Honda Accord 1998–2002 problems by year and mileage
6th generation (North America) · CG1-CG6 / CF8
NHTSA data through 24 September 20265,490 complaints, 3,201 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 1998 Honda Accord
Close- Median failure report
- 100,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,200
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
Most reported on the 1998
- Electrical system308 reports · median 126,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline276 reports · median 86,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system134 reports · median 94,000 mi
6 recall campaigns name the 1998: Air bags — frontal; Electrical system — ignition; Suspension — front. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 1999 Honda Accord
Close- Median failure report
- 106,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,135
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 1999
- Electrical system388 reports · median 130,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline246 reports · median 83,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system144 reports · median 86,000 mi
4 recall campaigns name the 1999: Air bags — frontal; Electrical system — ignition. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2000 Honda Accord
Close- Median failure report
- 91,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,183
- Recalls naming this year
- 8
Most reported on the 2000
- Airbag system454 reports · median 80,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline201 reports · median 113,000 mi
- Electrical system171 reports · median 106,000 mi
8 recall campaigns name the 2000: Air bags — frontal; Electrical system — ignition; Interior lighting. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2001 Honda Accord
Close- Median failure report
- 85,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 922
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
Most reported on the 2001
- Airbag system407 reports · median 86,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline209 reports · median 84,000 mi
- Electrical system78 reports · median 102,000 mi
7 recall campaigns name the 2001: Air bags — frontal; Electrical system — ignition; Interior lighting. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2002 Honda Accord
Close- Median failure report
- 88,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 1,050
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2002
- Transmission and driveline478 reports · median 88,000 mi
- Airbag system273 reports · median 86,000 mi
- Body structure75 reports · median 121,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2002: Air bags — frontal; Electrical system — ignition; Engine and engine cooling — engine. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. The 1999 reports latest and the 2001 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 1999 has had 2 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 1998–2002 Honda Accord reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 94,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 177,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 3,201
- Recalls
- 17
Most reported
- Transmission and driveline25.7% of complaints · median 89,000 mi
- Airbag system23.4% of complaints · median 83,000 mi
- Electrical system18.5% of complaints · median 121,000 mi
Owners filed 5,490 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998–2002 Honda Accord; the transmission and driveline leads with 25.7% of them, and half of the 3,201 that record an odometer reading came by 94,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 64,000 and 134,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 1998–2002 Honda Accord last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 1998–2002 Honda Accord, half of the 3,201 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 94,000 miles and 90% by 177,000 miles.
592 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 183 past 200,000 — each one proof that an Accord reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Honda Accord 1998–2002 · 3,201 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 183 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 183 complaints (5.7%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 37,500
- 25%
- 64,000
- Median
- 93,500
- 75%
- 134,000
- 90%
- 177,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 72 | 2.2% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 18 | 0.6% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 27 | 0.8% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 32 | 1.0% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 43 | 1.3% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 41 | 1.3% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 52 | 1.6% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 61 | 1.9% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 69 | 2.2% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 82 | 2.6% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 100 | 3.1% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 89 | 2.8% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 125 | 3.9% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 114 | 3.6% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 130 | 4.1% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 128 | 4.0% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 155 | 4.8% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 139 | 4.3% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 144 | 4.5% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 102 | 3.2% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 140 | 4.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 87 | 2.7% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 89 | 2.8% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 84 | 2.6% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 107 | 3.3% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 92 | 2.9% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 81 | 2.5% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 58 | 1.8% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 86 | 2.7% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 62 | 1.9% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 72 | 2.2% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 45 | 1.4% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 56 | 1.7% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 38 | 1.2% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 42 | 1.3% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 33 | 1.0% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 37 | 1.2% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 34 | 1.1% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 32 | 1.0% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 20 | 0.6% |
| 200,000+ | 183 | 5.7% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
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.
Common Accord problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Honda Accord 1998–2002
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Throttle and speed control285 reports59,00032,000–112,000Throttle and speed control: 285 reports, median 59,000 miles, middle half 32,000 to 112,000 miles.
- Airbag system1,287 reports83,00053,000–122,000Airbag system: 1,287 reports, median 83,000 miles, middle half 53,000 to 122,000 miles.
- Engine and its cooling system405 reports87,00061,000–120,000Engine and its cooling system: 405 reports, median 87,000 miles, middle half 61,000 to 120,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline1,410 reports89,00067,000–116,000Transmission and driveline: 1,410 reports, median 89,000 miles, middle half 67,000 to 116,000 miles.
- Electrical system1,014 reports121,00081,000–151,000Electrical system: 1,014 reports, median 121,000 miles, middle half 81,000 to 151,000 miles.
- Body structure350 reports134,00098,000–174,000Body structure: 350 reports, median 134,000 miles, middle half 98,000 to 174,000 miles.
