CarComplaints.com Notes: The 1998 Honda Accord suffers from widespread transmission failure, peeling paint, & subframe rust. We recommend avoiding this model year like the plague.
The transmission begins slipping & eventually has to be replaced, typically soon after 100,000 miles & with a repair cost of over $2,000.
Peeling paint has also been a huge issue for these Accords. Most of the complaints are with darker paint colors -- especially green & blue.
Subframe rust near the front passenger side wheel has become a problem recently, due to the poorly positioned A/C drain hose directly above that area. Repair cost to the subframe is over $2,000.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
When applying brakes there is a delay. Once consumer takes foot off brake pedal, brake is still engaged. Will not release for about 10 feet. Dealer stated this was normal function.
Was in a 35 mph zone and was to stop for red light and to turn left. Service road between me and flat-back big truck that had already stopped for light. Put on brakes and started accelerating, and had no brakes or steering. Was raining. Probably hydroplaned. Picked up speed and went head-on into back of parked truck. I am injured and am under doctors care. Bag should have deployed but didn't. whole front of my car was smashed. Have pictures.
About 4 months after the purchase of the car, the clutch started making some loud squeeks while pressing or releasing the clutch. The squeek got louder as the traffic got heavier. While this was occuring the clutch becomes hard and difficult to control (too much release or too little). I took the car to the nearest dealership (Honda world, westminster) and told them. They said it was the master cylinder and at this moment there was no replacement. I waited about 2 months then finally in August '98 it was replaced. I left for a trip to san francisco and by the time I got to my destination it was already occuring again. While driving in the city and going up steep hills it became difficult to calculate the release in the clutch because it was not smooth- it felt like it was rubbing against something else, I had to use the emergency brake. I took it back to the dealership as soon as I came back. At this moment they told me that it was a defect and they had no solutions and that I could only wait. After waiting for awhile I called american Honda and told my problem. They said they were awared but they could not do anything about it at this time. They promised to call me to keep me inform of the situation which they have been. In one of the phone calls I was told that they had a part but it was only temporary and it would not solve the problem permanently. At this moment other things have come out - the driver's side door lock gives me electrical shocks while locking and unlocking the door and these are not minor shocks. Also sometimes the brakes squeak while pressing - it happened a little bit when I got it but I thought maybe because it was new. I don't want to be stuck with a car with these many problems - it was new and I have followed all the schedule maintance, all the help given it greatly appreciated it, thank you...
Consumer states that the brakes squeak. When applying brakes, they result in an extended stopping distance. Honda states brakes wear out at 8,000 miles or sooner, driving at 65 mph average. Dealer cannot duplicate the problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Wauwatosa, WI, USA