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:
5 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
45,533 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.

1998 Honda Accord electrical problems

electrical problem

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1998 Honda Accord Owner Comments (Page 4 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #83

Jan 262004

Accord

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The consumer received a recall notice and contacted the dealer. The dealer informed the consumer that they are not making appointment because they do not have the parts. Recall 03V423000 subject: Ignition switch.

- Fort Pierce, FL, USA

problem #82

Jan 222004

(reported on)

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Ignition is very loose when the key is placed in the ignition switch.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #81

Jan 222004

(reported on)

Accord

  • 50,000 miles
Consumer received recall notice. Dealership indicated that they won't do repairs because the vehicle was equipped with a security alarm.

- Culver City, CA, USA

problem #80

Dec 082003

(reported on)

Accord

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer stated the vehicle died out and had difficulty in starting. This problem was intermittent. The consumer received a recall after the repair were made, the consumer requested remimbursement. Recall 02V120000.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #79

Dec 082003

(reported on)

Accord

  • miles
Letter regarding 1998 Honda Accord ignition recall. When the recall was issued, the consumer went to have the defective work done and was asked to pay a $105 to disconnect and reconnect the alarm system. The consumer rejected to pay the cost and felt that it was Honda's responsibility in the first place to make it a safe vehicle.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #78

Dec 032003

Accord

  • miles
Consumer removed key from ignition at any position without cutting the vehicle off. Also, consumer left key in the ignition while vehicle was in the driveway, and vehicle rolled back. Consumer would take vehicle to the Honda dealer to have it repaired once he checked with the manufacturer to see if vehicle was included in the Honda recall.

- High Point, NC, USA

problem #77

Nov 102003

(reported on)

Accord

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While parked on an incline vehicle rolled backwards and jumped the curb. Vehicle slowed down when it drove over grass. As a result, consumer was able to unlock the door, enter the vehicle, and put the gear shifter in park. This was caused by ignition failure. Consumer was able to remove keys out of the ignition with vehicle in neutral. There is recall 03 V 423 000 on this issue, but this vehicle is not included in recall due to VIN.

- Hazlehurst, MS, USA

problem #76

Oct 262003

Accord

  • 147,031 miles
While traveling 25 mph the front driver's side wheel separated from the axle (ball joint failure), causing sudden deceleration and steering lost. Also the ignition key was able to be turned to the off position and removed even though the transmission was not set to park. The consumer stated that Honda issued a recall for both problems that his vehicle experienced, however the consumer was told his vehicle was not included. (recalls 03V423000 & 99V069000)

- Dedham, MA, USA

problem #75

Jun 032003

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
About 5 months ago, my ignition starter failed due to worn contacts. The car would not start. It had to be towed to my Honda dealer. It cost me over $500 to replace. I do not recal receiving a recal notice about the problem on ntsa id 021V120000. And the dealer made no mention of this.

- Northridge, CA, USA

problem #74

Oct 222003

Accord

  • 85,000 miles
When the vehicle was engaged in the drive position the key was removed from the ignition.

- Pikesville, MD, USA

problem #73

Nov 032003

Accord

  • 110,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While vehicle was shut off the key was taken out of the ignition without the vehicle being in the park position. As a result, the vehicle rolled back into a truck.

- Uniontown, PA, USA

problem #72

Sep 262003

(reported on)

Accord

  • 40,000 miles
Consumer noticed that every 500 miles vehicle would not start unless accelerator pedal was pushed all the way down, and the key was turned at least three times. The cause of the problem had not been determined.

- Havertown, PA, USA

problem #71

Aug 252003

Accord 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 95,989 miles
Ignition switch failure this is the third ignition switch failure in this vehicle. Honda replaced the first two but refuses to replace the third. Service manager at dealer decided it was not the switch this time before even looking at the car. Currently the car intermittently will not start. My independent mechanic got the car to act up and said it is definitely the ignition switch again. The first time it went the car died on the beltway at 65 mph. A big SUV came up on my bumper. I was in the middle lane on a hill and could not get to the right because cars were passing me on the right. It was scary.

