1999 Honda Accord Suspension Problems

The contact owns a 1999 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel was vibrating abnormally. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had the alignment checked by an independent mechanic who determined that the passenger’s side subframe was extremely rusted, causing the vehicle to be out of alignment. The mechanic also advised the contact that the A/C drain tube had drained over the subframe on the passenger side and might have been a contributing factor to the extreme rusting of the subframe. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

MY 1999 HONDA ACCORD V6 HAS A RUSTED SUBFRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY DRIPPING WATER FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE DRIVERS SIDE SUBFRAME IS IN PERFECT CONDITION. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH UNCOVERS SEVERAL NEWS STORIES AND OFFICIAL INQUIRIES TO HONDA FOR AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM. FURTHER NO DEALER OR MECHANICS UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO ME. AFTER SEEING THE EXTENSIVE RUST MISSING SECTIONS IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO NOT SEE THE DAMAGE WHEN CHANGING THE OIL. EVEN I CAN TELL THERE IS A PROBLEM. MY CAR IS NOW INOPERABLE BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE. AT THE MOMENT IT ONLY HAS 110K MILES OR APPROX 6K A YEAR. I DON'T SEE A RECALL FOR THIS YET THE ISSUE SEEMS COMMON.

THE FRONT SUBFRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH ON ONE SIDE ONLY. IT'S THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE AC DRAIN HOSE DIPS ON THE FRAME. THE CAR IS IN OTHERWISE GOOD SHAPE AND DOESN'T PRESENT ANY REAL ISSUES BUT THE RUST IS SO BAD THAT IT IS MAKING THE CAR VERY UNSAFE.

FORWARD CRADLE SUBFRAME (REAR BEAM) RUSTED OUT. WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE READ. I WAS WONDERING IF HONDA HAS HAD A RECALL WITH THE ISSUE?

WHILE TRYING TO GET CV SHAFTS REPLACED, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY FRONT SUBFRAME REAR CROSSMEMBER, SPECIFICALLY THE PASSENGER SIDE, HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE TOP HALF AND WAS THUS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, THE SAME AREA THAT RUSTED AWAY IS DIRECTLY BELOW THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN PIPE. IT STANDS TO REASON THAT THIS DRAIN PIPE DIRECTS WATER RIGHT ONTO THE SUB FRAME IN THIS SECTION, WHICH WOULD CAUSE IT TO RUST OUT FASTER THAN THE REST OF THE FRAME. MY SUPPORTING EVIDENCE FOR THIS IS AS FOLLOWS: 1) THERE ARE 316,000+ MILES REGISTERED ON THE ODOMETER AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GARAGE KEPT. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT SURFACES EXPOSED TO ROAD DEBRIS, SALT, AND WATER SHOULD BE EQUALLY AS RUSTED. 2) THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY INTACT. 3) THE AFFECTED PORTION OF THE SUBFRAME IS ACTUALLY THE SUPERIOR (TOP) ASPECT WHICH IS DIRECTLY BELOW THE DRAIN PIPE, AS OPPOSED TO THE INFERIOR (BOTTOM) ASPECT, WHICH IS CLOSER TO THE ROAD. JUST 2 MONTHS BEFORE I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THIS INDEPENDENT SHOP FOR CV SHAFT SERVICE, I HAD A HONDA DEALERSHIP, SPECIFICALLY CLASSIC HONDA LOCATED IN STREETSBORO, OHIO PERFORM A FRONT SWAY BAR BUSHING SERVICE AND I RECEIVED A COMPLEMENTARY INSPECTION. FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE SWAY BAR BUSHING LOCATION, THE BUSHINGS ARE HELD AGAINST THE FRONT SUBFRAME REAR CROSSMEMBER VIA BRACKETS THAT BOLT IN. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THE HONDA TECHNICIAN WHO SERVICED MY VEHICLE LOOKED AT THE DAMAGED SUBFRAME. NOT ONLY DID THEY FAIL TO DETECT THIS ISSUE DURING THE SERVICE, THEY ALSO FAILED TO DETECT THIS ISSUE DURING THE INSPECTION FOR WHICH I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT THEY LOOK AT THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION TO ASSESS SAFETY. IF THIS SUBFRAME WOULD HAVE FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION, TAKING AWAY MY ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THROWING DEBRIS.

