Routine maintenance revealed shocking finding: The R/F corner of subframe is rusted through and breaking. Dealer advises it should be replaced asap and that the car is dangerous and should not be driven. Obviously it makes no sense to spend the $2,500+tax that the dealer proposes, as the car is barely worth that much. This is a design flaw in 1998-2002 Honda as the air conditioner drips right onto this part of the subframe. The incontrovertible evidence is the dozens of other complaints for subframe rust filed here with the NHTSA and elsewhere - all on the passenger side - as well as the fact that Honda changed the design on the 2003 models. I don't know why the NHTSA is waiting to force a recall"? what if I hadn't gotten the maintenance for another few months?? what could have potentially happened?? could I have lost control of the car as the bottom partially fell out?? this is a serious injury, if not death, waiting to happen! what are you waiting for!??" as for Honda, I will never buy another Honda again. They offered minimal goodwill assistance, and, through the dealer, basically said, it's an old car, parts fail. Disgusting the callousness and disregard for customer loyalty. This car is supposed to be worth approx $2,500 resale value given its mileage and condition otherwise. Now it's a heap of metal. Honda, I'll take my hard-earned money to your competitors.

- Westfield, NJ, USA

While driving my 2000 Honda Accord it made loud banging noise. I took the car into the mechanic to discover that the sub-frame was rusted. After investigating, I come to find out that this is happening to alot of Honda Accord made in (1999-2002). (www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/investigations/center-for-auto-safety-requesting-recall-of-1-5-million-Honda-Accord-for-rust-issue-in-sub-frame) further more, Honda changed the design location of the drainage hose in 2003, and said it was unrelated to sub-frame rust. NHTSA needs to do something about this before some is killed because of Honda failed engineering. The cost to replace the sub-frame is about $1300 + incidentals.

- Seven Hills, OH, USA

I had a schedule oil change and the technician informed me that my subframe was rusting away. He informed me that it was not safe to drive the car. The subframe should not be in this condition as a result of normal driving condition. I do have photo's of this part.

- Bedford, OH, USA

I learned when I change my oil. I notice the subframe have fell off and rust out. I call the Honda dealer and they sent me to V mail.

- Cheektowaga, NY, USA

The subframe on the passenger side of the vehicle is rusted out. The rust is below the ac drain hose. The vehicle is unsafe to operate. The dealer gave me an estimate of $1600 for the repair.

- Huntley, IL, USA

Front subframe on 2000 Honda Accord rusting excessively causing a safety issue. The ac condensation line is designed wrong and Honda will not fix. All of us Accord owners need your help. The owner I bought this car from first began noticing the rust in 2007. Needed to be replaced this year after it completely cracked off.

- Wisconsin Rapids, WI, USA

I went in for a routine oil change and the mechanic found that the subframe was rusted out on the right passenger side. From what he said and what I have been reading, this is quite common. With how serious this is, I don't understand why Honda does not recall vehicles for this issue. With the ac leaking right onto this spot and them fixing that defect after 2002, it is clearly their fault. It is potentially dangerous and an overall hassle for something that shouldn't happen, even in a 15 year old car.

- Ravenna, OH, USA

I noticed that during side wind or going over dips in highway the vehicle would wander and sway making steering quite difficult and so I had midas do a 4 wheel alignment which didn't help. The midas inspector told me that he wasn't able to guarantee the alignment, since he thought it had been wrecked and that the frame was out of kilter. However I researched online, and found that this was a typical design flaw on this year and model, where the A/C liquid discharge was right above the sub-frame and had rusted the rear cross member completely loose from the frame. Since I am on social security-disability, I am unable to pay to replace part #50200-584-A00-rr beam.

- Blaine, WA, USA

Sub-frame rusting: Upon recent inspection this vehicle was determined to have rusting through the sub-frame on the front passenger side resulting in failure to pass inspection due to being unsafe. Cost to repair and replace the part and allow the vehicle to be safe to drive will be $1500. No other sign of rust anywhere else on the undercarriage of this vehicle. Upon research into this serious and expensive defect we noted that there are significant numbers of Accord vehicle owners who have experienced the identical flaw. Additionally, our mechanic noted that the air conditioning weep hole drains directly onto this area of the vehicle contributing to the sub-frame rot.

