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.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
116,614 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Honda Accord electrical problems

electrical problem

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1998 Honda Accord Owner Comments (Page 3 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #58

May 032013

Accord

  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The car engine would turn off with out warning intermittently. The problem was increasing in frequency, so we were in the process of taking it to the Honda dealer when the engine suddenly turned off on the interstate. We were able to coast to a stop and then we called a towing company for fear it would happen again. Thankfully, no one was injured. We bought the car used, but we were informed by the Honda dealer that this particular car had undergone the recall repair for the faulty ignition switch in 2002.

- Kingsport, TN, USA

problem #57

Dec 042012

Accord 6-cyl

  • 222,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle had been previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 03V423000 (electrical system). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 222,000 and the current mileage was 222,759.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

problem #56

Jul 182012

Accord 4-cyl

  • 188,000 miles
This has happened several times over the past year, and just yesterday it happened 3 times over a ten mile range. My car stalls in middle of driving, it doesnt matter what speed I am traveling. It has happened at 55 miles per hour while driving on the freeway. My car stalls, the steering wheel locks up, and I have to coast without the ability to steer onto the side of whatever road I am traveling on. Then I have to try to start the car, sometimes this can take up to 5 minutes. I have had it looked at by a Honda dealership and a personal mechanic and both tell me that I need a new ignition switch. There is a recall on the ignition switch for 1998 Honda Accord, but my VIN number is not included in the range, so I am not included in the recall. I have to pay out of pocket to fix a faulty ignition switch before my own car kills me, when it is obviously something that was wrong with the vehicle from the get go. I have a 1998 Honda that is behaving as the cars you describe for this limited recall. Fix it please!

- Springfield, OR, USA

problem #55

Nov 202012

Accord

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1998 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the vehicle had a defective ignition switch. The contact noticed a NHTSA campaign I.D. 03V423000 (electrical system: Ignition: Switch). The contact called the manufacturer regarding the recall. The manufacturer stated the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 140,000.

- Normal, IL, USA

problem #54

Aug 272012

Accord 6-cyl

  • 138,000 miles
Car suddenly shuts off on its own while driving; all electrical goes off except for check engine light, ABS light, or none at all. Happened 3 or 4 times, sometimes at freeway speed, car restarted from neutral a few minutes later. Taken to Honda dealer & diagnosed with a faulty transmission module, replaced for $450. Yet the problem just recurred not long after that repair. This creates a serious road hazard & potential for crash & serious injury, as suddenly & without warning, the vehicle shuts down & cannot be controlled with any acceleration, power steering or normal braking. This vehicle has always been maintained meticulously, since new, per recommended schedule with Honda dealerships. Browsing the internet shows this to be an unusually common, serious & difficult to diagnose issue with Honda & Acura from ~1997-2002.

- Woodridge, IL, USA

problem #53

May 112011

Accord

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving 15 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that every light on the instrument panel illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to a complete stop. Upon restart, the vehicle operated as normal. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times. The contact was taken to the dealer for an inspection and they stated that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that there was nothing to be done under a recall because the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 140,000.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #52

Feb 172011

Accord 4-cyl

  • 134,043 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The engine fails while driving for no apparent reason. The car is running fine, then at different speeds, the engine fails. All braking and power functions fail. This occurs at different times and dates. There does not seen to be any reason for it. The engine runs fine when it is re-started.

- Peachtree City, GA, USA

problem #51

Dec 302007

Accord

  • 45,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the horn was inoperable. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Deerfield, IL, USA

problem #50

Nov 072011

Accord

  • 176,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Honda Accord ex. The contact was driving 45-55 mph when the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and they confirmed that the recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 02V120000 (electrical system:ignition:switch) applied to the vehicle but the recall had since expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 176,000 and the current mileage was 176,100.

- Jacksonville, NC, USA

problem #49

Oct 032011

Accord 4-cyl

  • 139,750 miles
My car underwent the ignition switch interlock recall in 2002. But this ignition switch was faulty and again in 2011, the switch failed. My car stalled a few times on the freeway and I was in great danger of being in a accident. The system was while driving the car, it would immediately cut off the engine and if I put it back in neutral and restart it would start fine. Honda knew about the faulty switch replaced and now is recommending a new and improved version at the owners cost. I had to tow the car at my expense to a nearby mechanic and spend my money to fix this issue instead of Honda fixing the faulty component.

- Union City, CA, USA

problem #48

Sep 172011

Accord 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When I stop or slow down the car shuts off. I have no steering and no brakes and no hazard lights. Car shuts down while driving.

- Havana, FL, USA

problem #47

Jun 232011

Accord

  • 63,050 miles
While braking, car just died (including dashboard electric) and then difficult to restart. After car started no further incident for a few days. Next, while travelling on highway ~50mph at night, car unexpectedly died (no braking involved) and most, not all electric died (emergency flashers worked). No "check engine light" ever came on, before dashboard blanked out. Ignition switch replaced in 2002 with national recall. Mechanic at a loss. Honda headquarters initially denied a problem existed. Car again stalled a few times while braking to slow down or come to a stop, but assumed it might be "bad gas". evening of 8/3/2011 travelling at ~50mph, car lost all electric 3 times (dashboard blanked out, but headlights worked), but immediately came back on (as though it "blinked off"), without having to restart it. After parking car, took key out of ignition- it was "burning hot". this time when I called Honda headquarters they said it "might" be part of a "second recall", but car had to be checked by Honda dealer service staff. If it was the ignition switch, it would be replaced free. It was explained to me that this was not part of a nationwide recall. Result- ignition switch was bad and was replaced free. I was lucky I wasn't killed or seriously injured in a bad crash. Please order a nationwide recall- it could save a life or lives.

- Manhasset Hills, NY, USA

problem #46

Jun 082011

Accord 4-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
1998 Honda Accord would stall without warning while running. The failure happened at least two or three times a week for a 2 month period. Brought the car to two mechanics who weren't sure what the problem was. Located information online about a recall in 2002 for the ignition switch. Car was fix during for the recall. Brought car to the dealer and discovered it was the ignition switch again! cost $100 to replace the second time.

- 02351, MA, USA

problem #45

Apr 012011

Accord

  • 86,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Honda Accord. The vehicle stalled while the contact was driving approximately 15 mph. The failure was experienced numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who performed a diagnostic that located the failure at the ignition switch. The manufacturer advised the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 02V120000 (electrical system: Ignition: Switch) and would not assist with the repair costs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 86,000 and the current mileage was 88,700.

- Victorville, CA, USA

problem #44

Apr 112011

Accord

  • 142,700 miles
Vehicle stopped running due to what dealer said is faulty ignition switch. Car finally restarted and was driven home. Ignition switch had been replaced in 2002 under recall #02V12000. Dealer said this repair not covered by recall as part had already been replaced. Mechanic reports faulty switch is brown (burned?). dealer replaced switch with new one but is same part that failed.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #43

Nov 012010

Accord

  • 145,000 miles
On several occasions my car would not start. This would happen out of nowhere, sometimes it would start up after a few minutes and sometimes I would have to come back and get it. On one occasion the vehicle died while I was driving down the road. Shortly after that I took it to a Honda dealership to have it repaired. According to the dealership the ignition switch was the cause of the problem. I paid $233.27 for parts and labor. They also charged me to repair a few other things, in total I spent around $400. Since then my brother purchased a 1999 Honda Accord and they started having the same problems. He found out that his car was part of a recall for the ignition switch and he took his car to the same dealership and they fixed it for free. I looked online and it seems that Honda Accord from 1997-2002 all have this common problem with the ignition switch failing. I believe my car should be included in the recall. And I believe I should be reimbursed for my expense in repairing the ignition switch.

- Sulphur Springs, TX, USA

problem #42

Jun 132010

Accord

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the ignition switch could degrade due to the high electrical current passing through the switch when the vehicle was started (this information given per recall 02V120000-electrical system: Ignition: Switch). The contact was informed that due to the age of the recall, it was closed. The failure mileage was 140,000.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #41

Jun 012009

Accord

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure was experienced numerous times. The previous owner took the vehicle to the dealer for recall 02V120000 (electrical system: Ignition: Switch) but the failure was not corrected and the vehicle continued to stall. The contact did not take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnosis. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 140,000 and the current mileage was 155,000.

- San Pablo , CA, USA

problem #40

Sep 192010

Accord

  • 225,500 miles
I own a 1998 Honda Accord and I am experiencing issues where my car completely cuts off while driving. Just recently, this past Sunday to be exact, my car cut off 3 times in traffic while I was driving and I was almost rear ended by another vehicle. When my car shuts off, I lose all power and my dash board goes black (not 1 light is lit). I have to find a way to get out off traffic safely, so I can place my car in park and restart it. My car restarts with no problems but my car also dies/cuts off without any warning. I contacted Honda today and was told that my car was not part of the ignition switch recall #02-031 but they said that it was part of the ignition switch interlock recall#03-088. I took my car to a repair shop and was told that the reason my car is cutting off while driving is because of a faulty ignition switch. I have not corrected the problem on my own because I feel that my car should be included in recall#02-031 and Honda should absorb the cost.if all else fails I will have to pay for the repairs myself, to avoid being seriously hurt or injuring someone else. I feel unsafe driving my car because I am constant worrying about "will my car cut off in traffic and cause a serious accident". I have no choice but to drive it at this point because it is my only means of transportation. Please take this complaint into serious consideration because lives are being endangered. Thank you

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #39

Feb 232010

Accord

  • 112,086 miles
While driving, the engine got shut, steering got completely locked (can't do any left-right). The key light got on. All other lights were off. Luckily there was no car behind my car. Else I would have met severe accident. I stopped the car, restarted it, and reached home safely. I am scared now to drive anymore.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

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