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2006 Honda Accord
2007 Honda Accord sedan
2007 Honda Accord Hybrid

Like the Toyota Camry it competes with, the Honda Accord has practically become a brand of its own in the thirty-plus years since it was first introduced here in North America. This is due in part to its reputation for excellent build quality and long-term reliability - which makes it a bit surprising that the current generation Accord hasn't proved to be quite as reliable as earlier models.

The seventh-generation Accord arrived in North America for the 2003 model year sporting what is arguably the most controversial styling applied to an Accord in the model's three-decade-long run. But the rest of the formula was there, including a choice of four-cylinder or V6 engines, and manual and automatic transmissions.

The four-banger was a 160-horsepower, 2.4-litre engine, while the V6 displaced 3.0-litres and made 240 horses. Transmissions were a five-speed manual that was standard in four-cylinder models, and a five-speed automatic that was optional in four-cylinder cars and standard in V6 models;

2006 Honda Accord EX-V6; photo by Greg Wilson. Click image to enlarge

the coupe could be had in a higher-performance model that paired the V6 with a six-speed manual.

In 2005, Honda brought out a gas-electric hybrid model that took the unconventional approach of pairing a V6 engine with the electric motor, making it the most-powerful Accord model in the line-up with 255 horsepower. In 2006, horsepower was bumped up to 166 for four-cylinder cars and 244 horses for V6 models, and for 2007, Honda added a sedan with the V6-six-speed manual powertrain previously found only in the coupe.

	Highs: Comfort, interior ergonomics Lows: Uncharacteristic reliability issues

Fuel consumption is, naturally, lower in four-cylinder models, where Natural Resources Canada estimates are about 9 L/100 km and 10 L/100 km (manual and automatic transmission, respectively) in city driving, and 6.3/6.5 L/100 km on the highway. For V6 models, expect consumption around 11.5 L/100 km in the city and 7.3 L/100 km on the highway for both automatic and six-speed manual models. Consumption figures for the hybrid model varied widely in the three years it was sold; this might be related to the fact that real-world consumption was typically much higher than the published numbers. Initially, the hybrid model was rated at 7.9 L/100 km (city) and 5.9 L/100 km (highway), but subsequent model years (2006 and 2007) got higher ratings: 9.5 and 6.4 L/100 km (city and highway) and 8.2 and 6.1 L/100 km (city and highway).

2007 Honda Accord Hybrid; photo courtesy Honda. Click image to enlarge

Where the hybrid model let down owners in terms of its higher-than-expected fuel consumption, it seems the seventh-generation Accord hasn't quite lived up to Honda's reputation for quality. Browsing the forums at DriveAccord.net, there are a few issues that seem to crop up in an uncharacteristically high number of cars.

One problem that has been well-documented is a problem with the five-speed automatic transmission used in the seventh-gen Accord. The problem stems from a too-small bearing that can overheat and cause catastrophic transmission failure. For more information, check these threads (here and here) at DriveAccord.net, as well as the Transport Canada Recall on the matter.

I also noted what appeared to be a less-common issue of the automatic transmission torque converter not locking up at highway speeds.

2007 Honda Accord; photo by Greg Wilson. Click image to enlarge

A common issue inside the seventh-gen Accord is an HVAC/radio display that stops working; it doesn't affect functionality of the climate control or sound systems, but obviously affects user-friendliness. Honda issued a technical service bulletin in the U.S., but it's not clear if one was issued here too.

The radio head units themselves are apparently troublesome too, with CD changers that stop working and take CDs hostage.

A grunting or grinding noise that occurs as the car is driven away after being parked overnight is apparently normal and is caused by the anti-lock brake system performing a self-check.

There is a more concrete problem with the brakes, with many owners complaining of prematurely warped front rotors and, in cars with rear disc brakes, rear rotors that rust.

2006 Honda Accord EX-V6 coupe; photo by Chris Chase. Click image to enlarge

Check this thread at DriveAccord.net for a complete list of issues that the administrators there have compiled based on forum posts made by seventh-gen Accord owners.

Crash safety appears to be mostly top-notch: Accords crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) earned five stars in frontal crash tests and four and five stars in side impact tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the seventh-generation Accord "good" ratings in frontal offset and side impact tests, but 2003-2004 models without side airbags got a "poor" score. Side airbags were standard across the line from 2005 on, but in 2003 and 2004, bottom-end DX models didn't get them (these base models also got rear drum brakes, where others got rear discs, though anti-lock brakes were standard everywhere; traction control was only offered on V6 models).

Not surprisingly, used Accords are not particularly cheap. According to Canadian Red Book, used values range from a (not so) low of $14,100 for a 2003 DX sedan to $36,550 for a loaded 2007 Accord Hybrid with navigation. If you can make do without V6 power, a $20,000 budget will get you a 2005 LX-G model; you'll be stuck with a 2004 model if you want a V6 for about 20 grand.

2006 Honda Accord EX-V6 coupe; photo by Chris Chase. Click image to enlarge

The Accord has always been a very pleasant car to drive, but aside from V6 models - and especially V6 models with the six-speed manual tranny - not a particularly exciting one. That's apparently alright for the many drivers who have taken Accords home with them, who seem to have few beefs with the car's performance. Any disappointment seems to stem from the car's less-than-Honda-like reliability. Don't get the idea that these are terrible cars: they're not. This seventh-gen Accord simply doesn't live up to Honda's bulletproof reputation.

My usual advice for any car with known issues stands - if you must have one, get it checked out by a trusted mechanic and do your research: check out my recommendations in the online resources section below.