Overview & Reviews

Why are Honda vehicles so highly regarded by American drivers? Certainly, their excellent reputation for reliability and quality is a major factor. But it also has to do with the overall driving and owning experience. Read any Honda review and you'll likely notice common themes such as thoughtful design, a friendly nature, better-than-average fuel economy and attention to safety.

Japan-based Honda Motor Company was founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda. The company got its start making motorbikes. Japan had been rendered cash poor and fuel-starved after World War II, and its citizens were hurting for an inexpensive, fuel-efficient mode of transportation. Honda's first motorcycles mated engines with bicycles to create a motorbike that was cheap to make and operate.

Honda's bikes quickly evolved into vehicles far more sophisticated than small engines stuck into bicycle frames. The manufacturer's 1949 D-Type could reach speeds of up to 50 mph, and offered front and rear suspension. The 1950s saw the launch of the successful Juno scooter, built to steal market share from the Vespa knockoffs that were popular in Japan at that time. In the latter part of that decade, Honda introduced the ultra-successful C100 Super Cub. The motorbike was remarkably easy to operate and featured a crossbar-free frame that made it popular with women. It went on to become the first Honda motorbike sold in the U.S. via then-new American Honda Co. in 1959.

By the early 1960s, Honda had built its first automobiles for the Japanese home market and entered Formula One racing. But it wasn't until 1970 that it exported its first car, the diminutive N600, to the U.S. The automaker initially had a hard time sparking interest among American buyers, but that all changed in 1973 with the introduction of the Civic. The car was larger than Honda's previous models even though it was still very petite compared to compact American cars. The Civic's high fuel efficiency (an important selling point given that decade's energy crisis) and affordability made it Honda's first American success story. By 1976, the Civic had been joined by the Accord, which quickly became a favorite with U.S. consumers as well.

By the 1980s, Honda's success and its reputation as a maker of well-built reliable cars and motorcycles continued to grow. It began building Accords in the U.S. in 1982 and by 1989 had earned the distinction of making America's most popular car. This was also the decade in which Honda created the Acura brand as a way to sell more upscale and luxurious vehicles. Throughout this decade and into the 1990s, the Civic and Accord were huge sellers and considered class benchmarks. Also during this time, Honda continued to innovate through such technologies as variable valve timing, aluminum body construction and improved safety features.

Today, Honda's lineup runs the gamut. Included are fuel-sipping hybrids, a spacious minivan, reliable family sedans, practical SUVs and even a pickup. Although the latest Civic and Accord aren't quite the benchmarks they once were for their respective classes, Honda's brand as a whole continues to be one of the most well respected in the industry, with millions of loyal and satisfied customers.

User Reviews:

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  Transmission is faulty - 2001 Honda Odyssey
  By Never again. - November 23 - 4:45 pm

  The automatic transmissions in the 97- 03 hondas are defective. Honda has issued warnings and extended the warranty to 10 years or 100,000. And they dont tell you this on the front end.

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  DO NOT BUY (unless you like a vibrating gas pedal) - 2013 Honda Accord
  By Rocco - October 17 - 10:57 pm

  Worst powertrain design ever. At 1800 rpm, VCM kicks on and makes the accelerator and cabin vibrate. Its dreadful. I test drove two and both had same issue. Left a deposit on one and had phenomenal deal but just hated the VCM vibration. Car goes from 3 cyl to 6 cyl and back all the time and not just at highway speeds. We own an 11 V6 and do not have these issues. The 9th gen V6 automatics are royally screwed. Read the reviews. Owners are complaining and some have tried to lemon law. Consumer Reports also does NOT recommend the 2013 V6. Take their advice and save yourself reliability issues down the road. Its a bad design. Honda takes no accountability.

