1999 Honda Accord: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Jan 1, 2017 · Suspension · 150,000 miles · IL

My daughter was home from school and complained of s clunking sounds when turning from the right front. I removed the wheel and found the subframe was rusted out on the rear on both sections. I did some research and found this to be a common problem on these 1998 to 2002 honda accords. The left side was fine. This seems to be due the air conditioning condensate dripping on the frame area. Luckily this was found in time before an accident or worse could have occurred.

Filed Dec 28, 2016 · Body · 127,000 miles · WI

My accord was making a clunking sound when hitting small bumps at all speeds. The sound was coming from the front right of the vehicle and was analyzed as unsafe to drive unless the front sub-frame was replaced. The passenger side front sub-frame was completely rusted out and was loose from the car's body and very dangerous to drive. Other areas of the sub-frame have minimal rust and don't have this issue. My mechanic has seen this issue in many other honda accords in this age range and says it's caused by the AC's condenser drain that's located right above that area of the sub-frame. Honda moved the drain location in the 2003/2004 model. The cost of the repair is in the $2500 area which is more than the car is worth. Honda should have issued a recall for such a major design flaw.

Filed Mar 31, 2016 · Body · 133,000 miles · OH

I bought a 1999 honda accord ex for my niece. After driving it to get tires, I heard a clunk/scraping noise coming from the front passenger side of the vehicle. Upon further inspection, I notice the subframe is rusted clean through. Right underneath the A/C drain drip. The car drifts to the right. The upper ball joint is compramised. The sway bar mount bolts right to that area.

Filed Jan 21, 2015 · Body, Suspension · 160,000 miles · WV

Driving down the road and heard a loud clunk coming from the front end of the car. After this noise, the car did not drive or steer properly. Upon inspection, discovered the sub-frame on the passenger side was completely rusted through. This sub-frame provides mounting points for major suspension components. Upon further inspection, the drivers side was not rusted at all. Even further, it was discovered that the air conditioner drain hose on the passengers side drains directly on to the sub-frame below where the excessive rust caused the sub frame to deteriorate.

Filed Nov 22, 2014 · Body · 105,200 miles · IL

My car has been making clunking noise from the bottom for about 2-3 weeks and has been getting worse. I took it to a mechanic, he showed me the cradle/subframe on the passenger side rusted heavily and almost breaking off. In researching on the internet I see this is a common problem with 1999-2002 accords, due to water leaking from AC condensation. This has been reported as a serious mechanical/frame issue with possibility of becoming catastrophic. My mechanic is looking to order the subframe from an honda dealer but I think this is a serious design problem. These vehicles should be recalled and fixed by honda.

Filed Oct 25, 2011 · Engine · 75,000 miles · CO

This is a v6 automatic. I have kept up with the maintenance of the vehicle exactly as honda has instructed. I have even gone as far to only get it serviced at the dealership. The vehicle has always shifted weird from park into drive. At 75000 miles it began hard shifting into 1st and around 85000 miles it began to not want to shift from 1st into 2nd and especially 2nd back to 1st. Now putting the car in reverse is causing problems. This issue with 1999 v-6 automatics is documented everywhere. The dealer said they are aware the issue is wide spread and can't do anything about it. Honda has been aware of this problem as a wide spread defect and the federal safety agency should put some pressure on honda to step-up. A well maintained engine should last more than 90k miles on this honda. Not ok and honda knew and knows they built a car with a major defect.

Filed Oct 7, 2007 · Transmission · GA

Since first purchased this 99 accord has been to the shop on 5 different occasions for hard shifting into 1st and 2nd. Was told by honda mechanic that was how it was supposed to shift. Still having troubles with slipping, and hard shifting and occasionally down shifting when going 70mph, car will whine loudly and you can feel the transmission down shift. Was told I needed to replace transmission.

Filed Dec 9, 2006 · Electrical, Transmission · 132,000 miles · CA

[xxx] november 21, 2006 I was driving on a freeway, and I noticed smoke streaming from the top of the steering column. I took the exit off the freeway. The car was losing power, and jerked when I gave it gas. I pulled over and called the tow truck. The car was towed to marin honda, a nearest dealer. November 24, 2006 they tested and found the electrical portion of the ignition switch had failed. They replaced it but at the same time the (trans gear selection) light began to flash. The service advisor said that it's a completely different problem. Marin honda charged us $205 for the replacement of ignition switch. November 24, 2006 ever since the ignition switch was replaced, the trans gear selection begins to flash when the engine is on. And it makes a clunk sound and the whole car shakes when the gear is shifted to reverse or drive. I called the marin honda service advisor and said the transmission problem must be related to the ignition switch replacement, but he was adamant that ignition switch has nothing to do with transmission. He said it is pure coincidence that both the ignition and transmission had problems at the same time. November 28,2006 december 1, 2006 the mechanic at petaluma honda said that the range sensor is malfunctioning and there are a few wires dangling which may be why the cruise control is not working. They recommended that we take the car back to marin honda. I drove the car to marin honda. December 2, 2006 eddie parnell, service manager at marin honda said that they've replaced the range sensor but still has the same problem. He thought it could be the transmission. He said that they continue checking. December 9, 2006 after eight days, jack, service advisor at marin honda, called and said that the transmission has to be replaced. He said that we will have to pay half of the cost. *nm updated 07/11/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Filed Nov 27, 2006 · Electrical, Transmission · 138,109 miles · CA

I was driving back from sf to our home in santa rosa, and I noticed smoke streaming from the top of the steering column. Then the odometer dropped from 65 to 0, went back to 65, then fluctuated. As I took the exit off the freeway, the car was losing power, and jerked when I gave it gas. I pulled over and called the tow truck. The engine did not start when the tow truck driver tried it, although it cranked. The car was towed to marin honda. They tested and found the electrical portion of the ignition switch had failed. They replaced it but at the same time the d4(trans gear selection)light began to flash. The service advisor said that it's a completely different problem, and that we should take the car back to the mechanic who replaced the trans fluid 7 weeks ago.(my wife told the customer service advisor that we had the trans work done a couple of months ago when it fact it was just changing fluid as part of regular maintenance). Marin honda charged us $205 for the replacement of ignition switch. The d4 starts flashing when the engine is started and shift to any one of gears. And it makes a big clunk and the whole car shakes when the gear is shifted to reverse or drive. I called marin honda cust advisor and told him it must be related to ignition switch replacement, but he's adamant that it has nothing to do with it. When we checked your website and looked under "recall" for 1999 accord, we found it had ignition sw recalls in three different years, 2002, 2003, and 2005. Ignition switch(2002), cylinder wear, collar, plate latch(2003), interlock function(2005). Could trans range sensor ckt malfunction be caused by heat from the ignition wiring burning out?

Filed Jul 28, 2004 · Transmission · 79,000 miles · CT

1999 honda accord, ex v6, 79k miles, beautifully maintained and only serviced by honda dealerships. Original owner was my father (philip garraffa) who leased the vehicle; I purchased the car and the end of the lease - I know it has been taken care of and has never been subjected to excess wear and tear. At times while driving (stepping on the gas), the engine will 'rev', car will not move into gear, then all of a sudden will slam into gear and jerk forward. Thankfully this has happened at lower speeds, but this is very dangerous, especially if this were to happen at a higher speed.

Filed May 29, 2004 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · WA

While pulling out into a roadway at a hurried pace to avoid oncoming traffic, my '99 accord would not accelerate and the RPM's just increased. An oncoming vehicle noticed that I was not getting out of the way and slammed on his brakes. Fortunately, before an impact occured, my honda violently slammed into gear and I got out of the way of the other vehicle, but the acceleration was so sudden I was not able to turn. The accord impacted the curb, causing tire and rim damage. The transmission is progressively getting worse and I am dismayed to find that honda knows the transmission is defective, yet will do nothing to help '99 owners. Honda needs to recall all these transmissions, not just the 2000/01 because they are a threat to driver safety (as I have experienced). I have always liked honda's cars but may consider another vehicle if honda allows their bottom line to endanger customer safety.

Filed Feb 24, 2004 · Brakes · CA

While applying the brakes a noise was heard coming from the rear. The consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for analysis, and the mechanic replaced the rotors and other parts due to corrosion. *ak the clunk noise was thought to be coming from the right rear stabilizer link which was replaced.