1998 Honda Accord Speed Control & Cruise Problems

MY 98 HONDA ACCORD LX AUTOMATICALLY DECELERATED TO 0 MPH WHEN I DROVE IT ON THE HIGHWAY (I-10 HOUSTON). THE SIGNAL LIGHTS (MAINTENANCE LIGHT AND THE KEY LIGHT) TURNED ON FIRST AND THEN THE SPEED DROPPED TO ZERO ALL THE SUDDEN BY ITSELF. I TRIED TO PUSH THE ACCELERATION PAD AND NO RESPONSE AT ALL. I WAS ABOUT TO PARK CAR TO THE SIDE. THEN AFTER ABOUT 1-2 MINUTES, IT BECAME NORMAL AGAIN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. IT WAS A SHOCK TO ME. VERY WORRY ABOUT IF IT DIED ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY 1998 HONDA ACCORD INTO A PARKING SPOT IN FRONT OF A HALLMARK STORE AND RIGHT BEFORE I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE IGNITION, MY CAR ACCELERATED SUDDENLY ON ITS OWN AND WENT THROUGH THE PLATE GLASS WINDOWS IN THE FRONT OF THE STORE. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WAS TRYING TO GET IT TO STOP AND IT WENT THROUGH THE PLATE GLASS WINDOW IN A SPLIT SECOND. I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO THINK, IT HAPPENED SO FAST. I WAS NOT HURT AND THE EMPLOYEES WERE NOT HURT, BUT SECONDS BEFORE THE CRASH, THE EMPLOYEES WERE STANDING BEHIND THE COUNTER WAITING ON A CUSTOMER AND THEY HAD JUST WENT OUT ON THE FLOOR RIGHT BEFORE IT CRASHED THROUGH THEIR WINDOW AND UP TO THEIR REGISTERS. THEY MISSED BEING HURT BY A FEW SECONDS. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY, SO THEY CAN INVESTIGATE FURTHER. I ALSO CALLED 1-800-HONDA AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT AND WHAT DID I EXPECT THEM TO DO ABOUT IT. I TOLD THEM THEY SHOULD INVESTIGATE AND MAYBE KEEP SOMEONE FROM GETTING KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. WE FOUND A WEBSITE CALLED ALLWORLDAUTO.COM THAT LISTS SEVERAL INCIDENTS HAVING TO DO WITH THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL THAT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN CAUSING NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS AROUND THE U.S. HONDA'S MECHANICS JUST SAID ALL THE INCIDENTS WERE DUE TO DRIVER ERROR, BUT EVERYONE THAT WROTE IN ABOUT THEIR INCIDENTS KNOW, THE SAME AS I DO, THAT IS WAS NOT CAUSED BY DRIVER'S ERROR AT ALL. POLICE TRIED TO SAY MY FOOT WAS ALSO ON THE EDGE OF THE FOOT FEET AS WELL AS ON THE BRAKE AND I KNOW THAT WAS NOT TRUE. I WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED WHEN MY CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD.*TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE RESUME BUTTON ON THE CRUISE CONTROL WHICH REACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AND CRASH INTO A WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED AS DESIGNED.

VEHICLE LUNGED OR ACCELERATED UPON FINAL PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND ON BRAKE. CAR JUMPED OVER, AND COLLIDED WITH THE CONDOMINIUM WALL. *AK

