Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
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).
Travelling on interstate when when front-end of vehicle began to vibrate. Moments after the vibration, the car veered hard right on its own. Unable to regain control of vehicle, as steering wheel seemed as it was "locked" in a hard-right enabling position. This malfunction caused the driver to hit a retaining wall at approx 55mph, causing bodily injury. Inspection revealed a faulty/failed steering knuckle, which had completely failed/snapped. Car considered a total, after incident.
On March 3, 2015 my wife's 1999 Accord would not start. We had the starter replaced for about $550.00 but the car was still near impossible to start and the engine can cut out at any time once you do have it started. The auto repairman told us the keys made poor contact inside the ignition switch and that was why it was still so hard to start. He taught us a tedious process to start the car but since then when we drive it the engine can suddenly stop running and stopp, also disabling the power steering. The car is no longer safe to drive. It stopped running 4 times on a 10 mile trip today.
Began hearing unusual noise from right front tire area when turning. Upon investigating, discovered that the right front tire was worn excessively and that the right front sub-frame is rotted out. No other part of the frame is rotted only the right front. Apparent cause is a design flaw where the A/C drain tube is located directly over this sub-frame and causes it to prematurely rust and rot out. I cannot get an alignment because the sub-frame is too weak. I cannot drive the car because the sub-frame will likely fail causing loss of control of the vehicle.
My vehicle turned off while I was driving. I was driving about 15 -20 MPH on a main st. Light lit up on the dash, then all dash lights went out, the power steering stopped working and the brakes stopped as well. I had to slam my foot on the brakes to keep from hitting a vehicle at a light.
I was alerted to a potential problem with the subframe of my vehicle that has caused me to park it. The problem is that the rear subframe has rusted to the point that it is broken in three places. The rear subframe is located in the rear part of the engine compartment and supports the engine and front suspension. I was driving this car for an unknown length of time in this condition. I was informed that this is a safety concern and that the car should not be driven. The portion of the subframe that attaches to the sway bar is completely broken loose from the frame. The location of the rust is under the outlet of the air conditioning condensate drain. This is the only location where the sub frame is rusted. The distilled water coming out of the air conditioner is corrosive to metals. …
My 1999 Honda Accord had a strange passenger-side body sound while driving at low speed. I went to the local mechanic who said the passenger side sub-frame was thoroughly rusted. I spent $3300 total to replace the sub-frame with a new one from a Honda dealer for $982.18 and two days of labor for $1100. The mechanic and I both reviewed the internet for Honda Accord recalls on this sub-frame for the 1999-2002 model years. I was surprised there has not been a recall as I was lucky to notice this before it became a serious safety hazard. As the mechanic replaced this labor-intensive sub-frame, the rack and pinion assembly also was totally rusted and need replacement - the assembly costing $417.49. Also a major leak occurred in the power steering pressure hose that had to be replaced with the part costing $148.89.
NHTSA case # [redacted] my power steering return line in my 1999 Honda Accord equipped with a 3 liter v6 engine failed and started leaking very badly. The power steering line connects with the power steering hoses. My mechanic told me that this problem occurs quite frequently on accords with v6 engines. The reason I'm contacting you is the current recall of defective power steering lines and hoses on 2003-2007 Honda accords equipped with 6 cylinder engines. Although my vehicle is not included in the recall, Honda May not be aware of the problem occurring on 6-cylinder accords in years other than 2003-2007.
While turning into a driveway, vehicle made loud banging sound as it went over a minor elevation when entering the driveway from the street. The vehicle makes popping and bumping noises while turning. After inspecting the vehicle, it was discovered that the passenger side subframe was severely rusted. The rust has eaten through the frame that supports the vehicles suspension and steering. There was little to no rust on the driver side subframe. I was informed the rust May due to a defect in the drip line from the air conditioner depositing directly over the subframe. I was informed the vehicle is unsafe to drive and should be repaired immediately.
When traveling at any speed, but primarily above 50mph the car stalls. I will pull the car off the roadway, wait 30 seconds and attempt to restart. At times it will take up to a couple of minutes for the car to eventually start. Around the same time as the onset of this problem the car makes a grinding sound when you turn the key to start it. The same sound you would her if you were to try and turn the key to the start position after it is already started. The amount of pressure you put on turning the key does not seem to make a difference. The stalling problem has me the most concerned for myself and others.
1999 Honda Accord sub-frame crack from air conditioning drain. Part number 50200-s84-a00 front (rear beam) of the sub-frame has rusted and cracked. The crack is located on the right side of the car directly below where the air conditioning drain tube drips onto the sub frame. All other areas of sub-frame and undercarriage of the car are in great condition. This rusted area is obviously the result of a design flaw with the air conditioning drain constantly wetting the sub-frame. Rusted sub-frame found at 210,000 miles but damage obviously occurred much earlier. Need Honda to recall and replace sub-frame.
Steering complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1999 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the steering of the 1999 Honda Accord, 2% of the model year's 1,135 complaints. The component named most often is hydraulic power assist system (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Honda Accord steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering 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 steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 140,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to steering 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.