- Suspension229 reports142,00090,000–179,000Suspension: 229 reports, median 142,000 miles, middle half 90,000 to 179,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 1,410 | 25.7% | 89,000 | 67,000–116,000 |
| Airbag system | 1,287 | 23.4% | 83,000 | 53,000–122,000 |
| Electrical system | 1,014 | 18.5% | 121,000 | 81,000–151,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 405 | 7.4% | 87,000 | 61,000–120,000 |
| Body structure | 350 | 6.4% | 134,000 | 98,000–174,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 285 | 5.2% | 59,000 | 32,000–112,000 |
| Suspension | 229 | 4.2% | 142,000 | 90,000–179,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 192 | 3.5% | 48,000 | 29,000–78,000 |
| Seat belts | 182 | 3.3% | 83,000 | 49,000–137,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 158 | 2.9% | 130,000 | 80,000–175,000 |
System by system, in words
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 94,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 25.7% of complaints (1,410 reports, 1,023 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 67,000 and 116,000 miles.
A single system taking 25.7% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The airbag system accounts for 23.4% of complaints (1,287 reports, 720 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 83,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 53,000 and 122,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 18.5% of complaints (1,014 reports, 627 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 121,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 81,000 and 151,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 7.4% of complaints (405 reports, 207 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 61,000 and 120,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 6.4% of complaints (350 reports, 246 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 134,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 98,000 and 174,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 5.2% of complaints (285 reports, 138 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 59,000 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 32,000 and 112,000 miles.
Known problems with the 1998–2002 Accord
Transmission 1998–2002
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).
Before you buy a 1998–2002 Accord: the 3-minute check
Generated from 3,201 mileage-tagged complaints, 17 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 17 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check transmission on 1998–2002, most severe 2000–2001 V6 cars. 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…
- Check 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.
- Check electrical. Ignition switch failure causing stalling and no-start (subject of recall action on this era of Honda).
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 64,000 and 134,000 miles, with a median of 94,000. 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 83,000, 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.
Accord problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi21% below | At 90k mi46% below | At 120k mi66% below | At 150k mi82% below | At 200k mi94% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 67,000–116,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Airbag system | 53,000–122,000 | in window | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 81,000–151,000 | later | in window | in window | in window | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 61,000–120,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Body structure | 98,000–174,000 | later | later | in window | in window | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 32,000–112,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Suspension | 90,000–179,000 | later | in window | in window | in window | earlier |
Figure 3 · Honda Accord 1998–2002 · 3,201 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 21% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 46% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 66% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 82% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 94% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 94%: the remaining 5.7% of reports (183) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
1998–2002 Honda Accord recalls (17)
NHTSA records 17 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 (6), the electrical system (3), the seat belts (3). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
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.
Jan 2020 · 2000 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These…
What can happen. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly…
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge.…
Jan 2020 · 1998–2000 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments…
The defect. 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…
What can happen. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly…
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October…
Jun 2019 · 2001–2002 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008…
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.…
Mar 2019 · 2001–2002 · Air BagsAn explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic…
What can happen. An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or…
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service…
May 2015 · 2001–2002 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura…
What can happen. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or…
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.…
Jan 2005 · 1999–2002 · Electrical SystemIf the driver does not shift to park before removing the key and fails to engage the parking brake, the…
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles, the interlock operation of the ignition switch may not function properly, making it possible to turn the ignition key to the "off" position and remove the key without shifting the transmission to park.
What can happen. If the driver does not shift to park before removing the key and fails to engage the parking brake, the vehicle could roll and a crash could occur.
The free fix. Dealers will perform an inspection procedure that confirms interlock function. Vehicles will be updated with a redesigned interlock lever free of charge. The recall began on march 7, 2005. Owners may…
Jun 2004 · 2000–2001 · Interior LightingIf this occurs, the instrument lights may fail and, at night, the driver may not be able to see the…
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles, the dimmer control for the instrument panel lights could fail due to heat buildup.
What can happen. If this occurs, the instrument lights may fail and, at night, the driver may not be able to see the instrument panel gauges, such as the speedometer.
The free fix. Dealers will replace a multiplex control unit for the instrument panel lights. Owner notification began june 16, 2004. Owners should contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Oct 2003 · 1998–1999 · Electrical SystemIf the vehicle operator does not shift to "park" before removing the key and fails to engage the parking…
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles and MINI vans, the ignition switch may wear excessively and prevent proper interlock operation, making it possible to turn the ignition key to the "off" position and remove the key without shifting the transmission to "park."
What can happen. If the vehicle operator does not shift to "park" before removing the key and fails to engage the parking brake, the vehicle could roll and a crash could occur.
The free fix. Dealers will perform an inspection procedure that determines the amount of cylinder body wear. If significant wear is indicated, the dealer will replace the cylinder body, collar, and latch plate. If…
Aug 2002 · 2002 · Engine and Engine CoolingIf the timing belt breaks, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. On certain minivans, sedans, coupes, and sport utility vehicles equipped with v6 engines, a timing belt tensioner pulley on the water pump is misaligned and could cause the timing belt to contact a bolt on the cylinder head. Eventually the belt could be…
What can happen. If the timing belt breaks, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the water pump and if it is one of the defective pumps, the water pump and timing belt will be replaced. Owner notification began august 30, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles…
May 2002 · 1998–1999 · Electrical SystemWorn contacts could cause the engine to stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. On certain sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and sport utility vehicles, electrical contacts in the ignition switch can degrade due to the high electrical current passing through the switch when the vehicle is started.
What can happen. Worn contacts could cause the engine to stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the ignition switch. Owner notification began june 14, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Mar 2002 · 2000 · Air BagsAs a result, the affected air bags may not deploy correctly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to a…
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles, a component in the inflator of some passenger air bag modules was not welded properly.
What can happen. As a result, the affected air bags may not deploy correctly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to a front seat passenger.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module. Owner notification began april 5, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…
Feb 2002 · 2000–2001 · Seat BeltsThe rear seat belts will work properly and provide protection in a crash, but the owner may experience…
The defect. Certain sedans and coupes fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "Seat belt assemblies." Certain rear seat belt buckles were improperly manufactured.
What can happen. The rear seat belts will work properly and provide protection in a crash, but the owner may experience difficulty unfastening the belt after the crash.
The free fix. In a previous recall (01v-380), only right and left buckles were inspected. The rear center buckle should also be inspected and corrected if necessary. This recall is being conducted only for the…
Dec 2001 · 2000–2001 · Seat BeltsThe rear seat belts will work properly and provide protection in a crash, but the owner may experience…
The defect. Vehicle description: certain sedans and coupes fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "Seat belt assemblies." Certain rear seat belt buckles were improperly manufactured.
What can happen. The rear seat belts will work properly and provide protection in a crash, but the owner may experience difficulty unfastening the belt after the crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the seat belt assemblies that were improperly manufactured. Only buckles that are marked (on the back side of the buckle) with an assembly number…
Jul 2000 · 2000 · SuspensionVehicle handling and control would be reduced.
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear suspension lower arms and/or control arms could break due to improper welding.
What can happen. Vehicle handling and control would be reduced.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the rear suspension lower arms or control arms if necessary.
May 1999 · 1998 · SuspensionThis condition would result in vehicle deceleration and a sudden loss of power.
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Certain vehicles were manufactured with ball joints that can prematurely wear out and, in the worse case, the ball joint would separate causing the front suspension to collapse.
What can happen. This condition would result in vehicle deceleration and a sudden loss of power. Also steering controllability would be reduced.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints.
Feb 1998 · 1998 · Power TrainThis condition can cause the vehicle to roll down an incline when the transmission is locked in "park,"…
The defect. 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).…
What can happen. This condition can cause the vehicle to roll down an incline when the transmission is locked in "park," increasing the risk of personal injury and/or property damage.
The free fix. Dealers will install a collar on the transmission parking pawl to ensure proper movement of the actuation lever.
Dec 1997 · 1998 · Seat BeltsThis condition can cause the bracket to separate from the vehicle body in a crash.
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The front passenger seat belt retractor mounting bracket was improperly welded.
What can happen. This condition can cause the bracket to separate from the vehicle body in a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and repair these vehicles.
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 5,490 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 549 (10.0%)
- Fires
- 29
- Injury reports
- 320
- Fatality reports
- 8
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Accord problems by model year
The 1998 drew the most complaints of this generation, 1,200, most of them about the electrical system, and the 2001 the fewest, 922. A typical year drew about 1,135.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1,200 | 490 | 100,000 | Electrical system (308) | 6 |
| 1999 | 1,135 | 638 | 106,000 | Electrical system (388) | 4 |
| 2000 | 1,183 | 731 | 91,000 | Airbag system (454) | 8 |
| 2001 | 922 | 553 | 85,000 | Airbag system (407) | 7 |
| 2002 | 1,050 | 789 | 88,000 | Transmission and driveline (478) | 5 |
What Accord owners reported
The contact owns a 2000 Honda Accord. The contact stated that immediately after purchasing the vehicle, it was discovered that the SRS warning light was illuminated and remained illuminated while operating the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not…
2000 · 129,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact owns a 1999 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front of the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The contact's father inspected the vehicle and discovered that the sub-frame was severely corroded. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to an A/C…
1999 · 188,000 miles · Body structure
The contact owns a 1999 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel was vibrating abnormally. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had the alignment checked by an independent mechanic who determined that the passenger’s side subframe was…
1999 · 80,000 miles · Body structure
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle went over a concrete island with the engine revving and the vehicle accelerating. The contact turned the vehicle to the right and grazed a…
2002 · 180,000 miles · Electrical system
Built from 3,201 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Accord generations
- Accord 1994–1997 333 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Accord 2003–2007 3,578 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Accord 2008–2012 2,461 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system
- Accord 2013–2017 2,430 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system
- Accord 2018–2022 1,048 reports with mileage, most about the engine