1995 · HondaAccord
What the data shows
The F22 2.2 is a straightforward engine, but this 31-year-old Accord needs its timing belt treated as due unless records show it was replaced. The belt ages out even at 47,000 miles, and failure can stop the engine. The 4-speed automatic has a documented history of slipping or failing, usually at higher mileage, so the low odometer reading does not prove it is sound. An original radiator may also be near the end of its plastic-tank life. The seller says the mileage is original and the A/C and equipment work, which are useful claims to verify.
Budget about $5,300 across the timing-belt service and the possibility of transmission or radiator work. On a test drive, check for delayed engagement, slipping or a flare in engine speed between shifts. The asking price is close to typical market for a clean, low-mileage example.
At a Glance
What this guide surfacedthe belt is far beyond its time-based service interval even at low mileage
slipping or failure is documented on this Accord generation and can leave the car undependable
the plastic end tanks are vulnerable to age-related cracking on an original radiator
the seller describes the 47,000 miles as original, a claim worth checking against records
the seller reports that the A/C, heater, windows and locks all work
Reliability Outlook
Modeled risk by mileageDeal Score weighs the asking price against comparable listings, the title, and the repairs documented in this guide.
- Price 9% below market
- 3 major issues
- 14 open safety recalls
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Detailed findings, 4 items
Click any card for the full breakdown, repair cost, and what to check. Items already handled by the owner show as checked.
Reflects the open findings; items the owner handled are excluded.
Costly repairs, but not urgent to verify before you buy. Price them out and use them to negotiate.
Timing Belt Age-Related Failure
The timing belt can crack or break with age, stopping the engine and risking internal damage because this is an interference engine. Honda's time-based replacement interval is long past on an original belt, and this 31-year-old car is overdue even at 47,000 miles.
4-Speed Automatic Slipping or Failure
The automatic transmission can slip or flare between shifts as its internal components wear, and a failed unit can leave the car unable to drive normally. A substantial minority of these Accords are reported with transmission trouble, usually at higher mileage than this car has, so its low odometer reading reduces but does not remove the concern.
Radiator Tank Cracking
The radiator's plastic end tank can crack at its seam and release coolant, often leaving a colored crust or wetness near the tank and risking overheating if coolant escapes. This is a recurring age-related repair on older Accords, and a 31-year-old original radiator is within the failure window even at low mileage.
Minor wear typical for the car’s age. Not worth negotiating over, but good to track as an owner.
Valve Cover Gasket Seepage
The valve-cover gasket can harden and seep oil around the edge of the cover, leaving residue on the cylinder head or a burnt-oil smell if oil reaches hot surfaces. This is a reported age-related leak on older F22 Accords, and decades of heat cycling make it possible even at 47,000 miles.
What's working well
Seller-Reported Original Mileage
The seller describes the 47,000 miles as original, which would mean substantially less use than most surviving examples of this age. Treat that as a seller claim until the odometer history and dated records support it.
If the mileage is documented, lower use is encouraging for wear-related items, though it does not remove age-based service needs such as the timing belt.
Every finding still open carries a question worth asking. Copy them as one message, already ordered by severity. Anything you have marked above drops off on its own.
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Price & negotiation
BetaBased on comparable listings and the repairs you can document. A starting point for what this car should cost.
Price breakdown
Pricing models disagreed on this vehicle, so treat the market estimate as a rough range rather than a precise number. Recent local listings are the best tiebreaker.
What it costs, and when
Verify now
Critical and major items to confirm first.
Possible year-one expense
Caution items with repair-cost context.
Watch later
Lower-confidence or no-cost items to monitor.
Each range is what that one item costs if it turns out to be present. Not every item will apply to this car, so they do not add up to a bill. Verify with a mechanic.
Asking is $5,900 against a typical $6,500 for this car and mileage. The work is the difference, not the sticker.
Negotiate your offer
Asking is about 9% below the market estimate, so there may be less room to move. The documented repairs below are still relevant to raise.
- Documented critical/major repairs of $3,800–$6,700 you can point to.
- Strongest items to raise first: 4-Speed Automatic Slipping or Failure, Timing Belt Age-Related Failure.
Pricing is in beta. The market estimate comes from research models and can be off by thousands on the same car, so check recent local listings before you rely on it. This is information to help you research, not a professional inspection, an appraisal, or financial advice.
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Recalls & safety
NHTSA crash-test ratings and recall data for this make, model, and year. Check recall status with your VIN before buying.
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In-person inspection
4 things to check before you buy
3 major and 1 caution findings, turned into a walkthrough for the driveway. Try it on this sample.
Before you leave: Ask the seller not to start or move the car before you arrive. A sales-ready car has usually been warmed up, and a warm engine hides the startup smoke, rattles and rough idle that the first section is built around.
01Engine & Systems2
Before the first start: pull the oil dipstick and look for a milky film, check the coolant for oil or rust, squeeze the radiator hoses for hard or mushy spots, and note the battery date. Once warm: confirm the cooling fans cycle, listen for belt noise, look for fresh seepage that was not there cold, and check that the A/C blows cold.
02Test Drive1
Drive a route with stops, a hill, and some open road. Feel for shift quality, clutch or torque-converter behaviour, brakes that pull or pulse, steering play, and any noise that changes with speed or steering angle.
03Documentation1
Match the VIN across the title, dash, and door jamb. On a dealer lot, read the Buyers Guide sticker: it states whether the car carries a warranty or is sold as is, and as is means every repair after the sale is yours. Review service records and recall history, then run an OBD-II scan for stored and pending codes.
Plus 6 baseline checks every used car needs, added because this car’s findings are short.
Everything on this list is what you can see standing next to the car. A shop on a lift sees the rest, and a written pre-purchase inspection listing parts and labor is what a seller has to answer to. Budget roughly $100 to $150 at an ASE-certified shop.
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