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.
On Dec 1st 2008 morning, wife attempted to start the car. On first attempt acted like it wanted to start but didn't. On second attempt a minute later she said engine went er er..er and did not start. On the third attempt five minutes later turned key engine started normally, as if there never was a problem.
On Dec 11th 2008 afternoon, I drove car less than 5 miles, stopped at a light, then turned left, car engine stalled, coasted to safe area. Put the car in park and it started back up as normal. No more problems.
On Dec 12th 2008. I cleaned the battery post of a 2 1/2 year old battery.
On Dec 13th 2008 afternoon, I drove car approximately 15 miles, where it sat for over an hour. After seven miles on the return trip, traveling at 50 mph the car engine stalled in traffic. I managed to safely coast and make the next right turn. I turned the key and the engine engaged as if it hadn't stalled to begin with.
Currently we are skitish about using the Honda until we are able to correct the problem to our satisfaction. We are currently driving another vehicle. Putting the Honda on the road would be an accident waiting to happen. For drivers who tail gate, I sure hope you don't run up on a car that just stalls in front of you. There is no warning it just happens. No telling how many vehicles there are on the road with similar stalling problems.
I have been searching the internet for possible fixes. Now I am looking for input from drivers whose vehicle have a similar problem. Preferably from those who have had the problem corrected with no reoccurring.
Update from Jul 28, 2009: I got my car back from Coggin Honda on Atlantic in Jacksonville Fl on 18 Dec 2008. I have not had any problems since. I had the following work done at a total cost of 496.32, I should be receiving 136.00 back as a good faith gesture since the car is no longer under warranty. There is an oil change 24.00 included in the total price.
The dealership installed (35130-S84-A01) steering switch (harness cable assembly) parts 76.71 and labor 195.88.
I also had (32410-S84-A00) starter cable assembly installed parts 46.06 and labor 95.25. The connector to the positive post (of the starter cable) was corroded and needed to be replaced.
I'm having the exact same problem as all of you. 2.3L, 4 Cyl, 200k miles. I've been having the problem for over 1.5 years and still cannot find anyone to fix it. But as I've been assessing this problem, I think I have it whittled down to a few key culprits:
1. Alternator (obviously it's having problems routing electricity )
2. Fuel Filter (when i restart it, if i rev the engine, it seems to run fine)
3. Computer chip (if this isn't working, there's only one sign - nothing else fixes the problem)
** Anyone who says you need a TuneUp, ask them if they tested the all the spark plugs, and wiring first. It seems the tuneup is not a fix for this problem, but it's the mechanics first assumption.
As with the other parts, I recommend buying used from salvage yards to keep the price down. THEN, take the part and go to your favorite garage to have them install it. I will be working on this in the coming months.
Please let me know if anyone has tried these things and the results. I will do the same and post any progress i have.
I also have the same problem as reported. The car will stall while running. It just happens randomly. The AC/CDplayer or other accessories keep working, just seems like someone has pulled a plug and the engine stops. Park the car and crank it again and it is just fine and starts running. Don't really know the solution to this one. I will have it checked next month. Any suggestions?
First time the car gave me a sign that something was wrong was 3 weeks ago. After parked in a mall parking lot for about an hour, started car and headed to exit. A/C was on full blast but radio was not on. At a traffic light about 3 minutes later, car completely dies. I put car in park and restarted car with no problems. Proceeded to drive home with no problems. 3 weeks later, was driving on the interstate after bout 5 miles of driving and car lost all power for about a half second, dash lights flashed as if I were starting the car, and car came back on without any intervention from me and proceeded to drive normally. About a minute later, the same thing happened. I made it home without any problems. I have driven it once after this happened for about 3 miles and all was well.
Periodically, while driving my car, the entire system shuts off (I have never had this problem trying to start the car. For the most part, I would coast to the side of the road, put it in park, and take the key out of the ignition. While it would usually turn back on after a few minutes, this last time it resisted all efforts until I waited about 10 minutes, revved the engine past 4000rpm while trying the ignition.
The car has not been trouble free; I have had to replace a cracked engine, several radiator hoses and the battery since I got it a year and a half ago. However, I have gone to two different mechanics to get it fixed, and neither has figured out what is causing this.
Initially, I thought it was in the electrical system, since the first time it happened I had air conditioning, lights, radio, and wipers on (it was raining), and I assumed I had overloaded it/had an old battery. After replacing it, it happened again several times. With a new engine, I am pretty sure that is not the source of the problem, but the fact that the revving caused it to work, I am now guessing that there is some issue getting fuel to the engine maybe.
Any thoughts would be appreciated, since no mechanic will ever say "I don't know" without doing at least $300 worth of various labor first.
- Matthew M.,
Gaithersburg, MD, US
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This happened once in January. Then when it happened twice (w/in a minute of each other) in March, I had the car serviced. My mechanic thought the problem might be that it needed a tuneup. It was OK until last week when it happened 4 - 5 times. It seems to totally power off (RPM's go to zero) then comes back on again w/in seconds--no rhyme or reason. I'm afraid that it's a very dangerous problem that I would have fixed if I knew what it was.
spent ridiculous amount of money on this problem almost got rear ended several times after it conveniently shuts off. no established pattern tried replacing ignition coil/distributer and ignition switch. Hooked up a spark tester and had good spark each time engine turned over. dealer and 4 private mechanics cant figure it out....... any help?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
On Dec 1st 2008 morning, wife attempted to start the car. On first attempt acted like it wanted to start but didn't. On second attempt a minute later she said engine went er er..er and did not start. On the third attempt five minutes later turned key engine started normally, as if there never was a problem.
On Dec 11th 2008 afternoon, I drove car less than 5 miles, stopped at a light, then turned left, car engine stalled, coasted to safe area. Put the car in park and it started back up as normal. No more problems.
On Dec 12th 2008. I cleaned the battery post of a 2 1/2 year old battery.
On Dec 13th 2008 afternoon, I drove car approximately 15 miles, where it sat for over an hour. After seven miles on the return trip, traveling at 50 mph the car engine stalled in traffic. I managed to safely coast and make the next right turn. I turned the key and the engine engaged as if it hadn't stalled to begin with.
Currently we are skitish about using the Honda until we are able to correct the problem to our satisfaction. We are currently driving another vehicle. Putting the Honda on the road would be an accident waiting to happen. For drivers who tail gate, I sure hope you don't run up on a car that just stalls in front of you. There is no warning it just happens. No telling how many vehicles there are on the road with similar stalling problems.
I have been searching the internet for possible fixes. Now I am looking for input from drivers whose vehicle have a similar problem. Preferably from those who have had the problem corrected with no reoccurring.
Update from Jul 28, 2009: I got my car back from Coggin Honda on Atlantic in Jacksonville Fl on 18 Dec 2008. I have not had any problems since. I had the following work done at a total cost of 496.32, I should be receiving 136.00 back as a good faith gesture since the car is no longer under warranty. There is an oil change 24.00 included in the total price.
The dealership installed (35130-S84-A01) steering switch (harness cable assembly) parts 76.71 and labor 195.88. I also had (32410-S84-A00) starter cable assembly installed parts 46.06 and labor 95.25. The connector to the positive post (of the starter cable) was corroded and needed to be replaced.
- mullinsfl, Jacksonville, FL, US