1998 Honda Accord Problems

Hondas are widely regarded as some of the most reliable cars on the road.  This applies to their whole range of vehicles from the Honda Jazz, all the way up to the CRV.  The most popular saloon Honda is the Honda accord and a particularly well respected modal was the 1998-2004 models.  There are still many people who own or are looking to own one of these fantastic cars today and as with any car, they do have common faults.  Below I’ve listed the most common 1998 Honda Accord problems and common fixes so you can check any models you look at to see if they have had these faults looked at in the past.

First of all I will start with the faults that have official Honda recalls on them.

• Automatic Transmission problem – V6:  In particular, the V6 automatic transmission were prone to failure.  This failure was caused by not enough “thread-locking compound” on the nut for low clutch.  Honda, since discovering this issue, has extended their warranty on vehicles that may suffer this issue up to 7 years or 100k miles.
• Automatic transmission problem – 4 speed:  The automatic transmission on the 4 speed model was also fault and was prone to erratic or late gear transitions when the mechanism was cold.  This issue was caused by a faulty pressure control solenoid and is again, replaceable under warranty.
• Brake light: The parking brake light might go on and stay on.  This is most often related to a saturated float located in the master cylinder.  This should be replaced whether or not the car is still in warranty.

Next, I will list other common 1998 Honda Accord problems.  These problems do not qualify under a recall but most can be fixed with some simple preventative maintenance.

1998 Honda Accord problems

I’ve given advice on avoiding this where possible.

• Airbag warning light:  The airbag warning light may light up on the dashboard if a phone or laptop is plugged into the power socket in the car.  This mostly affected 2002 models of the car.
• Fan Motor Overheating:  The motor that powers the car’s internal air conditioning is known to overheat.  This blows the connected fuse and may result in the clogging of the cooling hose, causing the fan to melt.
• Engine light: The engine management light will come on and stay on when a part called the “EVAP solenoid” fails.  The biggest cause of this part failing is during the winter when the roads are covered with salt and grit.
• Engine Oil Leaks: Oil leaks from various parts of the engine are common, even more so in the V6 where oil can leak from joins and bolt holes in the engine.
• Boot Spoiler/paint: The spoiler can rub on the boot/trunk of the car when driven on rough terrain or roads.  This vibration and rubbing can cause the paint to be “rubbed off” from the boot.  This can be stopped by installing spacer pads between the spoiler and the main body of the car.
• Rattling Suspension:  Nuts on the rear stabilizer system can work their way loose over the course of thousands of miles.  This can cause the stabilizer bar to rattle, creating a rattling sound.
• Noise from windscreen:  When the teeth of the glass fasteners are not properly engaged, this can cause a whistling sound when driving.  This can be remedies by trimming the teeth and having a felt installed.
• Clicking noise from wheels:  The wheels can make a clicking noise due to rubbing of the components.  This can be resolved by applying special grease to the affected area.

Although other problems are possible, these are the most common 1998 Honda Accord problems that have been experienced.