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.
8.2
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,490
Average Mileage:
108,650 miles
Total Complaints:
126 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
repaint entire car (66 reports)
not sure (33 reports)
Honda should fix/repaint or reimburse owners for lost value (15 reports)
to keep me as a honda owner i want re-embursement (5 reports)
The paint on my honda accord 1998 was beginning to change, and it looked really awful. I had to pay to get it painted. I call the honda dealers and they said there was nothing that they could do.
My 1998 Honda Accord has the same problem with the paint. It started on the trunk and has spread up to the roof of the car. Now today, I noticed on the center of the hood, the white spots starting to form. It has 237,000 miles on it and it is in exceptional condition mechanically, it just looks bad thanks to Honda and they cheap clear coat.
My car is black and its beginning to really look ugly. I do not understand why there isn't a recall to fix this problem. This is my first time on this website and I did not know so many people were having the same problem. Maybe if we complain enough someone will listen to us and fix the problem with a recall.
Our 1998 Honda Accord V6, dark green, has the same exact problem with the paint and clear coat especially on the hood and the top of the car, it looks horrific! It is VERY embarrassing to drive around. And I owned a car older than this one and never had an issue with the paint. In fact it looked brand new! Can't we all get in on a class action suit against Honda for not stepping up to the plate on this issue? They need to paint our cars, period... and it shouldn't cost us a thing!!!!!!
Peeling clear coat on roof (severe) & trunk (mild). The hood got repainted a few yrs back after a minor collision, so that paint is good. The peeling roof was an embarrassment in my driveway! I wasn't ready to sell the car, so decided to get the roof painted. Being a 12 yr old car, I wasn't willing to invest much in it, so got the roof painted at Maaco for about $300. They did a fair job, and it does look MUCH better, however I probably wouldn't use them for a newer car.
Just wanted to add my car to the others with the same problem. Looks like Honda used some bad clear coat for this model year. Mine's black. Clear coat is mostly gone from roof, trunk, and hood. Starting to go on top side of sides and fenders.
Looks like crap. Not sure the best way to fix. Since the car has 207K miles on it now, I'd probably try to have someone take the paint down to the black (if there's enough black paint left to do this) and respray clear coat.
There is a issue with the dark paint. I want my car fixed. I have taken extreme car of my car. I issued a complaint to Honda and they said my issue was not common and sort of filed it under the age of the vehicle. They even tried to take to me about trading the car in for a current model.
I have a 1998 Honda Accord V6. It is dark purple in color. We purchased this car 6 years ago and about 6 mo ago the clear coat started to peel away on the roof and around the edge of the trunk. Since mine started doing this I now notice Honda Accords around the same year EVERWHERE that are doing this! Some are much worse than others. We took our car in to a body shop for an estamate to see how much it would cost to have it repaired. The paint guy told us that in '98 Honda started using a clear coat with a different base and since then this has been a major problem they see time and time again. After speaking to him. I then took the time to write Honda a letter concern this probelm. I told them how much we love our Honda's, that this is my second Honda I have personally owned, that i come from a family who drives Honda's and planned to give this Honda to my daughter in 3 yrs and then personally purchase a new Honda. However, I would not feel comfortable purchasing a new Honda if this was going to be the out come of the paint job on Honda's. I figured such a reputable company would not want cars looking this bad driving around as advertisment for their company.
5 days later i recieved a call from a RUDE customer service rep. and was told becasue there is no recall--they can not help me! In my letter I said I can not stand behind a company that will not stand behind their product and their customers. She said that is my opinion. I told her to "Google" Honda Accord Paint Problems and you will see that it is NOT just MY opinion but the opinion of almost every Honda Acccord owner in or around that year of Accord. Needless to say, I will not be purchasing another Honda made vehicle. I know there is not a recall on them but maybe there SHOULD BE!!!!!
Bought this car brand new...in June 1998, loved the color, Black Currant. Car was always parked inside a garage and hand washed. During 2008 started to notice the color looked different on the roof...now there are several huge white blotches where the clear coat is gone and the color has also faded. Looks horrible. The car is 11 years old...has 122,000 miles on it. Noticed a car just like mine (same color, year, model) yesterday in a parking lot and the paint on the roof looked exactly like mine. Why doesn't Honda fix the problem?
Have enjoyed the car except for the peeling of the clear-coat on my Emerald Green car. It not only makes the outside a mixture of dull vs. the metallic, but as it is peeling, it turns grey, so it makes my car look old. It doesn't bother me so much but it bothers my family when they ride in it. I would have gotten a different color if I had know I was going to face this.
The clear coat peels and there are "sun burn" like areas on roof and hood. When it rains the water gets under the clear coat, makes it worse, and you can move it around.
this sucks--- honda knows the problem, all dark cars late 90s paint is crap. All the money you guys got - step up to the plate and fix the problem!!! paint all the cars that are peeling. I got a 99 cobra mustang and ford recalled and fixed all of them because of HORSEPOWER issues. hear that honda??? What good is a good running car if it looks like crap???? top of hood-all over. rear deck-rear fender- peeling all over straight to bare metal. you guys know the problem solve it. or I will never buy another honda!!!! signed PISSED OFF@#$%$#%%
I was starting to think that I was doing something wrong in the way I wash and care for the car's exterior, but now I'm glad to find that it's not just me. Honda should own up and admit this is a qual/rel issue on their end and make amends with us, their customers.
I bought my 1998 Honda Accord LX new. Two years ago, I noticed clear--coat peeling on the roof. It is steadily getting worse. Now it is so bad as if there were snow on my roof all year around. After reading so many complaints, I believe this IS a defect that Honda must address. A class action is definitely needed.
unbelievable that almost every dark colored '98 Accord has the same problem and Honda won't help out. Same problem with various dark colors, my car is black. If anyone can give me a number to call I'll do it. If everyone calls the same number to complain, maybe they'll get the hint. Love the car though.
Like most people, I take care of my car. It has an oil change every 3,000 miles, washed once a week, and polished every 4 months. In December I noticed that the clear coat on the roof was starting to for better words, 'dissolve'. I went to my Honda dealer and was told the problem was from the car being left out. Funny thing, ever since I have owner this vehicle, it has been garaged every night. They said that due to the age of the car it was my problem. Well i started looking around my town and have noticed no less than 50 Honda's with the same exact problem. I am seriously considering a class action lawsuit as this is a manufacture defect and a problem Honda needs to address. I contacted a local auto-body shop and they stated that this is the most common problem with Honda's. Anyone know a GOOD class action Attorney?
I also have a dark green 1998 Accord. After reading all of the complaints here, I called American Honda Motor Company. They said that it was not a known issue and just because I read other complaints on the internet didn't make it an issue. So I suggest that everybody call them, 1-800-999-1009, and lets make it a known issue!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The paint on my honda accord 1998 was beginning to change, and it looked really awful. I had to pay to get it painted. I call the honda dealers and they said there was nothing that they could do.
- Gracie W., Hephzibah, GA, US