Problems · by component

1998 Honda Accord air bags problems

80 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Honda Accord cite air bags, 7% of all 1,215 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
80
7% of all complaints
Crashes
46
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
33
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“Honda refuses to replace recalled airbags. I've been trying for a year and even when they "order" the part they don't have it when I arrive. This has happened repeatedly. I was in a car accident today and the airbags didn't deploy and they should have. After reading all the online complaints I feel lucky they didn't deploy and extract flying metal pieces. Its inexcusable to have a recall and then refuse to fix the problem. Honda's negligence could have cost me my life today. * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2021Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11421767
“I WAS IN A BAD ACCIDENT I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE ON THE HIGHWAY I'M GOING 55MPH SOMEONE JUMPED IN FRONT OF ME I USED MY BREAKS THEN MY CAR JERKED RIGHT INTO THE OTHER PERSON CAR CAUSING MY CAR TO SPIN AROUND 2 TIME ON A 6 LANE HIGHWAY . THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED THE STARING WHEEL WAS NOT TURNING LOTS OF FLUIDS LEAKING OUT OF IT BUT IT WAS ALWAYS JERKING FOR SOME REASON EVEN WHEN THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT'S NATURAL..”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 31, 2021Steering, Electrical system, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11390856
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED HUGGINS HONDA (7551 NE LOOP 820, NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX 76180, (855) 902-9103) AND WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE, AND PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 10, 2020Air bagsODI 11382841
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON MAKING A LEFT TURN AT 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE HEAD ON AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY UPON IMPACT BUT FAILED TO INFLATE AS NEEDED. DUE TO THE AIR BAG FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS AIRLIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS TREATED FOR A BROKEN RIGHT RIB, A FRACTURED LEFT FIBULA, AND OTHER SEVERE INJURIES TO HER LEFT LEG AND ARM THAT REQUIRED SURGERY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AFTER BEING DEEMED TOTALED AT THE SCENE. LATER ON, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) WHICH SHE THEN LINKED TO HER FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MATTER AND WAS INFORMED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CALL HER BACK; THE CONTACT HAD YET TO HEAR FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.*DT*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2020Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11366819
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED TO SCHOLFIELD HONDA (7017 E KELLOGG DR, WICHITA, KS 67207; (316) 688-6400) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 13, 2020Air bagsODI 11364209

Showing 6 of 80 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 17, 2020NHTSA 20V026000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026

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