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:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
51,660 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 transmission problems

transmission problem

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1998 Honda Accord Owner Comments (Page 10 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #24

Oct 201999

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Transmission is chronically slow to downshift. Seems to hunt for gears and downshift indecisively. Can make vehicle run as if it surges. Once in a gear, especially 3rd or 4th, still seems to hunt about or surge within that gear. Dealer visit today (ralph schomp in littleton, co - no complaints there) indicates all is well, that's the way it runs. I think an updated computer chip could cure all this.

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #23

Feb 011999

(reported on)

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission on leaking.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #22

Sep 191999

(reported on)

Accord

  • miles
Engine wants to lurch forward while at stops--with brake depressed, then hesitates when attempting to accelearate. Have taken to dealership and discussed two times, each time dealership can't replicate problem. I am very concerned of the potential "accident" waiting to happen. After reading the consumer complaints, and noticing accidents with this issue causes me greater concern. What is the next step to getting this fixed?

- Lake Forest, CA, USA

problem #21

Sep 081999

(reported on)

Accord

  • miles

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

Transmission trouble.

- Pauma Valley, CA, USA

problem #20

Jun 011998

Accord

  • miles
Transmission.

- San Pedro, CA, USA

problem #19

Feb 011999

(reported on)

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Forward gear slipping.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #18

Jun 251999

(reported on)

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Design of new transmission causes vehicle to roll backward on incline if brake is not firmly depressed. Nlm

- Greenfield, MA, USA

problem #17

Sep 011998

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Has been repaired 6 times, failed again. No safety defect mentione din the summary.

- Nixa, MO, USA

problem #16

Feb 011999

(reported on)

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission failure.

- Redlands, CA, USA

problem #15

Mar 141999

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Possible parking pawl failure, loud clanging noise in front engine compartment as if metal component broke. In moving shifter from drive to reverse loud transmission gear noise is evident. From reverse to drive noise is not as loud. When shifter is moved to park there seems to be more movement in vehicle as transmission gear locks into parking gear. This is not normal wear on transmission, as dealer states.

- Farmers Branch, TX, USA

problem #14

Feb 221999

Accord

  • miles

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

Consumer has been experiencing engine stalls and transmission hunting for gears

- Hendersonville, TN, USA

problem #13

Feb 091999

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Since 1/99, car will not start sporadically, dealership and regional offfice contacted. Keys and immobilizer replaced. Today, car shut off in third gear. Had to come to full stop and start up again. Dealership contacted again.

- Chester, NY, USA

problem #12

Jan 211999

(reported on)

Accord

  • miles
Automatic transmission slow to react to road conditions. Transmission reverts to low gear after braking on slippery roads causing several seconds of excessive engine braking making the car difficult to control until the transmission up shifts to the proper gear for road speed

- Latham, NY, USA

problem #11

Nov 121998

Accord

  • miles
This car is a lemon. I have had so many problems I can not believe it. The sunroof has been replace 3 times, the headliner 2 times. The fuel gauge sticks at times, even after filling the tank it only shows it's half full. The egr valve has been replaced once, and it now is bad again. I burn 93 octane gas, supposedly the cleanest, but my dealer tells me it's from dirty gas. The fan for the climate control chirps like a bird.

- Pearl, MS, USA

problem #10

Nov 231998

Accord

  • miles
Automatic transmission lunges from gear to gear when slowing down and speeding up. It appears the computer controling the transmission is not sure what gear it should be in.

- Vine Grove, KY, USA

problem #9

Mar 251998

(reported on)

Accord

  • miles
Vehicle recalled on automatic transmission parking mechanism, failed prior to recall notice.

- Rosedale, NY, USA

problem #8

Oct 011998

Accord

  • miles
After approximately 2 weeks of owning my car I began to hear a whinning sound when I would take my foot of of the gas. This noise got progressively louder. I would like to know if other consumers have reported any problems with there new car and the tranmission and if so will there be a recall. Honda was very good about fixing my car and I have no problems with the service but I am concerned about just purchasing a car and having something major like this occur

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #7

Sep 151998

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Having transmission replaced with aluminum due to other transmission made of plaster. Aluminum transmission parts not available until February. Vehicle would shutter & squeak.

- Richardson, TX, USA

problem #6

Oct 231998

(reported on)

Accord

  • miles
At approx. 6000 miles the transmission began to hunt for the correct gear. At speeds above 45mph it feels like the engine has a bad miss. This has been reported to the dealer three times, on the last visit we were told that Honda factory techs are aware of the problem and have removed other transmissions and are working on it. American Honda motor co, Inc. And the Florida office of the attorney general have been notified.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #5

Apr 151998

(reported on)

Accord

  • miles
Transmission recall work not completed due to lack of parts.

- South Farm, NY, USA

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