NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Honda Accord. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO RECONNECT THEIR ALARM SYSTEM AFTER DISCONNECTING IT TO DO RECALL. AND THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR RECALL. TS
CONSUMER STATES HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#02V119 IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. TS
I HAVE NOW HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED ON THIS CAR TWICE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH VIA THE INTERNET. I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. WERE THE CONSUMERS HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION PREMATURELY.*AK
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND WILL BECOME DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. TS THE STALLING IS CONTINUOUS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTS THAT THE PROBLEM, AS WELL AS OTHER PROBLEM(S) BE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE. SCC
CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILS. DEALER STATES PART IS COVERED. ORDERS, AND REPLACES SAME. CAR IS RETURNED WITH SRS LIGHT LIT. DEALER STATES THAT (ILLUMINATED) INDICATOR LIGHT MEANS THE AIR BAG IS IN FAILURE MODE. DEALER STATES THAT ELECTRONIC TESTING OF AIR BAG ASSEMBLY SHOWS AIR BAG IS DEPLOYED (ALTHOUGH IT ISN'T, WHICH WOULD BE VERY OBVIOUS IF IT WERE) DEALER STATES THAT ONLY AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AS THIS FAILURE IS OF ENTIRE AIR BAG AND REEL ASSEMBLY, I'M NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AS I WOULD NOT DRIVE CAR WITH FAILED AIRBAG COMPONENT I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY $897.92 FOR A NEW AIRBAG AND REEL ASSEMBLY. I HAVE THE (OLD AND VISUALLY INTACT) PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE BILL FOR THE REPAIR. DT
THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH
CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS A PREMATURE LIFE SPAN ACCORDING TO A NUMBER OF MECHANICS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AROUND 80,000 MILES, AND THE MECHANIC SAID THE COMPUTER SENSED A FAILURE IN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. WE HAD THE HONDA EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY STATED THAT IT DID NOT COVER THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER *AK
THE POWER LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENLEY. RIGHT SIDE CAR WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR
CONSUMER STATES: DEALER HAS BEEN SCHEDULED THREE TIMES FOR CHANGING THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THREE TIME HAS BEEN CANCELLED THE APPOINTMENT, SAYING THEY DON'T HAVE THE PART. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE IGNITION WILL STAY RUNNING AFTER THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER FOR THE REPAIRS. NARDI HONDA ST. JAMES, NY 631-724-0500 MR
NO PARTS AVAILABLE.RECALL#02V120000 IGNITION SWITCH. HOLLER HONDA HWY 1792 WINTER PARK, FL 32789 407-645-2282 MR
UPON ACCELERATION DRIVER SEAT FELL BACK INTO BACK SEAT AREA. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *MR IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WELD USED TO TILT THE SEAT BROKE, IN TURN, CAUSED THE SEAT TO DETACH FROM THE BASE. *TT
CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING THROUGH THE BEARINGS WHEN DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. MR THE LEAK WAS DISCOVERED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR IT'S ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS FAULT WAS NOT A DEFECT PROBLEM FOR THE MODEL AND YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. *JG *JB
RECALL REPAIR COULD NOT BE PERFORMED DUE TO THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE. AFTER RECEIVING IGNITION SWITCH RECALL 02V12 AND EXPERIENCING VEHICLE STALL-OUT CONDITION, CONSUMER WAITED FOR 60 DAYS AND RECALL REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED. *TT *JB
CONSUMER STATES RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR IGNITION. DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO PERFORMED RECALL TILL DECEMBER 2002. DEALER FEELS UNSAFE DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
NO PARTS AVAILABLE RECALL#02V120000IGNITION SWITCH. THILHUGAES HONDA 1800-969-0347 ASPEN, GA 30606 MR
MR
CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A RECALL REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THE WAIT WOULD BE AT LEASE TWO AND HALF MONTHS. CONSUMER FEELS UNSAFE DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
1998 HONDA ACCORD EX 4-CYLINDER, MANUAL TRANSMISSION: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AT 71,000 MILES; ALTHOUGH RESOLVED THROUGH REPLACEMENT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER "UNDER WARRANTY", SUCH EARLY FAILURE SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED BY NHTSA AS SUBSEQUENT FAILURES ARE LIKELY. SUSPECT IS FAULTY/SUB-STANDARD CATALYTIC CONVERTER USED BY HONDA.UGGESTION: QUERY MANUFACTURER ON IN/OUT OF WARRENTY FAILURES ON CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FOR HONDA ACCORD, MODEL YEARS 1998 - 2002. AK
