IllustrationALTERNATOR DIED, WITH ONLY WARNING WAS ABS LIGHT ON, COULD NOT EVEN MAKE IT TO THE SHOP 10 MILES AWAY. CAR DIED COMPLETELY. I WAS TOLD THAT HONDA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE ALTERNATORS FOR THE 1999 AND 1998 MODELS.
1998 Honda Accord
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Accord years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Honda Accord are substantially higher than the model-year median of 356.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Accord years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
180–25K
3225–50K
7450–75K
11275–100K
141100–150K
114150K+
491 reports with mileage · 709 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 308 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 276 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 134 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
100 crash reports3 fire reports49 injury reports
What owners actually said
1,200 reportsUPON SLOWING DOWN WITH BRAKES ON, ENGINE STARTS TO BUCK AND WANTS TO QUIT, ALSO HAPPENS WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP POSITION. DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT HAS CAUSED A FEW SITUATIONS WHEREBY A COLLISON ALMOST OCCURRED. DEALER ADVISED, CHECKED OUT BY DEALER,STATED NOTHING FOUND WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER. NOTE-ABOVE DATES APPROX.…
Read full complaint
UPON SLOWING DOWN WITH BRAKES ON, ENGINE STARTS TO BUCK AND WANTS TO QUIT, ALSO HAPPENS WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP POSITION. DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT HAS CAUSED A FEW SITUATIONS WHEREBY A COLLISON ALMOST OCCURRED. DEALER ADVISED, CHECKED OUT BY DEALER,STATED NOTHING FOUND WOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER. NOTE-ABOVE DATES APPROX., HAVE DEALER INVOICE IF NEEDED.
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.
THE ENGINE COMPLETELY BLEW OUT ONE DAY. I WAS ON THE WAY TO WORK AND THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER MY HOOD. HONDA PUT IN A RE-BUILT ENGINE AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. A FEW MONTHS LATER...THE PAINT GRADUALLY STARTED TO FADE AWAY ON THE ROOF. IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE AND WILL GET MUCH WORSE. IT IS A 1998 HO…
Read full complaint
THE ENGINE COMPLETELY BLEW OUT ONE DAY. I WAS ON THE WAY TO WORK AND THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER MY HOOD. HONDA PUT IN A RE-BUILT ENGINE AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. A FEW MONTHS LATER...THE PAINT GRADUALLY STARTED TO FADE AWAY ON THE ROOF. IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE AND WILL GET MUCH WORSE. IT IS A 1998 HONDA!! THIS STUFF SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING!
I OWN A 1998 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN WHICH WAS BOUGHT IN DECEMBER OF 1998. LIKE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THE 1998-1999 MODELS, I AM HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE 100,000 MILES ON IT AND THE CAR IS SERVICED WHENEVER THE TIME CAME. MY DAD IS A MECHANIC SO HE WAS ALWAYS STRICT ON MAIN…
Read full complaint
I OWN A 1998 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN WHICH WAS BOUGHT IN DECEMBER OF 1998. LIKE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THE 1998-1999 MODELS, I AM HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE 100,000 MILES ON IT AND THE CAR IS SERVICED WHENEVER THE TIME CAME. MY DAD IS A MECHANIC SO HE WAS ALWAYS STRICT ON MAINTENANCE. EVEN TIMING BELT AND ALL OTHER BELTS WERE CHANGED OUT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I THOUGHT HONDA'S WERE RELIABLE. THIS IS A 5 YR. OLD CAR AND ALREADY THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I'VE CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED EVERYTHING. THEY GAVE ME A NUMBER TO HONDA OF AMERICA TO MAKE A COMPLAINT. THEY MADE A CLAIM AND CALLED ME BACK WITH NO HELP TO ME. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS REALLY BAD ALSO, NOT MUCH HELP AND WERE RUDE. THEY STATED THAT THE WARRANTY IS OVER AND WILL NOT COVER ANYTHING. NOW MY CAR IS JUST SITTING AT THERE AND CAN;T BE DRIVEN SAFELY. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS ON ALL THE GEARS AND WILL NOT DRIVE CORRECTLY. AT A STOP, THE CAR WOULD JERK BACK TO FIRST ROUGHLY AND THE WHEN I ACCELERATE, IT SLIPS ON FIRST GEAR AND THEN FINALLY CATCHES VIOLENTLY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN HONDA OVERALL. THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO BE RELIABLE CARS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THE MANY WHO ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUES. THE PRICE FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION IS 3500. I DIDN'T EXPECT TO BUY A NEW CAR IN 98 AND 5 YRS LATER HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THERE IS SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON WITH THE 98-99 TRANSMISSION. EVEN THE 00-01 ACCORDS HAVE NOW WARRANT WITH A 100,000 MILE/ 7 YR. WARRANTY. HONDA SEEMS TO KNOW SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW AND I THINK IT'S A RECALL. PLEASE HELP IF POSSIBLE. HERE'S A WEBSITE /FORUM WHERE MANY OTHERS ARE VOICING THEIR CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS. HTTP://WWW.AUTOFAN.COM/FORUM_THREAD.ASP?MESSAGE=5734 AND HTTP://WWW.AUTOFAN.COM/FORUM_THREAD.ASP?MESSAGE=3625 PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. THANK YOU, WAYNE LE. *AK
CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 70 MPH TO AVOID A DEER AND DRIVER'S SEAT DETACHED FROM SOME OF THE BOLTS. DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT SEAT LOOKED LIKE A ROCKING CHAIR. *AK
THE DRIVER HAS DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL IS TIGHT AND VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO ANOTHER GEAR UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS CAUSED A BANGING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
I HAVE A 1998 HUNTER GREEN HONDA ACCORD EX AND THE PAINT IS FADING ON THE TOP OF THE CAR. IS THIS A FACTORY DEFECT BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL HUNTER GREEN ACCORDS WITH ITS PAINT FADING IN THE SAME AREA AS MINE OR EITHER ON THE TRUNK. *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SHOOK. DEALER STATED ROTORS ARE WARPED, RUSTED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC
Official recalls
620V026000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jan 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 & remedy
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.
