1998 Honda Accord Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1998 Honda Accord. Part of Generation 6 — 1998–2002.

19971999
Complaints
1,429
Crashes
133
Fires
3
Injuries
95
Fatalities
3
Recalls
1

Worst 1998 Honda Accord Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1204 complaints

Automatic Transmission

Avg mileage:92,444 mi
Crash-related:7
#2143 complaints

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch

Avg mileage:114,231 mi
Crash-related:5
Fires:1
#398 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:142,852 mi
Crash-related:4
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Honda Accord.

Automatic Transmission
204
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
Avg Miles
92,444
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
143
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Avg Miles
114,231
Electrical Faults
98
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
142,852
Airbags
49
complaints
Crashes
19
Fires
Avg Miles
83,736
Body Structure
41
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
137,922
Unintended Acceleration
41
complaints
Crashes
14
Fires
Avg Miles
105,667
Engine & Cooling
33
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
112,705
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
33
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
31
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
150,904
Electrical System:Ignition
30
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
102,739
Transmission / Drivetrain
28
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
123,597
Air Bags:Frontal
26
complaints
Crashes
25
Fires
Avg Miles
129,000
Fuel System, Other
25
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
23
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
99,180
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
21
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
91,118
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
19
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
18
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
192,143
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
28,093
Electrical System:Horn
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
85,996
Steering Defects
15
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
133,505
Tire Defects
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
129,000
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
135,805
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
13
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
97,500
Gasoline Fuel System
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
126,486
Seat Belt Issues
12
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
126,741
Suspension:Front
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
112,606
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
60,000
Manual Transmission
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
94,799

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Honda Accord. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 1998 Honda Accord

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~1,439,841 vehicles.

20V026000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~1,439,841 affected

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 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Other Honda Accord Years

1998 Honda Accord — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1998 Honda Accord reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1998 Honda Accord has 1,429 NHTSA complaints, 133 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Automatic Transmission with 204 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Honda Accord?
Top reported problems: Automatic Transmission (204 complaints, avg 92,444 mi); Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (143 complaints, avg 114,231 mi); Electrical Faults (98 complaints, avg 142,852 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Honda Accord?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 111,670 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Honda Accord?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Honda Accord include 133 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 95 injuries, and 3 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Honda Accord have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,439,841 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 1998 Honda Accord?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (automatic transmission) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Honda Accord reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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