1998 Honda ACCORD: complaints, problems and recalls

THE HORN SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT. WE HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 12 TIMES PRIOR AND EACH TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT WORK BUT THERE HAS BEEN THREE CLOSE CALLS WHERE THE HORN DID NOT WORK AND A CAR BACKING ALMOST HIT MY CAR. WE HAD TO YELL TO MAKE THE OTHER CAR STOP! TODAY 12/11/02 WE HAD YET ANOTHER VERY CLOSE CALL AND THE DEALER FINALLY WAS ABLE TO SEE THERE IS A FAULT AS THE HORN DID NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED. THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND MAY COST OVER $250 TO FIX! PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS A SAFE…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,763 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000030 at NHTSA ↗

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM HONDA DATED "SUMMER 2002" TO REPLACE AN IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 1998 ACCORD. WITHIN 24 HOURS I CALLED THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE CAR, SCHALLER HONDA OF NEW BRITAIN, CONN. I LEFT A DETAILED MESSAGE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. NOT HEARING ANY KIND OF RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER EVEN AFTER A REPEAT TELEPHONE CALL, I WAITED MORE THAN 60 DAYS (MORE LIKE 120 DAYS) TO CALL THE AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE. THIS WAS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, AND AGAIN I HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THUS THIS COMPLAINT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000181 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 1998 HONDA ACCORD 4-DOOR. SOMETIMES THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT RECOIL WHEN I REMOVE IT. I GETS HUNG UP IN THE SWITCH THAT MOVES THE SEAT BACK. ON THE DATE BELOW, I HAD MY SON IN A FORWARD FACING CAR SEAT IN THE MIDDLE REAR SEAR. I PARKED AND UNCLIPPED MY SEAT BELT AND OPENED THE TRUNK. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND SHUT THE DOOR BUT DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS PUSHING AGAINST THE SEAT BACK SWITCH AND LOWERED THE SEAT BACK ALL THE WAY DOWN. IT CAUGHT MY SON'S FOOT BETWEEN HIS CAR SEAT AND THE SEAT BACK. HE W…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000653 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001664 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH ONLY 54,168 MILES ON VEHICLE. MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND SECONDARY SHAFT TO OVERHEAR AND WEAR OUT. CONSUMER HAD 52,500 MILE SERVICE PERFORMED ON VEHICLE BY DEALER WHO DID NOT DISCOVER ANY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT THAT TIME. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 54,168 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001912 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE PARKWAY, CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED LOOSING POWER. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER STATES ONE WEEK LATER VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE, HARD TO SWITCH GEARS, AND THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002373 at NHTSA ↗

THE PASSENGER SEAT OF MY 1998 HONDA ACCORD BROKE UPON REAR-END CRASH(MY HONDA WAS HIT IN THE REAR) AND THE SEAT DID NOT HOLD THE RECOIL IMPACT OF A SEAT-BELTED PASSENGER CAUSING INJURY TO PASSENGER.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002876 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF AND PARKING BRAKE IS ENGAGED. CONSUMERS KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONSUMERS TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED IN WHICH HE INCURRED THE LABOR CHARGE OF $572.40. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION HAPPENED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO HIM. THE CONSUMER HAS A HONDA CR-V THAT HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AS WELL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003957 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-05-16 (May 16, 2002)

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.

Consequence: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

Reported: 2003-10-27 (October 27, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY WEAR EXCESSIVELY AND PREVENT PROPER INTERLOCK OPERATION, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY TO THE "OFF" POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO "PARK."

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT SHIFT TO "PARK" BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY AND FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERFORM AN INSPECTION PROCEDURE THAT DETERMINES THE AMOUNT OF CYLINDER BODY WEAR. IF SIGNIFICANT WEAR IS INDICATED, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE CYLINDER BODY, COLLAR, AND LATCH PLATE. IF NO SIGNS OF WEAR ARE INDICATED, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LATCH PLATE WITH A REDESIGNED PART. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

Reported: 2020-01-17 (January 17, 2020)

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.

Reported: 1997-12-16 (December 16, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MOUNTING BRACKET WAS IMPROPERLY WELDED.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE BRACKET TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE BODY IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THESE VEHICLES.

Reported: 1998-02-10 (February 10, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES (HONDA ACCORD SEDANS MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 TO JANUARY 10, 1998; COUPES MANUFACTURED DECEMBER 11, DECEMBER 15, 1997, AND JANUARY 5, 1998; ACURA 2.3CL MANUFACTURED OCTOBER 22, 1997 THROUGH JANUARY 7, 1998). DURING MANUFACTURING, THE CASTING DIE CAUSED AN IRREGULARITY IN THE RIGHT-SIDE TRANSMISSION COVER. THIS IRREGULARITY CAN LIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF THE PARKING PAWL ACTUATION LEVEL AND PREVENT ADEQUATE ENGAGEMENT OF THE PARKING GEAR PAWL. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION."

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN AN INCLINE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS LOCKED IN "PARK," INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A COLLAR ON THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL TO ENSURE PROPER MOVEMENT OF THE ACTUATION LEVER.

Reported: 1999-05-10 (May 10, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.