1998 Honda Accord Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 276about this part
- Share
- 23%of 1,200 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 85,980miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 276 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1998 Honda Accord, 23% of the 1,200 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 85,980 miles. 13 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“(1) my 1998 Honda Accord (v6 coupe) began jerking and failing to accelerate. After repeated occurrence of this, I took my car to the Honda dealership to identify the problem (2) it was determined that transmission, specifically, the torque converter failed and needed to be replaced. (3) the transmission was replaced with a refurbished transmission.”
NHTSA complaint #10204763, filed 2007-10, 101,000 miles“My Honda coupe v6 had 67,000 miles on it when the transmission started slipping. As a consequence of this, I cannot safely make left turns as the car won't accelerate immediately and passing is not safely done either. I do not drive it now except to work, 2 miles away, and locally. The repair shop said I need a new transmission and the cost will be between $2,500 to $3,000. I have not had it fixed yet.”
NHTSA complaint #10233114, filed 2008-07, 67,000 miles“The engine completely blew out one day. I was on the way to work and there was an explosion under my hood. Honda put in a re-built engine and I have had nothing but problems since then. A few months later...the paint gradually started to fade away on the roof. It has only gotten worse and will get much worse. It is a 1998 Honda!! This stuff shouldn't be happening!”
NHTSA complaint #10069151, filed 2004-01, 58,000 miles“1998 Honda Accord had transmission problems with only 67,000 miles. Started slipping from first to second. Had the transmission serviced several times but the problem just got worst over time. We finally had to have the transmission rebuilt. Out of all the cars I've had, new or old, never had a transmission problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10119693, filed 2005-05, 68,248 miles“Changed my oil pump, timing belt, spark plugs, and spark plug wires. Also fixed the engine mount problem. Now I get code p0740 on my car. Honda Accord, 1998, v6. The code translate to transmission problem which is very common on Honda.”
NHTSA complaint #10248463, filed 2008-11, 132,000 milesRelated recalls
- 98V018000Feb 10, 1998Vehicle description: passenger vehicles (honda accord sedans manufactured from september 18, 1997 to january 10, 1998; coupes manufactured december 11…Covers: Honda Accord 1998, Acura CL 1998
Related service bulletins
- 10014230Feb 16, 20042nd to 5th or 3rd to 5th gear upshift.
- 10014328Dec 1, 2003Atf (automatic transmission fluid) leaks from cooler line banjo bolt.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 5% |
| 2024 | 6 | 4% |
| 2023 | 3 | 3% |
| 2022 | 8 | 3% |
| 2021 | 14 | 6% |
| 2020 | 16 | 4% |
| 2019 | 43 | 6% |
| 2018 | 139 | 7% |
| 2017 | 33 | 6% |
| 2016 | 29 | 5% |
| 2015 | 40 | 7% |
| 2014 | 65 | 7% |
| 2013 | 110 | 8% |
| 2012 | 27 | 7% |
| 2011 | 21 | 7% |
| 2010 | 45 | 8% |
| 2009 | 36 | 5% |
| 2008 | 70 | 5% |
| 2007 | 58 | 11% |
| 2006 | 50 | 12% |
| 2005 | 113 | 17% |
| 2004 | 348 | 34% |
| 2003 | 924 | 47% |
| 2002 | 478 | 46% |
| 2001 | 209 | 23% |
| 2000 | 201 | 17% |
| 1999 | 246 | 22% |
| 1998 | 276 | 23% |
| 1997 | 33 | 7% |
| 1996 | 27 | 6% |
| 1995 | 18 | 3% |
| 1994 | 21 | 6% |
| 1993 | 17 | 9% |
| 1992 | 25 | 12% |
| 1991 | 18 | 8% |
| 1990 | 15 | 8% |
| 1989 | 3 | 3% |
| 1988 | 11 | 13% |
| 1987 | 7 | 6% |
| 1986 | 5 | 9% |
| 1985 | 1 | 8% |
| 1983 | 1 | 14% |
| 1982 | 1 | 10% |
| 1981 | 1 | 14% |
Other parts of the 1998 Honda Accord
308 complaintsEngine cooling
134 complaintsFuel system
82 complaintsAir bags
79 complaintsBody and structure
76 complaintsVehicle speed control
67 complaintsSuspension
62 complaintsOther or unknown
52 complaintsBrakes
51 complaintsSeat belts
29 complaintsSteering
29 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
27 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Honda Accord
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology