I was at the grocery store, XXX about 10:00pm, got a few things of food, I got in the care and started to drive home, I was at a stop sign in the parking lot, took off from SS, going about 5mph, the passenger wheel turned sideways, the bottom of the wheel was facing horizontal because the upside-down lower ball joint let go, just separated with no advanced notice or sound, it just happened, 2006 Honda Accord EX, 2.4L. This is an engineering defect(abortion) which should have been corrected many, many years ago. This is Honda Motor Company's fault and the need to be liable, because they are civilly, this has been going on so long without consequences, it should be criminal. This has happened over the years on Accords 2003-2007 and other models also, I have always owned civics and never experienced this. When this happened, the FRAME slammed on the ground, it was very Traumatizing, to put it mildly. This is one of the most Traumatizing things I have experienced in my life, this frame slamming on the ground, it's a very horrible feeling. This is unacceptable from a car Manufacturer in the [XXX], this should never happen, it's very traumatizing, so BAD. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Honda Accord ball joint problems
148 of the 24,251 owner complaints about the Honda Accord describe ball joint or control arm failure, most of them for the 1998 model year.
- owner complaints
- 148
- worst model year
- 1998
- typical repair cost reported
- $1,400
- typical mileage
- 108,000
By model year
Often reported together
Harsh shifting 7Grinding brakes 6Stalling 4Power steering loss 4Loss of power 4Airbag light 4Whining noise 3Knocking 3
Trouble codes mentioned
P1167 1P1166 1P0303 1P0302 1
What owners say
"While driving, the front driver's side driveshaft snapped due to an active safety recall. The vehicle was towed to a dealership for the recall repair. Immediately after the new driveshaft was installed, the car began shaking violently under braking and driving. The dealership inspected it and diagnosed a broken tie rod caused by the snapping driveshaft, but the dealer is refusing to cover the consequential damage or towing reimbursement, leaving an unsafe vehicle undriveable on their lot the incident happened "While stopped at a traffic light at [XXX] and [XXX] taking a left turn, I pressed the gas to go through the intersection. The vehicle made a loud clunk sound and completely lost all drive power (driveshaft snapped). I had to manually push the car ('Flintstone it') out of the intersection to safety.". After losing all power during a left turn at [XXX] and [XXX], I coasted down and up a hill. Because the broken axle severed the transmission connection, the vehicle would not hold in Park, causing it to roll and end up facing the wrong direction on the wrong side of the street while waiting for a tow. The car was subsequently towed to the dealership for the recall repair." INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact's fiancée owns a 2023 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the rear tires showed severe inner wear and damage due to a misalignment, requiring three sets of rear tires to be replaced within a year. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who notified the manufacturer of the failure; however, the technical engineer denied assistance. The dealer informed the contact that the lower control arms needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the tire repair kit bottle cap detached while inflating a tire. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V366000 (Tires); which was associated with the tire repair kit failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
Dashboard displayed multiple messages and icons/warnings. Steering wheel locked, acceleration was low, barely any power to drive. Engine running rough condition. OBD2 scanner P0302 and P0303 detected. Engine misfire. Honda Dealership diagnosis car. Main concerns include a head gasket blown or crack. Coolant leaking into cylinder 2 and 3. Tie rod cracked. Pressure test low. The vehicle has no prior history of cylinder head removal or head gasket replacement. Vehicle has been properly maintained through consistent oil changes.
Reporting severe dealer negligence and physical structural damage during secondary repairs for Federal Safety Recall 20V‑769 / Campaign W9F at Darcars Honda (Fairfax, VA). The technician severely violated Honda TSB 20-125 protocols, physically mushrooming the steel on the left lower control arm (LCA) boss. This blunt-force mechanical damage compromises the structural integrity of the suspension and creates a high probability of out-of-spec ovality in the steering knuckle/mating bore, creating an ongoing dynamic safety hazard. Please see the attached formal documentation and photographic evidence for full details.
When Tpms light comes on, all safety features including cruise control become disabled. Lane assist and collision safety features become disabled. On top of that, I have had Honda look at my rear end after they replaced a rear upper control arm after being in a ditch and at 246,000 current miles, I have replaced my tires 16 times due to the rear tires ripping the tread off between 10-15k. If there was nothing else wrong, why have I spent between $10,000-$15,000 miles on tires? I have had numerous alignments at Honda and elsewhere. Marion Honda claims it’s normal! I was told I can put adjustable control arms on. I have met other Honda accord sport 1.5t owners with 50k miles on one set of tires, yet I can’t get more than 15k on the rear tires. Clearly something is bent or incorrect currently I am re replacing the upper control arm.. They say the alignment rack does not flag anything. I have bought between Goodyear, Michelin, and Pirelli tires they also replaced a turbo, only for a few months later to have a pressure problem that Findlay Honda found I was missing an oring in the turbo or intercooler. How? Orings do not call out. Fast forward 18 months and another bad turbo on this lemon!
I brought my 2014 Honda Accord to Honda of Westport (authorized dealer) to complete the active driveshaft safety recall. The dealer informed me the recall COULD NOT be performed unless I first paid $708.31 out of pocket to replace both front ball joints. I was given no choice - pay or leave with the recall unresolved. No vehicle owner should face a financial barrier to completing a federally mandated safety recall
Car swerved to the left unexpectedly causing it to do a 180 degree turn and impact the drivers side. Side airbags deployed and emergency response was initiated. Prior to the swerve in question, the car had experienced about 6 smaller swerves that we attributed initially to a wind gust. All of the swerves felt like a strong wind was hitting the drivers side rear quarter area. The Estimate of repair for the insurance company indicates damage to Left Lower Control Arm, Left Trailing Arm, and Left Upper Control Arm.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the air bag warning light turned on and off. Additionally, the brakes were squeaking while driving, and the radio and speakers were producing an abnormal static sound when turned on or off. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Hugh White Honda Service, located at {1360 Auto Mall Dr, Columbus, OH 43228); and was diagnosed with an internal failure of the air bags. The dealer also stated that the ball joints were worn, and there was an unknown failure with the brakes. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.
I was driving and the lower ball joints on passenger side broke causing the axle to brake the car lot i got car from said they replaced everything well it happened again and the ball jounts were the same ines that were on there before..Now my rack and opion broke
Related recalls
Suspension
- What is wrong
- Honda is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 honda accord v6 and model year 2011 honda pilot vehicles. The bolts that attach the lower left and right front damper bracket to the front suspension and the spindle nuts on the pilot may not have been properly tightened which may result in loss of steering. The spindle nuts for the axle on the accord v6 may not have been tightened properly which may result in excessive noise and/or loss of steering.
- Risk
- Loss of steering increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealer will inspect and replace any loose front damper bracket bolts or spindle nuts on the pilot if necessary. Dealer will inspect and replace the spindle nuts on the accord v6 if necessary. The safety recall began december 23, 2010. Owners may contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009.
Recall number 10V640000 · Recall details
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear suspension lower arms and/or control arms could break due to improper welding.
- Risk
- Vehicle handling and control would be reduced.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the rear suspension lower arms or control arms if necessary.
Recall number 00V184000 · Recall details
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
- 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
Questions about the Honda Accord ball joint
Which Honda Accord years have ball joint or control arm failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1998 (25 complaints), 1997 (13 complaints) and 2007 (11 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix ball joint or control arm failure on the Honda Accord?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,400 (median of 12 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Honda Accord?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history