1998 Honda Accord problems

What is wrong

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.

Risk

In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1‑888‑234‑2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1‑800‑255‑6727.

Recall number 20V026000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain passenger vehicles and mini vans, the ignition switch may wear excessively and prevent proper interlock operation, making it possible to turn the ignition key to the "off" position and remove the key without shifting the transmission to "park."

Risk

If the vehicle operator does not shift to "park" before removing the key and fails to engage the parking brake, the vehicle could roll and a crash could occur.

Remedy

Dealers will perform an inspection procedure that determines the amount of cylinder body wear. If significant wear is indicated, the dealer will replace the cylinder body, collar, and latch plate. If no signs of wear are indicated, dealers will replace the latch plate with a redesigned part. Owner notification began december 8, 2003. Owners should contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009 or acura at 1‑800‑382‑2238.

Recall number 03V423000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and sport utility vehicles, electrical contacts in the ignition switch can degrade due to the high electrical current passing through the switch when the vehicle is started.

Risk

Worn contacts could cause the engine to stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the ignition switch. Owner notification began june 14, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009 or acura at 1‑800‑382‑2238.

Recall number 02V120000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Certain vehicles were manufactured with ball joints that can prematurely wear out and, in the worse case, the ball joint would separate causing the front suspension to collapse.

Risk

This condition would result in vehicle deceleration and a sudden loss of power. Also steering controllability would be reduced.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints.

Recall number 99V069000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles (honda accord sedans manufactured from september 18, 1997 to january 10, 1998; coupes manufactured december 11, december 15, 1997, and january 5, 1998; acura 2.3cl manufactured october 22, 1997 through january 7, 1998). During manufacturing, the casting die caused an irregularity in the right-side transmission cover. This irregularity can limit the movement of the parking pawl actuation level and prevent adequate engagement of the parking gear pawl. This does not comply with fmvs no. 114, "theft protection."

Risk

This condition can cause the vehicle to roll down an incline when the transmission is locked in "park," increasing the risk of personal injury and/or property damage.

Remedy

Dealers will install a collar on the transmission parking pawl to ensure proper movement of the actuation lever.

Recall number 98V018000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The front passenger seat belt retractor mounting bracket was improperly welded.

Risk

This condition can cause the bracket to separate from the vehicle body in a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and repair these vehicles.

Recall number 97V220000 · Recall details

Six of the odi complaints are duplicative of honda complaints, as well as four of the crashes.the one injury occurred when a rollaway vehicle struck the exiting operator who had inadvertently parked the vehicle in an unsecured state (not in park, brake not engaged).honda identified the warranty claims from complaint descriptions that contended the interlock system failed to operate properly.honda presented the results of their investigation into interlock system failures at an october 16, 2003 meeting with odi in which honda identified a supplier and an engineering specification change for the ignition cylinder body (cb), a subcomponent of the ignition lock assembly.results from honda?s analysis demonstrated a strong correlation between the production date range of vehicles that experienced higher interlock warranty claim rates and the implementation dates of the changes.an engineering specification for a surface treatment process for the cb was eliminated at the beginning of my 1998.the supplier of the cb was changed in february 1999.vehicles built within this time period contain a cb with poor surface hardness that can wear prematurely.as the wear progresses, the interlock system becomes incapable of preventing key removal when the shifter is in a non-park position.interlock failure increases the risk of a vehicle rollaway and subsequent crash or injury when vehicles are parked unsecured.honda accord vehicles subject to this change include my 1998 and my 1999 through february 1999 production.vehicles produced after this date are not affected by this condition and thus are not considered at risk for failure.odi notes that 12 of the 13 voq reports fall within this production range (the 13th does not have a VIN and cannot be verified).the above population represents the number of the accord vehicles to be recalled.honda also reported that certain odyssey and acura cl and tl models were affected and would also be recalled.a total of 570,120 vehicles will be recalled.under recall 03v‑423, honda will inspect vehicles and replace components (including the cb) on vehicles with excessive wear.vehicles not showing wear will have a redesigned part installed which prevents wear.

EA03017

Six of the odi complaints are duplicative of the manufacturer complaints, as well as four of the crashes.the noted injury occurred when a rollaway vehicle that had been inadvertently parked in neutral struck the exiting operator.the warranty claim count shown for other represents incidents where honda's analysis of claim detail indicates the interlock system malfunctioned.the interlock system utilizes a lever to block ignition key removal when the transmission is not in park.honda has identified a wear condition of the interlock lever that can cause the system to malfunction; when wear occurs the key can be removed from the ignition while the shifter is in a non-park position.honda documents indicate that a manufacturing process may be the cause of interlock lever wear, and that this process was revised in january of 2001.an engineering analysis will be opened to further investigate this concern and its scope.

PE03014

This pe was opened based on 10 consumer complaints in the odi database alleging that the power assisted seats were failing in certain 1998-2002 honda accord vehicles.failures are concentrated in the 1998-99 model year vehicles.the bracket that attaches the seat bottom to the seat base is fracturing due to: 1-the weld condition of bracket, 2-the drivers weight, and 3-the impact on the seat when the driver enters the vehicle and sits down.over time the bracket that attaches the seat may fail at the left front corner of the seat bottom.the other 3 points of attachment of the seat bottom to the seat base stay attached and the seat movement is limited.the attachment of the seat bottom to the seat back does not fail.the condition is most apparent during rapid acceleration causing the seat to tilt rearward.although a few complaints report concern over loss of vehicle control, no loss of control incidents, crashes or injuries are reported.in response to customer complaints, honda will provide owners of 1998 and some 1999 accords a no-cost reinforcement for the seat at the left front corner.a safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

PE02072