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  Got a Honda and Got a Dud - 2010 Honda Odyssey
  By Chris Stoker - October 1 - 5:25 am

  We purchased this car used at 46K miles in 2012 with after market warranty and Car Fax clean record. Im just going to list the issues weve had with this car instead of explain all of the instances of failure because that would require more time than I have. After the first week or two we were notified a recall and had to take it back in to get it repaired. A week later the transmission began failing and had to force the dealership to replace it under warranty. The steering column has a continuous pop whether driving or turning or turning the wheel while sitting still, still have yet to get it diagnosed or fixed. Already had to have the bearings replaced on one of the back tires. One of the shocks in the back is also now leaking oil everywhere. The driver side sliding door middle bracket fell to pieces, the dealership admitted that this was a very well known issue. The auto window module went bad and made it so we could only roll down the driver side window. Multiple burned out lights. Terrible paint that falls to pieces off of the body with any contact. Another active recall, where the fuel pump overheats and can cause fires. The driver side sliding door motor is going bad and cant fully open or close the door properly even after repair. There are other issues, but Ive grown tired trying to remember everything. Genuinely, this is by far the worst vehicle I have ever owned. I will NEVER purchase another Honda for the rest of my life. 30K miles that weve driven this car, mostly on highways in the country where the roads are very well maintained, and all of these things have occurred within that time frame...absolutely appalling.

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  Honda Hybrid-RIPOFF - 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid
  By Frustrated - September 6 - 5:30 pm

  I purchased a new 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid EX-L in August 2016 on a Friday. Took it right back to the dealer the following Monday. Here are the items that have been replaced on my new 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid in the last 6 months-battery module, seat warmers, speakers, Bluetooth and its been in the service dept over 10 times. Seat warmers didnt work and battery drained quickly. Dealership blamed American Honda and said the technology was to new that they didnt know how to fix the car. American Honda did not respond for five months. After five months Isabel the Regional Manager met with me and tried to excuse the lack of contact to a retirement. American Honda worth billions of dollars cannot afford to overlapping reps? We sat for 45 minutes of me telling everything that was wrong with the car and assured me they were going to take care of me. A month later it scheduled for me to drop off the car for the Engineer at American Honda to finally look at the car. No one checks on me although Isabel is there, no one know whats wrong with my car as she did not pass on my notes to the services center or the Engineer and the Engineer came after hours so I never got to meet with them. All I received was notes that he drove it on cruise control on the highway at 65 and it works correctly. When I call American Honda to speak to Supervisor I speak to David who is the Gatekeeper who will not give me any information on a Supervisor to report how badly this experience was. Hondas used to be good cars, but if you look in the service centers all you see is brand new Accords. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR DO NOT BUY A HONDA ACCORD HYBRID. HONDA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR CARS. RIPOFF RIPOFF RIPOFF!

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  Unfixable Vibrations - 2015 Honda CR-V
  By John p - August 25 - 12:27 pm

  Ive had my 2015 CRV ex-L for 8 months, 7000 miles. Im ready to drive it into a bottomless pit. The vibration issue mentioned here is Unfixable. Ive had all 3 of the potential "fixes" performed and there is no discernible improvement. At this point the only acceptable fix would be getting rid of it. Steer clear of this model.

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  Horrible transmission problems on 9-speed. - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By John Saaty - August 12 - 4:14 pm

  The 2016 Honda Pilot is almost a perfect car except that it has major, major transmission problems that arent readily evident in just a test drive. We just purchased a 2016 Honda Elite and the transmission really is a mess. It cant find gears correctly, when on a downhill and you brake the car actually speeds up because it upshifts while you are braking, there are head-jerking episodes that are unexplained, when trying to climb hills it downshifts so much that you actually fight the car to try to get it up the hill. We are so disappointed I cant even tell you. We paid $51,000 for this car at a Honda dealer in Northern Virginia and it only has 265 miles on it and my wife refuses to drive it anymore. She was in tears at the dealership and they, so far, have taken no ownership of the problem. By the way, if you think that this is just us then go and look at other reviews on forums for the Pilots on the Internet. It is known that the 9 speed has a real problem. Honda does not seem to be addressing this which is shocking given that it is happening on the 2 highest end models -- Touring and Elite. But Im getting the feeling that they dont care or dont know how to fix it. With literally just 265 miles on the car we have listed it for sale. We are going to take a major loss on this car and get rid of it right away. I have nothing but the worst feelings about Honda as a company and brand. Do not buy this car. Do not buy this car.

