Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Honda Accord, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system308
- Power train276
- Engine and engine cooling134
- Air bags79
- Structure76
- Vehicle speed control67
- Suspension62
- Unknown or other50
- Service brakes, hydraulic43
- Fuel system, other39
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 65 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 93 1998 Accord vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 77 people died inside them, and 22 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Honda Accord failed the safety check 1.95% of the time — 14% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 151,098 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
50 first registered in 1998 are on Dutch roads; 36% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af21
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af12
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm10
- Band onvoldoende profiel9
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen8
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse8
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect6
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
121 cars built in 1998 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 329 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 202 of these cars first registered in 1998 took their annual MOT test. 56% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1998 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 18.8% | 16.0% |
| Brakes | 17.3% | 11.8% |
| Suspension | 15.8% | 12.4% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 15.3% | 7.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 13.9% | 9.3% |
| Visibility | 8.4% | 6.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
65 of these cars first registered in 1998 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 294,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
414 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 36% arrived as used imports, 60% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 5 variants: combined 9.7–11.2 L/100 km (about 21–24 mpg US), CO₂ 223–258 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accord · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.9 | 8.2 | 9.7 |
| Accord EX · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.9 | 8.3 | 9.7 |
| Accord · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 11.7 | 8.6 | 10.3 |
| Accord EX · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 8.8 | 10.5 |
| Accord V6 · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.9 | 9.1 | 11.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Honda Accord.
| 2020014 17 Jan 2020 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, exposure to moisture over time could cause the driver-front airbag not to inflate properly in a crash. In some cases, this could c… |
| 2003276 10 Nov 2003 | Other On certain vehicles, the ignition switch may wear excessively and prevent proper interlock operation, making it possible to turn the ignition key to the off pos… |
| 2002096 24 May 2002 | Electrical On certain vehicles electrical contacts in the ignition switch can degrade due to the high electrical current passing through the switch when the vehicle is sta… |
| 1999101 26 May 1999 | Suspension On certain vehicles, the front suspension lower ball joints may prematurely wear out due to improper finishing of the surface of the spherical portion of the ba… |
| 1998024 11 Feb 1998 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, an irregularity on the right side of the transmission cover may limit the movement of the parking pawl actuation lever and prevent adequate… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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."
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.
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.
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."
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MOUNTING BRACKET WAS IMPROPERLY WELDED.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Honda told its dealers about the 1998 Honda Accord: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 638004 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AT AXLE SEALS, A ROARING NOISE AND ERRATIC SHIFTING. *TT |
| 638000 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE HESITATION ON ACCELERATION, IDLE FLUCTUATION, SURGING. *TT |
| 637950 | INFORMATION CONCERNING EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM FUNCTION TEST ERROR MESSAGE. *TT |
| 636987 | THIS ARTICLE APPLIES TO TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS MISSING FOR TIMING BELT TENSIONER BOLT. *TT |
| 636755 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT PROBLEMS - SLIPPAGE, FLARE, HARD UPSHIFT. *TT |
| 636753 | INFORMATION ON TESTING FOR INTERAL LEAKS WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1456 OR P1457. *TT |
| 636744 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING NOISE FROM PASSENGER SIDE OF DASHBOARD. *TT |
| 636738 | SUBJECT REGARDING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS THAT THE ENGINE HESITATES BRIEFLY WHEN ACCELERATING. *TT |
| 635779 | V6 ENGINE OIL LEAKS. *TT THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES 01-009, DATED SEPTEMBER 10, 2002. *TT |
| 633602 | SERVICE INFORMATION REGARDING LOOSE OR DETACHED SEAT BACK PANEL. *TT |
| 633567 | SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE THE ABS INDICATOR IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 81. *TT |
| 631777 | INFORMATION REGARDING SEAT BACK PANEL REPAIR KIT. *SLC |
| 631709 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE THE MOONROOF SQUEAKING. *SLC |
| 631029 | CREAKING, TICKING NOISE AT GLOVE COMPARTMENT. *TT |
| 631027 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A BRIEF HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGH ENGINE SPEEDS. *TT |
| 631008 | INFORMATION ON CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BANGS WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO MOVE BACKWARD OR TORQUE IS APPLIED TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TT |
| 631002 | INFORMATION ON TROUBLESHOOTING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0753, P0758, P1705 AND P1768. *TT |
| 631000 | CONCERNS WITH FRONT SUSPENSION SQUEAKING IN COLD WEATHER. *TT |
| 630996 | INFORMATION ON TROUBLESHOOTING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171, P0172. *TT |
| 630994 | INFORMATION ON TROUBLESHOOTING MULTIPLE MISIRE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0301, P0306). *TT |
| 630987 | SUBJECT REGARDING MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP COMES ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0133. *JG |
| 630984 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP COMES ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1164. *JG |
| 629952 | ON SOME VEHICLES WITH REVERSE GEAR ALREADY SELECTED, THE TRANSMISSION BANGS WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTS TO MOVE BACKWARD OR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATED. *TT |
| 629541 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A TWANG NOISE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION THAT SOUNDS LIKE A SPRING CONTACT. *SLC |
| 629533 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A THUMP AS THE IGNITION SWITCH IS RELEASED FROM THE START POSITION OR AS THE ENGINE STARTS. *SLC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK
IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK SYSTEM
SEAT FRAME BRACKET FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation