1998 Honda Accord Body & Structure Problems

MY CROSS MEMBER BAR IS ROTTING AWAY

MY CAR KEPT JERKING IT ALSO HAD STOP WHILE MY FEET WAS ON THE METAL WHILE ON EXIT 41 MY CAR SPIN AROUND AND ALMOST COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER CAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT

THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSATE DRAINS ONTO THE SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY SUPPORTING THE ENGINE. THERE IS A RUST HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE FRAME AT THIS LOCATION, FIRST REPORTED BY THE DEALER TECH AND NOTED AS 'COMMON'. MY MECHANIC AND I WATCHED IT GROW FOR A COUPLE YEARS TO THE POINT NOW WHERE HE SAYS IT'S BECOMING RISKY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.

I'M IN THE RIGHT LANE ON EXIT 41 HIGHWAY MY CAR KEPT JERKING THEN SOMEONE JUMPED IN FRONT OF ME AS SOON AS I HIT THE BREAKS THE BREAKS SENT OUT AND HIT THE LADY WHO JUMPED IN FRONT OF ME AND THEN THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WHEEL BEFORE THEN MY CAR WAS LEAKING .*DT*JB

THE AC DRIP TUBE IS AIMED RIGHT AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME AND RUSTS IT OUT OVER TIME. JUST RECENTLY I HAD THE SUBFRAME TOTALLY FAIL AND SNAP IN HALF DUE TO THIS RUST. THE SCARY PART WAS THAT I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ONLY GOING 5 MPH WHEN IT HAPPENED. IF IT HAD HAPPENED FIVE MINUTES SOONER THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH WORSE SITUATION. NOTICE IN THE PICTURE I ATTACH THAT THE WHOLE CORNER OF THE SUBFRAME IS RUSTED OUT EVEN THOUGH THE REST OF THE FRAME AND BODY IS RUST FREE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE MAKING A TURN IN A FLAT PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 5 MPH. THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED ISSUE ON ALL 97-02 HONDA ACCORD AND 00-03 ACURA CL VEHICLES SINCE THEY ARE THE SAME BODY/PLATFORM. I WENT TO A JUNKYARD RECENTLY TO SEE IF I COULD FIND A GOOD SUBFRAME TO REPLACE MINE WITH AND EVERY SINGLE HONDA ACCORD AND ACURA CL IN THE LOT WAS RUSTED OUT EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. THIS CLEARLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE SUBFRAME HAS THREE OF THE FOUR ENGINE MOUNTS ON IT AND THE SUSPENSION IS ALL CONNECTED TO IT AS WELL.

I PAID $1300 TO REPLACE A TIMING BELT AND A LEAKING WATER PUMP. THE MECHANIC TEST DROVE IT WHEN THE REPAIRS WERE FINISHED, ONLY TO DISCOVER A LOUD SQUEAKING WHICH REVEALED A RUSTED RIGHT FRONT SUBFRAME THAT I HAVE FOUND, AFTER SOME ONLINE RESEARCH IS FAIRLY COMMON AND DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF A DRAIN TUBE THAT LEAKED WATER OVER THIS SPOT ON THE SUBFRAME FOR 20 YEARS.

PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME HAS RUSTED JUST BEHIND WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM CONNECTS. THIS RUST IS NOT VISIBLE WHEN VIEWING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN ON A LIFT, MAKING FAILURE OF THE SUBFRAME IMMINENT. HONDA SHOULD ADMIT A DESIGN FLAW EXISTS WITH THE AC DISCHARGE AND REPLACE THESE BAD FRAMES. WHAT A DISGRACE. SAD TO SAY I WILL BE SWITCHING BRANDS. I PREFER COMPANIES WHO STEP UP TO THE PLATE TO PROTECT THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS FAILURE IS VERY HARD TO DETECT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE. SHAME ON HONDA. I ALREADY HAD MY BALL JOINTS FAIL (RECALL EXISTS FOR THEM) AND I ONLY HOPE MY SUBFRAME HOLDS OUT A LITTLE LONGER.

CLEAR COAT AND PAINT HAS STARTED TO CHIP AND PEAL. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE YEAR AND MODEL AND HONDA IS AWARE. TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN NEEDING TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED ASAP. AT ONE TIME A LARGE PIECE OF THE CLEAR COAT CAME OFF AND HIT MY WINDSHIELD AND STUCK TO MY WINDSHIELD AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO REMOVE IT FROM MY WINDSHIELD TO AVOID HAVING THIS HAZARD TO MYSELF AND OTHERS.

AFTER BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THE BRAKES, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SUB FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND THE CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. IT WAS A HUGE SURPRISE AS THE CAR HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND DOES NOT HAVE SIGNIFICANT RUST ON ANY OTHER LOCATION. I WAS TOLD THAT ANY POT HOLE OR LARGE BUMP COULD HAVE BROKEN THE FRAME AND COMPLETELY DISLODGED THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A DESIGN ISSUE THAT CAUSED ISOLATED RUSTING ON AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FRAME.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEED AND AS I WAS MAKING A TURN I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND FROM THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE INFORMED ME THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE SUB-FRAME ARM HAD RUSTED OFF AND SNAPPED. THIS CAME AS A SURPRISED, BECAUSE THE CAR WAS INSPECTED FOR A STATE INSPECTION LESS THEN A WEEK BEFORE THE SAID INCIDENT AND IT HAD PASSED THE STATE INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE AC HOSE WERE PLACED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE SUB-FRAME AND EVERY TIME THE AC WAS USED IT WOULD LEAK ONTO THE SUB FRAME AND CAUSE IT TO RUST. THE OTHER SUB-FRAME ARM HAD NO INDICATION OF RUST AT ALL. THIS IS A CASE OF COMPLETE NEGLIGENCE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS DESIGNED A FLAWED PRODUCT AND HAS FILED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS. NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. NO STATEMENT MADE. THE OWNER CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS AS THE PRODUCT THAT WAS MANUFACTURED BY HONDA HAS INITIAL DESIGN FLAWS WHICH DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE FRAILER OF A MAJOR STRUCTURAL COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD AND HAS BEEN FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. A RECALL MUST BE ISSUED TO PREVENT MOST OF ALL FATALITIES AND HELP ALLEVIATE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN PLACED UPON THE OWNERS AS THE REPAIRS ARE OFTEN TIMES VERY COSTLY.

WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND ALSO ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED A CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AREA OF THE CAR. PARKED THE CAR AND PUSHED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOOD AND COULD HEAR THE NOISE. TOOK OFF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND NOTICED SEVERE RUST THROUGH OF THE FRAME THAT CONNECTS BELOW THE CONTROL ARM. (2 PHOTOS ATTACHED) CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND AM GETTING ESTIMATES ON REPAIR COST.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A CLANKING NOISE WAS PRESENT NEAR THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED THE FRAME TO SEPARATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND RUST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SUB FRAME. TECHNICIAN SAYS IT'S BECAUSE THE A/C DRAIN TUBE. THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS NO CORROSION AT ALL! HONDA CHANGED THIS IN 03+ MODELS. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR, THIS CAR HAS NO BODY RUST. THIS SHOULD'VE BEEN A RECALL.

MY MOTHER BOUGHT THIS ACCORD IN 1999 WITH 102000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE AND ONLY DRIVEN 31000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO BE INSPECTED THIS MONTH AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS BARELY HOLDING TO THE SUBFRAME. I WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE IT AS THE ENGINE COULD FALL OUT WHILE DRIVING OR THE SUSPENSION COULD PULL LOOSE. MY MOTHER IS 89 YRS OLD AND NOW HER VEHICLE HAS NO VALUE. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE AIR CONDITIONING DRAIN TUBE HANGS DIRECTLY ABOVE THE FRAME AND DRIPS ON IT IF THE AC IS RUNNING. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO BODY DAMAGE OR RUST. THE LEATHER INTERIOR IS PERFECT. AND THE VTECH ENGINE IS PERFECT. WHAT IS SHE SUPPOSED TO DO AT 89 YEARS OLD, EXPECTING HER CAR TO OUTLIVE HER?! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE COLLAPSED INTO THE WHEEL WELL. AS A RESULT, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SWAYING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

ON AUGUST 23, 2014, I WENT TO GET MY OIL CHANGED AT THE HONDA DEALER AND THEY SAID THE SUB-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN AND THE CAR IS NOW A SAFETY ISSUE. I FIND THIS TO BE HORRIBLE. I'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW (A GIFT FROM MY GRANDMOTHER) AND ALL OIL CHANGES AND SERVICES HAVE BEEN DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP ON TIME AND THEY ARE JUST NOW TELLING ME ABOUT THIS!!! I HAVE SEARCHED AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS HONDA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS RUSTING PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE? I NOW HAVE TO EITHER BUY ANOTHER CAR OR GET THIS ONE FIXED. *TR

BODY PANEL OF THE PASSENGERS IS ALL SCRATCHED AND THEIR IS CAMERAS IN MY BUILDING COMPLEX AND I TOLD THE OWNER TO CHECK THEM AND HE SAID IT WASN'T HIS PROBLEM AND NOW I'M SEEING MORE SCRATCHES AND I TOLD HIM AGAIN AND HE TOLD ME TO PARK OUTSIDE NOW NOT INSIDE WHEN I'M ACTUALLY PAYING $50 FOR THE PARKING EVERY MONTH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A SECTION OF THE SUB FRAME LOCATED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED DUE TO FLUID DRAINING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING DRAINAGE PIPE ONTO THE SUB FRAME. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.

I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP TO CHECK THE BRAKES AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT SUB FRAME WAS BADLY RUSTED. I CALLED A LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY COULD REPLACE THE SUB FRAME, BUT THEY REFERRED ME TO AN AUTOBODY SHOP, AS THEY COULDN'T DO THE WORK AT THE DEALERSHIP. I THEN GOT A SECOND OPINION AT ANOTHER SHOP. THEY SAID THAT I WOULD PROBABLY ONLY HAVE A FEW MONTHS LEFT BEFORE THE SUB FRAME BROKE FROM THE RUSTING. RUST IS ONLY A PROBLEM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, NOT THE DRIVERS SIDE, DESPITE LIVING IN A NORTHERN AREA AND PARKING ON THE STREET YEAR ROUND. HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE MUCH SINCE SUMMER 2014 AND AM STILL TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER TO REPLACE THE SUB FRAME OR SCRAP THE CAR, WHICH IS OTHERWISE FINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME AND ENGINE CRADLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.