The subframe is rotting out and I-??m feeling unsafe driving

- Yonkers, NY, USA

My wife had purchased this car new in the 1999 model year and I realize Honda is probably expecting these cars to be past their useful life. Unfortunately unaware consumers and young adults will buy these expecting to pile miles on these which Honda is known for. The problem is with the subframe on the passenger side which supports the engine and suspension components. I personally watched this particular part of the car rapidly rust and deteriorate even after coating it with some rust inhibitors. The problem as I understand it is the air conditioning was dripping condensation on the frame causing the structure to rot. I realized it was almost rotted through when I was putting on a new passenger side tire on, so not wanting to put money in that kind of repair, I guess my car is done. My point is buyer be ware, Honda had to know and I still see these 1999 to 2002 models running around.

- Johnstown, PA, USA

I am the owner of a 1999 Honda Accord LX. I recently brought my vehicle to a mechanic for my annual inspection. They told me that the front subframe of the vehicle is rusted through on the passenger-side, rendering the vehicle unsafe to drive. This appears to be an issue with the position of the air conditioning drainage hose, which drains directly onto the subframe on the passenger side of the vehicle. Further, this seems to be a common issue amongst 1998-2002 Honda Accord vehicles. This issue, which results from a design flaw, poses a serious threat to the safety of any occupants of Honda Accord from these years.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Frame has rusted due to ac drain hole from the evaporator. Due to water dripping on the frame, frame has a break causing it to hit the body everytime you hit a bump and the sway bar is connected to the part of the frame that has broke.

- Parkersburg, WV, USA

Ac drain hole is above the frame over time it caused rust and now it and cracked, and almost has broken completely.

- Parkersburg, WV, USA

1999 Honda Accord LX sub-frame on the passenger side is being rusted out, between the anti-sway bar mount and the lower control arm to sub-frame bushing. In contrast, the same area on the driver side is in great shape. The difference is that the ac condensation drain line directs water to this sub-frame section on the passenger side. It is mainly a design flaw that only shows up over time. Mechanics deem it unsafe to drive and could cause a fatal crash when rusted out. However, the replacement of the sub-frame could cost up to several thousand dollars. Honda should do a recall to have it replaced.

- Waltham, MA, USA

The front subframe is rusted through on one side only. It's the passenger side where the ac drain hose dips on the frame. The car is in otherwise good shape and doesn't present any real issues but the rust is so bad that it is making the car very unsafe.

- Franklin, WI, USA

While trying to get cv shafts replaced, I was informed that my front subframe rear crossmember, specifically the passenger side, had rusted completely through the top half and was thus unsafe to drive. Upon closer inspection, the same area that rusted away is directly below the air conditioner drain pipe. It stands to reason that this drain pipe directs water right onto the sub frame in this section, which would cause it to rust out faster than the rest of the frame. My supporting evidence for this is as follows: 1) there are 316,000+ miles registered on the odometer and the vehicle was not garage kept. What this means is that surfaces exposed to road debris, salt, and water should be equally as rusted. 2) the driver side of the subframe is completely intact. 3) the affected portion of the subframe is actually the superior (top) aspect which is directly below the drain pipe, as opposed to the inferior (bottom) aspect, which is closer to the road. Just 2 months before I took my vehicle to this independent shop for cv shaft service, I had a Honda dealership, specifically classic Honda located in streetsboro, Ohio perform a front sway bar bushing service and I received a complementary inspection. For those unfamiliar with the sway bar bushing location, the bushings are held against the front subframe rear crossmember via brackets that bolt in. What this means is that the Honda technician who serviced my vehicle looked at the damaged subframe. Not only did they fail to detect this issue during the service, they also failed to detect this issue during the inspection for which I specifically requested that they look at the steering and suspension to assess safety. If this subframe would have failed while I was driving, it would have caused catastrophic failure of the steering and suspension, taking away my ability to control the vehicle as well as throwing debris.

- Sparta, OH, USA

I am having issues w/temp gauge going up and down, may have to have a big eng, job done, this is not right, I take very great care of my cars, neaver had issues like this before, ? heater core, , and paint on the roof!!! why the rest of car is fine, looks like skin cancer, this should be fixed!!! I have heard that they are redoing this! car runs ok, , temp gauge is a big issue 151,000 miles. Good for the yr!!!

- Hamden, CT, USA

Front passenger side, rear chamber of front subframe rust. Reports of A/C drain resulting in rust. Driver side of subframe, no visible rust.

