1998 Honda Accord

HORN WORKS ONLY ON RARE OCCASIONS, PRIMARILY WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED SHARPLY TO EITHER DIRECTION. DEALER HAS STATED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX, WHICH INCLUDES REPLACING PART OF THE DRIVER AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. OVER TIME, THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED, AND DEALER SAYS IT LIKELY THE HORN WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL COMPLETELY.*AK DUE TO FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX, THUS I NO LONGER HAVE A WORKING HORN. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY ALSO FAIL IN AN ACCIDENT. I NOTICE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 5 OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, YET NO INVESTIGATION OR RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. MANY OWNERS OF THESE CARS MAY HAVE NON-WORKING HORNS AND NOT EVEN REALIZE IT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN. THE KEY SWITCH WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF SECONDS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $250. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. AFTER TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY MUST REMAIN IN THE RUN POSITION TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON, EVEN WHILE DRIVING. THE KEY IS CURRENTLY STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, HE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO REPROGRAM THE KEY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 176,360.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 118,238 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. UPDATED 07/03/08

MY STEPDAUGHTER'S CAR WOULD SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING. BEING AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC I SPENT A LOT OF TIME TROUBLE SHOOTING THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND WAS QUITE SURE THIS WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH CAN BE THE HARDEST PROBLEM TO NARROW DOWN SO I CHANGE QUITE A FEW OF THE COMMON PART AND TUNED UP THE VEHICLE I CHANGED THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS: DISTRIBUTOR CAP ROTOR, TIMING BELTS WIRES CLEANED THE FUEL INJECTION AND A FEW OTHER COMPONENTS YET THE VEHICLE WOULD MYSTERIOUSLY SHUT DOWN. GOING IN TO FLORIDA WINTER THE PROBLEM SEEM TO GO AWAY HOWEVER I WAS NOT SURPRISED ONCE IT WARMED-UP THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN AND MORE FREQUENTLY. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I CALLED HONDA AMERICA AND THE INFORMED ME THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE I WAS LESS THAN CONVINCED. I FINALLY SWITCHED VEHICLE FOR A WEEK TO TROUBLE SHOOT THE PROBLEM. HAVING TO MAIN SUSPECT IN MINE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE MAIN RELAY I WENT TO THE LOCAL JUNK YARD TO SEE IF I COULD FIND THESE TWO COMPONENTS WITH OUT SPENDING. FINDING THESE TWO COMPONENTS ON MY WAY HOME THE CAR STALLED ' I QUICKLY CHANGE THE RELAY CAR STILL STALLED THEN CHANGED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE PROBLEM HAS AGAIN SEEMED TO GONE AWAY SINCE HONDA SAID THE PERFORMED THE RECALL WORK I CAN ONLY SURMISE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE ALSO FAULTY OR THE RECALL WORK WAS NOT DONE, HOWEVER DOCUMENTED. I HAVE THE SWITCH AS AN EXHIBIT SHOULD ANY ONE WANT TO SEE THE FAULT. I NOTICED THE SOLDER HAS FLOWED OFF TWO OF THE CONTACTS AND THE INNER WORKING LOOK EXCESSIVELY HEAT WORN. *TR

