1998 Honda Accord: sudden loss of power

Filed Jul 20, 2013 · Electrical, Fuel system · 157,800 miles · KY

1998 honda accord: vehicle lost power several times at highway speed. Motor stopped, powers steering and brakes lost, gauge needles spun to zero, as if car was shut off at during normal operation. We did not touch key! Almost got run over by car behind us. Problem occurred six more times before we could get to local honda dealership. They charged me $186.26 to replaced defective ignition switch and they advised they fix a recall for switch interlock while car was in shop for four days! We sent a letter to honda,[xxx] from honda america california called me to decline reimbursing my cost! Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Aug 10, 2012 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · TX

At the approx miles stated above, my honda accord began to struggle shifting from first to second gear. It was as though the car was losing power. Also at times the car not only struggle to get into first gear but when it shifted it would shift rough, and the car would plunge or gallop forward. I researched several websites and blogs just to see if any one else had experienced this same problem. As it turns out everyone has experienced the problem on the honda accord 1998-2002 models. So since this was not just me, I contacted honda headquarters about this issue to see if they would be or had issued a recall on this vehicle regarding the transmission. They stated they had not, however, I feel they need to because this is a hazard, and a major problem. When the car struggles to get into first gear while trying to get into traffic, the car can lose power, which can possibly cause someone to loose control of the vehicle. And as a consequence an accident may occur, resulting in serious injury or death. I ask that the federal safety agency please immediately look into this issue. I have read blogs and complaints all over the web regarding honda and this problem with the honda accord transmission solenoid, dating back as far as 1990-2002. Honda apparently has know about this problem, and has failed to be courteous about fixing it. Although my car is old, I still feel honda should be held liable for a faulty part on the transmission. To continue where I left off with honda, I have talked to them 4 different times and in different months regarding this issue, it seems they are not interested in correcting it, unless they are forced to do so. The lady over the phone did not even offer any type of compensation for the repair. So now it seems it is all up to me as the consumer. The federal safety agency, again, please look into this immediately.

Filed Oct 23, 2010 · Transmission · 64,350 miles · CA

I have a 1998 honda accord. I have recently been noticing that it has been shifting rough or like it has lost power. I have been driving and after stops or attempting to merge into traffic the vehicle feels like it's lost power and then lunges forward. O also just got a check engine light with the error code for the torque converter. I have read this is a common problem and could cause someone to give the vehicle too much throttle do to the lack of power when the accelerator is depressed. And due to the delay in acceleration a person would not be able to tell. I have not repaired my vehicle but the dealer is saying to change the transmission. $3000.00.

Filed Sep 22, 2010 · Electrical · 225,500 miles · NC

I own a 1998 honda accord and I am experiencing issues where my car completely cuts off while driving. Just recently, this past sunday to be exact, my car cut off 3 times in traffic while I was driving and I was almost rear ended by another vehicle. When my car shuts off, I lose all power and my dash board goes black (not 1 light is lit). I have to find a way to get out off traffic safely, so I can place my car in park and restart it. My car restarts with no problems but my car also dies/cuts off without any warning. I contacted honda today and was told that my car was not part of the ignition switch recall #02-031 but they said that it was part of the ignition switch interlock recall#03-088. I took my car to a repair shop and was told that the reason my car is cutting off while driving is because of a faulty ignition switch. I have not corrected the problem on my own because I feel that my car should be included in recall#02-031 and honda should absorb the cost.if all else fails I will have to pay for the repairs myself, to avoid being seriously hurt or injuring someone else. I feel unsafe driving my car because I am constant worrying about "will my car cut off in traffic and cause a serious accident". I have no choice but to drive it at this point because it is my only means of transportation. Please take this complaint into serious consideration because lives are being endangered. Thank you

Filed Mar 25, 2010 · Electrical · 98,000 miles · WA

My 1998 honda accord lx while driving would turn itself off. This occured repeatedly in city driving conditions and also on freeway driving conditions at 60 miles and above. When the engine would turn off, all dash lights including the green "key" security light would come on. The car would start up again if you turned the ignition key on, but at 60 miles an hour, or crossing a busy street and losing power that would not be the first thing one would do and the problem could have LED into very serious accidents. Given there was no code in the computer, the remedy was a hit and miss, my mechanic after he extensively test drove my car for a week found that on occasions when he was behind a red light when he touched the ingnition key, the car turned itself off. He then connected with a honda mechanic and he informed him that the ignition harness had a short. When he went to purchase a new harness, the supplier (accroding to what he told me) had shared with him that, "oh yes, we always keep a supply of these harnesses, they go out a lot!" given the danger this poses to this vehicle (it seems the model was produced for several years), there should be some warning to owners of this dangerous situation so that they can have a competent technician test their ignition harness and make sure there are no shorts.

Filed Aug 12, 2009 · Electrical · 88,300 miles · OH

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 honda accord. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired according to a recall; however, the failure still persists. While making a turn at 30 MPH, the entire vehicle shut off and lost power without warning. The failure has occurred twice. The dealer stated that the ignition switch was previously replaced by the previous owner according to the federal safety agency campaign id number 03v423000 (electrical system:ignition:switch). The contact stated that this was a serious safety issue and defect. He would be responsible for the repair cost. The failure mileage was 88,300 and current mileage was 86,100. Updated 08/31/09 *bf updated 09/03/09.

Filed Jun 12, 2009 · Electrical · 111,120 miles · CO

A week ago the lights on my dash flashed on and off several times as I was driving at 60 mpg. I did not lose power, and the car ran fine for a week. Tonight, the car lost power as I was driving, thankfully only at 35 MPH. I restarted it and I got home safely. I was told it may be the ignition system, and as I was investigating on the internet, my situation was very similar to others mentioned in the articles.

Filed Apr 29, 2009 · Electrical · 170,000 miles · OH

I drive a 98 honda accord sedan. The engine and the whole electrical system died on me while I was driving on I-75. There was sudden loss of power, no hydraulic brakes, no power steering, no head lights, it was so scary. It was very difficult to stop the car and get the car to shoulder. This happened to me twice.

Filed Mar 20, 2008 · Engine · 123,500 miles · OH

Engine stalls without warning. Engine stalls immediately after starting despite multiple attempts to start. Problems are random and occur both in traffic and when parked. Problem started mid-2007 with momentary loss of engine power (<1 sec) combined with loss of power to instrument cluster. Problem is much worse now. Engine now stalls and does not restart for 2-3 minutes which is very dangerous in traffic. Incident date is the latest date.

Filed Oct 11, 2007 · Electrical · 50,000 miles · NV

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 honda accord. While the contact's daughter was driving 70 MPH, the vehicle began to lose power. As she pulled to the shoulder, the vehicle reset itself and regained normal acceleration. The ignition switch was recalled on september 9, 2002 and was replaced by the dealer. Five years later, in october of 2007, the ignition switch failure recurred. While driving to the dealer regarding the ignition failure, the vehicle stalled. The dealer stated that the ignition switch was the cause of the failure and they will not repair it a second time. The current mileage was 98,000 and failure mileage was 50,000. * updated 12/12/07

Filed Mar 20, 2007 · Engine · 90,000 miles · CT

Tl*- the contact owns a 1998 honda accord, and stated that while driving on the highway or in the city the vehicle sometimes lost power. Neither the weather nor the speed were a factor at the time of the failure. The first failure was at 90,000 miles, and has experienced the failure sometimes twice a day. The vehicle experience the failure around 5-15 times a month. Before any of the incidents there has been no prior indication. The contact took vehiclet to the dealer, and they stated that they could not diagnose any failure in the vehicle. The manufacturer stated that next time the contact had the same failure to have the vehicle towed to the dealership after it stalled.

Filed Mar 7, 2007 · Transmission · CA

I bought my 1998 honda at the san francisco honda dealership in san francisco and did all of my maintenance work at their shop. It has 70,000 miles on it and has had no serious problems. On sunday I was crossing the bay bridge from oakland into the city and the engine light went on and the engine revved like I was in a drag car race and lurched forward and lost power and then accelerated violently all the way across the bridge. I literally almost got rear ended a few times and I am lucky to be alive! I was able to get my car to the dealership and they told me they had to charge me a $140 non-refundable "diagnostic fee" to determine what was wrong but they suspected it was the transmission. I got a call the next day letting me know the transmission was slipping and that it would need to be replaced at a cost of $5,000 parts and labor and they would have to order the transmission and would probably take 2 weeks to even get it? The warranty I had purchased had,of course, expired and no matter how much I tried to get a reason for this happening they just said "it happens". So after spending $17,000+ on a car and maintaining it I now have a dangerous and expensive lemon. I paid my $140 blood money and got my car out of there and deciding what to do next?