Honda Accord 1998–2002
6th generation (North America) · CG1-CG6 / CF8
NHTSA data through 13 August 20266,707 complaints, 3,909 with mileageMethod
- Reports with mileage
- 3,909
- Median of reported failures
- 96,000 mi
- Most-reported system
- Transmission and driveline (21.4%)
- Recalls
- 5
Before-you-buy checklist ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 65,000 and 140,000 miles.
Figure 1 · Honda Accord 1998–2002 · 3,909 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 245 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 245 complaints (6.3%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 37,405
- 25%
- 65,000
- Median
- 96,000
- 75%
- 140,000
- 90%
- 180,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 93 | 2.4% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 24 | 0.6% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 31 | 0.8% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 34 | 0.9% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 57 | 1.5% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 46 | 1.2% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 59 | 1.5% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 75 | 1.9% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 94 | 2.4% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 97 | 2.5% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 109 | 2.8% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 101 | 2.6% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 145 | 3.7% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 130 | 3.3% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 146 | 3.7% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 152 | 3.9% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 189 | 4.8% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 162 | 4.1% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 159 | 4.1% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 127 | 3.2% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 174 | 4.5% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 106 | 2.7% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 100 | 2.6% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 103 | 2.6% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 127 | 3.2% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 110 | 2.8% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 105 | 2.7% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 75 | 1.9% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 107 | 2.7% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 86 | 2.2% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 92 | 2.4% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 59 | 1.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 77 | 2.0% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 48 | 1.2% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 59 | 1.5% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 36 | 0.9% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 56 | 1.4% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 40 | 1.0% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 46 | 1.2% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 28 | 0.7% |
| 200,000+ | 245 | 6.3% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 6,707 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998–2002 Honda Accord, and 3,909 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 65,000 and 140,000 miles. The median is 96,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the transmission and driveline (21.4% of complaints, typically around 89,000 miles), the airbag system (19.8% of complaints, typically around 82,000 miles), the electrical system (15.6% of complaints, typically around 123,000 miles).
5 recall campaigns cover this generation.
If you arrived asking “is it reliable?” — this page answers the version of that question the data can support: which problems owners reported, and at what mileage.
How many miles does a 1998–2002 Honda Accord last?
Half of the failure reports on the 1998–2002 Honda Accord were filed by 96,000 miles and 90% by 180,000 miles — figures drawn from 3,909 NHTSA complaints that record an odometer reading, so they time reported failures, not the cars whose owners never filed one.
245 reports (6.3%) came in past 200,000 miles — each one proof a Accord reached that mileage, not that it died there.
Before you buy a 1998–2002 Accord: the 3-minute check
Generated from 3,909 mileage-tagged complaints, 5 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 5 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check transmission on 1998–2002, most severe 2000–2001 V6 cars. Premature automatic transmission failure, worst on the V6 (B7XA/M7ZA). The design starves the 2nd and 3rd gear clutch packs of lubrication, causing overheating, slipping and burnt clutch material; weak differential…
- Check engine. F23 balance shaft seal leak causing rapid oil loss (the seal can back out of the block); often misdiagnosed as an oil pan leak.
- Check electrical. Ignition switch failure causing stalling and no-start (subject of recall action on this era of Honda).
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 65,000 and 140,000 miles, with a median of 96,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the airbag system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 82,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
What fails, and when
Figure 2 · Honda Accord 1998–2002
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Throttle and speed control289 reports60,00032,000–112,000Throttle and speed control: 289 reports, median 60,000 miles, middle half 32,000 to 112,000 miles.
- Airbag system1,328 reports82,00052,000–121,000Airbag system: 1,328 reports, median 82,000 miles, middle half 52,000 to 121,000 miles.
- Engine and its cooling system421 reports87,00061,000–120,000Engine and its cooling system: 421 reports, median 87,000 miles, middle half 61,000 to 120,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline1,436 reports89,00067,000–116,000Transmission and driveline: 1,436 reports, median 89,000 miles, middle half 67,000 to 116,000 miles.
- Electrical system1,044 reports123,00082,000–153,000Electrical system: 1,044 reports, median 123,000 miles, middle half 82,000 to 153,000 miles.
- Body structure361 reports134,00098,000–177,000Body structure: 361 reports, median 134,000 miles, middle half 98,000 to 177,000 miles.
- Suspension235 reports140,00090,000–179,000Suspension: 235 reports, median 140,000 miles, middle half 90,000 to 179,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 1,436 | 21.4% | 89,000 | 67,000–116,000 |
| Airbag system | 1,328 | 19.8% | 82,000 | 52,000–121,000 |
| Electrical system | 1,044 | 15.6% | 123,000 | 82,000–153,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 421 | 6.3% | 87,000 | 61,000–120,000 |
| Body structure | 361 | 5.4% | 134,000 | 98,000–177,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 289 | 4.3% | 60,000 | 32,000–112,000 |
| Suspension | 235 | 3.5% | 140,000 | 90,000–179,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 215 | 3.2% | 50,000 | 29,000–85,000 |
| Seat belts | 184 | 2.7% | 83,000 | 49,000–137,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 158 | 2.4% | 130,000 | 80,000–175,000 |
Where your car sits
Failure reports by the odometer reading they were filed at. Pick the anchor nearest your car — or type the exact mileage: your marker lands on this curve and on the timing chart above.
Figure 3 · Honda Accord 1998–2002 · 3,909 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 21% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 45% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 64% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it below
The staircase tops out at 94%: the remaining 6.3% of reports (245) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
At 60,000 miles
21% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
In the reporting window
- Airbag system — middle half 52,000–121,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control — middle half 32,000–112,000 mi
Mostly reported later
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 67,000–116,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 82,000–153,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system — middle half 61,000–120,000 mi
- Body structure — middle half 98,000–177,000 mi
- Suspension — middle half 90,000–179,000 mi
At 90,000 miles
45% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
In the reporting window
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 67,000–116,000 mi
- Airbag system — middle half 52,000–121,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 82,000–153,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system — middle half 61,000–120,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control — middle half 32,000–112,000 mi
- Suspension — middle half 90,000–179,000 mi
Mostly reported later
- Body structure — middle half 98,000–177,000 mi
At 120,000 miles
64% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Transmission and driveline — median 89,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system — median 87,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control — median 60,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Airbag system — middle half 52,000–121,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 82,000–153,000 mi
- Body structure — middle half 98,000–177,000 mi
- Suspension — middle half 90,000–179,000 mi
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 96,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 21.4% of complaints (1,436 reports, 1,036 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 89,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 67,000 and 116,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 19.8% of complaints (1,328 reports, 743 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 82,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,000 and 121,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 15.6% of complaints (1,044 reports, 647 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 123,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 82,000 and 153,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 6.3% of complaints (421 reports, 215 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 87,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 61,000 and 120,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 5.4% of complaints (361 reports, 248 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 134,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 98,000 and 177,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 4.3% of complaints (289 reports, 139 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 60,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 32,000 and 112,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2000 model year drew the most — 1,506 complaints — while 2001 drew the fewest at 1,160. The median year sits at 1,345.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 5 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (5). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 6,707 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 727 (10.8%)
- Fires
- 36
- Injury reports
- 437
- Fatality reports
- 13
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Documented problems
Transmission 1998–2002, most severe 2000–2001 V6
Premature automatic transmission failure, worst on the V6 (B7XA/M7ZA). The design starves the 2nd and 3rd gear clutch packs of lubrication, causing overheating, slipping and burnt clutch material; weak differential bearings and the absence of a serviceable filter compound it. Honda extended the powertrain warranty to 93 months/109,000 miles on affected cars.
Engine
F23 balance shaft seal leak causing rapid oil loss (the seal can back out of the block); often misdiagnosed as an oil pan leak.
Electrical
Ignition switch failure causing stalling and no-start (subject of recall action on this era of Honda).
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1,429 | 588 |
| 1999 | 1,345 | 765 |
| 2000 | 1,506 | 929 |
| 2001 | 1,160 | 693 |
| 2002 | 1,267 | 934 |
Recalls (5) — is your car included?
Oct 2020 · 2000 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
What can happen. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.
Oct 2020 · 1998–2000 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupt
What can happen. In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.
Aug 2019 · 2001–2002 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.
Apr 2019 · 2001–2002 · Air BagsAn explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containi
What can happen. An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is U40.
Jul 2015 · 2001–2002 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture…
The defect. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
What can happen. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that have had their driver frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy prior to September 12, 2014 need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Vehicles that, on or after September 12, 2014, received a remedy for a prior driver frontal air bag inflator recall alread
What owners reported
I have a 1998 Honda Accord ex. For last 3-4 months started noticing that the accelerator sticks when first starting to drive. On applying more than normal pressure it suddenly releases and vehicle surges forward. My mileage is only 54,000 now. Took it to a dealer in hartford and he says i need to shell out nearly 200…
1998 · 5 miles · Throttle and speed control
My 1998 Honda Accord automatic transmission has failed. There are 130k on it. In sept 2007 the transmission started to slip. When i came to a stop it would jump. The more that i drove it would shift hard into every gear. On oct 30 2007 the transmission began to jump from 1st to 3rd gear and then would not shift into…
1998 · 40 miles · Transmission and driveline
I bought this 1998 Honda Accord and i want to know why my car VIN number is not in the recalls for this no warning cutting off while driving and its very dangerous to drive it and sometimes it takes a long time to start up and then continue to cut off i have replaced fuel pump distributor full tuneup and next my…
1998 · 55 miles · Electronic stability control (esc)
Please be advised that this has happened on multiple dates ranging from 1999-2012. I thought it was covered through NHTSA campaign id #: 98v018000 but i did not use the car enough to recognize a pattern until 2002. I think at that time, there may have been several thousand miles in 2002 when i began to use the car on…
1998 · 2,500 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 3,909 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-18 · open data · reproduce this page