03V423000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Oct 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 & remedy
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.
02V120000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
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 & remedy
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.
99V069000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
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 & remedy
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.
98V018000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch
Feb 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 & remedy
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.
97V220000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Dec 16, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MOUNTING BRACKET WAS IMPROPERLY WELDED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE BRACKET TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE BODY IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THESE VEHICLES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA03017 · IGNITION-PARK Interlock
Opened Sep 9, 2003 · Closed Dec 17, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:ignition:switch; Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
SIX OF THE ODI COMPLAINTS ARE DUPLICATIVE OF HONDA COMPLAINTS, AS WELL AS FOUR OF THE CRASHES.THE ONE INJURY OCCURRED WHEN A ROLLAWAY VEHICLE STRUCK THE EXITING OPERATOR WHO HAD INADVERTENTLY PARKED THE VEHICLE IN AN UNSECURED STATE (NOT IN PARK, BRAKE NOT ENGAGED).HONDA IDENTIFIED THE WARRANTY CLAIMS FROM COMPLAINT DESCRIPTIONS THAT CONTENDED THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY.HONDA PRESENTED THE RESULTS OF THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILURES AT AN OCTOBER 16, 2003 MEETING WITH ODI IN WHICH HONDA IDENTIFIED A SUPPLIER AND AN ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION CHANGE FOR THE IGNITION CYLINDER BODY (CB), A SUBCOMPONENT OF THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY.RESULTS FROM HONDA?S ANALYSIS DEMONSTRATED A STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN THE PRODUCTION DATE RANGE OF VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCED HIGHER INTERLOCK WARRANTY CLAIM RATES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION DATES OF THE CHANGES.AN ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION FOR A SURFACE TREATMENT PROCESS FOR THE CB WAS ELIMINATED AT THE BEGINNING OF MY 1998.THE SUPPLIER OF THE CB WAS CHANGED IN FEBRUARY 1999.VEHICLES BUILT WITHIN THIS TIME PERIOD CONTAIN A CB WITH POOR SURFACE HARDNESS THAT CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.AS THE WEAR PROGRESSES, THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM BECOMES INCAPABLE OF PREVENTING KEY REMOVAL WHEN THE SHIFTER IS IN A NON-PARK POSITION.INTERLOCK FAILURE INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ROLLAWAY AND SUBSEQUENT CRASH OR INJURY WHEN VEHICLES ARE PARKED UNSECURED.HONDA ACCORD VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS CHANGE INCLUDE MY 1998 AND MY 1999 THROUGH FEBRUARY 1999 PRODUCTION.VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER THIS DATE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION AND THUS ARE NOT CONSIDERED AT RISK FOR FAILURE.ODI NOTES THAT 12 OF THE 13 VOQ REPORTS FALL WITHIN THIS PRODUCTION RANGE (THE 13TH DOES NOT HAVE A VIN AND CANNOT BE VERIFIED).THE ABOVE POPULATION REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF THE ACCORD VEHICLES TO BE RECALLED.HONDA ALSO REPORTED THAT CERTAIN ODYSSEY AND ACURA CL AND TL MODELS WERE AFFECTED AND WOULD ALSO BE RECALLED.A TOTAL OF 570,120 VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED.UNDER RECALL 03V-423, HONDA WILL INSPECT VEHICLES AND REPLACE COMPONENTS (INCLUDING THE CB) ON VEHICLES WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR.VEHICLES NOT SHOWING WEAR WILL HAVE A REDESIGNED PART INSTALLED WHICH PREVENTS WEAR.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:ignition:switch
