1998 HONDA ACCORD Complaints

1. VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING VERY HARD, CLUNKING IN TO GEAR, AND NOT WANTING TO GO INTO GEAR. 2. DEALER DETERMINED FAILURE TO BE THE TRANSMISSION 3. WILL REQUIRE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

1998 HONDA ACCORD WAS TURNED OFF AND KEY REMOVED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. AFTER LEAVING THE CAR, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO A GUARDRAIL, CAUSING DAMAGE TO LEFT REAR BUMPER AND LEFT REAR PANEL. THIS OCCURRED ON 2/11/04. TWO DAYS LATER WE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FROM HONDA ACKNOWLEDGING IGNITION FAILURES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE SUCH INCIDENTS. WE HAVE CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY ARE "DRAGGING THEIR HEELS" TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COSTS TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED.*AK

IN MARCH, 2003, I PURCHASED A 'USED' 1998 HONDA ACCORD, (EX), FROM ROSNER TOYOTA,3507 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22408, 540-898-7900. THIS WAS A "LEASE" CAR THAT WAS TURNED IN FOR A TRADE.*AK THE CAR WAS HANDLING POORLY DURING THE WINTER OF 2003-2004. I WENT TO MY REGULAR AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHICH IS EXPRESS AUTO SERVICES, 2101 JEFERSON DAVIS HWY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22401, 540-372-4422, SERVICE ATTENDANT-BRIAN. I WAS INFORMED BY BRIAN THAT THE TIRES THAT WERE MOUNTED ON THE CAR WERE ILLEGAL. THE TIRES WERE "WARRIOR' WITH A "T" SPEED RATING. THE MANUFACTURES RATING WAS A "V" SPEED RATING. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE THAT THESE TIRES WERE IN FACT ILLEGAL, & IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT OR PULLED OVER FOR A MOVING VIOLATION, I WOULD BE CITED FOR "ILLEGAL EQUIPMENT." THE COMPLAINT IS CONCERNING THE TIRES. I HAD TO REPLACE THE (4) TIRES. I PURCHASED (4) MICHELIN TIRES FROM EXPRESS AUTO SERVICE, AT A TOTAL COST OF $545.58. NOTE: EXPRESS AUTO MADE A NOTATION ON THE INVOICE THAT THE TIRES WERE INCORRECT & THEY HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE OLD TIRES. I HAD COMMUNICATED MY CONCERNS WITH TOYOTA CORPORATE & THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO STATE MY COMPLAINT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH IS ROSNER TOYOTA. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER OF ROSNER, (MIKE), WHO INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD PAY 1/2 OF THE THE CHARGES FOR THE TIRES. I TOLD THEM THAT THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE. I WANTED TOTAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL OF THE TIRES AND HE REFUSED. I TRIED TO GET TOYOTA CORP TO INTERVENE, BUT THEY STATE THAT THEY DO NOT INTERFERE WITH THIER DEALERSHIPS. I ALSO TRIED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP, BUT I AM TOLD THAT HE "IS NOT AVAILABLE". I WAS INFORMED BY THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOU. THEREFORE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN ASSIST ME IN THIS MATTER. THE ONLY OTHER RECOURSE I HAVE IS TO GILE A CLAIM IN 'SMALL CLAIMS " COURT IN THE CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VA.

HORN WORKS ONLY ON RARE OCCASIONS, PRIMARILY WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED SHARPLY TO EITHER DIRECTION. DEALER HAS STATED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX, WHICH INCLUDES REPLACING PART OF THE DRIVER AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. OVER TIME, THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED, AND DEALER SAYS IT IT LIKELY THE HORN WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL COMPLETELY.*AK DUE TO FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX, THUS I NO LONGER HAVE A WORKING HORN. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY ALSO FAIL IN AN ACCIDENT. I NOTICE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 5 OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, YET NO INVESTIGATION OR RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. MANY OWNERS OF THESE CARS MAY HAVE NON-WORKING HORNS AND NOT EVEN REALIZE IT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE.

I HAVE A 1998 HONDA ACCORD V6. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS REALLY HARD. HAD IT FLUSHED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY HAVE "A FEW" CAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS LIKE A BAD DESIGN TO ME. *AK

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. *AK *SC

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES STARTING THE VERY FIRST YEAR THAT I BOUGHT MY 1998 ACCORD. I HAVE RECEIVED ERROR CODE P0401 INSUFFICIENT EGR FLOW DETECTED AND P1456 EVAP SYSTEM LEAK. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS. I HAVE TRIED THE "GAS CAP NOT BEING TIGHT ENOUGH TRICK", I HAVE HAD THE CAR TEST FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND RECIEVES NO ERRORS. I ONLY USE MID GRADE GASOLINE BUT HAVE RECENTLY TRIED PREMIMIUM. I HAVE USED FUEL CLEANERS AND HAVE HAD THE EGR REPLACED. THIS LIGHT STILL COMES ON.*AK

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. I DID NOT EXPECT THIS FROM A HONDA, IT HAS BEEN FLAWLESSLY WORKING SO FAR.*AK

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. WHEN TRYING TO GET OUT INTO TRAFFIC TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DISENGAGES, AND THE RPMS GO WAY UP. THEN, TRANSMISSION CATCHES, AND VEHICLE IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. @ 25000 AND 1.5YRS OF OWNERSHIP, I REALIZED THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS STARTING TO ACT UP. DEALERSHIP SHAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. I RETURNED @ 35000 BEFORE MY WARRANTY WOULD BE VOID, AND STILL THEY INSIST NO PROBLEMS. CAR WOULD MAKE A THRASHING SOUND WHEN ENGAGED INTO REVERSE. @ 77000 THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING ABRUPTLY AND HARSHLY. THE CAR WOULD MISS DOWN AND UP SHIFTS. NOW 111K000 THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A PRICE OF $4700. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT HONDA NEEDS TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM AND HANDLE ITS CUSTOMER'S COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AT HAND. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE ACORDS BELONGING TO THE 1998-2002 MODEL YEARS. *AK