Problems · NHTSA complaints

1998 Honda Accord problems

Owners filed 1,215 complaints about the 1998 Honda Accord with NHTSA between Oct 1997 and May 2023. The most-cited component is electrical system (310).

Complaints
1,215
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
101
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
66
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system310
  2. Power train277
  3. Engine and engine cooling132
  4. Air bags80
  5. Structure76
  6. Vehicle speed control67
  7. Suspension61
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic43
  9. Fuel system, other38
  10. Fuel system, gasoline36
  11. Steering30
  12. Equipment30
  13. Seat belts27
  14. Visibility25

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19975
199874
1999195
200057
200162
2002149
2003126
2004126
200544
200634
200728
200842
200936
201034
201126
201222
201319
201433
201531
201613
201713
201812
20193
202022
20215
20222
20232

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

310 reports9 crashes3 fires2 related recalls
“When I was driving my 98 Honda accord lx . I notice it shuts off itself if hitting a hard bump . Then I noticed online they had folks saying that the ignition switch was beginning to be a big issue . I nearly died after picking my 2 kids up from school the car shut off in the middleof the intersection.it’s even a recall on the insurance app about the same part . Do I need to call Honda myself and I shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for this . Everything shuts off no lies no throttle until I shift in nuetral to crank vehicle up”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 23, 2023Electrical systemODI 11523565

Power train

277 reports13 crashes1 related recall
“DURING THE NORMAL SPEED ON THE 40 MILE PER HOUR STREET TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STACK AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 30 MILE PER HOUR .AFTER THAT DATE THIS CONDITION CONTINUES ON AND OFF .ON THE OTHER SIDE THE TRANSMISSION CHANGES THE SPEED ONLY IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. ALL NESESSARY TRANSMISSION ADJUSTMENTS HAS BEEN DONE. ORAL MECHANICAL ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR COSTS $ 2200”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 7, 2021Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 11395039

Engine and engine cooling

132 reports2 crashes
“THE ENGINE FAILS WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE, THEN AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, THE ENGINE FAILS. ALL BRAKING AND POWER FUNCTIONS FAIL. THIS OCCURS AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND DATES. THERE DOES NOT SEEN TO BE ANY REASON FOR IT. THE ENGINE RUNS FINE WHEN IT IS RE-STARTED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical systemODI 10442859

Air bags

80 reports46 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 1998 Honda Accord Sedan. The contact stated stopped at a traffic light, a second vehicle crashed full onto the rear bumper of her vehicle. The contact stated that her trunk and side rear panels were crushed. The contact stated that the second vehicle crashed her vehicle twice in the rear due to the second vehicle had still been accelerating. The second impact sent the contact's vehicle forward, a second time, into the street curb. The front bumper and the driver-side front tire suffered damage. The bumper was crushed and the driver-side tire had been deflated. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The contact said she hit the steering wheel with her chest and was rendered unconscious, she had bruises on both feet, shins, and knees. The contact had not been able to move her arms without pain and had pain in her chest, and collar bones. The contact thinks she had hit the side and roof of her vehicle with her head because the top of her head and the left side hurt. The contact stated that her son was bruised on both legs, knees, and shins. She said that he had back pain as well. The contact and son were driven by a friend to the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2022Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11486061

Structure

76 reports2 crashes
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 30, 2021Structure, Wheels, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11390821

Vehicle speed control

67 reports22 crashes
“MY 98 HONDA ACCORD LX AUTOMATICALLY DECELERATED TO 0 MPH WHEN I DROVE IT ON THE HIGHWAY (I-10 HOUSTON). THE SIGNAL LIGHTS (MAINTENANCE LIGHT AND THE KEY LIGHT) TURNED ON FIRST AND THEN THE SPEED DROPPED TO ZERO ALL THE SUDDEN BY ITSELF. I TRIED TO PUSH THE ACCELERATION PAD AND NO RESPONSE AT ALL. I WAS ABOUT TO PARK CAR TO THE SIDE. THEN AFTER ABOUT 1-2 MINUTES, IT BECAME NORMAL AGAIN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. IT WAS A SHOCK TO ME. VERY WORRY ABOUT IF IT DIED ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 30, 2010Vehicle speed controlODI 10303391
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.