SIX OF THE ODI COMPLAINTS ARE DUPLICATIVE OF HONDA COMPLAINTS, AS WELL AS FOUR OF THE CRASHES.THE ONE INJURY OCCURRED WHEN A ROLLAWAY VEHICLE STRUCK THE EXITING OPERATOR WHO HAD INADVERTENTLY PARKED THE VEHICLE IN AN UNSECURED STATE (NOT IN PARK, BRAKE NOT ENGAGED).HONDA IDENTIFIED THE WARRANTY CLAIMS FROM COMPLAINT DESCRIPTIONS THAT CONTENDED THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY.HONDA PRESENTED THE RESULTS OF THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILURES AT AN OCTOBER 16, 2003 MEETING WITH ODI IN WHICH HONDA IDENTIFIED A SUPPLIER AND AN ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION CHANGE FOR THE IGNITION CYLINDER BODY (CB), A SUBCOMPONENT OF THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY.RESULTS FROM HONDA?S ANALYSIS DEMONSTRATED A STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN THE PRODUCTION DATE RANGE OF VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCED HIGHER INTERLOCK WARRANTY CLAIM RATES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION DATES OF THE CHANGES.AN ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION FOR A SURFACE TREATMENT PROCESS FOR THE CB WAS ELIMINATED AT THE BEGINNING OF MY 1998.THE SUPPLIER OF THE CB WAS CHANGED IN FEBRUARY 1999.VEHICLES BUILT WITHIN THIS TIME PERIOD CONTAIN A CB WITH POOR SURFACE HARDNESS THAT CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.AS THE WEAR PROGRESSES, THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM BECOMES INCAPABLE OF PREVENTING KEY REMOVAL WHEN THE SHIFTER IS IN A NON-PARK POSITION.INTERLOCK FAILURE INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ROLLAWAY AND SUBSEQUENT CRASH OR INJURY WHEN VEHICLES ARE PARKED UNSECURED.HONDA ACCORD VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS CHANGE INCLUDE MY 1998 AND MY 1999 THROUGH FEBRUARY 1999 PRODUCTION.VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER THIS DATE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION AND THUS ARE NOT CONSIDERED AT RISK FOR FAILURE.ODI NOTES THAT 12 OF THE 13 VOQ REPORTS FALL WITHIN THIS PRODUCTION RANGE (THE 13TH DOES NOT HAVE A VIN AND CANNOT BE VERIFIED).THE ABOVE POPULATION REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF THE ACCORD VEHICLES TO BE RECALLED.HONDA ALSO REPORTED THAT CERTAIN ODYSSEY AND ACURA CL AND TL MODELS WERE AFFECTED AND WOULD ALSO BE RECALLED.A TOTAL OF 570,120 VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED.UNDER RECALL 03V-423, HONDA WILL INSPECT VEHICLES AND REPLACE COMPONENTS (INCLUDING THE CB) ON VEHICLES WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR.VEHICLES NOT SHOWING WEAR WILL HAVE A REDESIGNED PART INSTALLED WHICH PREVENTS WEAR.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
SIX OF THE ODI COMPLAINTS ARE DUPLICATIVE OF HONDA COMPLAINTS, AS WELL AS FOUR OF THE CRASHES.THE ONE INJURY OCCURRED WHEN A ROLLAWAY VEHICLE STRUCK THE EXITING OPERATOR WHO HAD INADVERTENTLY PARKED THE VEHICLE IN AN UNSECURED STATE (NOT IN PARK, BRAKE NOT ENGAGED).HONDA IDENTIFIED THE WARRANTY CLAIMS FROM COMPLAINT DESCRIPTIONS THAT CONTENDED THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY.HONDA PRESENTED THE RESULTS OF THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILURES AT AN OCTOBER 16, 2003 MEETING WITH ODI IN WHICH HONDA IDENTIFIED A SUPPLIER AND AN ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION CHANGE FOR THE IGNITION CYLINDER BODY (CB), A SUBCOMPONENT OF THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY.RESULTS FROM HONDA?S ANALYSIS DEMONSTRATED A STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN THE PRODUCTION DATE RANGE OF VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCED HIGHER INTERLOCK WARRANTY CLAIM RATES AND THE IMPLEMENTATION DATES OF THE CHANGES.AN ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION FOR A SURFACE TREATMENT PROCESS FOR THE CB WAS ELIMINATED AT THE BEGINNING OF MY 1998.THE SUPPLIER OF THE CB WAS CHANGED IN FEBRUARY 1999.VEHICLES BUILT WITHIN THIS TIME PERIOD CONTAIN A CB WITH POOR SURFACE HARDNESS THAT CAN WEAR PREMATURELY.AS THE WEAR PROGRESSES, THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM BECOMES INCAPABLE OF PREVENTING KEY REMOVAL WHEN THE SHIFTER IS IN A NON-PARK POSITION.INTERLOCK FAILURE INCREASES THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ROLLAWAY AND SUBSEQUENT CRASH OR INJURY WHEN VEHICLES ARE PARKED UNSECURED.HONDA ACCORD VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS CHANGE INCLUDE MY 1998 AND MY 1999 THROUGH FEBRUARY 1999 PRODUCTION.VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER THIS DATE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION AND THUS ARE NOT CONSIDERED AT RISK FOR FAILURE.ODI NOTES THAT 12 OF THE 13 VOQ REPORTS FALL WITHIN THIS PRODUCTION RANGE (THE 13TH DOES NOT HAVE A VIN AND CANNOT BE VERIFIED).THE ABOVE POPULATION REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF THE ACCORD VEHICLES TO BE RECALLED.HONDA ALSO REPORTED THAT CERTAIN ODYSSEY AND ACURA CL AND TL MODELS WERE AFFECTED AND WOULD ALSO BE RECALLED.A TOTAL OF 570,120 VEHICLES WILL BE RECALLED.UNDER RECALL 03V-423, HONDA WILL INSPECT VEHICLES AND REPLACE COMPONENTS (INCLUDING THE CB) ON VEHICLES WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR.VEHICLES NOT SHOWING WEAR WILL HAVE A REDESIGNED PART INSTALLED WHICH PREVENTS WEAR.
PE03014 · IGNITION-PARK Interlock System
Opened Apr 15, 2003 · Closed Sep 5, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
SIX OF THE ODI COMPLAINTS ARE DUPLICATIVE OF THE MANUFACTURER COMPLAINTS, AS WELL AS FOUR OF THE CRASHES.THE NOTED INJURY OCCURRED WHEN A ROLLAWAY VEHICLE THAT HAD BEEN INADVERTENTLY PARKED IN NEUTRAL STRUCK THE EXITING OPERATOR.THE WARRANTY CLAIM COUNT SHOWN FOR OTHER REPRESENTS INCIDENTS WHERE HONDA'S ANALYSIS OF CLAIM DETAIL INDICATES THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM UTILIZES A LEVER TO BLOCK IGNITION KEY REMOVAL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT IN PARK.HONDA HAS IDENTIFIED A WEAR CONDITION OF THE INTERLOCK LEVER THAT CAN CAUSE THE SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION; WHEN WEAR OCCURS THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE SHIFTER IS IN A NON-PARK POSITION.HONDA DOCUMENTS INDICATE THAT A MANUFACTURING PROCESS MAY BE THE CAUSE OF INTERLOCK LEVER WEAR, AND THAT THIS PROCESS WAS REVISED IN JANUARY OF 2001.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WILL BE OPENED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS CONCERN AND ITS SCOPE.
PE02072 · Seat Frame Bracket Failure
Opened Oct 2, 2002 · Closed Mar 28, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
THIS PE WAS OPENED BASED ON 10 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS IN THE ODI DATABASE ALLEGING THAT THE POWER ASSISTED SEATS WERE FAILING IN CERTAIN 1998-2002 HONDA ACCORD VEHICLES.FAILURES ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE 1998-99 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES.THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT BOTTOM TO THE SEAT BASE IS FRACTURING DUE TO: 1-THE WELD CONDITION OF BRACKET, 2-THE DRIVERS WEIGHT, AND 3-THE IMPACT ON THE SEAT WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERS THE VEHICLE AND SITS DOWN.OVER TIME THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT MAY FAIL AT THE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF THE SEAT BOTTOM.THE OTHER 3 POINTS OF ATTACHMENT OF THE SEAT BOTTOM TO THE SEAT BASE STAY ATTACHED AND THE SEAT MOVEMENT IS LIMITED.THE ATTACHMENT OF THE SEAT BOTTOM TO THE SEAT BACK DOES NOT FAIL.THE CONDITION IS MOST APPARENT DURING RAPID ACCELERATION CAUSING THE SEAT TO TILT REARWARD.ALTHOUGH A FEW COMPLAINTS REPORT CONCERN OVER LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, NO LOSS OF CONTROL INCIDENTS, CRASHES OR INJURIES ARE REPORTED.IN RESPONSE TO CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS, HONDA WILL PROVIDE OWNERS OF 1998 AND SOME 1999 ACCORDS A NO-COST REINFORCEMENT FOR THE SEAT AT THE LEFT FRONT CORNER.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.