Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. 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. 52 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 52, 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
WHILE I WAS CHANGING THE PASSENGER SIDE DRIVE AXLE OF A BROKEN CV JOINT BOOT LAST YEAR (JULY 2014), I NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED OUT (ABOUT 60% CAME THROUGH AND OFF WHEN I PUNCHED THE AREA WITH A SCREW DRIVER) WHERE THE STABILIZING BAR BRACKET AND LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT ARE MOUNTED TO THE FRAME. THE PROBLEM AREA OF THE SUBFRAME IS RIGHT UNDER THE DRAIN HOLE FOR THE A/C EVAPORATOR. THE SUBFRAME TO THE DRIVER SIDE IS CLEAN AND HAS NO RUST ISSUE. THE LOCATION OF THE RUST AREA SUGGESTS THAT IT MAY BE RELATED TO THE DRAIN HOLE OF THE A/C SYSTEM OR/AND SOMETHING SIMILAR (SUCH AS RAIN) THAT HAD LED TO WATER STAYING IN THE AREA. THE RUST IS GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. I CHECKED IT TODAY (JULY 23, 2015) AFTER NOTICING YELLOWISH DRIPPING MARKS LEFT ON THE DRIVER WAY. MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR THE DAY BEFORE WHEN THERE WAS A HEAVY RAIN. THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE DRIVE WAY (UP HILL ABOUT 15 DEGREES) OVER NIGHT. WHEN SHE PULLED THE CAR OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY THE NEXT DAY, WE SAW YELLOWISH WATER DRIPPING FROM UNDER THE CAR. SO, I LOOKED AT THE AREA. FOR SURE, IT'S GETTING WORSE THAN LAST YEAR. I PUNCHED AROUND AND GOT ABOUT A COUPLE OF SPOONFULS OF RUST OFF THE FRAME. I USED MY PRY BAR TO PRY AROUND THE AREA AND I CAN SEE THAT THE FRAME IS GETTING VERY WEAK. NOW I CAN SEE THE RUST IS PROGRESSING OVER TIME. AS THE AREA IS GETTING MORE RUSTED, THE STRUCTURE IS LOSING ITS STRENGTH. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND/OR THE STABILIZING BAR WILL COME OFF THE FRAME, CAUSING DISASTER ON THE ROAD. I SEARCHED THE INERNET ON THE ISSUE ("HONDA ACCORD SUBFRAME RUST"). THE ISSUE SEEMS VERY COMMON. THERE MUST BE A DESIGN FLAW (A/C DRAIN OR RAIN WATER) WITH THE CAR. IT SEEMS THAT THE ISSUE HAD NOT BEEN UNDERSTOOD AND TAKEN CARE OF BY HONDA. I AM URGING SOMEBODY LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE AND HAVE HONDA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. THANKS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE STEERING WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY WIRE HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
BRAKES FAILED WITH NO WARNING, CAUSE WAS BRAKE LINE BROKE FROM FRONT OF CAR TO REAR BRAKES. NEEDED TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP CAR. *TR
REAR BRAKES ON MY 1998 HONDA ACCORD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 20,000 MILES. *TR
CAR DID FINE FOR A WHILE THEN IT WENT CRAZY ON US. ACCELERATOR PETAL STICKS, BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK, HORN DOES NOT WORK, CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK, DOOR LOCKS WOULDN'T WORK, FRONT LEFT BLINKER WORKS ONLY SOMETIMES! *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE JERKED. WHILE TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE THE DEALER DETERMINED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SEAT BELT WAS SLOW TO RETRACT AND THE REAR BRAKES WERE SERVICE. UPDATED 11/30/06. *JB
DT: THE CONSUMER WAS EASING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT WALL. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON JUNE 7, 2005. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE FOR THIS PROBLEM. AFTER THE ACCIDENT CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BE REPAIRED. THEY DID NOT TELL HER WHAT HAD CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE THEY TOLD HER THAT SHE SHOULD GET A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT HER OWN EXPENSE. *AK
I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR TWO YEARS AND HAVE HAD TWO AXLES REPLACED, AS WELL AS ROTORS AND BREAKS REPLACED TWICE. THE BRAKES WEAR, THE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE HORN DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN PUSHED. RECENTLY I WENT TO GET AN INSPECTION STICKER AND FAILED BECAUSE OF THE EMISSIONS PART. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK BECAUSE A BULB IS MALFUNCTIONING WHICH MEANS THERE IS NO SENSOR, MY THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THERE IS SUPPOSEDLY A PROBLEM WITH MY FUEL TANK EVAPORATIVE EMISSION VALVE. RECENTLY MY CAR HAS SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS IN DRIVE AND CONTINUED TO ROLL. IT HAS ALSO TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL AND WOULD NOT START FOR TEN MINUTES. I HAVE INVESTED ALMOST 1500 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS FOR THIS CAR AND I WOULD LIKE HONDA TO REPAIR AND HOPEFULLY REIMBURSE ME FOR PAST REPAIRS. *NM
AT 88,740 MILES, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE/SHAKE WHEN BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC HAD TO TURN THE FRONT ROTORS DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR AND BEING OUT OF ROUND. NOW, AT THE PRESENT TIME WITH 100.000 MILES OF WEAR THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED AND THE FRONT ROTORS NEEDS TO BE TURNED AGAIN. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *JB
THE BRAKE ROTORS WEAR PREMATURELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATES THE PART IS UNDER ENGINEERED. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT COLLIDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *TC
MRS. KIMURA OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND PARKED. AS SHE WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE THE CAR BEGAN TO ROLL. THE CAR ROLLED OVER HER AND SHE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *AK IT WAS LATER LEARNED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY WITH THE TRANSMISION IN DRIVE . A RECALL NOTICE WAS FOUND ON THE NHTSA SITE AFTER THIS ACCIDENT DESCRIBING THE FAILURE.
