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.
9.0
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,270
Average Mileage:
119,750 miles
Total Complaints:
77 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
pay to have the transmission replaced (36 reports)
I have a 1998 Honda Accord. I had transmission problems in February of 2003. It was still under warranty to the dealership fixed it. Now.. in 2006 i'm having transmission problems again. I called the dealership who told me that the transmission is only under warranty for 3 years, which was conveniently up for them in February of 2006. Still and all a transmission shouldn't have to be fixed again 3 1/2 years later if they supposedly put a brand new transmission in my car. Something needs to be done about this.
I own a 1998 Honda Accord EX 2.3L. I purchased it about 3 years ago with 69k miles and the car ran pretty much fine until now. Guess what? Just take a wild guess, Honda Accord 1998. Transmission Failure! My transmission right now is slipping a lot in between shifting gears. It is more obvious in the lower gears, especially 1st - 2nd. I still just drive it anyway, but it's extremely annoying, and decided to get a fix. I went to Honda, and they refused to fix it since my warranty had expired and I have 116k miles now. They told me there was no recall on this car and I really think there should have been. Although thankfully I have not fallen victim to many transmission changes like other people, requiring a transmission change on a Honda at 116k miles is ridiculous. Almost all the other car makes do not have this many transmission problems. I love Hondas and they're my favorite car make, but now I'm beginning to doubt that.
Third new transmission - purchased with 100k warranty all covered so far. Now with 140K looking at repair with only 60k on last new tranny. Honda no help.
Purchased car from lease for top dollar. Dealor never even checked car, never replaced trans fluid, never suggested it. Vehicle transmission failed with little warning. Fluid everywhere. An expensive car to fix, an expensive car to own. Stuck.
I have a 98 Accord v6. I have taken pretty good care of the car and made all my oil changes on time and gotten all the scheduled services. I had to replace the transmission at 70,000 miles which was covered under my extended warranty and the Honda Accord dealer paid for it. Now 4 years later my transmission has gone out again and there is no warranty which the dealer is trying to charge $2650 to replace the transmission. The car has 142K miles.
My next step is to have my attorney contact American Honda. This is ridiculous to have to replace two transmissions in 4 years.
- awoods,
St. Louis, MO, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
I agree with what others have said. Honda knows they have a problem and will not fix defective transmission. Its time to buy my next car from Toyota, Ford, or any other auto maker except Honda.
the gears are felt every time you speed. now my transmission is sliping between 1 & 2nd gear. the funny thing i have taken the car to dealer to replace the transmission's fluid and it is still awful. I know this will cost me an arm and leg to fix.
I love Honda's and I have always owned one since my 1991 CRX. My 98 Honda Accord has been great until the transmission started banging into gear both up and down. I took it to the dealer and the the news was not good. 130,000 miles and I need to put a rebuilt trany in for $2700. I called around for a better price and they all came in around $2500. The reason is there was no after market parts and they had to buy them from Honda. The funny thing is that when talking to other shops they quoted me the price immediately because they all have done a tranny for the 1998 Accord V6 recently (around 100K miles). Hmmmm maybe Honda is having problems with this tranny. I then asked the chief mechanic at the dealer and he tip toed around saying that they have had a few problems but it definitely is not the norm. So I searched the internet and I have found that there is a problem by looking at forums like this and Honda needs to get their Sh%T together if they want to keep me as a loyal customer.
Wanted to add my similar-sounding problem to the discussion. A few months ago the automatic transmission on my well-maintained, gently-driven Accord started slipping into a lower (high-revving) gear, generally between 2nd & 3rd. A couple of days ago it started failing to get in gear at all. Coaxing it along until it did engage allowed me to get on the road. Once on the freeway, and maintaining a fairly constant speed, it behaved. Problem seems worst when car is cold, and mostly when (attempting to) accelerate from a stop.
Called dealer, who gave no indication that the problem is (apparently) common for Accords. Only learned this upon finding the site (via Google). Will update after I (attempt to) have the specific problem (and its cause) diagnosed.
1998 Honda and 3 Transmissions later (It is now parked in my garage) AGAIN!!! Unfortunately the first transmission broke down 8,000 miles after my extended warranty expired. Honda quoted me $6500.00 for them to fix what I consider to be their fault!!! I hate this my car worked great with each transmission for about 3 months and then of course when the warranty expires so does the transmission! I HATE HONDA!!!! Two other friends that have 98 Honda of course have replaced their transmission also..... Hello don't you get it HONDA PEOPLE? FIX THIS!
