1999 Honda Accord Body & Structure Problems

The contact owns a 1999 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front of the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The contact's father inspected the vehicle and discovered that the sub-frame was severely corroded. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to an A/C condensation leak onto the sub-frame, causing the sub-frame to corrode. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 188,000.

The subframe is rotting out and I’m feeling unsafe driving it

MY WIFE HAD PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN THE 1999 MODEL YEAR AND I REALIZE HONDA IS PROBABLY EXPECTING THESE CARS TO BE PAST THEIR USEFUL LIFE. UNFORTUNATELY UNAWARE CONSUMERS AND YOUNG ADULTS WILL BUY THESE EXPECTING TO PILE MILES ON THESE WHICH HONDA IS KNOWN FOR. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE SUBFRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. I PERSONALLY WATCHED THIS PARTICULAR PART OF THE CAR RAPIDLY RUST AND DETERIORATE EVEN AFTER COATING IT WITH SOME RUST INHIBITORS. THE PROBLEM AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS DRIPPING CONDENSATION ON THE FRAME CAUSING THE STRUCTURE TO ROT. I REALIZED IT WAS ALMOST ROTTED THROUGH WHEN I WAS PUTTING ON A NEW PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ON, SO NOT WANTING TO PUT MONEY IN THAT KIND OF REPAIR, I GUESS MY CAR IS DONE. MY POINT IS BUYER BE WARE, HONDA HAD TO KNOW AND I STILL SEE THESE 1999 TO 2002 MODELS RUNNING AROUND.

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1999 HONDA ACCORD LX. I RECENTLY BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR MY ANNUAL INSPECTION. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS RUSTED THROUGH ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE POSITION OF THE AIR CONDITIONING DRAINAGE HOSE, WHICH DRAINS DIRECTLY ONTO THE SUBFRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. FURTHER, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AMONGST 1998-2002 HONDA ACCORD VEHICLES. THIS ISSUE, WHICH RESULTS FROM A DESIGN FLAW, POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF ANY OCCUPANTS OF HONDA ACCORDS FROM THESE YEARS.

AC DRAIN HOLE IS ABOVE THE FRAME OVER TIME IT CAUSED RUST AND NOW IT AND CRACKED, AND ALMOST HAS BROKEN COMPLETELY.

FRAME HAS RUSTED DUE TO AC DRAIN HOLE FROM THE EVAPORATOR. DUE TO WATER DRIPPING ON THE FRAME, FRAME HAS A BREAK CAUSING IT TO HIT THE BODY EVERYTIME YOU HIT A BUMP AND THE SWAY BAR IS CONNECTED TO THE PART OF THE FRAME THAT HAS BROKE.

1999 HONDA ACCORD LX SUB-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS BEING RUSTED OUT, BETWEEN THE ANTI-SWAY BAR MOUNT AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO SUB-FRAME BUSHING. IN CONTRAST, THE SAME AREA ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS IN GREAT SHAPE. THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE AC CONDENSATION DRAIN LINE DIRECTS WATER TO THIS SUB-FRAME SECTION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT IS MAINLY A DESIGN FLAW THAT ONLY SHOWS UP OVER TIME. MECHANICS DEEM IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND COULD CAUSE A FATAL CRASH WHEN RUSTED OUT. HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SUB-FRAME COULD COST UP TO SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. HONDA SHOULD DO A RECALL TO HAVE IT REPLACED.

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, REAR CHAMBER OF FRONT SUBFRAME RUST. REPORTS OF A/C DRAIN RESULTING IN RUST. DRIVER SIDE OF SUBFRAME, NO VISIBLE RUST.

I BOUGHT A 1999 HONDA ACCORD EX FOR MY NIECE. AFTER DRIVING IT TO GET TIRES, I HEARD A CLUNK/SCRAPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I NOTICE THE SUBFRAME IS RUSTED CLEAN THROUGH. RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE A/C DRAIN DRIP. THE CAR DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT. THE UPPER BALL JOINT IS COMPRAMISED. THE SWAY BAR MOUNT BOLTS RIGHT TO THAT AREA.

