Phone:

(800) 999-1009

Web:

Honda Customer Service

Mail:

Honda Automobile Cust. Service
1919 Torrance Blvd.
Mail Stop: 500 - 2N - 7D
Torrance, CA 90501-2746

1998 Honda Accord NHTSA Defect Investigations

• Defect Investigation #EA03017 - Six of the ODI complaints are duplicative of Honda complaints, as well as four of the crashes.the one injury occurred when a rollaway vehicle struck the exiting operator who had inadvertently parked the vehicle in an unsecured state (not in park, brake not engaged).Honda identified the warranty claims from complaint descriptions that contended the interlock system failed to operate properly.Honda presented the results of their investigation into interlock system failures at an October 16, 2003 meeting with ODI in which Honda identified a supplier and an engineering specification change for the ignition cylinder body (cb), a subcomponent of the ignition lock assembly.results from Honda¿S analysis demonstrated a strong correlation between the production date range of vehicles that experienced higher interlock warranty claim rates and the implementation dates of the changes.an engineering specification for a surface treatment process for the cb was eliminated at the beginning of MY 1998.the supplier of the cb was changed in February 1999.vehicles built within this time period contain a cb with poor surface hardness that can wear prematurely.as the wear progresses, the interlock system becomes incapable of preventing key removal when the shifter is in a non-park position.interlock failure increases the risk of a vehicle rollaway and subsequent crash or injury when vehicles are parked unsecured.Honda Accord vehicles subject to this change include MY 1998 and MY 1999 through February 1999 production.vehicles produced after this date are not affected by this condition and thus are not considered at risk for failure.ODI notes that 12 of the 13 voq reports fall within this production range (the 13th does not have a VIN and cannot be verified).the above population represents the number of the Accord vehicles to be recalled.Honda also reported that certain Odyssey and Acura cl and TL models were affected and would also be recalled.a total of 570,120 vehicles will be recalled.under recall 03V-423, Honda will inspect vehicles and replace components (including the cb) on vehicles with excessive wear.vehicles not showing wear will have a redesigned part installed which prevents wear.
• Defect Investigation #PE03014 - Six of the ODI complaints are duplicative of the manufacturer complaints, as well as four of the crashes.the noted injury occurred when a rollaway vehicle that had been inadvertently parked in neutral struck the exiting operator.the warranty claim count shown for "other" represents incidents where Honda's analysis of claim detail indicates the interlock system malfunctioned.the interlock system utilizes a lever to block ignition key removal when the transmission is not in park.Honda has identified a wear condition of the interlock lever that can cause the system to malfunction; when wear occurs the key can be removed from the ignition while the shifter is in a non-park position.Honda documents indicate that a manufacturing process may be the cause of interlock lever wear, and that this process was revised in January of 2001.an engineering analysis will be opened to further investigate this concern and its scope.
• Defect Investigation #PE02072 - This PE was opened based on 10 consumer complaints in the ODI database alleging that the power assisted seats were failing in certain 1998-2002 Honda Accord vehicles.failures are concentrated in the 1998-99 model year vehicles.the bracket that attaches the seat bottom to the seat base is fracturing due to: 1-the weld condition of bracket, 2-the drivers weight, and 3-the impact on the seat when the driver enters the vehicle and sits down.over time the bracket that attaches the seat may fail at the left front corner of the seat bottom.the other 3 points of attachment of the seat bottom to the seat base stay attached and the seat movement is limited.the attachment of the seat bottom to the seat back does not fail.the condition is most apparent during rapid acceleration causing the seat to tilt rearward.although a few complaints report concern over loss of vehicle control, no loss of control incidents, crashes or injuries are reported.in response to customer complaints, Honda will provide owners of 1998 and some 1999 Accords a no-cost reinforcement for the seat at the left front corner.a safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of Agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.the Agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.