1998 Honda Accord Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 308 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 1998 Honda Accord, 26% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 126,037 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (55% of reports).
- 308electrical system complaints
- 126,037median miles at failure
- 9mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $340typical repair cost reported by owners
- 47%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 168 of 308 complaints (55%)
- Consumer states: mentioned in 23 of 308 complaints (7%)
- Stalled without: mentioned in 20 of 308 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the 1998 Honda Accord at $340, and half of them between $220 and $420.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2002–2011), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 156 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 308 complaints, 9 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 2 an injury.
Honda Accord electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Accord | 1 | 9% | — |
| 2025 Accord | 9 | 10% | — |
| 2024 Accord | 26 | 17% | 22,863 |
| 2023 Accord | 23 | 27% | 25,100 |
| 2022 Accord | 105 | 41% | 22,000 |
| 2021 Accord | 66 | 27% | 100,000 |
| 2020 Accord | 53 | 15% | 14,500 |
| 2019 Accord | 109 | 16% | 14,000 |
| 2018 Accord | 296 | 16% | 11,075 |
| 2017 Accord | 155 | 29% | 29,048 |
| 2016 Accord | 199 | 33% | 46,000 |
| 2015 Accord | 237 | 39% | 50,500 |
| 2014 Accord | 378 | 39% | 52,000 |
| 2013 Accord | 416 | 29% | 50,000 |
| 2012 Accord | 32 | 9% | 50,000 |
| 2011 Accord | 18 | 6% | 66,000 |
| 2010 Accord | 34 | 6% | 60,500 |
| 2009 Accord | 44 | 6% | 62,500 |
| 2008 Accord | 104 | 7% | 32,000 |
| 2007 Accord | 60 | 11% | 89,000 |
| 2006 Accord | 42 | 10% | 81,000 |
| 2005 Accord | 96 | 15% | 70,961 |
| 2004 Accord | 146 | 14% | 85,000 |
| 2003 Accord | 142 | 7% | 71,000 |
| 2002 Accord | 69 | 7% | 97,000 |
| 2001 Accord | 78 | 8% | 102,500 |
| 2000 Accord | 171 | 14% | 107,000 |
| 1999 Accord | 388 | 34% | 130,000 |
| 1998 Accord | 308 | 26% | 126,037 |
| 1997 Accord | 96 | 21% | 135,500 |
| 1996 Accord | 40 | 8% | 120,000 |
| 1995 Accord | 43 | 8% | 132,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles and mini vans, the ignition switch may wear excessively and prevent proper interlock operation, making it possible to turn the ignition key to the "off" position and remove the key without shifting the transmission to "park."
Risk: If the vehicle operator does not shift to "park" before removing the key and fails to engage the parking brake, the vehicle could roll and a crash could occur.
Fix: Dealers will perform an inspection procedure that determines the amount of cylinder body wear. If significant wear is indicated, the dealer will replace the cylinder body, collar, and latch plate. If no signs of wear are indicated, dealers will replace the latch plate with a redesigned part. Owner notification began december 8, 2003. Owners should contact honda at 1-800-999-1009 or acura at 1-800-382-2238.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: On certain sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and sport utility vehicles, electrical contacts in the ignition switch can degrade due to the high electrical current passing through the switch when the vehicle is started.
Risk: Worn contacts could cause the engine to stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the ignition switch. Owner notification began june 14, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact honda at 1-800-999-1009 or acura at 1-800-382-2238.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
When I was driving my 98 Honda accord lx . I notice it shuts off itself if hitting a hard bump . Then I noticed online they had folks saying that the ignition switch was beginning to be a big issue . I nearly died after picking my 2 kids up from school the car shut off in the middleof the…
The contact owns a 1998 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. Additionally, the battery had to be recharged on several occasions in order to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was…
I was in a bad accident i was in the far right lane on the highway i'm going 55mph someone jumped in front of me i used my breaks then my car jerked right into the other person car causing my car to spin around 2 time on a 6 lane highway . The airbag never deployed the staring wheel was not turning…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1998 Honda Accords have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 308 owner complaints about electrical system for the 1998 Honda Accord (26% of the 1,200 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Honda Accord electrical system?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 126,037 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the 1998 Honda Accord?
Owners report a typical cost of $340 (half paid between $220 and $420), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 1998 Honda Accord?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 168 of 308 complaints, followed by “consumer states” (23).
Other 1998 Honda Accord problems
See all 1998 Honda Accord problems or electrical system problems across all Accord years.