1998 Honda Accord Complaint Log

WHILE IN MOTION THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILED AND SHUT OFF. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO COME TO A SAFE HAULT THERE BY SLAMMING INTO GEARS AND CAUSING INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO OCCUR. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED, THE SHUTTING OFF PROBLEM WOULD STILL OCCUR. SOON AFTER CONSUMER RECIEVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER HAD THE RECALL HONORED AND DUE TO THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SHUTTING OFF. CONSUMER FEELS THE EXPENSE INCURRED WAS A RESULT OF THE RECALL. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. *JG

AS TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD AND RPM'S GO UP. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER. PLEASE ADD FURTHER INFORMATION.*AKI

CLEAR COAT PAINT FADING AND PEELLING ON ROOF, HOOD, AND TRUNK OF 1998 HONDA ACCORD EX. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE BLACK AND THE GREEN 98 ACCORDS. *AK

THE CONSUMER REMOVED KEYS FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD AND CRASHED. THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILS TO PREVENT FROM REMOVING THE KEYS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK. *YH

RECALL 98V018000;WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF IT STARTED TO ROLL BACK AND PICKING UP SPEED. FINALLY STOPPED BY RUNNING INTO SOMEONE'S YARD. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER NOTED THAT VIN NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH THE FOLLOWING DAY ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE POSITIVE COIL AT THE COST OF $300 AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD NOT RECUR. THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 145,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HUMIDITY GETS INSIDE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER INDICATED HEADLIGHT WASN'T SEALED PROPERLY. *AK *YH

INVESTIGATED 2 ACCIDENTS IN THE LAST 1-1/2 WEEKS ON 97 AND 98 HONDA ACCORD THAT WAS GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN DRIVER SAID STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHEN PASSING ANOTHER CAR. RESULTED IN HEAD ON COLLISION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH STEERING OR SUSPENSION PARTS ON EITHER CAR AT TIME OF INSPECTION. NLM

THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION LOCKED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *MR *NM

AT 17,000 MILES FIRST REPORTED A "RUMBLING, ROTATIONAL NOISE" TO DEALER. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE. AT 52,729 PROBLEM WITH ROTATIONAL NOISE AGAIN REPORTED -- THIS TIME LOUDER. DEALER AGAIN UNABLE TO LOCATE. AT 57,000 AGAIN REPORTED. MECHANIC UNABLE TO HEAR DURING TEST DRIVE. AT 70,000 MILES, THE PROBLEM TURNED INTO A SEVERE GRINDING WHICH MAKES OWNER BELIEVE FAILURE IS IMMINENT. COST FOR AND WAIT FO REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS EXTREMELY LONG; ONLY OTHER OPTION USED WITH 34,000 MILES (FROM ACCIDENT) -- UNACCEPTABLE. OWNER DECIDED TO TRADE IN VEHICLE AT A CONSIDERABLE FINANCIAL LOSS RATHER THAN EXPERIENCE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP, WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE DRIVER SEAT COLLASPED, DEALER DETERMINED THAT BRACKET OF SEAT BOTTOM HAD BROKEN.*AK *YD

THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY AFTER A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER MOTOR VEHICLE , VEHICLE WAS TRAVEL ABOUT 30 MPH, DRIVER STRUCK HEAD ON CEILING OF MOTOR VEHICLE AND SUFFERED MINOR HEAD INJURY. *AK

MY ACCELERATOR STICKS WHEN YOU FIRST TRY TO MASH IT DOWN, THEN THE CAR JUMPS.*AK

WITH CLUTCH PRESSED DOWN WHILE CAR IN GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD START TO ENGAGE. PROBLEM WAS OCCASIONAL AT THE BEGINNING, THEN WORSENED TO THE POINT VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVABLE. (1 YEAR PERIOD) TOOK TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP TWICE BUT THEY WERE CLUELESS TO ANY CAUSE. VEHICLE WOULD OFTEN STALL IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND AT ANY LIGHTS. IF CLUTCH WAS PRESSED DOWN FOR MORE THAN 5 SECONDS WHILE IN GEAR THE HYDROLICS WOULD FAIL AND KILL THE ENGINE. SLAVE CYLINDER, CLUTCH HYDROLICS EVENTUALLY FAILED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED SLAVE CYLINDER AND LINE FOR OVER $500, CLUTCH NOW OPERATES FINE. DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE WITH MODIFIED HONDA PARTS SINCE ORIGINAL SLAVE AND LINE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE. CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA FOR RELIEF DO TO FAULTY DESIGN/PARTS BUT REFUSED DUE TO ULTIMATE FAILURE OCCURRING OUTSIDE WARRANTY PERIOD. *AK

HORN PAD ON STEERING WHEEL HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. IT TAKES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO OPERATE WHEN AND IF IT DOES WORK.

TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AT 18000 MILES GRADUALLY GOT WORSE ,HONDA AND DEALER REFUSED TO FIX. *TR

VEHICLE TURNS ITSELF OFF. FIRST TIME WHILE IN PARK, SECOND TIME WHILE ON HWY AT 45 MPH, LOSING ABILITY TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER STATES NEEDS NEW IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

GAS GAUGE ON THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE, GAUGE IS NOT ABLE TO PROPERLY DISPLAY CORRECT LEVEL OF FUEL IN VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION CAME APART INTERNALLY.*AK

THE HORN SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT. WE HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 12 TIMES PRIOR AND EACH TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT WORK BUT THERE HAS BEEN THREE CLOSE CALLS WHERE THE HORN DID NOT WORK AND A CAR BACKING ALMOST HIT MY CAR. WE HAD TO YELL TO MAKE THE OTHER CAR STOP! TODAY 12/11/02 WE HAD YET ANOTHER VERY CLOSE CALL AND THE DEALER FINALLY WAS ABLE TO SEE THERE IS A FAULT AS THE HORN DID NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED. THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND MAY COST OVER $250 TO FIX! PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS A SAFETY ITEM AND SHOULD BE FIXED FREE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THANKS VERY MUCH!

TRANSMISSION TOTALLY FAILED AT 41,000 MILES. HONDA INFORMED ME THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD COST $4,100. CARE DRIVEN AND MAINTAINED CAREFULLY. *AK

CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS FAILED AT AN EARLY AGE. MY REPAIR SHOP CLAIMS TO 'SEE IT A LOT' THE REPAIR IS $1070. HONDA DEEMS IT NORMAL WEAR.*AK

THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK OR SO I THOUGHT AND REMOVED THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION TO GO INSIDE MY HOME. ABOUT A HALF HOUR LATER I WAS CONTACTED BY MY NEIGHBOR WHO TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAD ROLLED DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AND ACROSS THE STREET. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NARROWLY MISSED HIM BEFORE STRIKING HIS BRICK MAILBOX STRUCTURE AND DESTROYING IT. I TOLD HIM I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE ROLLED BACKWARDS AS I HAD PUT IT IN PARK AND REMOVED MY KEYS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I CAME TO REALIZE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ACTUALLY IN NEUTRAL. I CONTACTED THE HONDA REGARDING MY CONCERN ABOUT BEING ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL NOT PARK. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEYS UNLESS THE CAR WAS IN PARK. THEY INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THEY WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM AT MY EXPENSE. I TOLD THEM THAT I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT SAFETY FEATURES SHOULD EVER BE OUT OF WARRANTY. I AM REPORTING THIS TO YOU BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED THAT POSSIBLY THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD CERTAINLY END UP GETTING SOMEONE HURT OR KILLED.*AK

AT 60000 MILES TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING BAD TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY PUT NEW SEALS IN IT AND IT CONTINUED TO LEAK TOOK IT BACK AT 65000 MILES AND THEY SAID IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. HONDA HAS MANY TRANSMISSION FAILURES BUT REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THIER PRODUCT. *AK

WHEN THE ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS SAT FOR A BREIF PERIOD OF TIME, THE GAS PEDAL STICKS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IT MAY ENDANGER CITIZENS IN PARKING LOTS AND OTHER AREAS WHEN TRYING TO GENTLY MANUEVER THE VEHICLE. HONDA WAS CONTACTED AND THEY FELT THAT IS WAS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN AND REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE PROBLEM CAUSED BY THIS FAULTY THROTTLE BOX. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

ALTERNATOR WENT OUT WHILE TRAVELING AT 60-70 MPH ON FREEWAY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE ALTERNATOR. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

DEALER STATES THAT A SHAFT IN TRANSMISSION HAS COME APART, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL.*AK

NO SUMMARY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD BECAME EXTREMELY FOGGY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. THE DEFROSTER WAS ACTIVATED WHICH FAILED TO EFFECTIVELY CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS BY AN INDEPENDENT AUTO GLASS COMPANY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. UPDATED 08/27/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. UPDATED 08/30/10*JB

TRANSMISSION UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFTS INTO A LOWER GEAR AT HIGH SPEED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. D4 LIGHT COMMENCES FLASHING, INDICATING TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. VEHICLE CHANGES GEARS AT RANDOM SPEEDS UP OR DOWN WITHOUT WARNING*AK

TRANSMISSION UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFTS INTO A LOWER GEAR AT HIGH SPEED CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. D4 LIGHT COMMENCES FLASHING INDICATING TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. VEHICLE CHANGES GEARS AT RANDOM SPEEDS UP OR DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. HONDA DEALERSHIPS ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER ISSUED PROBLEM REPORT NO12002-08-2800-1311 AND ASSIGNED CASE OFFICER, RON ROBBINS. INSPITE OF MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS SINCE AUGUST 2002 THEY ARE NOT RESPONDING. NLM

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER HAVING RECALL DONE FOR EGR VALVE. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE INTO REPAIR SHOP, AND DIAGNOSTIC READING SHOWED NO PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS BEEN ADVISED TO PLEASE ATTACH A COPY OF RECALL INFORMATION WITH COMPLAINT FORM.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN APPLYING CLUTCH IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE JUMPED LIGHT. CLUTCH STUCK TO FLOOR ,AND VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. TECHNICIAN TOLD CONSUMER ABOUT CLUTCH BEING FAULTY. CONTACTED HONDA, AND HONDA WAS SUPPOSE TO CALL BACK, BUT HAS NOT RESPONDED. *AK

