Problems · by component

1998 Honda Accord engine and engine cooling problems

132 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Honda Accord cite engine and engine cooling, 11% of all 1,215 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
132
11% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GROUND. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED, BUT THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES FROM THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE BODY DAMAGE AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,876.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2011Suspension, Engine and engine coolingCrash reportedODI 10408637
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ADDING OIL TO THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED OIL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND AND NONE APPEARED ON THE DIPSTICK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE OIL SEAL HAD FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT ENGINE SEALS AND ALL PUMPS SEALS WITH AN UPGRADED SEAL RETAINER AS WELL AS THE TIMING BELTS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10389760
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE YET THE DEALER WAS UNABLE, EACH TIME, TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 28, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10345860
“HONDA ACCORD ACCELERATOR CABLE FAILURE. I PICKED UP MY SON FROM SCHOOL. I STARTED TO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STOPPED RESPONDING. I STEERED THE CAR BACK TO THE CURB USING THE REMAINING MOMENTUM, STOPPING NEAR THE CURB AT AN ANGLE. I OPENED THE ENGINE HOOD TO LOCATE ANY LOOSE CABLES GOING FROM THE ENGINE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN I TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, THE METAL CABLE WAS LOOSE AND FELL OUT OF THE HOUSING, REVEALING A BROKEN FRAYED CABLE. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO DELIVER THE CAR TO A HONDA DEALER FOR REPAIR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 11, 2010Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10329837
“MY 1998 HONDA ACCORD 4 DOOR SEDAN L4 ENGINE STALLS AND THE ENGINE DIES WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS IT RELATES TO MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. THE FIRST TIME THIS EVENT HAPPENED THE CAR STALLED THEN DIED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER I LET THE CAR SIT FOR AWHILE I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR. IT TOOK FOUR TIMES. I THEN SOUGHT SERVICE OR REPAIR. FOUR ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. NONE OF WHICH ARE SUCCESSFUL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 18, 2010Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10326248

Showing 6 of 132 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

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