Routine maintenance revealed shocking finding: The R/F corner of subframe is rusted through and breaking. Dealer advises it should be replaced asap and that the car is dangerous and should not be driven. Obviously it makes no sense to spend the $2,500+tax that the dealer proposes, as the car is barely worth that much. This is a design flaw in 1998-2002 Honda as the air conditioner drips right onto this part of the subframe. The incontrovertible evidence is the dozens of other complaints for subframe rust filed here with the NHTSA and elsewhere - all on the passenger side - as well as the fact that Honda changed the design on the 2003 models. I don't know why the NHTSA is waiting to force a recall"? what if I hadn't gotten the maintenance for another few months?? what could have potentially happened?? could I have lost control of the car as the bottom partially fell out?? this is a serious injury, if not death, waiting to happen! what are you waiting for!??" as for Honda, I will never buy another Honda again. They offered minimal goodwill assistance, and, through the dealer, basically said, it's an old car, parts fail. Disgusting the callousness and disregard for customer loyalty. This car is supposed to be worth approx $2,500 resale value given its mileage and condition otherwise. Now it's a heap of metal. Honda, I'll take my hard-earned money to your competitors.

- Westfield, NJ, USA

I bought my 2000 Honda Accord 4cyl. About one month ago from an owner. Drove perfect for the first week. Then one morning my brake pedal got really soft. After checking all fluids and leaks found out that my brake lines were rusted. I took my vehicle to a small shop to get my brake lines replaced. I then got a call a few days later saying I should go down and check something they noticed on my car. Turns out the passenger subframe is rusted and rotted out. Everything else underneath the car is clean. The mechanic said it's weird that only the passenger side subframe is rusted. He told me it could break apart anytime. Being that it's no longer safe to drive I have to get it replaced now. The cost is going to be about $1200 with labor. When I got home I started doing some research and found that there are thousands of other people who are having the same problem as I do on their Honda Accord. Honda should do a recall on this being it's a structural component to car and safety issue. Hopefully Honda will recall this subframe problem and reimburse me later.

- Eau Claire , WI, USA

I had a schedule oil change and the technician informed me that my subframe was rusting away. He informed me that it was not safe to drive the car. The subframe should not be in this condition as a result of normal driving condition. I do have photo's of this part.

- Bedford, OH, USA

I brought my car to a certified auto shop for routine maintenance and during the inspection the mechanic lifted the car and allowed me to take pictures of the rusted sub- frame on the passenger side. It is very clear that the air conditioning unit drains directly into sub-frame causing condensation along with a puddle of water sitting on the frame which caused a rusted hole in the sub-frame. The spout for the air conditioner should be extended to allow the water to go directly onto the ground. Due the faulty design several Honda owners will need to have their sub frame replace along with the bearing. This is a high safety risk while driving, the rusted frame could fall apart and potentially causing accident.

- Chicago, IL, USA

While bringing the vehicle to a local mechanic for brake work, the staff noticed that the right front subframe had rusted through, was broken, and was likely putting stress on the right front wheel bearing. Five days later, I returned the vehicle to the out-of-town user car sales/service business from which it was purchased and they confirmed the problem, tracing it to runoff from condensation over the air conditioning compressor directly on to the corroded area. Because of the pre-existing nature of the problem, the used car salesman is willing to pay 50% of the cost, but parts (even with the use of a rust-free used subframe) and labor total cost is $1,200.

- Houghton, MI, USA

The subframe on the passenger side of the vehicle is rusted out. The rust is below the ac drain hose. The vehicle is unsafe to operate. The dealer gave me an estimate of $1600 for the repair.

- Huntley, IL, USA

I went in for a routine oil change and the mechanic found that the subframe was rusted out on the right passenger side. From what he said and what I have been reading, this is quite common. With how serious this is, I don't understand why Honda does not recall vehicles for this issue. With the ac leaking right onto this spot and them fixing that defect after 2002, it is clearly their fault. It is potentially dangerous and an overall hassle for something that shouldn't happen, even in a 15 year old car.

- Ravenna, OH, USA

I noticed that during side wind or going over dips in highway the vehicle would wander and sway making steering quite difficult and so I had midas do a 4 wheel alignment which didn't help. The midas inspector told me that he wasn't able to guarantee the alignment, since he thought it had been wrecked and that the frame was out of kilter. However I researched online, and found that this was a typical design flaw on this year and model, where the A/C liquid discharge was right above the sub-frame and had rusted the rear cross member completely loose from the frame. Since I am on social security-disability, I am unable to pay to replace part #50200-584-A00-rr beam.

- Blaine, WA, USA

Heard a noise when breaking, turning, or going over bump. Took it to my mechanic & found that the passenger side front suspension sub frame (rear cross member) was completely rusted out. Sway bar is no longer attached to the frame. $1600 repair & he can not even find a part as he has seen so many of this same problem in last couple years. This is a very common problem due to ac dripping on the frame in that section. Driver side is solid. Honda needs to address this issue!

- Rochester, NY, USA

Took vehicle to mechanic to inspect wheel noise. Inspection resulted in replacement of ball joint. Inspection also revealed 80-85% rust-out of subframe on passenger side. No other undercarriage rust is evident and the vehicle is otherwise in excellent condition. This is the same area of the subframe which has been reported as a 'defect' due to factory placement of the A/C drain hose. This is a dangerous condition waiting to happen.

- Chagrin Falls, OH, USA

Sub-frame rusting: Upon recent inspection this vehicle was determined to have rusting through the sub-frame on the front passenger side resulting in failure to pass inspection due to being unsafe. Cost to repair and replace the part and allow the vehicle to be safe to drive will be $1500. No other sign of rust anywhere else on the undercarriage of this vehicle. Upon research into this serious and expensive defect we noted that there are significant numbers of Accord vehicle owners who have experienced the identical flaw. Additionally, our mechanic noted that the air conditioning weep hole drains directly onto this area of the vehicle contributing to the sub-frame rot.

- Liverpool, NY, USA

During an oil change, my husband notice a crack in the rear beam of the front crossmember. Upon further investigation, he identified that the subframe had rusted through from the top down where the air conditioner drain was. The replacement part cost $530 (regularly $720 from Honda) and over $400 in labor to replace it. The part was completely rusted through, broken in several places, and would have eventually caused a steering problem, according to the mechanic who replaced the part.

- Spring Lake, MI, USA

Recently bought a 2000 Honda Accord in great condition. Upon inspection noticed that there the front suspension cross member/subframe was rotted on the passenger side of the vehicle. This is only on the passenger side of the vehicle. Upon researching online have noticed that there have been similar complaints from other owners about the ac unit leaking and rotting out that part of the sub frame.

- Waterbury, VT, USA

On Nov 12, 2011 I went to get my car inspected and the would not pass it because the front rear subframe is rotted. The driver side is in perfect condition....the dealer says it will cost $1600.. I know it's old but it only has 72000 miles on it....im hearing that allot of people are having this problem...I am scared to drive it, and I don't want to put my grandchildren in the car....I don't want to sell it because I don't want anyone else to get hurt...Honda should have a recall on this issue...

- Rochester, NY, USA

I had given the car for repair due to some noise on the front passenger side wheel. When the mechanic inspected the hub due to ball bearing problem, he removed the knuckle (spindle) and found that the back portion of the cradle was rusted. Part # 50200-S84-A00 - rr beam. This has been caused due to water dripping from the air condition unit. It needs replacement as the cradle may not last long.

- Northfield, OH, USA

State inspection found passenger side of front subframe has rusted through. No other rust is visible on frame. Mechanic claims failure from rust may be due to ac drain routed onto frame at this location. Another 2000 Accord was in in the shop at the same time for repair of the same damage.

- Port Matilda, PA, USA

Excessive rust on passenger side sub frame under air conditioner drain. Driver side is ok.

- Alliance, OH, USA

My friend and I were driving to go buy some food during heavy traffic and I ended up hitting a pothole I was unable to avoid. After I hit the pothole my car started making a loud grinding sound whenever I turned the wheels. When I got home I checked underneath my car to see what was causing the awful sound and saw a piece of metal heavily rusted and sheared right through. I checked the other side to see if it was also rusted and broken but to my surprise there was barely any rust on it. I went onto the internet and found out that it was the sub-frame of my Accord that broke and that I was one of many people this exact situation has happened to. I am extremely relieved that neither my friend or I were injured when this happened, and that it did not cause an accident during heavy traffic. The fact that Honda has yet to even address this issue is truly ridiculous and the fact that they have not recalled such a major defect happening to many people is stunning.

- Brunswick, OH, USA

I would like to call to your attention abc's investigation into Honda Accord for dangerous rusted/rotted sub-frames. The center for auto safety in Washington D.C. is calling on Honda to issue a voluntary recall for one and one-half million 1998 through 2002 Honda Accord due to rust that is quietly eating away at a major structural component. The center for auto safety's executive director [xxx] said, "there's no question this is a safety concern. What you have are hundreds of thousands of owners driving the roads on a vehicle that may suffer catastrophic frame failure due to corrosion." [xxx] is calling on Honda to notify owners to have their vehicles inspected. "sooner or later, " said [xxx], "someone is going to be killed, there's going to be a big product liability lawsuit and Honda very well may wind up paying more in litigation costs then in doing what they should be doing -- which is do a recall today." Records abc news obtained from national highway transportation safety administration detail similar complaints, including sub-frames that were described as "unsafe, failed inspection and in dangerous condition." I believe that this dangerous situation needs to be brought to your attention. Honda will just try to wait out the situation and hope that it will go away if it does not get pressure from NHTSA and owners across the nation. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Brooklyn, OH, USA

Recently I heard a clunking sound coming from the front of the car. Upon inspection the mechanic said that the sub frame on the passenger's side had rusted/rotted out and that the front suspension had come loose from the sub frame. He said that the car was unsafe to drive and that I needed to have it repaired immediately. I called sunnyside Honda and spoke with the service manager regarding the problem. I said that I had looked on the internet and this was a Honda design defect and that numerous individuals had reported the same problem. I asked if Honda was willing to do anything to help with the repair because it was a design defect and that I had been a loyal Honda customer for years. The service manager contacted Honda district service manager who replied that Honda was not willing to cover any of the $2,000 cost of replacing the sub frame. I then followed up with american Honda motor co., Inc.'s main customer service department in California. I spoke with [xxx] and she put me on hold for a long time. When she returned she said that the district service manager had said Honda was not going to do anything to help so the main customer service people were not able to do anything to help. A short time ago my grandson, a student at bowling green state university, purchased a 1998 Honda Accord for $4000. Upon recent inspection of that car the sub frame has rusted/rotted out the same as my car and many other Honda Accord. I believe that Honda should be responsible for recalling and repairing these unsafe automobiles before someone is injured or killed as a result of their design defect and that they will continue to be unwilling to do so as long as individuals have no power to make them take responsibility. I am asking that you make it a priority to investigate and issue a recall of all these automobiles with Honda's design defect. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Brooklyn, OH, USA