1998 Honda Accord: won't start

Filed May 19, 2020 · Electrical · 160,000 miles · MA

I have replaced my ignition switch last year and am having the sane problem. I looked online and noticed there is a recall for this part for my vehicle. The vehicle cuts off while im driving or will not turn over all the way when I switch it on. I can tell when the switch catches.

Filed Jul 16, 2015 · 159,900 miles · MO

The car just shuts wherever you are, in the middle of the highway. It happened numerous times. Sometimes it wouldn't start. But my daughter was driving the car and it shut off in the middle of the highway. She was very lucky that an accident didn't occur. This part (ignition switch has be on recall) for the 98 accord but not my particular VIN# which I think is ridiculous. Why would it be on 98 accords and beyond but not this particular VIN and we had the same issue as the others.

Filed Feb 26, 2011 · Electrical · 145,000 miles · TX

On several occasions my car would not start. This would happen out of nowhere, sometimes it would start up after a few minutes and sometimes I would have to come back and get it. On one occasion the vehicle died while I was driving down the road. Shortly after that I took it to a honda dealership to have it repaired. According to the dealership the ignition switch was the cause of the problem. I paid $233.27 for parts and labor. They also charged me to repair a few other things, in total I spent around $400.00. Since then my brother purchased a 1999 honda accord and they started having the same problems. He found out that his car was part of a recall for the ignition switch and he took his car to the same dealership and they fixed it for free. I looked online and it seems that honda accords from 1997-2002 all have this common problem with the ignition switch failing. I believe my car should be included in the recall. And I believe I should be reimbursed for my expense in repairing the ignition switch.

Filed Apr 14, 2009 · Electrical · TX

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 honda accord. While driving various speeds, the vehicle would stall without warning. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic and the entire engine was replaced. One year later, the failure resurfaced accompanied by a no-start condition. The dealer would not repair the vehicle according to the federal safety agency campaign id number 02v120000 (electrical system:ignition:switch) because she allowed an independent mechanic to replace the engine. The manufacturer also would not assist. She never received a recall notice, even though she is the original owner of the vehicle. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 127,111.

Filed Mar 18, 2009 · Electrical · 135,000 miles · GA

My 1998 honda accord had the ignition switch recall performed with the recall came out. In november 2008, I started to notice starting issues. The dash light would flicker. After trying a couple of times the car would start. The car ran fine until around january 2009 when the car engine shut down without warning while stopping at a traffic light while driving home from work. The car was able to start back up immediately. One day while driving on the interstate in feb. 2009, the engine RPM started dropping and I could not accelerate to get more speed. I pulled into the emergency lane and stopped the car while the car was still on and in drive position. Once I stopped, I could accelerate again. Another time the dash lights flicker when I tried to start the car. The car did not start until after a couple of tries. Each time, these problems occurred, I check if it was related to a certain condition (weather, temperature, etc). The problems happened randomly. After reading various complaints on this site and other sites, I started to try to reproduce the dash board flickering just by turning the car on but not starting the engine. I was able to reproduce the flickering by slowly turning the key toward the off position. I talked to honda headquarters and they told me the recall was already accomplished and the my car was out of warranty and they can not do anything about it. My car now 142250 miles. I talked with the dealership that I had the recall done and they said they could not do anything about it. I talked with another dealership where I get my maintenance done now. They said that it would be $100 to run a diagnostic on the car. I told them what would guarantee me that the problem would be found if the car was running fine at the time. I will be replacing the ignition switch on I figure out how to get to the wiring since honda will help with this issues. This switch is putting me in unsafe situations when driving.

Filed Jun 17, 2008 · Engine · 150,000 miles · AZ

My 1998 honda accord lx is randomly turning off while I am stopped, or while I am driving. It never occurs at any certain time or speed. I have many things replaced in the car and nothing has fixed it. I had a recall done on the ignition switch and it still did it. I talked with a service representative at a honda dealership and he told me that the main relay system are notorious for going out, so I took a chance since it was only 65 dollars and replaced it and it appears the problem has been fixed. I had read on many forums from tons of people who have had the same problem and no one can figure it out. This is a huge safety concern because my car could be driving along the freeway going 65 and it would just shut off for no reason. Sometimes it would not start back up and I had to force my car on the side of the road. This could cause a serious wreck which could lead to fatalities if it was during rush hour.

Filed Sep 5, 2007 · Electrical · 127,000 miles · FL

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 honda accord. The contact stated that the vehicle stalls and has to be restarted each day. He also stated that occasionally the vehicle does not start on the first attempt. The vehicle was repaired under the federal safety agency campaign id number 02v120000 (electrical system:ignition:switch) in september of 2002. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the ignition switch failed. The vehicle has not been repaired. The current mileage was 130,000 and failure mileage was 127,000. Updated 10/10/07

Filed Apr 25, 2007 · Electrical · 85,000 miles · MA

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 honda. The contact experienced a duplicate failure per the federal safety agency recall #02v120000 regarding the ignition switch. When the ignition was engaged the vehicle didn't start normally, the engine shut off and occasionally started again. Honda stated that this was not recall related, and that he needed to have the ignition switch column replaced. The dealer diagnosed all of the components except the ones that were related. A local mechanic stated that there was the federal safety agency recall on this year, make, and model vehicle. The failure mileage was 85,000, and the current mileage was 106000.

Filed Oct 26, 2006 · Electrical, Transmission · FL

During the last 6 months I began having problems with my ignition locking up and car would not start & occasionally the car would stop running while in motion for no reason. The dash lights would all flash and then lock-up & die. I checked online and discovered there had been two recalls on my 98 honda accord lx, ignition switch and interlock. I phoned my local dealer, honda of ocala and they gave me an appt. For 10/20/06. They took a look at my car and then tried to sell me other services. I asked that they only fix the two recalls as scheduled. I waited for 1 1/2 hours and then was informed that the ignition switch was bad but I would have to pay $205.00 if I wanted it fixed because it had already been fixed. They couldn't tell me where or when this was. I refused to pay for a recall that was supposed to be done free of charge. After making me wait another 35 minutes my car was returned. I asked about the interlock recall, had it been fixed? He said no you'll have to call and make another appt. This appt. Was for both recalls. They had my car for over 2 hrs and did nothing. I went home and called honda of america. I spoke with a rep that took my complaint. On 10/23 I was told by both reps that my only option was paying labor and getting it done at honda of ocala. I did not want to return to this specific dealership due to them treating me so miserably at the first appt. I have no records that this recall was ever fixed. My parents were the previous owner's and they don't either. Regardless the part is obviously defective as this is not normal and should be covered in full, free of charge by this recall.

Filed Sep 27, 2006 · Electrical · 105,000 miles · CA

Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, it intermittently would not start without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop, who was unable to duplicate the problem with the starter assembly. Although a diagnostic test was performed, no failure codes were produced. The manufacturer was not contacted.

Filed Aug 30, 2006 · Electrical · OK

Key will not start the car - ignition problem - car dies going down the road and all of the lights start to flash.

Filed Mar 16, 2006 · Electrical, Engine · 130,000 miles · CA

Dt*: the contact stated while driving at various speeds the engine stalls without warning and intermittently the vehicle does not start. There is a the federal safety agency recall, # 02v120000 regarding the electrical system: ignition: switch. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however it is not included in the recall due to the VIN. The dealership has been alerted. The interlock switch has been replaced due to bulletin #03-088 however; this did not correct the problem.