I HAVE A 1998 HONDA ACCORD EX. FOR LAST 3-4 MONTHS STARTED NOTICING THAT THE ACCELERATOR STICKS WHEN FIRST STARTING TO DRIVE. ON APPLYING MORE THAN NORMAL PRESSURE IT SUDDENLY RELEASES AND VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. MY MILEAGE IS ONLY 54,000 NOW. TOOK IT TO A DEALER IN HARTFORD AND HE SAYS I NEED TO SHELL OUT NEARLY 200 BUCKS TO GET THROTTLE CLEANED, THIS DESPITE REGULAR MAINTAINANCE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAVE SEEN OTHERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND WHO GOT THROTTLE CLEANED AND IT WAS GIVING SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AFTER 2000 MILES, SO WHAT'S THE GURANTEE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. MONEY IS NOT IMPORTANT TO ME, BUT SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH HONDA SHOULD BE FIXING AND NOT DENYING. I HAVE NEARLY CRASHED INTO OTHER CARS IN THE PARKING LOT, ALMOST HIT THE PARKING LOT ENTERANCE GATE AS THE CAR UNCONTROLLABLE RACES FORWARD. I DID NOT EXPECT THIS FROM A HONDA, IT HAS BEEN FLAWLESSLY WORKING SO FAR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT SPEED THE VEHICLE WAS GOING. *AK

CONSUMER SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATE PEDAL AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT RESOLVE THE DEFECT. *AK

MY MOTHER WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT TOTALED HER CAR. MY BROTHER AND HIS WIFE WERE THE FIRST OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE, AND MY MOTHER HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS. SHE HAD STOPPED, PUT THE CAR INTO PARK, GOT OUT TO OPEN A PARKING LOT GATE, GOT BACK IN, STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, AND TRIED TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO GEAR. SHE HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME GETTING THE CAR BACK INTO GEAR. SHE FINALLY WAS ABLE TO SHIFT AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO A HIGH REV AND ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS RESULTED IN THE CAR SMASHING INTO A WALL LESS THAN 60 FEET AWAY. LUCKILY THE AIR BAGS WORKED AND MY MOTHER & STEP-FATHER'S INJURIES WERE NOT TOO SERIOUS. MY MOTHER'S FOOT WAS DEFINITELY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS THERE IS A LOCK OUT MECHANISM THAT PREVENTS THE CAR FROM BEING TAKEN OUT OF PARK IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT PUSHED. THIS MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELATED, BUT SHE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY GETTING THE HANDLE TO MOVE. THE PROBLEM WITH IT NOT MOVING HAD OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY, USUALLY ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, BUT THE HONDA DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD HER NOTHING WAS WRONG. MY MOTHER IS A RETIRED SCHOOL BUS DRIVER WITH A PERFECT DRIVING RECORD, NO ACCIDENTS, AND ONLY USES ONE FOOT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. NOW SHE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE AND IS WORRYING AND SECOND GUESSING HERSELF THAT SHE DID SOMETHING WRONG. I HAVE FOUND OVER 30 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING 1998 HONDA ACCORDS. I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY OTHER HONDA'S ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. IT APPEARS THAT HONDA CONTINUES TO PLACE THE BLAME ON DRIVER ERROR, BUT WE BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE. *JB

WHEN STARTING COLD VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTINGTO DEPRESS GAS PEDAL, HAS TO USE EXCESSIVE EFFORT. WHEN CONSUMER IS ABLE TO DEPRESS PEDAL, TIRES SPIN,AND VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD, THROTTLE STICKS.*AK

WHEN ON A HILL AND TAKE FOOT OFF THE BRAKES TO GIVE ACCELERATION VEHICLE WILL START TO ROLL BACK. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JERKS CONSTANTLY AT SPEED OF 45MPH AND HIGHER. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY DEALER WHO STATED ENGINE WAS FINE. CONSUMER VERY CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AND CAUSE A COLLISION. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LURCH FORWARD WHEN STARTING,AND THEN STALL OUT. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ,AND PROBLEM REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION .*AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL SURGE FOWARD AND THEN STALL WHEN STARTING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER ,AND DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES, WAS PULLING OUT IN REVERSE, VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL FORWARDS AND BACKARDS AND WAS STOPPED BY A CONCRETE WALL. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*JBTHIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAPPENED ONCE PRIOR TO PREVIOUS ACCIDENT. CONSUMER REPORTED INCIDENT BUT TO NO AVAIL. CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT SLOWLY WHEN WITH OUT WARNING, VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. *JG

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

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

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

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

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