December 2004: Rec'd a letter from Honda, Inc. Stating: Certain 1998-99 Accord do not meet state and federal emissions regulations. During some driving conditions, your vehicle may emit a level of emissions above standards set by the epa and carb. To correct this problem, your Honda dealer will adjust the air bleed screw on your vehicle's throttle body. This work will be done free of charge".

April 2005: Took car to address the recall/issue. During this time they informed me that the catalytic converter was deteriorated and needed to be replaced. The cost for this would be approximately $900. The car had an 80,000 mile warranty, but they detected the problem with the odometer standing at 81,181.

I took my car to my normal mechanic and he told me I should ask the dealer to honor the warranty, because he knew for a fact that a lot of Honda Accord are notorious for having faulty catalytic converters. I did as he said, and the dealer refused to honor the warranty retroactively.

January 2006: I am informed that in 1998 an agreement was entered by Honda, the epa and the carb. They admit that the cars have issues with the emissions and offer car owners and extended warranty, free inspections and free repairs, including all parts and labor. Unfortunately all Honda owners are not treated alike, since the costs they cover are only for certain 1995, 1996 and 1997 models. This is completely unacceptable to me since there have been numerous complaints of catalytic converter failure from Honda Accord owners.

I am seeking a replacement of the faulty catalytic converter plus all labor. The recall of the throttle body air bleed screw could very well have been the cause of the converter to expire prematurely, among other unknowns. I am of the opinion that Honda Inc. Should retroactively honor the emissions warranty on my 1998 Accord.

- Kirkland, WA, USA

1998 Honda Accord. The contact states the horn does not blow while the vehicle is being driven. When the vehicle stops the horn will blow. This has been happening for over a year. The contact took the vehicle to the dealership, and they stated it will cost $800 to fix it. The contact stated the vehicle kept stalling and there was a heat at her feet. Took the vehicle to the dealership. This has been happening for almost two years. The dealership told her the catalytic converter was blocked. Neither of these problems have been fixed.

- Pinellas Park, FL, USA

Check engine light has been on & off intermitantly since purchasing the car in 2002. The light has now been on for over 3 months. I have had the dealer check this numerous times, and got error codes ranging from O2 sensor failure, which was replaced, to catalytic converter failure. Twice the dealer stated there was no problem and reset the computer. The most recent tests revealed a catalyticconverter problem, which was diagnosed by another Honda dealer last spring. The cost of replacing this item was estimated to be over $1000. As a gesture of good faith, Honda offered to goodwill the parts. I set up an appointment 2 days after the test, but the light went off & stayed off for several months, . in January the light came on and stayed on for more than a week. I had the test ran by an independent service department, and they had the same conclusion. The light is still on to this date (April 28, 2005). I have researched this condition and many other owners of this make & model have experienced this situation, repaired their vehicles at great expense, only to have the emmisions light come back on and the car being diagnosed with the initial problem after only a short period of time. I would like Honda to repair the condition and guarantee the vehicle will pass emmisions tests, which are mandatory by the end of May. My main concern is that in the future, when the light comes on, I will not be able to trust it to tell me there is a real problem or not.

- Conyers, GA, USA

Check engine light came on in July 03 at 110K miles, code P0420. To pass emissions, after talking to several sources, I replaced the catalytic converter with an oem replacement ($250 instead of $800 from the dealership). The C.E. light has now come back on with the same code as before, P0420. Obviously there is a problem with the car's emission system or it's sensors. The light stayed off for 11 months with the new C.C.. I find it hard to believe I have burned through another C. converter in 25K miles. I see the court ruling in 1998 that Honda had left misfiring monitoring device in the on board diagnostics (obd) for pre-1998 models disabled. If this problem is not detected it can lead to increased exhaust emissions of hydrocarbons and damage to the vehicleS catalyst. I will not pay $250 per year to continually replace converters.

- Marietta, AL, USA

Check engine light came on about 2 months ago. It went off without anything being done. Since then the cel has gone on and off for 4-5 times. I took the car in okimoto's for service and they found PO420, catalytic converter inefficiency. This is on a 1998 Honda Accord, that has been well-maintained. Took the car to norm reeves and the got the same code PO420. Cost of repair $1000. Many people are having problems with the cel and the catalytic converter.

- Escondido, CA, USA

The check engine light on my 1998 Honda Accord came on again after 101000 miles. The dealership says the catalytic converter will have to be replaced. It seems a common problem with 1998 Honda Accord, but the company has not commenced any recall to fix this issue.

- Florence, SC, USA

Vehicle failed California state inspection due to catalytic converter failure. Honda stopped manufacturing the 1998 catalytic converter.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

I have a 1998 Honda Accord LX V4. I have repeatedly had problems with the check engine light comming on. I have already replaced the O2 sensors and had the code cleared at least 4 times within the last year. My mechanic has noted that he can not find anything wrong with the car. I have recently found this website, www.cartrackers.com/forums/live/Honda/33.html and it has become apparent to me that this is not an uncommon problem with these models. Because I currently have 87,000 miles on my car Honda has said that it is no longer under warrenty. My car does not drive roughly and I have driven for miles with the light on. It generally stays on for about 1,000 miles or so, then resets itself for a few more thousand miles. After worrying about the light repeated comming on after it had reset itself I brought it into my mechanic again, only to find out that when an emissions check is ran on the car that nothing is wrong. Since I live in California, having this light on means that my car will fail a smog check, even though the emissions are well under the limit. Because so many people are complaining of an odbii code issue and other emissions related problems, I feel compelled to file a complaint. Honda was forced to do something about this problem on their 95,96, and 97 vehicles and I believe that they will not recognize these problems until they are forced to. This problem has caused me to give less importance to the check engine light, cost me over $200 without solving the problem, and hinders my ability to sell or even smog the vehicle. Recently, I was advised to replace the catalytic converter, even though the two O2 sensors are not giving the same output, thus showing that the cat. Is in fact doing its job. This would cost at least $400, $1100 at Honda. I feel that a recall is neccessary on the emissions components, and that those of us who have tried tirelessly to fix the problems should be recompensated for trying to fix a significant design flaw.

- Concord, CA, USA

The catalytic converter on my Honda Accord was replaced in 2002. Now, February 2004, the Honda dealer tells me that it needs to be replaced again.

- Deatsville, AL, USA

Catalytic converter has a premature life span according to a number of mechanics that I have talked to. The "check engine" light came on around 80,000 miles, and the mechanic said the computer sensed a failure in the catalytic converter. We had the Honda extended warranty but they stated that it did not cover the catalytic converter

- Palmdale, CA, USA

1998 Honda Accord ex 4-cylinder, manual transmission: Check engine light appeared at 71,000 miles; although resolved through replacement of the catalytic converter "under warranty", such early failure should be documented by NHTSA as subsequent failures are likely. Suspect is faulty/sub-standard catalytic converter used by Honda.uggestion: Query manufacturer on in/out of warrenty failures on catalytic converters for Honda Accord, model years 1998 - 2002.

- Highland Village, TX, USA

At 87,200 miles my car's check engine light came on, the dealership informed me the diagnostic exam ($83) showed a failure in my catalytic converter, it would cost $891 (no labor). The serviceman said that this "might" solve the problem.

- Mableton , GA, USA

At approximately 87,500 miles, the check engine light came on in my 1998 Honda Accord ex sedan. Computer diagnosis of the trouble code read "catalyst deterioration." I had the catalytic converter replaced, and the light came back on three weeks later. This time, the trouble code said that there was a bad primary oxygen sensor. This too, was replaced, and I am hoping that the light stays off.

- Gwinnett County, GA, USA

The check engine light went on at 92000 miles. I had the vehicle's computer codes evaluated by a shop and they indicated the post oxygen sensor and the catalytic converter needed to be replaced.

- Etiwanda, CA, USA

The check engine light went on at about 82000 miles for my 1998 Honda Accord LX, 4 cylinder. After replacing spark plug wires, spark plugs and air filter, the light went off for about a week. The check engine light illuminated again. The computer code says that there's a problem with the catalytic converter. However, others on the following forum had their catalytic replaced, and the light resumed after some period of time: There are so many complaints on this forum of the same problem, there should be no doubt that this is an issue which Honda has failed to address. This problem will probably severely reduce the resale value of the car, or stop me from selling it completely.

- Turnersville, NJ, USA

The check engine light keeps illuminating. On consumers 6th visit to the dealer, consumer was informed that the catalytic convertor needed replacing.

- Mt. Holly , NC, USA

Engine check light came on and owner took vehicle to dealership. Dealer replaced oxygen sensor. A couple of thousand miles later, catalytic converter failed. When the vehicle was purchased the check engine light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealership where the vehicle was placed on a diagnostic machine. The result was that it was something with the catalytic convertor, but that it was usually the oxygen sensor. The oxygen sensor was changed. About 200 miles later the engine light illuminated. Consumer took to a different dealership and was informed that there is an ongoing problem with the catalytic convertors in these vehicles.

- Jefferson City, MO, USA

Engine check light has illuminated. Cause unknown. Dealer has been contacted. The front brake pads were worn, in which the dealer replaced, the engine would stall while driving, the catalytic converter was replaced, the ignition switch was replaced which was the cause of the check engine light coming on and the stalling.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

Catalytic converter has failed at an early age. My repair shop claims to 'see it a lot' the repair is $1070. Honda deems it normal wear.

- Englewood, CO, USA

Catlytic converter heat shields deteriorate rapidly under normal use leading to car undercarriage overheating and/or fire. Suggest replace shields with a thicker gauge metal shield.

- Wheeling, IL, USA