Just purchased a 98 Honda Accord V-6, the transmission shifts really hard from 1st to 2nd gear. Dealer tell me that it needs a transmission, at a cost of 3900 dollars car has 110,000 miles but doing some research learned that there is a problem with this transmission.

- Lakewood , CA, USA

The transmission on my 1998 Accord is slipping between gears. It hesitates when accelerating and sometimes accelerates and decelerates without notice. The car has 90,000 miles on it and has been scrupulously maintained according to the manufacturer's maintenance schedule. The transmission is supposed to last at least 120,000 miles, but I have researched the problem on the internet and found many references to defective transmissions on late model Honda that have failed with even very low mileage. Replacement is costing owners upwards of $4,000 and Honda is extending the warranty on only a limited number of models and years, although the same transmission is in many of its other cars. My mechanic is recommending a complete replacement. I am afraid to drive the car for fear it wlll fail on the freeway and cause an accident.

- Signal Hill, CA, USA

I have a 1998 Honda Accord V6 coupe with 108,000 miles. Upon reaching around 104,000 miles, the transmission shifted abruptly at lower gears. Had it flushed and the problem somewhat went away but the problem came back after 2 weeks. The abrupt shifting is more pronounced when I get stuck in a stop and go traffic. It doesn't do that when it's ran cold like in the morning. I'm taking it in to the dealer for computer diagnostics. I'm afraid they will tell me that I need a new or rebuilt transmission.

- Walnut, CA, USA

1. vehicle was shifting very hard, clunking in to gear, and not wanting to go into gear. 2. dealer determined failure to be the transmission 3. will require complete replacement of the transmission.

- Saint Albans, VT, USA

I have a 1998 Honda Accord V6. The transmission shifts really hard. Had it flushed but the problem still exist. The service manager at the dealer told me they have "a few" car with the same problem. I went online and found that many people have the same problem. It seems like a bad design to me.

- Fountain Valley, CA, USA

Transmission failure. @ 25000 and 1.5yrs of ownership, I realized that my transmission was starting to act up. Dealership shaid there were no problems. I returned @ 35000 before my warranty would be void, and still they insist no problems. Car would make a thrashing sound when engaged into reverse. @ 77000 the transmission began shifting abruptly and harshly. The car would miss down and up shifts. Now 111K000 the dealership told me I need a new transmission at a price of $4700. I strongly feel that Honda needs to rectify this problem and handle its customer's complaints about the problem at hand. I found out that this is a common problem for the acords belonging to the 1998-2002 model years.

- Buena Park, CA, USA

Transmission failure 1998 Honda Accord.

- Holden, MA, USA

I drive a 1998 Honda Accord ex V6 4 door. I have had problems with my transmission. It is shifting erratically. It slips between 1st to 2nd, then when I am driving, suddenly downshifts. This is a huge safety issue!

- Rome, GA, USA

The vehicle's transmission locked on three separate occasions.

- Chesterfield, MO, USA

I was driving to la for business. Along the freeway, I heard what sounded like an increase in wind noise that got louder, and I realized it was a mechanical problem. By the time I reached la, it was a gearing noise that sounded like it was the transmission of my 98 Honda Accord. I stopped by the gas station and checked the auto transmission fluid, it was full and there were no lights on the dash. Later, the car would only go to 1st and 2nd gear. I brought it to the local aamco, where they told me it was a transmission failure. This was unbelievable to me since the car had only 93K miles - my Toyota's ran well over150K easy. I contacted Honda Motors, I describe the situation to darcel (4/19/04) who told me to bring it to their local deale ($100). Then, Honda Motors took one week to assign to a person who neglected to call the dealer, I had to call the dealer to call david. In addition, david humbray, 800-999-1009, ext 118128, neglected to read the intake information that I gave to darcel. Two weeks later, still no action. David finally called and asked for all the oil change and other maintenance records. Given the fact that I bought the car used and performed the oil changes myself, information I gave to darcel during the intake, I don't have all the records. My argument is that there is a track record of 98 Honda Accord auto transmission failures which seems to indicate a manufacturer defect - this site, there are 133 complaints compared to about 8 for a 98 Toyota Camry. Honda actually extended the warranty of 2000-2001 Honda Accord with auto transmissions to 100K. I was just asking for the same. But the run around that Honda Motors gave me was ridiculous and added insult. I ended up payng $100 just to file a complaint. The final result is that I took the car back and had it repaired. It is now for sale and I am never going to buy another Honda product - so much for Honda relaibility and quality.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

1. auto transmission skipping and lunging at stop sign 2. according to mechanics and Accord website Accord transmission should have recall 98-02 3. changed fluids and still occurs.

- Greenbrae, CA, USA

My 1998 Honda Accord has 80,000 miles and the transmissions needs to be replaced.

- Monroe, NC, USA

Transmission failure.

- Sugar Land, TX, USA

Automatic transmission started slipping at about 80,000 miles and will need to be replaced.

- Yorba Linda, CA, USA

Automatic transmission failed on interstate 89. Dangerous situation.

- Orleans, VT, USA

While driving 40 mph transmission down shifted. Consumer was able to control vehicle, and drove vehicle home.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

I own a 1998 Honda Accord (automatic transmission, V6, 4dr) with a mileage of 120K miles. I bought it when 110K, prior to which it was a lease car with proper maintainance history. Over the last couple of weeks I noticed I was having a problem with delayed and hard shifting of gears especially at lower speeds. Honda dealer checked and replaced transmission fluid. This did not help and a week later the engine check light had come on. A private transmission service advisor run computer diagnostics on it and came up with a diagnosis code of P740 and PO230. They could not pinpoint the exact fault. At this point the vehicle was lunging forward whenever it came to a stop and it would have a trouble changing gears (especially the second gear). Though the vehicle is in drivable condition it seems like a big safety hazard and a disaster waiting to happen. When I took the vehicle to a Honda dealer who recommended that I replace the entire transmission at a cost of about $5600+labor. Given otherwise extremely good condition of my vehicle I can only attribute this problem to a manufacturing defect. When I did some research I found out that there are hundreds of 98 Accord owners who have been facing similar problems with their transmission. I am expecting Honda to take responsibility since many Honda experience a similar fate and the Honda service who changed the oil the first time could have tried harder before more damage may be done. I am currently not using this vehicle much given the obvious safety issues.

- Ohio Univ., OH, USA

1998 Honda Accord V6 LX sedan with 80,000 miles needs a new transmission at a cost of $3500. Vehicle has been well maintained and had transmission fluid changed at proper intervals using Honda atf. Obviously, with the number of complaints of this problem on Honda forums, there is a design flaw. Honda should pay for this repair, not me.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

The vehicle's transmission produced a clicking sound when shifting gears. The dealer stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission made noise while the vehicle was in park. The vehicle would rattle as the vehicle was shifted. The service dealer stated that this was a common problem.

- San Jose, CA, USA

My 1998 Accord ex V-6, with 62,000 miles and perfect maintenance, now requires a new "rebuilt" transmission for over $7000, as explained by a sales person for Honda. At my last service, the tech mentioned the trans fluid level was fine but it seemed dirty so I brought the car to my Honda dealer where I was given the news. Sidenote: They wanted to sell me a new 04 Accord, said my car was "a wash" and had no value!

- Orland Park, IL, USA