RECALL CAMPAIGN: IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. RECONNECT ALARM SYSTEM. *BF RECALL CAMPAIGN: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT SHE WAS CHARGED FOR SERVICE COMPLETED UNDER THE RECALL FOR HER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE SERVICE OF RECONNECTING THE ALARM SYSTEM THROUGH THE NEW WORKING PART INSTALLED. A FULL REFUND IS REQUESTED BY THE CONSUMER. THE RECALL ISSUE DEALT WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH INTERLOCK ON THE VEHICLE. *TC
THE CONSUMER WAS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT OF CHANGES MADE BY THE DEALER FOR REINSTALLING AN AFTER MARKET STARTER WHILE REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS ON RECALL. *YH *SCC
CONSUMER STATES THAT THEY HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO MAKE APPOINTMENT TO HAVE RECALL DONE. PART ARE NOT AVAILABLE, AND BY THE MEAN TIME THE DEFECT STATED IN RECALL IS HAPPENING TO VEHICLE. TS
MFR# 02 & 02 V 120 00 / IGNITION SWITCH: DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE CONSUMER TO RECONNECT THE CAR ALARM AFTER RECALL REPAIRS ARE COMPLETE. HONDA OF PRINCETON IN PRINCETON, NJ. PHONE# 609/683-0722. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT UNABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR OVER A MONTH,AND THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING HER SHE HAS TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER MONTH TO GET AN APPOINTMENT. MR
MFR3 02-031 & NHTSA# 99 V 120 000/IGNITION SWITCH: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER, BARON HONDA IN PATCHOQUE, NY. PHONE # 631/475-85000 IS REFUSING TO RECONNECT THE ALARM AFTER RECALL REPAIRS ARE COMPLETE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER IS CHARGING CONSUMER FOR THE REMOVAL OF AN ALARM SYSTEM. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE A CHARGE FOR ANY PART OF RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATIION. *MR
THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *YH *SCC
MFR# 02-031 & NHTSA# 02 V 120 000/IGNITION SWITCH: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER, BRAIMAN HONDA IN MIAMI, FL. PHONE# 305/266-9900.IS CHARGING CONSUMER TO RECONNECT THE ALARM AFTER THE RECALL. CONSUMER WANT TO KNOW DOES THE DEALER HAVE THAT RIGHT. *NLM *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE ENGINE WOULD OCCASIONALLY SHUT OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE CAUSE WAS THE IGINITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY, BUT IT FAILED AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 246,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,068. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF
DEALER: CORAL SPRINGS AUTO MALL, CORAL SPRINGS, FL 954-346-1000 WANTS TO CHARGE CONSUMER TO RECONNECT ORIGINAL MANUFACTURED ALARM SYSTEM. *AK
I PROVIDED YOU THE DEALER INFO. WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. NOW MY CAR IS AT 'MCKEAN HONDA' : 5033 LIBERTY AVE. PITTSBURGH, PA 15224, (412)683-3800. RADIATOR SUDDELY BLEW UP AFTER A 10MIN. OF DRIVING. A MECHANIC AT THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE ENGINE'S GOT OVERHEATED FIRST AND THEN POSSIBLY THE CYLINDER HEAD DAMAGED LEADING TO A MIXTURE OF ENGINE OIL AND ANTI-FREEZE. NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ON AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. THEY HAVEN'T DISSASEMBLED THE ENGINE YET BUT I ASKED THEM TO DO IT TO FIND OUT THE ACTUAL DAMAGE. HONDA SAYS IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN IT'S OVERHEATED BUT DON'T EXPLAIN WHY IT'S OVERHEATED. I FOLLOWED ALL MAINT. SCHEDULE AND GOT MY CAR INSPECTED(INCLUDING OIL CHANGE) JUST 2 MONTHS AGO(JULY 10 2002) AT THAT DEALER. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW AN ENGINE WITH 37K MILEAGE CAN FAIL THIS EASILY. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A POSSILBILTY OF A CRACK ON THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE $4K ESTIMATION IS TRUE WHEN THE WHOLE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH IS THE WORST CASE. IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. THE RADIATOR EXPLODED WITH LOTS OF SMOKE WITH 4IN LONG SPLIT ON THE TOP. FORTUNATELY I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT ON A WAY BACK HOME AFTER PICKING UP MY WIFE AND KID. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TOWED. I CAN'T BELIEVE IF ANY VEHICLE ENGINE CAN FAIL THIS EASY. THE 3 YEAR LONG WARRANTY'S BEEN EXPIRED AND I DIDN'T GET ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY. IS THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS REPENTING NOT HAVING ONE? NLM