MY ACCORD WAS MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN HITTING SMALL BUMPS AT ALL SPEEDS. THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS ANALYZED AS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNLESS THE FRONT SUB-FRAME WAS REPLACED. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SUB-FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND WAS LOOSE FROM THE CAR'S BODY AND VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. OTHER AREAS OF THE SUB-FRAME HAVE MINIMAL RUST AND DON'T HAVE THIS ISSUE. MY MECHANIC HAS SEEN THIS ISSUE IN MANY OTHER HONDA ACCORDS IN THIS AGE RANGE AND SAYS IT'S CAUSED BY THE AC'S CONDENSER DRAIN THAT'S LOCATED RIGHT ABOVE THAT AREA OF THE SUB-FRAME. HONDA MOVED THE DRAIN LOCATION IN THE 2003/2004 MODEL. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS IN THE $2500 AREA WHICH IS MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. HONDA SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL FOR SUCH A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED DUE TO THE AIR CONDITIONING HOSE LEAKING. THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

1999 HONDA ACCORD EX V6 DIDN'T PASS INSPECTION DUE TO RUSTED SUBFRAME. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE ITS A DESIGN FLAW. WATER FROM AIR CONDITIONER DRIPS ONTO SUBFRAME. SINCE THE VALUE OF THE CAR IS THE SAME AS THE COST OF REPAIR, I HAVE TO GET RID OF THE CAR SINCE I CANT SEE SPENDING THAT KIND OF MONEY ON A. *TR

TOOK MY 1999 HONDA ACCORD TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE & MULTI-POINT INSPECTION ON 2/16/15. I WAS TAKEN INTO THE GARAGE AND SHOWN A HOLE ABOUT 2" ACROSS IN THE SUBFRAME NEAR THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS DUE TO SALTY ROADS AND RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS FLAGGED AS "UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN" BY THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND I WAS ADVISED TO EITHER REPAIR OR STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WAS TOLD THE FRAME COULD DROP DOWN OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO COME INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN THE EVENT OF A FRONT END CRASH. COST TO REPAIR WAS ESTIMATED AT $1600. DEALERSHIP SAID I COULD NOT SELL THE CAR WITHOUT DISCLOSING THE DEFECT. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE CAR WOULD ONLY HAVE SCRAP VALUE AT $350-500 AS NO ONE WOULD PUT THE NECESSARY REPAIRS INTO A 16 YEAR OLD CAR. PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO NHTSA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, WHICH HONDA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SEEMED SURPRISED WHEN I SAID THIS WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" WITH THE '99 ACCORDS. *TR

MY CAR HAS BEEN MAKING CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE BOTTOM FOR ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS AND HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, HE SHOWED ME THE CRADLE/SUBFRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RUSTED HEAVILY AND ALMOST BREAKING OFF. IN RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1999-2002 ACCORDS, DUE TO WATER LEAKING FROM AC CONDENSATION. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED AS A SERIOUS MECHANICAL/FRAME ISSUE WITH POSSIBILITY OF BECOMING CATASTROPHIC. MY MECHANIC IS LOOKING TO ORDER THE SUBFRAME FROM AN HONDA DEALER BUT I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN PROBLEM. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY HONDA. *TR

THE SUBFRAME OF MY 1999 HONDA ACCORD EX HAS ROTTED THROUGH. THIS IS LOCATED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE STRUT ASSEMBLY, PRESUMABLY BENEATH THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN, AS NOTED BY OTHERS ON POSTINGS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB. THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION OTHERWISE, ESPECIALLY WITH VERY LOW MILES (77,000 MILES) I CONTACTED HONDA OF AMERICA AND THEY STATE THAT THE ROT IS NOT COVERED BY THEM. THIS WILL COST ME $1800 TO REPAIR. THERE IS NO OTHER ROT ON THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 77,000 MILES. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT APPEARS TO BE THE RESULT OF A DESIGN FLAW RELATING TO THE LOCATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN. HONDA SHOULD BE MADE TO REPAIR THIS UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW SUBFRAME WAS NEEDED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 287,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SIX OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUB FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,016.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

THE SUB-FRAME IS RUSTED ON PASSENGERS SIDE CORNER. MANUFACTURERS DEFECT DUE TO PLACEMENT OF DRAIN FOR A/C ALL OTHER SIDES ARE OK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE BEING SERVICED, IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE PRIVATE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENTIRE SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,870. *TR