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:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 1
Average Mileage:
31,685 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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1998 Honda Accord Owner Comments

problem #12

Oct 132017

Accord

  • miles

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

My Honda was sold to me with no rear seat belts, and the horn when hooked up defaults the brake lights.

- Lake Worth, FL, USA

problem #11

Oct 102017

Accord

  • miles
The front seat belts don't lock into buckle. The rear seat belts have no buckle's. driver steering wheel air bag is compromised.

- Lake Worth, FL, USA

problem #10

Jan 012018

Accord

  • miles
The passenger front doesn't lock and can be pulled out by hand after in buckle. Both rear seat belts doesn't have any buckle's to attach to. The steering wheel air bag could be compromised.

- Lake Worth, FL, USA

problem #9

Dec 092013

Accord

  • 179,649 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 the driver's seat belt failed to latch. The vehicle was not taken for inspection or diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 179,649.

- Atlantic Beach, FL, USA

problem #8

Feb 152007

Accord

  • 132,000 miles
I have a 1998 Honda Accord. The SRS light has been on for some time, and I did not know about the issues of them with the 98-2002 Accord until just now. Many people have filed complaints about this issue because Honda refuses to correct the issue. It makes driving he vehicle dangerous because you no longer have your secondary backup system to help keep you safe in a accident. And from what I am understanding it also minimizes the effectiveness of the seat belt as well. If the NHTSA group is aware of this and has not forced Honda to do recall work on this matter than shame on you. We are putting our lives in your hands to make these companies keep their safety track record. My Accord has nearly 139K miles and has always been maintained well. I feel as if I have had a injustice done to me, and now I have to worry about when or if I get in a accident whether or not my air bag will work, and according to others with he same problem it doesn't.

- Goodrich, ND, USA

problem #7

Oct 052006

Accord 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,574 miles
: the contact stated while accelerating, the vehicle jerked. While taking the vehicle in for an oil change the dealer determined the automatic transmission assembly needed to be replaced. The seat belt was slow to retract and the rear brakes were service. Updated 11/30/06.

- Albany, NY, USA

problem #6

Oct 072005

Accord

  • miles

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

White house follow-up to previous communication of 12/22/05 death of mother in car accident involving airbags and safety belts possible defective. The driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with a fire hydrant, training wall and a telephone pole. The driver suffered massive head injuries which resulted in death. The frontal air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt shoulder straps failed to restrain the driver from being thrown forwards into the vehicle's steering wheel.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #5

Oct 072005

Accord

  • miles
Ltr emailed re defective air bags and safety belt shoulder belt in a 1998 Honda Accord, request a defect investigation for possible recall because mom was killed in a car accident on 10-07-05. The seat belt failed to properly restrain the consumer during the accident which result in her head impacting the steering wheel. The air bags deployed during the first impact but had deflated by the time the final impact occurred. These failures resulted in fatal head injuries.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #4

Oct 122003

(reported on)

Accord 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Size of seat belts make it complicated to wear. The consumer stated the rear seat belts were too small and the front seat belts cut around her neck.

- Alameda , CA, USA

problem #3

Sep 172000

Accord

  • miles
My vehicle was hit directly from behind at high impact. At impact, my driver's seat went to the reclining position. After the impact, it was noted that the manual seat back adjustment lever had been pulled completely off of the seat, apparently due to entanglement with the seat belt during the impact.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #2

Aug 081998

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
All rear seat belts tighten up for no reason, choking the occupants. The more the occupant moves the tighter the belt gets. Dealer was notified about the problem, and problem has not been corrected. Dealership said replacing seat belt will not correct problem, redesigned seat belt is needed.

- Methuen, MA, USA

problem #1

Apr 141998

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When coming to a stop, at anytime, the seat belts would tighten up. When vehicle is moving, seat belts would loosen up. Happens everytime. Took to dealer & mechanic & owner went for test drive & it happened. Mechanic said nothing can be done.

- West Nyack, NY, USA

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