Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Dt: the consumer was easing into a parking space with the brakes depressed when the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into a cement wall. This accident occurred on June 7, 2005. The consumer stated that she had previous problems with the vehicle surging forward at a stop light. The consumer had not taken vehicle to the dealership before for this problem. After the accident consumer took vehicle to the dealer be repaired. They did not tell her what had caused the accident. When the consumer contacted the manufacture they told her that she should get a diagnostic test at her own expense.
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
Dt*: the contact stated while pulling into a parking spot, the driver depressed the resume button on the cruise control which reactivated the cruise control. This caused the vehicle to accelerate and crash into a wall. The vehicle was driven to the dealer who determined the cruise control worked as designed.
While pulling inside of a parking lot, the vehicle surged forward. The consumer applied the brakes, the vehicle continued to speed, and crashed into a brick wall. Upon impact, both air bags deployed.
My mother was recently involved in an accident that totaled her car. My brother and his wife were the first owners of the vehicle, and my mother had the car for about 1 1/2 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 tried to shift the car into gear. She had a very difficult time getting the car back into gear. She finally was able to shift and the car immediately went into a high rev and accelerated uncontrollably. This resulted in the car smashing into a wall less than 60 feet away. Luckily the air bags worked and my mother & step-father's injuries were not too serious. My mother's foot was definitely on the brake pedal as there is a lock out mechanism that prevents the car from being taken out of park if the brake pedal is not pushed. …
I was trying to park my 1998 Honda Accord into a parking spot in front of a hallmark store and right before I tried to put the car in park and shut off the ignition, my car accelerated suddenly on its own and went through the plate glass windows in the front of the store. I had my foot on the brake and was trying to get it to stop and it went through the plate glass window in a split second. I did not have time to think, it happened so fast. I was not hurt and the employees were not hurt, but seconds before the crash, the employees were standing behind the counter waiting on a customer and they had just went out on the floor right before it crashed through their window and up to their registers. They missed being hurt by a few seconds. I reported the incident to our insurance company, so they can investigate further. …
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 bucks to get throttle cleaned, this despite regular maintainance as recommended by the manufacturer. I have seen others with similar complaints and who got throttle cleaned and it was giving same problem again after 2000 miles, so what's the gurantee it won't happen again. Money is not important to me, but safety of me and my family. I feel this is a serious safety issue which Honda should be fixing and not denying. I have nearly crashed into other cars in the parking lot, almost hit the parking lot enterance gate as the car uncontrollable races forward. …
On jan 5, 2000, at approximately 10:30 am I backed my car out of the garage and applied the brakes before entering the street. Applying the brakes caused the uncontrollable acceleration of the car, causing it to cross the street/sideswipe a neighbor's house/ run over another neighbor's fence, and knock down a street sign. I do not know if the accelerator got stuck, but any amount of pressure on the breaks failed to slow the car. All of this occurred in a matter of seconds before finally coming to rest in the center of the street. Damage to the car and a neighbro's house was extensive.
My 98 Honda Accord lx automatically decelerated to 0 MPH when I drove it on the highway (I-10 houston). The signal lights (maintenance light and the key light) turned on first and then the speed dropped to zero all the sudden by itself. I tried to push the acceleration pad and no response at all. I was about to park car to the side. Then after about 1-2 minutes, it became normal again. This is the first time the problem occurred. It was a shock to me. Very worry about if it died on the highway.
Was driving slowly & moving into left lane to turn. Tow truck in left lane. Proceeded to apply brakes. The engine started to rev up & sounded like it was roaring. Rearended tow truck. The wheels on Honda were spinning & smoking as if the accelerator pedal was in use. Foot was never on accelerator pedal. Wheel spinning had to be stopped by turning off the ignition. This is the second time engine had revved & accelerated with foot not on pedal, but on brakes.
Acceleration complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 1998 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 67 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 1998 Honda Accord, 6% of the model year's 1,200 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (17 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Honda Accord acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 1998 Honda Accord, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Honda Accord acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 22 crashes, 0 fires and 7 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.