1998 Honda Accord Steering Problems

You were in a highway accident at 55 mph when another vehicle cut in front of you. When you braked, your car jerked to the right and collided with the other vehicle, causing your car to spin around twice across a six-lane highway. During this accident, your airbag did not deploy, the steering wheel became unresponsive, and fluid leaked from the vehicle. You also reported that your car had been jerking intermittently before the accident, even though your mechanic said this was normal.

WHILE I WAS CHANGING THE PASSENGER SIDE DRIVE AXLE OF A BROKEN CV JOINT BOOT LAST YEAR (JULY 2014), I NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED OUT (ABOUT 60% CAME THROUGH AND OFF WHEN I PUNCHED THE AREA WITH A SCREW DRIVER) WHERE THE STABILIZING BAR BRACKET AND LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT ARE MOUNTED TO THE FRAME. THE PROBLEM AREA OF THE SUBFRAME IS RIGHT UNDER THE DRAIN HOLE FOR THE A/C EVAPORATOR. THE SUBFRAME TO THE DRIVER SIDE IS CLEAN AND HAS NO RUST ISSUE. THE LOCATION OF THE RUST AREA SUGGESTS THAT IT MAY BE RELATED TO THE DRAIN HOLE OF THE A/C SYSTEM OR/AND SOMETHING SIMILAR (SUCH AS RAIN) THAT HAD LED TO WATER STAYING IN THE AREA. THE RUST IS GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. I CHECKED IT TODAY (JULY 23, 2015) AFTER NOTICING YELLOWISH DRIPPING MARKS LEFT ON THE DRIVER WAY. MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR THE DAY BEFORE WHEN THERE WAS A HEAVY RAIN. THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE DRIVE WAY (UP HILL ABOUT 15 DEGREES) OVER NIGHT. WHEN SHE PULLED THE CAR OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY THE NEXT DAY, WE SAW YELLOWISH WATER DRIPPING FROM UNDER THE CAR. SO, I LOOKED AT THE AREA. FOR SURE, IT'S GETTING WORSE THAN LAST YEAR. I PUNCHED AROUND AND GOT ABOUT A COUPLE OF SPOONFULS OF RUST OFF THE FRAME. I USED MY PRY BAR TO PRY AROUND THE AREA AND I CAN SEE THAT THE FRAME IS GETTING VERY WEAK. NOW I CAN SEE THE RUST IS PROGRESSING OVER TIME. AS THE AREA IS GETTING MORE RUSTED, THE STRUCTURE IS LOSING ITS STRENGTH. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND/OR THE STABILIZING BAR WILL COME OFF THE FRAME, CAUSING DISASTER ON THE ROAD. I SEARCHED THE INERNET ON THE ISSUE ("HONDA ACCORD SUBFRAME RUST"). THE ISSUE SEEMS VERY COMMON. THERE MUST BE A DESIGN FLAW (A/C DRAIN OR RAIN WATER) WITH THE CAR. IT SEEMS THAT THE ISSUE HAD NOT BEEN UNDERSTOOD AND TAKEN CARE OF BY HONDA. I AM URGING SOMEBODY LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE AND HAVE HONDA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. THANKS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE STEERING WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY WIRE HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

HTTP://WWW.NEWSNET5.COM/NEWS/LOCAL-NEWS/INVESTIGATIONS/CENTER-FOR-AUTO-SAFETY-REQUESTING-RECALL-OF-1-5-MILLION-HONDA-ACCORDS-FOR-RUST-ISSUE-IN-SUB-FRAME. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED

HEARD CLUNKING NOISE WHILE TURNING. FIGURED IT WAS A CV JOINT, TOOK IT TO MY VERY TRUSTED MECHANIC. HE CONFIRMED THE RIGHT JOINT WAS BAD, AND SAID THAT ON THE LEFT JOINT, THE BOOT WAS ALREADY OFF, AND IT IS SLINGING GREASE EVERYWHERE. MORE DISTURBING, HE ALSO SAID THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME IS DANGEROUSLY RUSTED OUT. HE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THAT THE "CRADLE", WHICH HOLDS UP THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. HE SAID "YOU ARE ONE POT-HOLE AWAY FROM TOTAL FAILURE...THE ENGINE WILL FALL TO THE GROUND. DO NOT DRIVE IT." I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR, BUT MY CAR FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE COVERED DATES. MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN DEC 1997, AND THE RECALL ONLY GOES THROUGH AUG 1997. QUITE FRANKLY, GIVEN THAT THE FAILURE MODE IS EXACTLY WHAT IS COVERED BY THE RECALL, I BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHILE I RECOGNIZE THAT THE CAR IS OLD, THE FRAME OF A 98 MODEL ACCORD SHOULDN'T CORRODE AND BREAK IN HALF, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. *TR

SUB-FRAME IS RUSTED OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BETWEEN THE CV AXLE AND TIE ROD. *TR

UPON ROUTINE BRAKE INSPECTION VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO PASSENGER SUB FRAME THAT HAS CRACKED DUE TO RUST. SUB FRAME IS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE PLACES. *TR

UPON SERVICING FRONT BRAKES, SAFETY INSPECTION REVEALED ACCELERATED CORROSION OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE SUB FRAME COMPONENT. THE DRIVER SIDE IS SOLID AND INTACT. DEEMED UNSAFE FOR HIGHWAY USE. *TR

I HAD CAR ACCIDENT AND TWO DAYS AFTER I HAD PICKED UP CAR FROM BODY SHOP I NOTICE THAT A A NOISE . I CALLED THE INSURANCE AND THE REP. SAID TO TAKE CAR BACK TO SHOP. I DID AND FROM WHAT THE INSURANCE AND WE'RE TOLD THE CAR JUST NEEDED AN ALINGMENT., I REMEMBER HEARING A LOUD HEAVY SOUND ON LEFT FRONT END OF CAR ON PASSENGER SIDE AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR LOOSES CONTROL . I REMEMBERD THE VEHICLE WAS ON ITS ROOF I, FELT ARM GETTING BURN BY FIRE . IT SEEMED THAT THE ROOF OF VEHICLE WAS NOT PROTECTED.AND DID NOT SERVER IT PURPOSE . MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 25 30 MPH . THE LEFT FRONT SIDE AND WHEEL WERE STICKING OUT FROM BODY FRAME OF CAR . THE SAME SIDE WHERE SHOP HAD MADE, REPAIRS AND THE ARM AXEL HAD BEEN REPLACED JUST FEW DAYS BEFORE PER INSURANCE REQUEST . THE INSURANCE HAD USED AND AFTER MARKET IN INVOICE . IF WE CHECK ALL OF THE PARTS THE CAR HAD PUT IN AND THE EXTEND OF THE DAMAGE AND THE WHEEL NOT ALIGN WITH BODY OF CAR ALONG WITH THE LOUD SOUND AND JOLT I FELT COULD ONLY SHOW THE NEGLECT AND THE LACK OF SAFETY . *TR

AFTER HEARING AND FEELING A CRACKING SOUND AND THEN INSPECTING UNDER THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE CAR WAS RUSTED THRU AND A VISIBLE SEPARATION OF THE SUBFRAME. THE POINT OF THE RUST THRU IS AT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR CORNER OF THE VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME. THE CAR IS AT THE MECHANIC'S BEING REPAIRED, HE STATED THE CAUSE IS THE DRAIN HOSE FOR CONDENSATION FROM THE AC AT THAT LOCATION. THIS CAR HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT VEHICLE THROUGHOUT. THIS RUST THRU OF THE SUBFRAME COULD HAVE CAUSED A ACCIDENT. *TR

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). *TR

THE ACCORD MODELS FROM 1998 TO 2002 HAVE BEEN HAVING A CRUCIAL RUST PROBLEM. THE SUB- FRAME HAS BEEN ROTTING OUT DUE TO A MISPLACED AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSATION DRAIN. HONDA CLAIMS THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS OUT THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IS COINCIDENCE THAT THERE ARE A RUST PROBLEM. HERE'S THE DEAL, ALL THESE CARS HAVE A MAJOR RUST PROBLEM ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE CAR. HONDA ALSO, CLAIMED THAT THE A/C DRAIN WAS NOT THE PROBLEM FOR IT. WELL THEN TELL ME WHY ALL THESE CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM ONLY ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY UNDER THE A/C DRAIN. HONDA NEEDS TO RECALLS THIS MODEL BECAUSE IF THAT STRUCTURE BREAKS ON THE ROAD THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL COULD COME OFF OR THE RACK OF THE POWER-STEERING COULD SPLIT AND CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THEIR CAR. NOT TO MENTION THE ENGINE COULD DROP OUT THE BOTTOM OR EVEN MORE DEVASTATING THINGS THAT COULD HURT PEOPLE! HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=BCQZUDDAS-G HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=EEFXSQPR0PQ HTTP://WWW.NEWSNET5.COM/DPP/NEWS/LOCAL_NEWS/INVESTIGATIONS/CENTER-FOR-AUTO-SAFETY-REQUESTING-RECALL-OF-1-5-MILLION-HONDA-ACCORDS-FOR-RUST-ISSUE-IN-SUB-FRAME. *TR

THE DRIVER HAS DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL IS TIGHT AND VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING. *AK

VIN#[XXX] IS A 1998 HONDA ACCORD WHICH HAS A DEFECTIVE SAFETY FEATURE ALLOWING THE IGNITION KEY REMOVAL WHILE IN DRIVE. VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ON OCTOBER 12,2003. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. I NOW HAVE LEARNED THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND STILL HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE VEHICLE HAD NO STEERING, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME HARD TO CONTROL. *JB

THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED AN IGNITION SWITCH AND STEERING RECALL WITH THIS VEHICLE. (RECALL # FOR THE IGNITION PROBLEM IS-02V120000) SCC

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

THE LEFT REAR END LINK THAT CONNECTS TO THE REAR ANTISWAY BAR BROKE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. LAST YEAR THE RIGHT SIDE BROKE. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM BASED ON COMMENTS FROM THE GUY AT THE PARTS COUNTER. *AK

DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE FOR REMOVING A MANUFACTURED ALARM SYSTEM, AND TO REPLACE RECALL 02V120000 IGNITION SWITCH . *AK

INVESTIGATED 2 ACCIDENTS IN THE LAST 1-1/2 WEEKS ON 97 AND 98 HONDA ACCORD THAT WAS GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN DRIVER SAID STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHEN PASSING ANOTHER CAR. RESULTED IN HEAD ON COLLISION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH STEERING OR SUSPENSION PARTS ON EITHER CAR AT TIME OF INSPECTION. NLM

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES IN A MONTH AND A HALF. THE CAR SHAKES AT HIGH SPEEDS AND AT IDLE (DEALER SAYS UNBELIVABLE SHAKE IS NORMAL). WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME IT STARTS TO VIBRATE AND HESITATE AT HIGH SPEEDS THE CAR BECOMES VERY HARD TO DRIVE IN THE STEERING WHEEL, THE WHOLE SUSPENSION OF THE CAR IS NOT SECURE. THE BRAKES ON THE CAR HAVE ALSO BEEN FIXED OR CHECKED 4 TIMES - IT IS VERY HARD TO BREAK. THEIR IS ALSO A VERY HESITATION IN THE ENGINE WHEN CHANGING GEARS. IT FEELS LIKE THERE MAY BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OR AN ENGINE MOUNT PROBLEM. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH USED TIRES BECAUSE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT THERE WAS A FLAT SPOT ON THE TIRES. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE REPLACING THE BAD TIRES WITH NEW GOOD TIRES (HOPING THAT ALL THE PROBLEMS I WAS HAVING WAS DUE TO JUST THE BAD TIRES) THEY REPLACED THEM WITH USED TIRES AND DIDN'T BALANCE AND ALIGN THEM (THIS IS ON THE FORTH VISIT TO THE DEALER). THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE AND GETTING WORSE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: M3TA TIRESIZE: 195/65R15)

THE STEERING WHEEL IN MY VEHICLE HAS SLACK IN IT SOMETIMES AND GET HARD TO CONTROL. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, PEDAL IS VERY HARD, AND THERE ISN'T ANY POWER STEERING. ALSO SOME TYPE OF NOISE IS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO LOWER BALL JOINS WEARING OUT. *AK.

STEERING WHEEL FINISH CAME OFF CAUSING DISCOLORATION. MJS

HORN INDICATOR FAILED. MGM

WENT TO HONDA DEALERSHIP IN SANTA MARIA CA AND THEY AGREED TO DO A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. WHEN OIL CHANGE WAS DUE I TOOK AGAIN AND THEY SAID I HAVE TO TAKE IT SOONER. ON THE RECEIPT OF OIL CHANGE DEALERSHIP IN DEED DID WRITE A MESSAGE THAT SAID IT WASTED TO MUCH OIL. WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE TO DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER TEST. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF MY CAR WAS THE ONLY CAR WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. ALSO MY STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY SHAKES AND MAKES A LIGHT NOISE, DOESN'T RUN AS SMOOTH AS IT USE TO. WILL CONTACT DEALERSHIP FOR THAT MATTER.

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON HIGHWAY STEERING DOESN'T HANDLE PROPERLY. IT SHIFTS AND IS HARD TO CONTROL, SPEED LIMIT UP TO 65 MPH IS MORE DANGEROUS. HONDA SERVICE MANAGER WAS CONTACTED TWO TIMES AND STATED OTHER COMPLAINTS , BUT CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. DEALER REPRESENTATIVE TEST DROVE VEHICLE, AND STATED THAT IT WAS LIKE A PICKUP TRUCK THAT HAS TOO MUCH WEIGHT IN THE BACK END. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS MAKING A U-TURN THE POWER STEERING FLUID FLUSHES OUT THE WAY IN WHICH IT CAUSES THE POWER STEERING TO DIE. IN AN EMERGENCY CASE, THE POWER STEERING GIVES OUT, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE ALL STEERING CONTROL. DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED OUT. THIS CAUSED THE RACK & PINION TO BE DAMAGED & HAD TO BE REPLACED.

STEERING WHEEL DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE, HORN LOCATION, TO ACTIVATE HORN DRIVER HAS TO REMOVE HAND FROM WHEEL.