Most common 1998 Honda Accord problems
Share of the 1,200 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Honda Accord complaints by model year
Best Accord years: 2023, 2011, 2012. Years to avoid: 2018, 2013, 2019, 2014, 2003. Compare all years →
1998 Honda Accord recalls (6)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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…
Remedy: 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 1, 2020.
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
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."
Remedy: 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.
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
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.
Remedy: 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 remedy within a…
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch
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).
Remedy: Dealers will install a collar on the transmission parking pawl to ensure proper movement of the actuation lever.
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The front passenger seat belt retractor mounting bracket was improperly welded.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair these vehicles.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 1998 Honda Accord:
Ignition-park interlock system
Six of the odi complaints are duplicative of the manufacturer complaints, as well as four of the crashes.the noted injury occurred when a rollaway vehicle that had been inadvertently parked in neutral struck the exiting operator.the warranty claim count shown for other represents incidents where Honda's analysis of claim detail indicates the interlock system malfunctioned.the interlock system utilizes a lever to…
Seat frame bracket failure
This pe was opened based on 10 consumer complaints in the odi database alleging that the power assisted seats were failing in certain 1998-2002 Honda accord vehicles.failures are concentrated in the 1998-99 model year vehicles.the bracket that attaches the seat bottom to the seat base is fracturing due to: 1-the weld condition of bracket, 2-the drivers weight, and 3-the impact on the seat when the driver enters the…
Ignition-park interlock
Six of the odi complaints are duplicative of Honda complaints, as well as four of the crashes.the one injury occurred when a rollaway vehicle struck the exiting operator who had inadvertently parked the vehicle in an unsecured state (not in park, brake not engaged).Honda identified the warranty claims from complaint descriptions that contended the interlock system failed to operate properly.Honda presented the…
What 1998 Honda Accord owners say
Electrical system all 308 →
The contact owns a 1998 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. Additionally, the battery had to be recharged on several occasions in order to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. No repair was performed and the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not contacted regarding the failures. The failure mileage was 155,000.
When I was driving my 98 Honda accord lx . I notice it shuts off itself if hitting a hard bump . Then I noticed online they had folks saying that the ignition switch was beginning to be a big issue . I nearly died after picking my 2 kids up from school the car shut off in the middleof the intersection.it's even a recall on the insurance app about the same part . Do I need to call Honda myself and I shouldn't have to pay out of pocket for this . Everything shuts off no lies no throttle until I shift in nuetral to crank vehicle up
Transmission & drivetrain all 276 →
I own a 1998 Honda Accord with 44,000 miles. I purchased the car new in 1998. I am now having serious transmission problems with the car - lurching and bumping. When I presented the problem to Honda, they said that I must pay for a new transmission because the car is out of warranty. Can Honda get away with this? I can't believe this is the Honda car company. I purchased the car because of Honda's track-record of reliability.
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.
Engine & cooling all 152 →
This is my mothers car (1998 Honda Accord ex-vl) which was totaled in an accident due to a sudden unintended acceleration.my wife was the first owner of the vehicle and my mother has had the car for about 2 years. She had stopped, put the car into park, got out to open a parking lot gate, got back in, stepped on the brake, and shifted the car into gear. It immediately went into a high rev and accelerated uncontrollably resulting in the car smashing into a wall about 60' away. Luckily the air bags worked and neither her or my step father were seriously hurt. Her foot was definitely on the brake pedal as there is a lockout mechanism that prevents the car from being taken out of park if the brake pedal is not pushed. This May or May not be related, but she was having difficulty getting the handle to move. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Honda Accord. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was able to coast to the side of the road. The contact powered off the engine. The vehicle was restarted and was able to operate normally; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to autonation Honda west knoxville (10117 parkside dr, knoxville, tn 37922, [phone]) where the technician replaced the key interlock. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired due to the diagnostic and repair fees. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
1998 Honda Accord engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Honda Accord a good car?
Based on 1,200 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Accord rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Accord at the same age. It is one of the Accord years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Honda Accord?
The electrical system — 308 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition › switch. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (276) and engine & cooling (152).
How many recalls does the 1998 Honda Accord have?
There are 6 recalls for the 1998 Honda Accord, the most recent from January 17, 2020 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Honda Accord?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2011 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2018, 2013, 2019, 2014 and 2003. See the full Honda Accord years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Honda Accord problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 10% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.