Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
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).
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
I was in a bad accident I was in the far right lane on the highway I'm going 55mph someone jumped in front of me I used my breaks then my car jerked right into the other person car causing my car to spin around 2 time on a 6 lane highway . The airbag never deployed the staring wheel was not turning lots of fluids leaking out of it but it was always jerking for some reason even when the mechanic says that's natural..
I had car accident and two days after I had picked up car from body shop I notice that a a noise . I called the insurance and the rep. Said to take car back to shop. I did and from what the insurance and we're told the car just needed an alingment., I remember hearing a loud heavy sound on left front end of car on passenger side and all of the sudden the car looses control . I rememberd the vehicle was on its roof I, felt arm getting burn by fire . It seemed that the roof of vehicle was not protected.and did not server it purpose . My speed was about 25 30 MPH . The left front side and wheel were sticking out from body frame of car . The same side where shop had made, repairs and the arm axel had been replaced just few days before per insurance request . The insurance had used and after market in invoice . …
Notice ref: Honda lawyer statement on recall notice July 2004 ref. Letter to nvsc on 01072015 this is recent notice to bh, ie beaverton Honda, I am still am complaining that beaverton Honda has continued an ongoing refusal to repair / replace ?? With Honda Accord lx ??starter switch?? Y 98 problem I have purchased new from b-h, which shuts off the engine at 50-60 mpg on the interstate highway. I have had this car in for maintenance repeated;u at bh maintenance dept. On canyon rd. With this complaint for several years, including 2004,5,6,7,8,9,2010,11,12,13,14. T question: have you changed your position, of, refusal, to replace this defective part.? Do you still need recall statements, which I have provided you in the past?. …
I parked my car in my driveway Friday night and took the keys out of the ignition the car was still in drive. The car rolled down my driveway, into the yard, and hit a tree with no one in the vehicle. Since there was no key in the ignition the airbags did not deploy. I did some research and realized that there had been a recall on my car for this very reason, but I had not been notified about this recall. I contacted Honda and they said that I had not been notified because the car still had the previous owners info in their system. I bought the car from a Honda dealership, yet they said that it was my responsibility to contact them to change the information over to allow them to contact me with recall information. Is there anything that can be done about this. Would Honda not have some responsibility in the accident?
My car underwent the ignition switch interlock recall in 2002. But this ignition switch was faulty and again in 2011, the switch failed. My car stalled a few times on the freeway and I was in great danger of being in a accident. The system was while driving the car, it would immediately cut off the engine and if I put it back in neutral and restart it would start fine. Honda knew about the faulty switch replaced and now is recommending a new and improved version at the owners cost. I had to tow the car at my expense to a nearby mechanic and spend my money to fix this issue instead of Honda fixing the faulty component.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Honda Accord. While driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle started to slow down and then stalled without warning. The contact mentioned that the brakes failed and the steering would not turn. The vehicle was restarted, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was merged to the side of the road, where an independent mechanic diagnosed that the ignition switch was defective. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, who diagnosed that the failure was due to a faulty wire harness. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Honda Accord. The contact started upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle turned off without warning. The contact mentioned in order to keep the vehicle on the key had to be forcefully pushed into the ignition. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited the same symptoms as NHTSA campaign number: 02V120000 (electrical system). The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to have it diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 149,212.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Honda Accord. While driving 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to multiple independent mechanics who were unable to diagnose the failure. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was aware of NHTSA campaign number: 02V120000 (electrical system) but the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 98,000. Updated 8/10/15 updated 10/05/2017
Related recalls
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…
NHTSA investigations
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…
Electrical complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1998 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 308 complaints about the electrical system of the 1998 Honda Accord, 26% of the model year's 1,200 complaints. The component named most often is ignition › switch (143 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Honda Accord electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 03V-423 (switch, Oct 27, 2003); NHTSA recall 02V-120 (switch, May 16, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Honda Accord electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 127,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 3 fires and 3 injuries to electrical system 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.