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER AND WAS GOING TO DO MY BRAKES ON IT AND NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME IS ROTTED OUT DOE TO WHERE THE AIR CONDITIONER HOSE SITS THIS IS A SAFTEY HAZARD DUE TO THE MOTOR CAN DROP OUT OR MY NEW DRIVER COULD GET INTO A ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS NO RUST VERY CONCEREND WHY HONDA HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON THIS IT IS ALL OVER UTUBE DUE TO FAILURE OF THIS PART HONDA NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO FOR NOT LOOKING AT THERE VEICHLES PROPERLY YOU SEE IT WHEN YOU DO AN OIL CHANGE SOMEONE IS GOING TO SERIOUSLY GET HURT OR DIE PLEASE HAVE THEM RECLL THIS SAFETY HAZARD FOR ALL HONDA OWNERS

MY DAUGHTER WAS HOME FROM SCHOOL AND COMPLAINED OF S CLUNKING SOUNDS WHEN TURNING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT. I REMOVED THE WHEEL AND FOUND THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED OUT ON THE REAR ON BOTH SECTIONS. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE 1998 TO 2002 HONDA ACCORDS. THE LEFT SIDE WAS FINE. THIS SEEMS TO BE DUE THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSATE DRIPPING ON THE FRAME AREA. LUCKILY THIS WAS FOUND IN TIME BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE COULD HAVE OCCURRED.

1999 ACCORD 4 DR 3.0 WITH MAJOR RUST IN FRONT RIGHT SUB-FRAME UNDER THE AC DRIP HOSE. MAJOR FAILURE TO THAT PART IS ANYTIME NOW. THE OTHER SIDE IN SAME AREA IS RUST FREE. CAR IS 98% RUST FREE. GARAGED, 118K CURRENTLY. GOOGLING THIS ISSUE POPS UP MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS DEFECT!

I HAVE A 1999 HONDA ACCORD AND I JUS PAID TO GET FRONT HEADLIGHT WIRE REPLACED BECAUSE I COULD NOT USE LOW BEAM LIGHTS ONLY HIGH BEAM. LIGHT IS WORKING NOW BUT THERE IS A SUSPENSION AND/OR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM I NEED TO CHECK. THE HEAT/AIR DOESNOT COME ON? IS THIS CAR SAFE TO DRIVE?

THE ISSUE IS NOT REALLY "SUSPENSION", BUT SUB-FRAME. IT IS A PART CALLED THE REAR BEAM AND IT SUPPORTS THE REAR ENGINE MOUNT. PART NUMBER 50200-S84-A00 HAS RUSTED ENTIRELY THROUGH. AS NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED ONLINE, IT IS TRUE THAT AN A/C DRAIN HOSE DRIPS RIGHT ONTO THIS PIECE OF SUB-FRAME AND COMPLETELY RUSTED IT THROUGH UNTIL IT BROKE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE OTHER AREAS OF THIS PART AND THE ATTACHED FRONT BEAM ARE IN FINE CONDITION AND THE REPAIR LOOKS TO BE ABOUT $2000. I HAVE SOME PICTURES IF NEEDED. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD A LOUD CLUNK COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. AFTER THIS NOISE, THE CAR DID NOT DRIVE OR STEER PROPERLY. UPON INSPECTION, DISCOVERED THE SUB-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THIS SUB-FRAME PROVIDES MOUNTING POINTS FOR MAJOR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS NOT RUSTED AT ALL. EVEN FURTHER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN HOSE ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE DRAINS DIRECTLY ON TO THE SUB-FRAME BELOW WHERE THE EXCESSIVE RUST CAUSED THE SUB FRAME TO DETERIORATE. *TR