- Liverpool, NY, USA

During an oil change, my husband notice a crack in the rear beam of the front crossmember. Upon further investigation, he identified that the subframe had rusted through from the top down where the air conditioner drain was. The replacement part cost $530 (regularly $720 from Honda) and over $400 in labor to replace it. The part was completely rusted through, broken in several places, and would have eventually caused a steering problem, according to the mechanic who replaced the part.

- Spring Lake, MI, USA

On Nov 12, 2011 I went to get my car inspected and the would not pass it because the front rear subframe is rotted. The driver side is in perfect condition....the dealer says it will cost $1600.. I know it's old but it only has 72000 miles on it....im hearing that allot of people are having this problem...I am scared to drive it, and I don't want to put my grandchildren in the car....I don't want to sell it because I don't want anyone else to get hurt...Honda should have a recall on this issue...

- Rochester, NY, USA

During a routine maintenance visit at my dealership I was informed that the passenger side subframe of my 2000 Honda Accord with only 57,000 miles on it was rusted out and not safe to drive. The driver side was fine. I spent over $1,400 to have the car repaired only to see a report on the news that the problem was caused by a badly placed drain off for the air conditioning. I think the cars should be recalled to fix the problem and those who have had the subframe repaired already should be reimbursed.

- Fairlawn, OH, USA

State inspection found passenger side of front subframe has rusted through. No other rust is visible on frame. Mechanic claims failure from rust may be due to ac drain routed onto frame at this location. Another 2000 Accord was in in the shop at the same time for repair of the same damage.

- Port Matilda, PA, USA

My friend and I were driving to go buy some food during heavy traffic and I ended up hitting a pothole I was unable to avoid. After I hit the pothole my car started making a loud grinding sound whenever I turned the wheels. When I got home I checked underneath my car to see what was causing the awful sound and saw a piece of metal heavily rusted and sheared right through. I checked the other side to see if it was also rusted and broken but to my surprise there was barely any rust on it. I went onto the internet and found out that it was the sub-frame of my Accord that broke and that I was one of many people this exact situation has happened to. I am extremely relieved that neither my friend or I were injured when this happened, and that it did not cause an accident during heavy traffic. The fact that Honda has yet to even address this issue is truly ridiculous and the fact that they have not recalled such a major defect happening to many people is stunning.

- Brunswick, OH, USA

I would like to call to your attention abc's investigation into Honda Accord for dangerous rusted/rotted sub-frames. The center for auto safety in Washington D.C. is calling on Honda to issue a voluntary recall for one and one-half million 1998 through 2002 Honda Accord due to rust that is quietly eating away at a major structural component. The center for auto safety's executive director [xxx] said, "there's no question this is a safety concern. What you have are hundreds of thousands of owners driving the roads on a vehicle that may suffer catastrophic frame failure due to corrosion." [xxx] is calling on Honda to notify owners to have their vehicles inspected. "sooner or later, " said [xxx], "someone is going to be killed, there's going to be a big product liability lawsuit and Honda very well may wind up paying more in litigation costs then in doing what they should be doing -- which is do a recall today." Records abc news obtained from national highway transportation safety administration detail similar complaints, including sub-frames that were described as "unsafe, failed inspection and in dangerous condition." I believe that this dangerous situation needs to be brought to your attention. Honda will just try to wait out the situation and hope that it will go away if it does not get pressure from NHTSA and owners across the nation. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Brooklyn, OH, USA

I took this Honda Accord dx (MY2000) to the dealer for 120,000 maintenance in September 2011. They told me the front passenger side subframe rusted very badly. But the driver side subframe was normal with no rust. I thought underbody rust is normal for my car's age and did not pay much attention. But after one month, the front wheels began to make strange noise. I took it to an independent auto repair and they told me the subframe rusted through completely and began to crack. It is a safety hazard to continue to drive. They said it always happened on the passenger side on Honda Accord because the A/C condensation water drips down on this point. I am taking it to a dealer today to replace it. It will cost me $2000.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA