CarComplaints.com Notes: The 1999 Honda Accord suffers from widespread transmission failure, subframe rust, engine shuts off while driving, & peeling paint. 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.
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.
Engine stalling while driving in the 1999 Accord is typically caused by a defective ignition switch -- inexpensive to repair (under $200) but dangerous.
Peeling paint has also been an issue for these Accords. Most of the complaints are with darker paint colors -- especially green & blue.
1999 Honda Accord Stalls While Driving - It just cuts out without warning. Doesn't matter if you are going fast or slow or if engine is hot or cold. No warning light ever comes on. - Seems to be a faulty design of the ignition switch. - Need to replace immobilizer unit of ignition.
Let me preface this complaint with an update. I received a call yesterday from an investigator at NHTSA regarding my formal complaint. Apparently the letter to my congressman had its intended effect. The investigator had done some research, including reading complaints on this website, and had telephoned American Honda's legal department about my problem. They speculated that my problem was related to the existing recall on defective ignition switches and endeavored to determine if my ignition switch had ever been replaced. They said their research indicated that my ignition had not been replaced under recall as I had remembered, so they promised the NHTSA investigator that they would call me to make arrangements for recall-replacement of my ignition switch. I still believed that my ignition had already been replaced, and I also knew from reading complaints on carcomplaints.com that replacement of the ignition switch generally does not solve this problem, but I was thankful that some progress was being made in having the complaint investigated. However, things have not gone in a positive direction. Please see my previous entries for background, and see my subsequent entries for updates regarding American Honda's continued stonewalling on this issue.
One other update: A nice fellow named Chad who was having "our problem" sent me an email that he had replaced his gas cap with a $5 part from Wal-Mart and that his engine had stopped dying. Apparently there are vacuum-lock issues with the Honda gas cap, one of which causes the CHK ENG light to come on and is described in your owners manual. Upon receiving Chad's email, I immediately replaced my gas cap, but the car started dying again two days later as described below:
I was travelling 65 mph on the freeway when the engine disengaged with a jolt and the system immobilizer light came on (I describe this light in previous entries and shall henceforth refer to it as the "key light", which is more descriptive). The engine was still running but at 0 RPMS. I shifted into neutral and back to drive, which had no effect on the problem. I shifted into neutral again and turned the key. The starter began to grind because the engine was still running, but the engine re-engaged and I continued on my merry way. This was the first time the engine seemed to gear-down with a jolt when the condition occurred. On previous occasions when I lost power, it was as if I just started coasting and there was no jolt. I fear the symptoms associated with this problem are getting worse. My brother's Honda's Odyssey van was having this same problem, and his engine just burned up. He had no choice but to buy a new car (NOT a Honda).
I have had this car since '03.Kept up on its maintenance,never had a problem.Until the tranny went out about three years ago.From that date on, Its been just having problems.From sensors to the catalytic converter.Now this with the stalling,all the electrical shuts off. I have read all the complaints,amazed how many people have the same problem with these cars.Going to try out the igntion switch,if that fixes the problem.NEXT DAY ITS 4SALE!!!!! No more Honda's for me!
This time I was turning left across traffic on an extremely busy 4-lane highway when the engine shut down. I coasted across the intersection, barely avoiding being broadsided by oncoming traffic. This is precisely the type of incident I have feared since the car started this bizarre behavior in April. After entering the side street, I was able to shift into neutral and restart the engine. Please see my numerous other accounts of this ongoing problem.
This time I was decelerating at a stoplight when the engine shut down. The light turned green and I was almost rear-ended because the car behind me sped up but I could not. As quickly as I could, I shifted into neutral and restarted the vehicle. Please see my numerous other accounts of this ongoing problem.
This time I was pulling out of a parking lot across two lanes of traffic when the engine shut down. If there had been more traffic, I could have easily been broadsided. This is a potentially dangerous problem. I still cannot believe that American Honda is not concerned about this issue. Please see my numerous other accounts of this ongoing problem.
- Ken W.,
Louisville, TN, US
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This time I was decelerating on the freeway off-ramp when the engine shut down. I shifted into neutral while coasting and restarted the engine. Please see my numerous other accounts of this ongoing problem.
This time I was on a surface street travelling at 45 mph when the engine shut down. Engine was restarted in neutral while coasting and travel resumed. See my numerous other accounts of the same problem.
This time the engine died 200' after pulling out of my driveway in a curve going downhill. That's a perfect place to have no power steering and limited braking. See my multitude of other occurrences.
This time I was traveling on a surface street at 40 mph when the engine shut down. I shifted into neutral and restarted the engine.
UPDATE: I mentioned previously that I filed a formal complaint with NHTSA about this problem, but that I had never heard from an investigator. As a result, I wrote my congressman asking him to contact NHTSA on my behalf. He must have done so, because today I received a call from an NHTSA investigator. I missed the call, so I don't know what they plan to do for us. I will provide an update after I speak to them tomorrow. This may be an effective way to draw attention to this problem, if anyone else would like to try it.
This time I was stopped at a traffic light when the engine shut down. I tried to restart the engine, which immediately died again. On my second attempt, I had to rev the engine to keep it running until the light changed. Please see my numerous other accounts of this ongoing problem.
This time I was braking to stop at a traffic light on a busy city street at lunch hour when the engine shut down. I was able to shift into neutral and restart the vehicle without incident. Please see my numerous other accounts of this ongoing problem.
I had just left the office and had entered a hairpin s-curve on the route home when the engine shut down. I lost power steering and had difficulty negotiating my way out of danger. Because I had to steer, it was not possible to shift into neutral to restart the vehicle until I got back on the straightaway. I could have easily driven off the road or into oncoming traffic. Or, as the car slowed down, I could easily have been rear-ended. I have been lucky so far. Let's hope the luck holds until Honda sees fit to identify and rectify this problem. See my numerous other accounts of the same problem.
The engine had died two miles earlier on the same trip but had restarted so I could continue my trip. By now I was going 45 mph on a surface street when the engine shut down without warning as usual. I shifted into neutral and restarted the vehicle. See my numerous other accounts of the same problem.
I was traveling slowly up the washed-out driveway of a rural cell tower, behind a locked gate and miles from anywhere or anyone when the engine shut down. Had I not been able to restart the car, I would have been in quite a predicament. My profession requires use of a reliable vehicle, which this Accord is proving not to be. Since American Honda denies the problem and their service departments don't know how to fix it, it seems the only solution is to buy another vehicle. I think not. That is not a reasonable solution. Honda has sold us what they claim to be a highly reliable vehicle. Those of us with this complaint must find a way to force Honda to identify and repair the problem. Please file a complaint with NHTSA. There's a link on this web site, or you can search on NHTSA and their web site will come up. If you don't hear from them in a timely manner, write your congressman asking him/her to contact NHTSA on your behalf. I expect if enough of us do that, it will eventually generate the enthusiasm we need to get this problem resolved.
This time I was traveling at 40 mph on a surface street when the immobilizer system light came on and the engine disengaged. I shifted into neutral and restarted the engine while coasting. I should mention this each time, but the AC was off if anyone is curious.
I mentioned previously that I had filed a formal complaint with NHTSA on 6/8/09. They immediately acknowledged my complaint but by 6/24/09 they I still had not been otherwise contacted. So, as promised, I wrote my congressman asking him to contact NHTSA on behalf of other NHTSA complainants, and any other Honda owner who has been victim of this problem. I will keep you posted.
In the meantime, please see my numerous other accounts of this ongoing problem.
when i am driving does not matter what speed, first all the lights come on like it is going to shut down, then usually in about 5 min it completely dies and will not start for 15-20 min. i have found no one that is able to fix it, because they say unless it does it infront of them they do not know. i want to know why these machanic can let me drive around with this horrible problem and not be able to find out what is wrong
I had the same problem with the honda accord '99 car. I just went 2 miles & the car went off at 40 mph. I went to Honda Service Station & they diagnosed & said that it has an ignition problem. I fixed it & the problem continues. It is really very bad that no one is able to figure out the problem (not even the Honda people). I think there is some problem with the relay as one of the mechanic told that if the engine gets very hot, then close the car & open the front shutter & get the engine cold air. Start it after some time & it may work. So i want to know from u guys - has any one replaced the relay of the engine and had the same problem?
Let others know about this.
If any one has got a fix then please let others know about this.
I went shopping over the weekend and took my ailing Honda. I don't have a choice as it's the only car I have. I had driven about 25 miles with two brief stopovers and surprisingly the car hadn't died. As I suspected, though, it was too good to be true. Sure enough the car died when I pulled onto the off-ramp about a mile from my house. I had to stop for another car at the end of the off-ramp, by which time I had shifted into neutral and restarted the engine. Please see my multitude of other complaints. By the way, I sent American Honda 29 pages which summarize various formal and informal complaints I found on the internet about this problem. So don't let them tell you they are not aware of the problem if you contact them.
Update from Jul 8, 2009: I also filed a formal complaint with NHTSA on 6/8. If I don't hear from them soon, I will also write my congressman.
This time I was driving about 45 mph on a surface street when the immobilizer system light came on, followed by the engine dying and several other lights flashing. I put it in neutral and restarted the engine while coasting. Please see my multitude of previous complaints.
This time I had driven about a mile from home when the engine died suddenly without warning while traveling 20 mph on a surface street. The AC was off. I put it in neutral and restarted the engine while coasting. Please see my multitude of previous complaints.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Let me preface this complaint with an update. I received a call yesterday from an investigator at NHTSA regarding my formal complaint. Apparently the letter to my congressman had its intended effect. The investigator had done some research, including reading complaints on this website, and had telephoned American Honda's legal department about my problem. They speculated that my problem was related to the existing recall on defective ignition switches and endeavored to determine if my ignition switch had ever been replaced. They said their research indicated that my ignition had not been replaced under recall as I had remembered, so they promised the NHTSA investigator that they would call me to make arrangements for recall-replacement of my ignition switch. I still believed that my ignition had already been replaced, and I also knew from reading complaints on carcomplaints.com that replacement of the ignition switch generally does not solve this problem, but I was thankful that some progress was being made in having the complaint investigated. However, things have not gone in a positive direction. Please see my previous entries for background, and see my subsequent entries for updates regarding American Honda's continued stonewalling on this issue.
One other update: A nice fellow named Chad who was having "our problem" sent me an email that he had replaced his gas cap with a $5 part from Wal-Mart and that his engine had stopped dying. Apparently there are vacuum-lock issues with the Honda gas cap, one of which causes the CHK ENG light to come on and is described in your owners manual. Upon receiving Chad's email, I immediately replaced my gas cap, but the car started dying again two days later as described below:
I was travelling 65 mph on the freeway when the engine disengaged with a jolt and the system immobilizer light came on (I describe this light in previous entries and shall henceforth refer to it as the "key light", which is more descriptive). The engine was still running but at 0 RPMS. I shifted into neutral and back to drive, which had no effect on the problem. I shifted into neutral again and turned the key. The starter began to grind because the engine was still running, but the engine re-engaged and I continued on my merry way. This was the first time the engine seemed to gear-down with a jolt when the condition occurred. On previous occasions when I lost power, it was as if I just started coasting and there was no jolt. I fear the symptoms associated with this problem are getting worse. My brother's Honda's Odyssey van was having this same problem, and his engine just burned up. He had no choice but to buy a new car (NOT a Honda).
- Ken W., Louisville, TN, US