PROBLEMS BEGAN WHEN I TOOK MY 1998 ACCORD EX IN TO HAVE THE 30,000 MILE SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THEM REPLACED AND WENT IN FOR ANOTHER MAJOR SERVICE CHECK A YEAR LATER AND WAS TOLD THE CAR NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AGAIN, THAT'S ONLY 18,000 MILES LATER. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TOLD ME REPLACING THE PADS EVERY 20,000 MILES IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THESE CARS. I, THEN, TOOK THE CAR TO A NON-HONDA REPAIR SHOP WHO REPLACED THE PADS AND GUARANTEED THEM FOR 48,000 MILES. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE SECOND MAJOR SERVICE CHECK MY CAR HORN WAS WORKING. AFTER LEAVING HONDA'S SERVICE SHOP THE HORN HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY AGAIN. WHEN I TURN THE ENGINE ON THE HORN TURNS OFF. AS LONG AS THE ENGINE'S OFF THE HORN WORKS WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I TOOK IT BACK TO HONDA WHO TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS PROBABLY RELATED TO A CABLE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND WOULD COST ME OVER $200 TO REPAIR. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT COULD BE THE KEY SWITCH AND THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE SWITCH BUT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. AGAIN THEY ESTIMATE $200 TO REPAIR. THIS CAR HAS NOT HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR, IT IS A 1998 AND HAS LESS THAN 48,000 MILES ON IT TODAY. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN WHAT THEY ARE TELLING ME AND AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH MY HONDA AND THE SERVICE THAT I AM GETTING.
I WAS BACKING UP IN A PARKING LOT. MY CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT WORK. IT WAS LIKE I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED AFTER I CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE AND HIT A TREE.
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SHOOK. DEALER STATED ROTORS ARE WARPED, RUSTED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC
THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE VERY CLOSE TOGETHER. BECAUSE OF THE CLOSENESS OF THE TWO PEDALS, WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED. THIS NEARLY CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WITH OTHER VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON THE FREEWAY CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO EXIT BELTWAY OFF A RAMP, APPLIED THE BRAKES, BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE VEERED OVER THE MEDIAN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE COMING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND CONSUMER SUSTAINED ABRASIONS TO THE CHEST, NECK, ARMS AND FACE.*AK
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT A LOW MILEAGE, ALSO THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WAS REPLACED AND THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED.*JB
SECOND TIME THE ABS LIGHT HAS COME ON WHILE DRIVING. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY THE DEALER TWICE. THEY RESET IT TWICE. NOW RECENTLY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. RESET IT MYSELF FOUR TIMES...AND IT COMES ON AGAIN AFTER I LET OF THE GAS GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY. DON'T LIKE SPENDING $70 TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT AND FIND NOTHING.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE WORN, IN WHICH THE DEALER REPLACED, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON AND THE STALLING.*JB
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A DELAY. ONCE CONSUMER TAKES FOOT OFF BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKE IS STILL ENGAGED. WILL NOT RELEASE FOR ABOUT 10 FEET. DEALER STATED THIS WAS NORMAL FUNCTION.*AK
1) THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. A BUMP WOULD FINALLY MAKE IT GO OFF. PAID TO HAVE FUEL CAP REPLACED, DIDN'T HELP. PUT FUEL CAP OF 2000 ACCORD ON, DIDN'T HELP. DISABLED SENSOR FROM CAP, FINALLY RESOLVED LIGHT ISSUE. BECAME INVALID, AND DROVE WITH BRAKE ON SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO FREQUENCY OF LIGHT BEING ON. 2) SRS LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT REASON. DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS (3) INDICATED NOTHING WAS WRONG. FINALLY REPLACED THE SENSOR AND PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED.
WAS IN A 35 MPH ZONE AND WAS TO STOP FOR RED LIGHT AND TO TURN LEFT. SERVICE ROAD BETWEEN ME AND FLAT-BACK BIG TRUCK THAT HAD ALREADY STOPPED FOR LIGHT. PUT ON BRAKES AND STARTED ACCELERATING, AND HAD NO BRAKES OR STEERING. WAS RAINING. PROBABLY HYDROPLANED. PICKED UP SPEED AND WENT HEAD-ON INTO BACK OF PARKED TRUCK. I AM INJURED AND AM UNDER DOCTORS CARE. BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED BUT DIDN'T. WHOLE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS SMASHED. HAVE PICTURES. *AK
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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