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  Elite Model was a Lemon for us - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Stephanie - August 9 - 2:40 pm

  We purchased a 2016 Pilot Elite and loved it at first! Then the maintanance lights started popping up (Emissions system problem) at around 20,000 miles. Catalytic converter was replaced. Lights came back on like a Christmas tree shortly after. Fuel injectors were replaced. Lights back again and this time they said we had bad fuel. We had a lot of delayed acceleration problems. The air conditioner started going out. The dealer always helped us, but they couldnt make the vehicle more reliable. We ended up with 30,000 miles on this vehicle before we sold it and took the loss. Please research this trim model.

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  Trade in special - 2004 Honda Insight
  By unsatisfied driver - June 26 - 2:00 am

  From the frist day the trouble began, the car (or over powered skateboard) did not provide the power needed to passs, or get smoothly into the normal traffic pattern. on hot days the a/c could not keep up. and most of all the customer service was dreadfull.

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  My Honda From Hell - 1998 Honda Civic
  By Blondie2 - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Almost immediately after purchasing my car, I found that the car was not shifting correctly. The crack staff at Plaza Auto Mall which changes weekly decided that I needed a transmission. That was replaced and I am still not happy with the performance of the auto. I also have a problem with the gas pedal. It is very difficult to push down and there is not a smooth follow through. There are other problems that I have with the car but it would take too long to write about.

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  2007 CRV - Believe me, youd rather walk - 2007 Honda CR-V
  By tim.putz@gmail.com - May 30 - 5:27 pm

  Feel compelled to write a review, seldom do. I know that its probably too late for many, but this car must be avoided at all costs. I have a 2005 Pilot that is my all time favorite car with 267k on it and still running great with few repairs so I was a Honda loyalist, but this car moved me to Toyota. Known problems (I wish I knew them before I bought it) with: Air Conditioning - this will break thoroughly and completely, - 2k to replace Transmission - this will go out on you some time after 100k - 3k+ to replace. HVAC - this will break TPMS - this has never, ever, ever worked. And here is the worst part of this. When your TPMS light is burning brightly, like the 2007 CRV light will be, always, you cannot cancel stability control via some overthought, overengineered safety mechanism. However, this turns out to be pretty unsafe because if you are stuck in some deep snow and need to spin the tires a bit to get out, YOU CANT. The stability control will keep cutting the engine just as you gain some momentum. This turns your expensive AWD SUV into the handling equivalent of a 1969 Chevy Corvair with bald tires. There is no way to deal with this other than pulling the ABS/Stability control fuse. You will try to fix the TPMS light by replacing all sensors and that will work for a few days and then the light will go back on. This is a permanent condition with this car. Interior - the "leather" on the door armrest as well as the seat armrests will disintegrate. Mine started at 50k and is now completely shredded despite trying to repair before it got out of hand. You push the door open using the door armrest and it will just wear this cheap leather out in no time whatsoever. Brakes - I dont really know the story here, but this car seems to warp rotors faster than any other car I have owned. Maybe it is just bad luck (or bad driving!), so this may be piling on a bit because I loathe this car but I am going to say it. This car is a lean, mean, rotor warping machine, Performance - 4 cylinder getting only about 22 mpg. The car is an absolute dog, in fact my dog easily outperforms it. I mean I knew it was a 4 cyl, but cmon. Ok, thats enough. Under no circumstances should you buy a 2007 CRV. Forget the Honda name and rep for quality, this is one seriously flawed and awful car. I have no idea if Honda has improved the CRV, but 2007 is an absolute zero. Google around for the problems I have listed here, you will find many others having the same (especially the trans and air). I wish i had found those before I bought.