Experienced noticeable thud for several months when transmission shifted between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gears. Local mechanic did not recognize or acknowledge problem until transmission failed completely. Any recourse from Honda?
I HAVE A 98 HONDA ACCORD WITH 150,000 THIS IS MY SECOND HONDA AND EACH TIME I HAVE PURCHASED A HONDA I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE FOLLOWED EACH AND EVERY SERVICE REQUIREMENT. THIS IS THE LAST STRAW.
I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN APRIL AND THE REPLACEMENT FROM AN IMPORT DEALER AND THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED THREE MONTHS LATER. THIS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION AND THE FINAL. THE CAR IS A NICE CAR BUT WITH MONEY BUILDING IN THE CAR FOR JUST THE TRANSMISSION, THIS IS CRAZY.
Transmission failed at 70K. Honda refusing to help. Am now finding out this is COMMON for 98 Honda Accords. I actually know used car people who refuse to touch automatic Hondas because their reputation is so awful. I'll never go Honda again.
I have had several problems with my Accord but this transmission failure tops it off. Just from doing research there are some problems that occured a while ago , that I think has played a part on what just recently happened. Being in Lancaster, California there is a whole bunch of mountains and everytime I stopped on a mountain my car just rolled at will. There is a strong possibility that this could have ruined my transmission, but I'll leave it up to the experts "The Honda Certified Mechanics" to tell me differently. I don't think that I'll purchase a Honda again unless it's given to me.
It doesn't shift on reverse, doesn't kick in. I had purchased an Extended Warranty-$1,300.00 for this issues but when I took it to the Honda Dealer they refused to admit that it was the transmission. Now, that the warranty has expired they are charging $3,700.00. I have reported this to Bureau of Consumer Affairs and Bureau of Automotive Repair. No solutions, yet.
I HAVE OWNED 4 HONDAS ALL BRAND NEW AND NO PROBLEMS RIGHT! WELL I BOUGHT MY 1ST CERTIFIED USED 1998 HONDA ACCORD EX-V6 W/ONLY 27,000 MILE ON 11/01/02. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 4TIMES AND OF COURSE HONDA HAS REPLACED THEM ALL FREE OF CHARGE, HOWEVER, HONDA IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND WILL NOT RE-CALL THEM. I HAVE HAD ALL MY HONDAS OVERHAULED EVERY 15,000 MILES AND HAVE KEPT IN MINT CONDITION. I PURCHASED A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY AND HONDA SAID THEY WILL COVER THE TRANSMISSION UP TO A 100,000. I ASK FOR A REFUND THEN ON MY WARRANTY. THEY SAID NO! I ADVISED THEM TO GIVE ME A DIFFERENT HONDA -YR FOT THE SAME VALUE THEY WILL NOT AND THEIR PR-DEPT WILL GIVEV ME NO INCENTIVES, OR DISCOUNTS OR ANYTHING. THE DEALERSHIPS AND MECHANICS HAVE TOLD TOLD ME THEY KNOW ABOUT THE DEFECT BUT WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I ADVISED HONDA PR-DEPT I WILL BE CONTACTING THE LOCAL NEWS STATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE. THEY SAID SO.... AMAZING HOW I HAVE PURCHASED NOTHING BUT HONDAS AND THIS IS WHAT I GET. I GUESS HONDA FOR GOT WHERE THEY CAME FORM$$$ I AM NOW HAVING TO GET MY TRANSMISSION CHANGED FOR THE 5TH TIME AND I ONLY HAVE 60,000 MILES. PLEASE ANYONE ASSIST ME WITH THIS ORDEAL.........
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I have a 1998 Honda Accord. I had transmission problems in February of 2003. It was still under warranty to the dealership fixed it. Now.. in 2006 i'm having transmission problems again. I called the dealership who told me that the transmission is only under warranty for 3 years, which was conveniently up for them in February of 2006. Still and all a transmission shouldn't have to be fixed again 3 1/2 years later if they supposedly put a brand new transmission in my car. Something needs to be done about this.
- sheronica19, Baton Rouge, LA, US