- Balt., MD, USA

problem #70

Aug 012002

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
This complaint is similar to investigation number PE 03-014. My wife's 1998 Honda Accord (4 cylinder with automatic transmission) rolled away from the spot where she had parked it. Apparently she had left the vehicle in drive, but was able to remove the key from the ignition. When she returned from her errand, the car was no longer in the parking spot where she had left it. The car had rolled about 75 feet away, somehow managing to miss several other cars in the parking lot. Thankfully, she and our baby weren't halfway out the car door when the car rolled away. I verified that the key can be removed with the shifter in drive. I took the car to the Honda dealer here in Colorado springs, and they indicated that there may be a mechanical problem in the ignition switch, but that it isn't covered by a warranty or recall. They also said it would be pretty expensive to fix since the electrical part of the ignition switch would need to be replaced as well as the mechanical part and the electrical part of the switch has an anti-theft feature that reads a computer chip in the key and that the system would have to be reprogrammed (including the remote controls for the doors...). the car had about 60,000 miles on it when we first noticed the problem. We don't recall the exact date of when it happened, but it was during the summer of 2002 when we first noticed the problem. Thank you for your attention to this issue. Michael brady (719) 668-4068.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #69

Jul 092003

(reported on)

Accord

  • miles
Parts for the ignition switch recall 02 V 120 00 has not been available for 8 months.

- Ponce, PR, USA

problem #68

Jun 232003

Accord

  • miles
Consumer stated that the key can come out the ignition whether the vehicle is on or off. Dealer notified.

- Hemet, CA, USA

problem #67

Feb 072003

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,008 miles
Reference complaint #10008215: NHTSA assisted in arranging a meeting with mike monell part/service director for norm reeves Honda and eric catherine, district parts/service mgr. For american Honda. The meeting took place on 3/24/03 and I explained the problems associated with my 2003 hybrid and my 1998 Accord. The primary concern about the Accord was the recall of electrical portion of the ignition switch. Norm reeves had claimed to install a complete ignition switch on the instructions of american Honda. After the alleged repair, the vehicle continued to stall. I proposed the following: (1) I buy the new part, (2) I witness the installation, and (3) I receive the part removed. Mr. Catherine promised to get back to me in a couple of days. this never happened. I bought a new part from another dealer and had it installed by an independent Honda mechanic on 5/9/03. His opinion was that nothing had been done and that the part removed showed wear unlikely to occur in the short interval. He also stated that norm reeves could not have replaced the complete ignition, since that type of repair would have necessitated the re-programming of the keys. Further, HondaS written service bulletin 02-031 clearly instructs the dealer: center-punch a completion mark above the eighth character of the engine compartment VIN. no such mark appears on my vehicle. In view of the evidence, I now believe that Honda has engaged in a fraudulent implementation of the recall order. To further prove this allegation, I seek the assistance of NHTSA to determine the significance of the hand-written numbers on the electrical switch part. I have photographs of both the original part (35130-S84-A01) and the replacement part (35130-S84-305). Further, I note that the raised plastic numbers on the parts differ by one digit. I believe that NHTSA should ascertain the significance of both the raised plastic numbers and the hand-written numbers to determine whether a new investigation should be initiated.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #66

Apr 162003

Accord

  • 60,000 miles
The consumer received recall notice #02V120000 regarding the ignition switch, when the consumer called to make an appointment, he/she were told only the vehicle's that experienced a problem would be fixed. The vehicle died twice on the highway at 65 mph. The vehicle was finally repaired by the dealership.

- Kelseyville, CA, USA

problem #65

Apr 232003

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The ignition switch was recalled but no parts were available to repair it. The consumer had not been contacted after a year.

- San Jose, PR, USA

problem #64

Apr 282003

Accord

  • miles
Six months had passed, and the consumer was told no recall parts regarding the ignition switch were available. Recall #02 V 120 000.

- Willingboro, NJ, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

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