Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 extremely rusted, causing the vehicle to be out of alignment. The mechanic also advised the contact that the A/C drain tube had drained over the subframe on the passenger side and might have been a contributing factor to the extreme rusting of the subframe. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
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 condensation leak onto the sub-frame, causing the sub-frame to corrode. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 188,000.
Took my 1999 Honda Accord to a Honda dealership for routine oil change & multi-point inspection on 2/16/15. I was taken into the garage and shown a hole about 2" across in the subframe near the right front wheel well. I was advised that it was due to salty roads and rust. The vehicle was flagged as "unsafe to be driven" by the Honda dealership and I was advised to either repair or stop driving the vehicle as soon as possible. I was told the frame could drop down or cause the engine to come into the passenger compartment in the event of a front end crash. Cost to repair was estimated at $1600. Dealership said I could not sell the car without disclosing the defect. The service manager said the car would only have scrap value at $350-500 as no one would put the necessary repairs into a 16 year old car. …
My wife had purchased this car new in the 1999 model year and I realize Honda is probably expecting these cars to be past their useful life. Unfortunately unaware consumers and young adults will buy these expecting to pile miles on these which Honda is known for. The problem is with the subframe on the passenger side which supports the engine and suspension components. I personally watched this particular part of the car rapidly rust and deteriorate even after coating it with some rust inhibitors. The problem as I understand it is the air conditioning was dripping condensation on the frame causing the structure to rot. I realized it was almost rotted through when I was putting on a new passenger side tire on, so not wanting to put money in that kind of repair, I guess my car is done. My point is buyer be ware, Honda had to know and I still see these 1999 to 2002 models running around.
My Accord was making a clunking sound when hitting small bumps at all speeds. The sound was coming from the front right of the vehicle and was analyzed as unsafe to drive unless the front sub-frame was replaced. The passenger side front sub-frame was completely rusted out and was loose from the car's body and very dangerous to drive. Other areas of the sub-frame have minimal rust and don't have this issue. My mechanic has seen this issue in many other Honda accords in this age range and says it's caused by the ac's condenser drain that's located right above that area of the sub-frame. Honda moved the drain location in the 2003/2004 model. The cost of the repair is in the $2500 area which is more than the car is worth. Honda should have issued a recall for such a major design flaw.
I am the owner of a 1999 Honda Accord lx. I recently brought my vehicle to a mechanic for my annual inspection. They told me that the front subframe of the vehicle is rusted through on the passenger-side, rendering the vehicle unsafe to drive. This appears to be an issue with the position of the air conditioning drainage hose, which drains directly onto the subframe on the passenger side of the vehicle. Further, this seems to be a common issue amongst 1998-2002 Honda Accord vehicles. This issue, which results from a design flaw, poses a serious threat to the safety of any occupants of Honda accords from these years.
1999 Honda Accord lx sub-frame on the passenger side is being rusted out, between the anti-sway bar mount and the lower control arm to sub-frame bushing. In contrast, the same area on the driver side is in great shape. The difference is that the ac condensation drain line directs water to this sub-frame section on the passenger side. It is mainly a design flaw that only shows up over time. Mechanics deem it unsafe to drive and could cause a fatal crash when rusted out. However, the replacement of the sub-frame could cost up to several thousand dollars. Honda should do a recall to have it replaced.
Driving down the road and heard a loud clunk coming from the front end of the car. After this noise, the car did not drive or steer properly. Upon inspection, discovered the sub-frame on the passenger side was completely rusted through. This sub-frame provides mounting points for major suspension components. Upon further inspection, the drivers side was not rusted at all. Even further, it was discovered that the air conditioner drain hose on the passengers side drains directly on to the sub-frame below where the excessive rust caused the sub frame to deteriorate.
The A/C compressor drips directly on the subframe, which rusted it completely apart. Which in turn, destroyed the suspension. My car is now waiting to be towed back to my house, totally not drivable. I was on a city street. Normal turn around a corner. If I would have been injured, I would be filing a lawsuit against Honda for extremely poor engineering and lack of thinking this horrible design flaw through completely. Please contact me asap at [redacted].
The issue is not really "suspension", but sub-frame. It is a part called the rear beam and it supports the rear engine mount. Part number 50200-s84-a00 has rusted entirely through. As numerous people have reported online, it is true that an A/C drain hose drips right onto this piece of sub-frame and completely rusted it through until it broke on the passenger side. The other areas of this part and the attached front beam are in fine condition and the repair looks to be about $2000. I have some pictures if needed.
Body complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 1999 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 69 complaints about the body & structure of the 1999 Honda Accord, 6% of the model year's 1,135 complaints. The component named most often is body (27 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Honda Accord body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 1999 Honda Accord, though it has 4 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 1999 Honda Accord body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 145,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to body & structure 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.