1999 Honda ACCORD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,084 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
106,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 639 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 184 of 1,084 complaints (17.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 223 | 20.6% |
| Engine operation | 204 | 18.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 121 | 11.2% |
| Braking behavior | 87 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 58 | 5.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 184 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 172 |
| Electrical System | 170 |
| Air Bags | 43 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 41 |
| Power Train | 36 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 33 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 32 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 184; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 172; Electrical System: 170; Air Bags: 43; Engine And Engine Cooling: 41; Power Train: 36; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 33; Electrical System:Ignition: 32
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 40 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 91 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 136 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 198 |
| 150,000 and above | 153 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 40; 50,000 to 74,999: 91; 75,000 to 99,999: 136; 100,000 to 149,999: 198; 150,000 and above: 153
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (198). 445 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 49 |
| 2001 | 48 |
| 2002 | 146 |
| 2003 | 130 |
| 2004 | 148 |
| 2005 | 47 |
| 2006 | 42 |
| 2007 | 39 |
| 2008 | 48 |
| 2009 | 55 |
| 2010 | 53 |
| 2011 | 38 |
| 2012 | 46 |
| 2013 | 30 |
| 2014 | 45 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2016 | 30 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 26 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 49; 2001: 48; 2002: 146; 2003: 130; 2004: 148; 2005: 47; 2006: 42; 2007: 39; 2008: 48; 2009: 55; 2010: 53; 2011: 38; 2012: 46; 2013: 30; 2014: 45; 2015: 25; 2016: 30; 2017: 13; 2018: 5; 2019: 11; 2020: 26; 2021: 5; 2022: 1; 2023: 3; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 223 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 204 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 121 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000005 · 2002-12-11 (December 11, 2002)
THE KEY OF THE CAR CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WITHOUT FIRST PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. THIS MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO LEAVE THE CAR WITH THE KEY WITHOUT FIRST LOCKING THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS NOT A ONE-TIME EVENT BUT CAN BE DONE AT ANY TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000103 · 2002-12-13 (December 13, 2002)
TRANSMISSION MAKING GRINDING NOISE AND HAVING TROUBLE WITH GEARS AND ENGINE RPM. HONDA DEALER ADMITS IT'S TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. MILAGE IS ONLY 37500 MILES ON.VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND PUBLIC SAFETY. SHOULD RECALL OR EXTEND WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 37,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000370 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
ON 9/19/02, I WAS LEAVING A STORE WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO MAKE A RATTLING SOUND. I THEN LOST POWER STEERING, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR STALLED. I POPPED THE HOOD TO FIND THAT ALL OF THE ENGINE BELTS HAD BEEN THROWN. AFTER TWO DAYS AT THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS ADVISED THE CRANK BOLT (KEY WAY AND CRANKSHAFT PULLEY) HAD FAILED. THE HONDA DEALERSHIP (DON CARLTON, TULSA, OK) COULD OFFER NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IT HAPPENED, ONLY THAT I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. MY REPAIR BILL WAS $536.61. I ALSO INCURRED A $57.34 TOW BILL TO GET THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009602 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
INTERMITTENT STALLING DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. ALSO REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026834 · 2003-07-09 (July 9, 2003)
NHTSA# 02-V-120- 000: ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THIS RECALL FAILED IN THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026834 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032688 · 2003-08-12 (August 12, 2003)
SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE DASHBOARD CLOCK LIGHT WENT OUT, FOLLOWED BY THE AC ADAPTER. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER THE ADAPTER WENT OUT (WORKING SPURATICALLY) THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER LOCKS STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE CAR IS OFF AND/OR THE DOOR IS OPENED. I ALSO HAVE A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COME ON WHEN THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY ENGINE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032688 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005565 · 2003-02-09 (February 9, 2003)
BRAKE SWITCH INOP. THE BRAKE SWITCH GOES OUT REQUIRING THE MANUAL OVER-RIDE TO SWITCH THE CAR OUT OF PARK. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THE SWITCH GOES OUT, ALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. WE HAVE OWNED OUR 1999 HONDA ACCORD EX SINCE IT WAS NEW AND WE ARE NOW GOING ON OUR FOURTH BRAKE SWITCH. THIS LAST OCCURENCE IT APPEARS TO BE INTERMITENT. SO I DO NOT KNOW FOR HOW LONG WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING EVERY TIME WE USE OUR BRAKES. THE MILEAGE AND DATES OF …
Owner-reported narrative. 53,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011753 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES DUE TO DETERIORATION. THE TRUNK LATCH, TIMING BELT, BALANCER BELT, AND THE POWER DOOR ACTUATOR WERE REPLACED, THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ADJUSTED, THE ARE REST AND AXLE SEAL WAS REPLACED, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT, AND THE WINDOWS RATTLED. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015676 · 2003-04-21 (April 21, 2003)
THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE THERMOSTAT, BRAKES, ENGINE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT, OVERHEATING, SQUEALING WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING AT THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE WINDOW, THUMPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, MAINTENANCE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE, STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED, THE ABS LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT, AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED EARLY. MR SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011601 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)
THE VEHICLE DIED DUE TO THE FUEL LINE COMING OFF, WHICH WAS DUE TO THE FAULTY INSTALLATION OF THE GAS TANK. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS SENT A RECALL OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011601 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049081 · 2003-12-02 (December 2, 2003)
WHEN TEMPERATURE REACHES UNDER 32F, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, THE CAR WAS WARMED UP, AND AFTER DRIVING 1/2 MILE, THE CAR SHUT-DOWN AND WON'T RESTART. *AK PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE THE FUEL PUMP, ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, HE HAS KNOWN OF AT LEAST 20 ACCORDS FROM THE SAME MODEL 98-02, WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS, AND IT ALL WAS TRACED TO THE SAME MANUFACTURER WHO MADE THE FUEL PUMPS.
Owner-reported narrative. 62,575 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049081 at NHTSA ↗