- Suamico, WI, USA

My Accord was making a clunking sound when hitting small bumps at all speeds. The sound was coming from the front right of the vehicle and was analyzed as unsafe to drive unless the front sub-frame was replaced. The passenger side front sub-frame was completely rusted out and was loose from the car's body and very dangerous to drive. Other areas of the sub-frame have minimal rust and don't have this issue. My mechanic has seen this issue in many other Honda Accord in this age range and says it's caused by the ac's condenser drain that's located right above that area of the sub-frame. Honda moved the drain location in the 2003/2004 model. The cost of the repair is in the $2500 area which is more than the car is worth. Honda should have issued a recall for such a major design flaw.

- Cedarburg, WI, USA

My three small children and myself were traveling on the interstate in our home town right at city speed limit of 75mph when out of nowhere from the middle lane attempted to get in the right lane to to get off on my exit 4 miles ahead I slowly hit my brakes then the gas and my car would not move I was almost plowed into numerous times and almost caused a few collisions myself since I was not able to move at all L was so scared I was about to die with my kids I was frozen

- Theodore, AL, USA

I bought a 1999 Honda Accord ex for my niece. After driving it to get tires, I heard a clunk/scraping noise coming from the front passenger side of the vehicle. Upon further inspection, I notice the subframe is rusted clean through. Right underneath the A/C drain drip. The car drifts to the right. The upper ball joint is compramised. The sway bar mount bolts right to that area.

- Louisville, OH, USA

Took my 1999 Honda Accord to a Honda dealership for routine oil change & multi-point inspection on 2/16/15. I was taken into the garage and shown a hole about 2" across in the subframe near the right front wheel well. I was advised that it was due to salty roads and rust. The vehicle was flagged as "unsafe to be driven" by the Honda dealership and I was advised to either repair or stop driving the vehicle as soon as possible. I was told the frame could drop down or cause the engine to come into the passenger compartment in the event of a front end crash. Cost to repair was estimated at $1600. Dealership said I could not sell the car without disclosing the defect. The service manager said the car would only have scrap value at $350-500 as no one would put the necessary repairs into a 16 year old car. Previous complaints have been made to NHTSA about this problem, which Honda refuses to acknowledge. The service manager seemed surprised when I said this was a "known problem" with the '99 Accord.

- Girard, OH, USA

The clear coat/paint is peeling/wearing off of my 1999 Honda Accord. It is causing the vehicle to look horrible. Thousands of other Honda owners have the same problem, you see the same car with same color (green) on the road. If I have the car repainted, it will cost over $1000. This is unacceptable and Honda should be held accountable for this defect and the paint be recalled. [xxx] [xxx] lake junaluska nc [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Lake Junaluska, NC, USA

The car's clear coat is peeling and has been since about 2005 when I brought it to their attention and also explained there are many other of the same cars having the same problem I was told it was parking under a tree, or bird poop, or sun damage but I have a friend you does all or the above with their car and there is no problems and I do not have any of those problems (yes a few bird poops but not extreme, as with sun). I explained that I went to a professional paint place and they explained that it was either the way it applied or the batch(lot) was a bad batch and you can typically isolate it to a area or manufacture - no I have not had my car repainted I feel as a certified Honda vehicle they should repaint it on there dime. Yes I have had the car for 11 years but still I should have been entitled to not having the embarrassment when I took guess out and with my neighbors thinking I don't take care of my car as with fellow employees. Shame firms can't stand behind "oh there award winning" product. I also had several issues with the transmission the second year and it took 3 years to get that resolves, then there was a recall with a ignition parts that they fixed after the car rolled into the road twice, and if you want to change the odometer light you have to pay to have the dash removed - sad.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

My 1999 Honda Accord had a strange passenger-side body sound while driving at low speed. I went to the local mechanic who said the passenger side sub-frame was thoroughly rusted. I spent $3300 total to replace the sub-frame with a new one from a Honda dealer for $982.18 and two days of labor for $1100. The mechanic and I both reviewed the internet for Honda Accord recalls on this sub-frame for the 1999-2002 model years. I was surprised there has not been a recall as I was lucky to notice this before it became a serious safety hazard. As the mechanic replaced this labor-intensive sub-frame, the rack and pinion assembly also was totally rusted and need replacement - the assembly costing $417.49. Also a major leak occurred in the power steering pressure hose that had to be replaced with the part costing $148.89.

- Elk Grove Village, IL, USA

The problem is the clear coat is peeling on almost all of the body parts and looks atrocious.

- Ivoryton, CT, USA

My 16 year old daughter was coming home from school in the rain and was unable to stop in time to keep from rear ending another vehicle. Our car sustained extreme front end damage. Fortunately there were no injuries but the air bags did not deploy. The entire front end is crumpled and still the air bags did not deploy. I thought my daughter was driving a safe car.

- Richmond, TX, USA

The contact owns a 1999 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the front side of the vehicle started to shake violently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnose that the rear sub-frame area was corroded. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure and current mileage was 110,000.

- Yonkers, NY, USA