Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Honda Accord submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 77 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 77, in the owner's own words
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
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED DUE TO THE CONDENSATION FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT SECTION OF THE SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SIERRA HONDA OF GRANDVILLE LOCATED AT 4260 KENOWA AVE SW, GRANDVILLE, MI 49418, WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
MY CROSS MEMBER BAR IS ROTTING AWAY
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.
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.
TAKATA RECALL? I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM MY CO WORKER WHICH STATED THESE ISSUES WERE ALREADY HAPPENING FOR MONTHS, FIRSTLY THE CLUSTER CLUSTERS INSTRUMENT GAGES DO NOT WORK (REPLACED THEM AND NOTHING HAPPENS) , ONLY THE GAGE LIGHTS TURN ON. THESE INCLUDE THE GAS GAGE, RPM, SPEEDOMETER, TEMP. WHICH IS ANOTHER ISSUE, THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES EVEN THOUGH YOU TRY TO BRIGHTEN THE LIGHTS WITH THE DIM KNOB THEY ARE HARDLY BRIGHTENED ITS HARD TO SEE THE CLOCK TIME OR ANY THING THAT LIGHTS UP TO HELP SEE AT NIGHT, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DONT WORK, THE HORN DOESNT WORK, CRUISE CONTROL DOESNT WORK. AS IF ALL THESE ARE TIED TOGETHER THRU THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. (CHECKED ALL FUSES AND REPLACED MOST) MY WIND SHIELD LEAKS IN THE TOP CORNERS, THE TRUNK FILLS WITH WATER EVERYONE IT RAINS DUE TO A LEAK. DEFECTS IN THE SEALING MY REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF ON MY WAY TO WORK TODAY AS WELL WHICH CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO CRACK AROUND WHERE THE MIRROR WAS. THE HOOD LATCH IS HARD TO CLOSE, I HAVE TO USE PLIERS TO PUSH DOWN THE LATCH BEFORE SHUTTING HOOD, (THIS IS ANOTHER PART I REPLACED WITH THE SAME FACTORY PART NUMBER) IT LOOKS TO BE THE SPRING. BALL JOINTS I AM GUESSING... WHEN BARELY TURNING THE WHEEL EITHER WAY YOU HEAR A GRINDING NOISE LIKE METAL AGAINST METAL. ITS A SCARY SOUND WHEN MAKING TURNS NOT SURE IF THE WHEEL IS YOU G TO BREAK OFF WHILE MAKING THE TURN A COSTLY ISSUE DAILY I HAVE TO ADD OIL TO THE VEHICLE THE OIL PUMP GASKET SEAL LEAKS EVERY TIME THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. EXTERIOR ISSUE THE PAINT LOOKS HORRIBLE DUE TO THE TOP CLEAR COAT PEELING. NOW AFTER RESEARCHING, I REALIZE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THESE ISSUES. PLEASE GET THESE ISSUES FIXED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE UPPER CONTROL ARM SQUEAKED AND WAS ABOUT TO DETACH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,800.
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.
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.
I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR OVER A YEAR AND THE CAR IS CHIPPING SO BAD.I AM UPSET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM!!PLUS MY DASH LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AND I HAVE RAN OFF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES.I HAVE CHECKED EVERYTHING AND I DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM.ZHONDA SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS.
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.
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.
CLEAR COAT BEGAN PEELING BACK IN 2005 AND I DEALT WITH IT UNTIL 2007 AND HAD SOMEONE REPAINT THE ENTIRE CAR FOR $900. 8 YEARS LATER, THE SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING. MUST BE THE METAL THAT HONDA USED ON THEIR CARS. IT IS VERY ANNOYING TO SAY THE LEAST. I SEE IT ON SEVERAL HONDA ACCORDS FROM THE SAME GENERATION.
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.
HTTP://WWW.NEWSNET5.COM/NEWS/LOCAL-NEWS/INVESTIGATIONS/CENTER-FOR-AUTO-SAFETY-REQUESTING-RECALL-OF-1-5-MILLION-HONDA-ACCORDS-FOR-RUST-ISSUE-IN-SUB-FRAME. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED
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
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
HEARD CLUNKING NOISE WHILE TURNING. FIGURED IT WAS A CV JOINT, TOOK IT TO MY VERY TRUSTED MECHANIC. HE CONFIRMED THE RIGHT JOINT WAS BAD, AND SAID THAT ON THE LEFT JOINT, THE BOOT WAS ALREADY OFF, AND IT IS SLINGING GREASE EVERYWHERE. MORE DISTURBING, HE ALSO SAID THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME IS DANGEROUSLY RUSTED OUT. HE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THAT THE "CRADLE", WHICH HOLDS UP THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. HE SAID "YOU ARE ONE POT-HOLE AWAY FROM TOTAL FAILURE...THE ENGINE WILL FALL TO THE GROUND. DO NOT DRIVE IT." I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR, BUT MY CAR FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE COVERED DATES. MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN DEC 1997, AND THE RECALL ONLY GOES THROUGH AUG 1997. QUITE FRANKLY, GIVEN THAT THE FAILURE MODE IS EXACTLY WHAT IS COVERED BY THE RECALL, I BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHILE I RECOGNIZE THAT THE CAR IS OLD, THE FRAME OF A 98 MODEL ACCORD SHOULDN'T CORRODE AND BREAK IN HALF, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. *TR
SUB-FRAME IS RUSTED OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BETWEEN THE CV AXLE AND TIE ROD. *TR
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 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.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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