CATLYTIC CONVERTER HEAT SHIELDS DETERIORATE RAPIDLY UNDER NORMAL USE LEADING TO CAR UNDERCARRIAGE OVERHEATING AND/OR FIRE. SUGGEST REPLACE SHIELDS WITH A THICKER GAUGE METAL SHIELD.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT FOR THE RIGHT REAR CAMBER. THE CAR THEREFORE HAS NEVER BEEN IN PROPER ALIGNMENT. THE RESULT IS THAT I HAVE HAD PREMATURE WEAR ON MY TIRES. I WENT TO HAVE MY FRONT END ALIGNED WHEN THE DEALER INFORMED ME OF THE PROBLEM. I FEEL HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE PARTS THAT WOULD PUT THE CAR IN PROPER ALIGNMENT. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND SHOWS NO SIGNS OF IMPACT.

SUBJECT: 1. INFREQUENT STALLING WHEN COMING TO A SLOW STOP, AND STARTS UP AGAIN AND I CONTINUE DRIVING. 2. TWICE, IT HAS STALLED WHEN MAKING A SLOW LEFT TURN. HOWEVER, STARTS UP AGAIN WHEN I TURN THE KEY AND I CONTINUE DRIVING. *AK

WITHOUT ANY WARNING, MY CLUTCH WENT OUT MY GEAR SHIFT LOCKED UP AND THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY THOROUGHFARE IN DALLAS. AFTER THE SERVICE CENTER RECEIVED THE CAR THEY SAID THAT THE MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDER WERE DEFECTIVE.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THREE OUT OF THE FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DAMAGED. *YH

THE CAR HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION PRIMARILY AS IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THIS HESITATION CAN AND DOES OCCASIONALLY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOSE SPEED IN TRAFFIC.*AK

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE COASTING/RIDING BRAKE INTO PARKING GARAGE SPACE CAUSED CAR TO CRASH THROUGH STEEL CABLE RETENTION WALL SEVERELY DAMAGING FRONT END/UNDERCARRIAGE, DESTROYING THE WALL AND DAMAGING TWO OTHER VEHICLES. DEALER AND HONDA CLAIM NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR/DRIVER ERROR. ACCIDENTAL ACCELERATION COULD NOT HAVE CAUSED SUCH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ($7K IN TOTAL).*AK

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAIL TO LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. CONSUMER MANUALLY LOCKS EACH DOOR INSTEAD OF ONE DOOR LOCKING ALL. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT DEALER. *AK POWER WINDOWS INOPERABLE,ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WOULD WORK. *SLC

PRECLUDES A CONTROLLED , FLUID, AND TIMELY TAKE OFF AT INTERSECTIONS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WAS IN A 35 MPH ZONE AND WAS TO STOP FOR RED LIGHT AND TO TURN LEFT. SERVICE ROAD BETWEEN ME AND FLAT-BACK BIG TRUCK THAT HAD ALREADY STOPPED FOR LIGHT. PUT ON BRAKES AND STARTED ACCELERATING, AND HAD NO BRAKES OR STEERING. WAS RAINING. PROBABLY HYDROPLANED. PICKED UP SPEED AND WENT HEAD-ON INTO BACK OF PARKED TRUCK. I AM INJURED AND AM UNDER DOCTORS CARE. BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BUT DIDN'T. WHOLE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS SMASHED. HAVE PICTURES. *AK

SRS LIGHT IS ON; THEREFORE, IS NOT WORKING. LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE 5/01 PULLED A CODE 06-3. COST OVER $600 TO REAIR, OWNER (FRIEND) DECLINED. BOUGHT THE CAR USED (FRIEND), DEALERSHIP RESET THE LIGHT BUT IT CAME BACK ON. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME SITUATION. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH HONDA, NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AS THIS IS SUCH A KEY SAFETY FEATURE. *NM

GAS PEDAL STICKS CONTINUALLY AFTER COLD STARTS OR SHORT PERIODS OF NOT RUNNING. EXCESSIVE AND HARD PRESSURE MUST BE APPLIED TO GAS PEDAL, EVIDENTLY TO ENGAGE THE THROTTLE PLATE AND/OR THROTTLE LINKAGE. THE SURPRISING RESULT TO THE DRIVER IS THAT THE VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD, OFTEN SQUEALING TIRES, IN A SPEEDY AND DANGEROUSLY UNCONTROLLED MANNER. CAN BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING IN CONFINED AREAS, PARKING LOTS OR AROUND PREDESTRIANS. OUR SON RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1998 HONDA ACCORD, WHICH HAD DEVELOPED THE SAME PROBLEM. HONDA CUSTOMER RELATIONS OFFICE ADMITS A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS RELEASED TO ITS DEALERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE OWNED 1981, 1987, STILL OWN A 1993 HONDA ACCORD AMONG OTHER MAKES AND MODELS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED GAS PEDALS THAT BIND AND STICK LIKE THE ONE IN THIS 1998 HONDA ACCORD.*AK

FINAL GEAR IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION TO GO FROM DRIVE TO PARK. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. *AK *SLC