SUBJECT: 1998 HONDA ACCORD 117,000 MILES. EVENTS THAT LED TO COMPLAINT: VEHICLE ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN LEAVING NO CONTROL OVER VEHICLE: NO LIGHTS, NO BRAKES, NO STEERING, NO SIGNALS, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WITH 2-3 KIDS IN CAR AND 2 ADULTS. WE WENT ON LINE FOR RECALL NOTICES AND FOUND THE FOLLOWING: COMPLIANT: RECALL # 02V120000,MAY 16TH, 2002' & 03V423000 OCT 27,2003' "IGNITION SWITCH CONTACTS WORN OUT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL WITH OUT WARNING". "CATASTROPHIC FAILURE!" HONDA OF OXNARD REPLACED PART BACK ON MAY 2002' WITH SAME FAULTY PART. REGISTERED COMPLIANT 4/3/08 WITHOUT RESOLUTION WITH HONDA AMERICA AND HONDA OF OXNARD DCH: HONDA AMERICA CASE # N012008-04-0200208 - SENIOR REGIONAL CASE MANAGER:JAMAHL BROWN 1-800-999-1009 X118263. JAMAHL ASKED THAT WE TAKE THE SUBJECT CAR IN TO DCH HONDA OF OXNARD FOR DIAGNOSTIC TO CONFIRM FAILURE. FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED BY CLINT STREMCHA-SERVICE TECH, ROSE SIELA - SERVICE MANAGER, TO BE THE "IGNITION SWITCH"! SAME AS RECALLED PART. I BROUGHT THE RESULTS BACK TO JAMAHL BROWN AT HONDA AMERICA AND HE SAID HE WOULD NOT PERFORM ANY GOOD WILL BECAUSE OF AGE OF VEHICLE. I STATED TO HIM THAT THIS CAR WAS STILL ON THE ROUND TRANSPORTING KIDS TO AND FROM SCHOOL DAILY. A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THIS MAGNITUDE COULD CAUSE GREAT BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. HE REPLIED THAT IS MY PROBLEM AND THAT I NEED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE SERVICED. I FURTHER EXPLAINED THIS PART IS NOT A SERVICEABLE PART LIKE BRAKES AND OIL ARE. I ALSO SAID I HAVE A HONDA THAT HAS 200,000 MILES THAT IS STILL ON THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. I ASKED HIM WHY DID HE ASK ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO HONDA TO IT GET DIAGNOSED TO CONFIRM THE FAILED PART? WITH OUT ANSWERING THE QUESTION HE SAID HE WOULD STAND BY HIS DECISION NOT OFFER ME ANY FINANCIAL SUPPORT OR SOLUTION TO THIS FAILURE. END OF EXPLANATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN MAY OF 2002 FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V423000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). FIVE YEARS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL, THEY WOULD NO LONGER ASSUME LIABILITY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE ENGINE WOULD OCCASIONALLY SHUT OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE CAUSE WAS THE IGINITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY, BUT IT FAILED AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 246,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,068. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF

FOLLOW UP TO PHONE COMPLAINT 10/11/07 3:50 PM PST. NO REFERENCE NUMBER, TOLD 4 TO 6 WEEKS BEFORE I GET FORM TO REVIEW AND ANOTHER 4 TO 6 WEEKS TO REVIEW. I DECIDE TO USE WEBSITE. I'M ORIGINAL OWNER OF 1998 HONDA ACCORD LX . ON 9/24/02 IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED AS ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WHEN DRIVING. DID NOT FIND RECALL ON YOUR WEBSITE, HAVE COPY IF NEEDED. DEALER IS BILL PEARCE 780 KIETZKE LANE RENO NV 89502 TEL 775-789-7999 WHO COMPLETED WARRANTY WORK ON 10/12/02. DAUGHTER OWNS CAR AND MOVED TO LAS VEGAS IN AUGUST A FEW DAYS LATER ENGINE CUT OFF AT A STOP SIGN. AFTER TALKING WITH OUR MECHANIC HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT DUE TO KEY CHIP AS CAR STARTED RIGHT UP OR ONE TIME OCCURRENCE IT WAS 112 DEGREES. ON 10/5/07 DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ENGINE TURNS OFF AT 70 MPH. TRIES TO PULL OVER CAR RECYCLES AND STARTS. SPOKE TO OUR MECHANIC ASKS ABOUT IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. DEALER CONFIRMS THEY REPLACED THE PART. MECHANIC SAID ITS UNLIKELY TO BE IGNITION SWITCH IF REPLACED. DAUGHTER INQUIRED WITH LOCAL MECHANICS WHO GAVE VARIOUS SOLUTIONS. I ELECT TO RETRIEVE CAR. SHE IS A FULL-TIME STUDENT WITH 22 CREDITS COULD NOT AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT CAR OR SPEND TIME SEEING IF AN UNKNOWN MECHANIC RESOLVE. DRIVING BACK TO RENO ENGINE STOPS AGAIN. GOING ABOUT 70 MPH ABLE TO PULL OVER. DRIVE HOME CLOSE TO RODE SIDE. MY MECHANIC WORKS ONLY ON HONDA AND TOYOTA (OWN THREE HONDA CARS). HE DETERMINES ITS IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER CONFIRMS TO HIM PART WAS REPLACED. BUT HAD NO RECORD OF PART COMING OUT OF INVENTORY AND VIN WAS NOT PUNCHED FOR RECALL REPLACEMENT. DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE WITHOUT CHARGING (I CAN FORWARD PAPER WORK ON REPAIR AND OTHER ISSUES THAT OCCURRED AFTER THEY REPAIR. CONCERN/COMPLAINT, IF REPLACED WHY ALMOST 5 YRS TO DATE ISSUE RE-OCCURRED. IS MANUFACTURER PART STILL DEFECTED? HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS? ODD ORIGINAL RECALL WAS 5 YRS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE 10/31/97, HAVE INVOICE IF NEEDED. *TR