpg.