Honda Accord 1998–2002
6th generation (North America) · CG1-CG6 / CF8
NHTSA data through 12 August 20266,707 complaints, 3,909 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 65,000 and 140,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 245 complaints (6.3%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 37,405
- 25%
- 65,000
- Median
- 96,000
- 75%
- 140,000
- 90%
- 180,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 93 | 2.4% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 24 | 0.6% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 31 | 0.8% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 34 | 0.9% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 57 | 1.5% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 46 | 1.2% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 59 | 1.5% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 75 | 1.9% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 94 | 2.4% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 97 | 2.5% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 109 | 2.8% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 101 | 2.6% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 145 | 3.7% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 130 | 3.3% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 146 | 3.7% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 152 | 3.9% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 189 | 4.8% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 162 | 4.1% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 159 | 4.1% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 127 | 3.2% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 174 | 4.5% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 106 | 2.7% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 100 | 2.6% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 103 | 2.6% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 127 | 3.2% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 110 | 2.8% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 105 | 2.7% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 75 | 1.9% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 107 | 2.7% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 86 | 2.2% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 92 | 2.4% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 59 | 1.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 77 | 2.0% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 48 | 1.2% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 59 | 1.5% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 36 | 0.9% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 56 | 1.4% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 40 | 1.0% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 46 | 1.2% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 28 | 0.7% |
| 200,000+ | 245 | 6.3% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 6,707 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998–2002 Honda Accord, and 3,909 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 65,000 and 140,000 miles. The median is 96,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the transmission and driveline (21.4% of complaints, typically around 89,000 miles), the airbag system (19.8% of complaints, typically around 82,000 miles), the electrical system (15.6% of complaints, typically around 123,000 miles).
5 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Transmission and driveline89,000median 89,000 miles, middle half 67,000 to 116,000
- Airbag system82,000median 82,025 miles, middle half 52,000 to 121,000
- Electrical system123,000median 123,000 miles, middle half 82,000 to 153,000
- Engine and its cooling system87,000median 87,000 miles, middle half 61,000 to 120,000
- Body structure134,000median 134,437 miles, middle half 98,000 to 177,000
- Throttle and speed control60,000median 60,000 miles, middle half 32,000 to 112,000
- Suspension140,000median 140,000 miles, middle half 90,000 to 179,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 1,436 | 21.4% | 89,000 | 67,000–116,000 |
| Airbag system | 1,328 | 19.8% | 82,000 | 52,000–121,000 |
| Electrical system | 1,044 | 15.6% | 123,000 | 82,000–153,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 421 | 6.3% | 87,000 | 61,000–120,000 |
| Body structure | 361 | 5.4% | 134,000 | 98,000–177,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 289 | 4.3% | 60,000 | 32,000–112,000 |
| Suspension | 235 | 3.5% | 140,000 | 90,000–179,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 215 | 3.2% | 50,000 | 29,000–85,000 |
| Seat belts | 184 | 2.7% | 83,000 | 49,000–137,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 158 | 2.4% | 130,000 | 80,000–175,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 96,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 21.4% of complaints (1,436 reports, 1,036 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 89,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 67,316 and 116,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 19.8% of complaints (1,328 reports, 743 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 82,025 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,000 and 121,010 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 15.6% of complaints (1,044 reports, 647 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 123,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 81,500 and 152,624 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 6.3% of complaints (421 reports, 215 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 87,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 61,165 and 120,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 5.4% of complaints (361 reports, 248 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 134,437 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 98,000 and 176,855 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 4.3% of complaints (289 reports, 139 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 60,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 32,360 and 112,270 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2000 model year drew the most — 1,506 complaints — while 2001 drew the fewest at 1,160. The median year sits at 1,345.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 5 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (5). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 6,707 complaints filed against this generation, 727 reported a crash; 36 reported a fire; 560 reported an injury; 16 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 10.8% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 65,000 and 140,000 miles, with a median of 96,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the airbag system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 82,025, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Transmission 1998–2002, most severe 2000–2001 V6
Premature automatic transmission failure, worst on the V6 (B7XA/M7ZA). The design starves the 2nd and 3rd gear clutch packs of lubrication, causing overheating, slipping and burnt clutch material; weak differential bearings and the absence of a serviceable filter compound it. Honda extended the powertrain warranty to 93 months/109,000 miles on affected cars.
Engine
F23 balance shaft seal leak causing rapid oil loss (the seal can back out of the block); often misdiagnosed as an oil pan leak.
Electrical
Ignition switch failure causing stalling and no-start (subject of recall action on this era of Honda).
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1,429 | 588 |
| 1999 | 1,345 | 765 |
| 2000 | 1,506 | 929 |
| 2001 | 1,160 | 693 |
| 2002 | 1,267 | 934 |
Recalls (5)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 20V027000 | 2020-10-01 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 20V026000 | 2020-10-01 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 19V499000 | 2019-08-12 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 19V182000 | 2019-04-10 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 15V320000 | 2015-07-01 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
What owners reported
I have a 1998 Honda Accord ex. For last 3-4 months started noticing that the accelerator sticks when first starting to drive. On applying more than normal pressure it suddenly releases and vehicle surges forward. My mileage is only 54,000 now. Took it to a dealer in hartford and he says i need to shell out nearly 200…
1998 · 5 miles · Throttle and speed control
My 1998 Honda Accord automatic transmission has failed. There are 130k on it. In sept 2007 the transmission started to slip. When i came to a stop it would jump. The more that i drove it would shift hard into every gear. On oct 30 2007 the transmission began to jump from 1st to 3rd gear and then would not shift into…
1998 · 40 miles · Transmission and driveline
I bought this 1998 Honda Accord and i want to know why my car VIN number is not in the recalls for this no warning cutting off while driving and its very dangerous to drive it and sometimes it takes a long time to start up and then continue to cut off i have replaced fuel pump distributor full tuneup and next my…
1998 · 55 miles · Electronic stability control (esc)
Please be advised that this has happened on multiple dates ranging from 1999-2012. I thought it was covered through NHTSA campaign id #: 98v018000 but i did not use the car enough to recognize a pattern until 2002. I think at that time, there may have been several thousand miles in 2002 when i began to use the car on…
1998 · 2,500 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 3,909 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page