MFR# 02-031 & 02 V 120 000/IGNITION SWITCH: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER, POHANKA HONDA IN COLLEGE PARK. PHONE# 301/899-7800. DID NOT RECONNECT THE ALARM SYSTEM AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WAS MADE. CONSUMER WANT TO KNOW DOES THE DEALER HAVE THAT RIGHT? AND CAN NHTSA ASSIST IN THIS MATTER? FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAD RECALL WORK DONE (02V-120 FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH), BUT WHEN THE CONSUMER HAD GOTTEN INTO THE VEHICLE AND STARTED THE ENGINE, THE SRS LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE TWO ARE UNRELATED, BUT THEY SAID THAEY HAD TO UNPLUG THE SRS UNIT TO WORK ON THE INGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW AIRBAG, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE AIR BAG FAILURE IS RELATED THO THE RECALLED IGNITION SWITCH SINCE THEY ARE LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN, WHERE THE ORIGINAL RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED. *SCC
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS THE GEAR AUTOMATICALLY DOWN SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO 2ND GEAR. TS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED SEVEN TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000. UPDATED 11/22/11*LJ UPDATED 06/13/2012 *JS
CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER IS CHARGING FOR THE REMOVAL OF AN ALARM TO GET TO A RECALLED PART. CONSUMER FEELS THERE SHOULD NOT BE A CHARGE. THE ALARM WAS UNINSTALLED IN ORDER TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK. CONSUMER DOESNT FEEL A CHARGE SHOULD INCURRED. CONSUMER FEELS THE MECHANIC SHOULD REINSTALL THE ALARM SINCE IT WAS A PART OF THE VEHICLE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. *JG
MY WIFE PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE K-MART PARKING LOT. SHE TOOK KEY OUT OF IGNITION, LOCKED THE VEHICLE AND WE WENT INSIDE TO SHOP. AFTER SHOPPING FOR 5 - 10 MINUTES, K-MART INTERCOM ASKED HONDA OWNER TO COME FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED BACKWARD ACROSS PARKING LOT, STRIKING CONCRETE BASE OF LIGHT POLE, COMPLETELY DESTROYING REAR BUMPER. VEHICLE WAS FOUND LOCKED, KEY OUT OF IGNITION, IN DRIVE INSTEAD OF PARK.*AK
PROBLEMS GETTING VEHICLE TO START UP. DEALER NOTIFIED. *MR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A FAINT KNOCKING SOUND AND EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SWITCHING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT CAN DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT WITH DIFFICULTY. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN ONGOING EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2002. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 152,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE WITH A REMOTE STARTER THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD INTO A BUSH. THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS TAKING A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. *MR
REAR BEARING HAD BEEN WHINING FOR ALMOST A YEAR, BUT I WAS BLAMING THE TIRES SINCE THE POSSIBILITY OF BEARING FAILURE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE DID NOT OCCUR TO ME. BEARINGS USUALLY LAST AT LEAST 100,000 MILES. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SEIZURE IN THE BEARINGS AND A RESULING ACCIDENT. DT
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE WILL STALL OUT AT ANY SPEED WITH OUT ANY WARNING, DUE TO THE DEFECT WITH THE IGNITION. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
AFTER A RAIN STORM INSIDE FRONT OF VEHICLE WAS FLOODED AS A RESULT OF WATER COMING THROUGH WINDSHIELD.CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
CONSUMER STATES HAS BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT REGARDING RECALL. DEALER ADVISED A LIMITED AMOUNT OF PARTS CAME IN AND NOW IGNITION SWITCH IS ON BACK ORDER. DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A RECALL REMEDY DATE. TS
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION (02V120000) REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL COULD BE PERFORMED BUT THE COSNUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE ALARM REINSTALLED, CONSUMER STATES HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE ALARM REINSTALLED BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE.*YH
CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE REINSTALLATION OF THE REMOTE CONTROL ALARM SYSTEM AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRS WAS COMPLETED FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH.*JB
CONSUMER HAD PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. TOOK KEY OUT AND WENT INSIDE. VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN INTO STREET. THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE KEY OUT OF IGNITION, VEHICLE WILL STILL BE IN DRIVE GEAR.CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
SECOND TIME THE ABS LIGHT HAS COME ON WHILE DRIVING. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY THE DEALER TWICE. THEY RESET IT TWICE. NOW RECENTLY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. RESET IT MYSELF FOUR TIMES...AND IT COMES ON AGAIN AFTER I LET OF THE GAS GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY. DON'T LIKE SPENDING $70 TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT AND FIND NOTHING.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK