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:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
8,263 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 engine problems

engine problem

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1998 Honda Accord Owner Comments

problem #17

Oct 012005

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Car did fine for a while then it went crazy on us. Accelerator petal sticks, brake lights don't work, horn does not work, cruise control does not work, door locks wouldn't work, front left blinker works only sometimes!

- Slaughter, LA, USA

problem #16

Mar 152004

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5 miles
I have a 1998 Honda Accord ex. For last 3-4 months started noticing that the accelerator sticks when first starting to drive. On applying more than normal pressure it suddenly releases and vehicle surges forward. My mileage is only 54,000 now. Took it to a dealer in hartford and he says I need to shell out nearly 200 bucks to get throttle cleaned, this despite regular maintainance as recommended by the manufacturer. I have seen others with similar complaints and who got throttle cleaned and it was giving same problem again after 2000 miles, so what's the gurantee it won't happen again. Money is not important to me, but safety of me and my family. I feel this is a serious safety issue which Honda should be fixing and not denying. I have nearly crashed into other cars in the parking lot, almost hit the parking lot enterance gate as the car uncontrollable races forward. I did not expect this from a Honda, it has been flawlessly working so far.

- Hartford, CT, USA

problem #15

Apr 232004

Accord 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,456 miles
While pulling inside of a parking lot, the vehicle surged forward. The consumer applied the brakes, the vehicle continued to speed, and crashed into a brick wall. Upon impact, both air bags deployed.

- Port Isabel, TX, USA

problem #14

Nov 122003

(reported on)

Accord

  • 2 miles

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

The gas pedal and brake pedal are very close together. Because of the closeness of the two pedals, when trying to brake the accelerator pedal is pressed. This nearly caused several accidents with other vehicles because of this problem with the brake and accelerator pedal.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #13

Jan 012002

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,000 miles
My accelerator sticks when you first try to mash it down, then the car jumps.

- Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #12

Jun 092003

(reported on)

Accord

  • 56,000 miles
While driving vehicle will fail to accelerate. This is caused by throttle sticking. Cause unknown.

- Endicott, NY, USA

problem #11

Aug 012002

Accord

  • miles

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

When starting cold vehicle and attemptingto depress gas pedal, has to use excessive effort. When consumer is able to depress pedal, tires spin, and vehicle jerks forward, throttle sticks.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #10

Jan 012000

Accord

  • miles
In January 2000, I took my Honda in to the tricket dealership to have a sticking gas pedal repaired. The mileage at that time was 35, 187. The pedal would stick and require a hard punch with the foot to come loose. The dealer cleaned the throttle and told me it was caused by a Honda floor mat. This resolved the problem at that time. I removed the floor mat. On January 16, 2002 I took the Honda into the same dealership and reported my gas pedal was sticking again even though I used no floor mat on the driver's side. The dealership cleaned the throttle again with a charge to me of $35.18 which seemed to take care of the problem. When I asked why this element had failed twice, at first I was told it was bad gas, then the dealership admitted 98-99 Honda Accord had recurring problems with the gas pedal sticking. The dealership told me this was not dangerous because the gas pedal did not normally stick wide open. I guess dangerous is a matter of opinion. A gas pedal stuck half way down could potentially cause an accident. When I called the national Honda customer service, I was told to get the throttle cleaned as part of my normal maintenance. I would like to know if other Honda owners are experiencing this dilemma. It appears to me to be an obvious design flaw and Honda should be correcting it. I am also concerned about later model Honda Accord. I certainly don't want to purchase a new problem. Any assistance you could provide would be appreciated. By the way, my Honda is a "LX" model.

- Hermitage, TN, USA

problem #9

Jan 312002

(reported on)

Accord

  • miles
In January 2000, I took my Honda in to the tricket dealership to have a sticking gas pedal repair. The mileage at that time was 35, 187. The pedal would stick and require a hard punch with the foot to come loose. The dealer cleaned the throttle and told me it was caused by a Honda floor mat. This resolved the problem at that time. I removed the floor mat. On January 16, 2002 I took the Honda into the same dealership and reported my gas pedal was sticking again even though I used no floor mat on the drivers side. The dealership cleaned the throttle again with a charge to me of $35.18 which seemed to take care of the problem. When I asked why this element had failed twice, at first I was told it was bad gas, then the dealerrship admitted 98-99 Honda Accord had recurring problems with the gas pedal sticking. The dealership told me this was not dangerous because the gas pedal did not normally stick wide open. I guess dangerous is a matter of opinion. A gas pedal stuck half way down could potentially cause an accident. When I called the national Honda customer service, I was told to get the throttle cleaned as part of my normal maintenance. I would like to know if other Honda owners are experiencing this dilemma. It appears to me to be an obvious design flaw and Honda should be correcting it. I am also concerned about later model Honda Accord. I certainly don't want to purchase a new problem. Any assistance you could provide would be appreciated. By the way, my Honda is a "LX" model.

- Hermitage, TN, USA

problem #8

May 162001

Accord

  • miles
Gas pedal sticks continually after cold starts or short periods of not running. Excessive and hard pressure must be applied to gas pedal, evidently to engage the throttle plate and/or throttle linkage. The surprising result to the driver is that the vehicle will lunge forward, often squealing tires, in a speedy and dangerously uncontrolled manner. Can be a potential safety problem, especially if driving in confined areas, parking lots or around predestrians. Our son recently purchased a 1998 Honda Accord, which had developed the same problem. Honda customer relations office admits a service bulletin was released to its dealers about this problem but will not acknowledge it being a safety issue. I have owned 1981, 1987, still own a 1993 Honda Accord among other makes and models and have never experienced gas pedals that bind and stick like the one in this 1998 Honda Accord.

- Bloomington, IN, USA

problem #7

Dec 192001

(reported on)

Accord

  • miles

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

Excessive pressure needed to move stuck accelerator, then suddenly loosens and car lurches.

- Streamwood, IL, USA

problem #6

Oct 302001

Accord

  • miles
When the engine is first started after the vehicle has sat for a breif period of time, the gas pedal sticks causing the vehicle to lunge forward. I feel that this is a safety concern because it may endanger citizens in parking lots and other areas when trying to gently manuever the vehicle. Honda was contacted and they felt that is was not a safety concern and refused to pay for the problem caused by this faulty throttle box. Thank you, [xxx]. parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- West Lafayette, IN, USA

problem #5

Mar 302000

Accord

  • miles
Throttle continually sticks when cold or after short period of time. Dangerous situation as excessive pressure often needed to engage, causing near accidents on many occasions. Have noticed many other complaints to the same concern on website.

- Wallingford, CT, USA

problem #4

Sep 131999

Accord

  • miles
Gas pedal sticks. Dealer cleaned throttle body three times up to date of Dec/2000. Advised dealer of issue, they advised for representative to inspect. Called manufacturer who advised not representing issue. Waiting on return call from manufacturer.

- Belleview, FL, USA

problem #3

May 201999

Accord

  • miles
Gas pedal sticks and must be pressed too hard to get car going which causes car to go out of control.

- Mauldin, SC, USA

problem #2

Sep 211999

Accord

  • miles
The gas pedal repeatedly sticks requiring excesssive pressure to get the car moving. The car then dangerously lurches forward. The dealer has been contacted and acknowledges the problem and that it has been reported in other Honda. They have no fix for the problem, except to clean the linkage which helps for 2-3000 miles.

- Greenvile, SC, USA

problem #1

Aug 251998

(reported on)

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Gas/brake pedal depressed simultaneously due to being too close together. Qcaw

- Hawley, PA, USA

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