Problems · by component

1998 Honda Accord power train problems

277 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Honda Accord cite power train, 23% of all 1,215 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
277
23% of all complaints
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. IT IS SLIPPING BETWEEN SHIFTS, WHICH LEADS TO SPIKED RPMS BECAUSE OF THE DELAYED SHIFT. THE SHIFT IS ALSO VERY HARSH, WHERE IT JERKS, SHAKES, AND RUMBLES THE CAR. GEARS ALSO GRIND OCCASIONALLY BETWEEN STOP AND FIRST GEAR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2017Power trainODI 10969836
“THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR CAR PLEASE SEE BELOW FROM THE OTHER HONDA OWNER'S DESCRIPTION: AT 100,000 MILES MY 1998 HONDA ACCORD BEGAN JERKING AND BUCKING WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND ALSO WHEN ACCELERATING IN HIGHER GEAR. I WAS ALMOST KILLED BY A SEMI TRUCK BEHIND ME WHEN THE CAR BUCKED AND DECELERATED RAPIDLY. THESE ARE DANGEROUS CARS! THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IN THE LOWER GEARS THE CAR WOULD GO INTO "LIMP MODE" AND I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO DRIVE IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VERY REPUTABLE MECHANIC AND HE DIAGNOSED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD ME THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF HONDA. TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD COST $3,400.00. AFTER RESEARCHING I HAVE COME TO LEARN THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT HONDA HAS BEEN AWARE OF AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY. I CONTACTED HONDA AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY "SYMPATHIZE WITH THE PROBLEM I HAD BUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO RECALLS OR ALERTS IN THEIR SYSTEM" THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO TO HELP. THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 1998 HONDA ACCORDS AND…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2016Power trainODI 10898023
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY DECELERATED TO 25 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 266,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2015Power trainODI 10725732
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF REVERSE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 266,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2015Power trainODI 10725734
“THIS IS MY SECOND HONDA I OWNED AND I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH MY SECOND HONDA'S TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FOR A ABOUT 6 MONTHS NOW. I FIRST NOTICED A SLIPPING AND A DELAY IN SPEED WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE IT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A FUEL PUMP ISSUE BUT THEN IT STARTED TO SLIP MORE SEVERELY TO THE POINT I ALMOST WRECKED TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE THIS CAR HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. HE SAID IT WAS A SHIFT SOLENOID, $365 DOLLARS LATER JUST FOR THE PART ALONE, NO FIX. THE SAME SLIPPING AND JERKING CONTINUED. I HAVE LOOKED FOR A GOOD PRICE FOR A TRANSMISSION AND IT COST ABOUT $1,800> TO GET A THE TRANSMISSION INSTALLED WITH LABOR. A PRICE THAT I AM NOT WILLING TO PAY. I FEEL HONDA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FAULTY CAR. SO MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE ITS A FACT. HONDA GET IT TOGETHER OR YOU WILL LOSE MANY LOYAL CUSTOMERS!! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 13, 2013Power trainODI 10519649

Showing 6 of 277 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

Power train: park

Free remedy

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."

Power trainReported Feb 10, 1998NHTSA 98V018000
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.