I HEARD A KNOCK IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND TOOK THE ACCORD INTO AN AUTO SHOP THAT WAS OPEN ON SUNDAY. THEY PUT IT ON THE LIFT AND FOUND THE ENGINE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THEY SAID THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WOULD REQUIRE A NEW SUBFRAME. IT'S THE ONLY RUST ON THE CAR. RESEARCH ONLINE FOUND THAT IN 2012 THE CENTER FOR AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY IDENTIFIED THIS AS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH ACCORDS, AS HONDA DESIGNED THE AC TO VENT CONDENSATION DIRECTLY ONTO THE SUBFRAME. THEY ASKED HONDA TO DO A VOLUNTARY RECALL, AS BOTH TOYOTA AND FORD DID WITH SIMILAR ISSUES FOR SIMILAR YEARS. HONDA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS BEING A PROBLEM, AND DENIED THE RECALL. *TR

THE FRONT CROSS BEAM THAT HOLDS THE SUSPENSION HAS RUSTED THROUGH ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. THIS HAS WEAKENED THE FRAME/ENGINE CRADLE TO THE POINT THE CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. IN CHECKING IT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A BADLY DESIGNED AC DRAIN SYSTEM. *TR

WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME OR CRADLE ON OUR 1999 HONDA ACCORD IS RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR AND DUE TO THE RUST, ANY PARTS THAT ATTACH TO THE SUBFRAME, SUCH AS THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND STRUTS, CANNOT BE SAFELY REPLACED DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE SUBFRAME. THE MECHANIC ESTIMATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WILL BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE WITHIN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS AND SUGGESTED IT BE REPLACED. IN A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF 1999 ACCORDS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS THE SUB FRAME IS RUSTED DUE TO THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN. ENGINE RUNS GREAT BUT THE DESIGN IS FLAWED. *TR

WHILE HAVING ROUTINE SERVICE DONE AT A HONDA DEALER, MY DAUGHTER WAS TOLD THE CAR NEEDED SOME SERIOUS FRONT END WORK. SHE WAS NOT GIVEN AN ITEMIZED LIST OF THE PROBLEM BY THE DEALER. WHEN I HAD MY LOCAL MECHANIC LOOK AT THE FRONT END HE SAID PART OF THE FRAME ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS BADLY RUSTED. WHILE SEARCHING ON LINE FOR PARTS I WAS MADE AWARE THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS QUITE COMMON FOR HONDAS OF SIMILAR MAKE AND YEAR. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE LOWER RIGHT SUB FRAME IS DISINTEGRATED TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. OTHER PARTS DO NOT APPEAR AFFECTED.

UPON INSPECTION, THE RIGHT REAR PORTION OF THE FRONT SUB FRAME IS RUSTED AND DISINTEGRATED TO A POINT WHERE THE CAR IS NOT CONSIDERED SAFE TO OPERATE. THE FRAME SECTION HAS LOST SO MUCH MATERIAL THAT IT FLEXES WHEN DOWNWARD PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE HUB ASSEMBLY. THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRONT FRAME IS INTACT AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL SHOWING NO SIMILAR SIGNS OF RUST. *TR

WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR THE AC WAS NOT WORKING SO I HAD IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT CONNECTED AND WAS TOLD THAT HONDA'S HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRAMES ROTTING OUT DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE AC DRAIN. UPON HAVING THE FRAME INSPECTED WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS ANOTHER STATE INSPECTION. MY CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE BODY WISE WITH NO OTHER RUST. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND UPON RESEARCHING ON LINE HAVE SEEN THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY HONDA IS NOT BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE REPAIRS. HONDA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CAR OF CHOICE FOR MY FAMILY BUT AFTER THIS I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER HONDA. *TR

I TOOK MY 1999 HONDA ACCORD EX (213,500 MILES) TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER FOR A FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENT. UPON THE TECHNICIAN REMOVING THE TIRE AND WORKING TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARING, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE SUB-FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT AND NOTED THE ENTIRE SUB-FRAME SHOULD BE REPLACED. IT WAS ALSO NOTED AND INSPECTED THAT THE FRONT LEFT (DRIVER) SIDE WAS NOT RUSTING OR ROTTED. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER EXPLAINED THAT IT COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD AND DAMAGING TO THE VEHICLE IF THE SUB-FRAME COMPLETELY ROTTED APART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TURNED COMPLETELY TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION COLLAPSED AND CAUSED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO SINK TO THE GROUND. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, TIE ROD, AND PASSENGER SIDE AXLE WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A THIRD TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.