1997 HONDA ACCORD Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

1997 HONDA ACCORD EX FAILED ABS MODULATOR. IT SEEMS THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS PART BEING A HIGH FAILURE ITEM. HONDA JUST SITS BACK AND CHARGES 1300 DOLLARS TO REPLACE A SAFETY ITEM. PLEASE HONDA MAKE THIS A RECALL AND START TAKING CARE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT NORMAL CONDITIONS ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING. DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO CONSUMER ABS MODULE AND SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSES OF $2,200, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF SUBJECT VEHICLE. THE BRAKE SWITCH FAILED WITHOUT WARNING THRICE ON MY 1997 HONDA ACCORD EX WAGON [XXX] WITH 31000 MILES; THE VEHICLE HAS NO BRAKE LIGHTS AFTER BRAKE SWITCH FAILS. PREVIOUS IDENTICAL FAILURES WERE AT 22000 MILES ON 06/18/2002 AND 164K MILES ON 09/29/2000. MY DEALER SAYS THAT SUCH A FAILURE IS TYPICAL AFTER EACH 100-150K MILES ON THESE VEHICLES. WHEN THE BRAKE SWITCH FAILS, THE OPERATOR MUST USE THE "SHIFT LOCK RELEASE" (SLR) TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR FROM THE PARK POSITION. PAGE 105 OF THE OWNS MANUAL MERELY STATES "IF YOU NEED TO USE THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE, IT COULD MEAN YOUR CAR IS DEVELOPING A PROBLEM. HAVE THE CAR CHECKED BY YOUR HONDA DEALER." THERE IS NO MENTION THAT THE CAR MAY NOT HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS. THERE NO DASH INDICATOR NOTIFYING THE DRIVER THAT THERE ARE NO BRAKE LIGHTS: THERE IS NO WARNING OF ANY SORT THAT ALL BRAKE LIGHTS ARE OUT. (THE "BRAKE LAMP" FAILURE DASH LAMP ONLY TELLS IF A BULB IS OUT IF THE BRAKE SWITCH IS WORKING.) THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN FATAL ACCIDENTS. IN THIS LASTEST BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE, I WAS 500 MILES FROM HOME AND OPERATED THE CAR FOR THE NEXT DAY UNAWARE OF THIS CONDITION UNTIL I RETURNED HOME AND WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED BY REPLACING THE BRAKE SWITCH AT A COST OF ABOUT $127. I HAVE MY SERVICE RECEIPTS FROM ALL THREE REPAIRS. *AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 311,400

I RECENTLY ABOUT 1 1/2 MONTHS AGO HAD MY BRAKE PADS REPLACED, 2 DAYS AGO THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF, I HAVE DONE ALL THE CHECKS AND EVERYTHING IS FINE...ESTIMATED REPAIR RUNS FROM $900-$1500..I HAVE ALSO NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER HONDA OWNERS FOR THE SAME THING I FEEL THAT HONDA NEEDS TO DO A RECALL AND GET THIS ISSUE CORRECTED..IT SHOULD NOT BE PLACED ON THE CONSUMER HONDA NEEDS TO STAND UP AND TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE FACT THEY HAVE VEHICLES WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS. *JB

Mileage: 111,650

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I PURCHASED THIS 1997 HONDA ACCORD FROM MY MOM (SHE WAS THE ONLY OWNER) IT ONLY HAD 18,000 MILES AT THE TIME. CURRENTLY THE AUTO HAS A LITTLE MORE THAN 40,000 AND THERE IS NOTICABLE TIRE WEAR AND THE BRAKES MAKE A STRANGE CLICKING NOISE WHEN BRAKING.

Mileage: 40,000

WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED I HEAR A NOISE COMING FROM THE ABS MODULATOR. THE NOISE REPEATEDLY OCCURS APPROX EVERY 2-3 MINUTES. AFTER APPROX 5 MILES OF DRIVING THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT 2 PARTS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED, THE MODULATOR AND ?. THE COST OF REPAIR WAS 1200 WITH A DEALER DISCOUNT.

ABS SYSTEM WASL LEAKING COST$ 640 TO REPAIR. THEN FOUND THAT ABS MODULATOR HAD FAILED WHICH COST OVER $940 TO REPLACE. WHAT KIND OF BRAKE DESIGN IS THIS? TOTAL RIPOFF. NEVER AGAIN HONDA.

Mileage: 70,490

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, AND WHEN DOING SO, VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO ANYTHING.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON HIGHWAY BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND FLIPPED OVER. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN ABS BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DRIVER USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE BRAKES MAKE A LOUD CLICKING NOISE (SIMILAR TO THE SOUND HEARD WHEN CARS RUNNING OVER THE SEWER MANHOLE COVER) DURING THE FIRST BRAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A WHILE (2-3 HOURS) OR AFTER THE GEAR HAS BEEN SHIFTED TO REVERSE AND BACK TO DRIVE. DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM.

VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT AND INTERSECTION. LEG WAS FULLY EXTENDED, AND PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO FLOOR. HALF OF VEHICLE LANDED IN INTERSECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I HAVE CONTACTED HONDA ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ON BOTH MY 9196 AND 1997 ACCORDS AND THEY ACTED FREINDLY AT FIRST THEN DECIDED NOT TO PAY FOR ANYTHING. SO I AM HAING TO GET THE ABS REPAIRED ON BOTH OF THE CARS AT COST TO MYSELF. *AK

THIS IS MY SECOND ACCORD TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED.

SRS CONTROL UNIT FAILED ON THE SECOND DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT THE DEALER. *AK

THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON, NO PROBLEM FOUND. *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED ABS LIGHT ACTIVATED, VEHICLE STILL HAD BRAKING CAPACITY. TOOK VEHICLE TO NEAREST HONDA DEALER IN GOLDSBORO, N.C AND WAS INFORMED ABS MODULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACE QUOTED A COST OF $ 996.00. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED ABS LIGHT ACTIVATED, VEHICLE STILL HAD BRAKING CAPACITY. TOOK VEHICLE TO NEAREST HONDA DEALER IN GOLDSBORO, N.C AND WAS INFORMED ABS MODULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACE QUOTED A COST OF $ 996.00. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, AND HAD NO BRAKING ABILITY AT ALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BRAKES ARE ERRATIC. SOMETIMES WHEN THE PEDAL IS APPLIED THE PEDAL PULSATES AND VIBRATES. THIS IS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

I SPENT OVER $800 IN EIGHT MONTHS ON NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. THE PARTS REPLACED WERE ORIGINAL FROM THE DAY BOUGHT MARCH 1, 1997. HONDA OF SCOTTSDALE, HONDA OF TEMPE, AND HONDA OF MESA ALL HAVE KEPT REQUIRED MAINTENANCE RECORDS. AT ABOUT 32K MILES I ASKED SCOTTSDALE HONDA TO CHECK A RATTLING SOUND. THEY SAID I STELL HAD 7500 MILES ON THE BRAKES. AT ABOUT 34K I TOOK IT TO ECONOLUBE N' TUNE BECAUSE I WAS GETTING NO SATISFACTION. HE CHARGED ME $350 AND SAID THE ROTOR COULD NOT BE TURNED ON HIS LATHE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MARY CUTBIRTH, CUSTOMER RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE FOR HONDA IN COLARADO (303-696-3935) SAID TRY TO GET THE CALIPERS BACK BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDER THE 36K MILES WARRANTY. ECONOLUBE N' TUNE THREW THEM AWAY. HONDA WOULD NOT HELP, AT 45K MILES HONDA OF MESA DID THE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION. I TOOK THE CAR BACK BECAUSE I HEARD RATTLING. THEY DID NOTHING. AT 50565 MILES I WAS FEELING SHAKING WHEN I STOPPED. HONDA OF MESA SAID THE ROTOR NEEDED REPLACING WITH BRAKE PADS. IT COST $450. *AK

I SPENT OVER $800 IN EIGHT MONTHS ON NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. THE PARTS REPLACED WERE ORIGINAL FROM THE DAY BOUGHT MARCH 1, 1997. HONDA OF SCOTTSDALE, HONDA OF TEMPE, AND HONDA OF MESA ALL HAVE KEPT REQUIRED MAINTENANCE RECORDS. AT ABOUT 32K MILES I ASKED SCOTTSDALE HONDA TO CHECK A RATTLING SOUND. THEY SAID I STELL HAD 7500 MILES ON THE BRAKES. AT ABOUT 34K I TOOK IT TO ECONOLUBE N' TUNE BECAUSE I WAS GETTING NO SATISFACTION. HE CHARGED ME $350 AND SAID THE ROTOR COULD NOT BE TURNED ON HIS LATHE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MARY CUTBIRTH, CUSTOMER RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE FOR HONDA IN COLARADO (303-696-3935) SAID TRY TO GET THE CALIPERS BACK BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDER THE 36K MILES WARRANTY. ECONOLUBE N' TUNE THREW THEM AWAY. HONDA WOULD NOT HELP, AT 45K MILES HONDA OF MESA DID THE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION. I TOOK THE CAR BACK BECAUSE I HEARD RATTLING. THEY DID NOTHING. AT 50565 MILES I WAS FEELING SHAKING WHEN I STOPPED. HONDA OF MESA SAID THE ROTOR NEEDED REPLACING WITH BRAKE PADS. IT COST $450. *AK

BRAKES DON'T GRIP, THEY GLIDE AND IN THE RAIN ANDTHEY LOCK. I'VE ALMOST HAD ALOT OF ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAVE HAD THEM SERVICED THREE TIMES AND STILL NO DIFFERENT RESPONSE. *AK

FRONT AND THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS KEEP WEARING OUT. CONSUMER HAS TO KEEP REPLACING THE ROTORS. *AK CONSUMER STATED HE HAS SPENT OVER $800.00 IN 8 MONTHS REPLACING REAR AND FRONT ROTORS.*JB

TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AFTER ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSED PROBLEM IS THAT ABS MODULATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PART COST $963.50 AND LABOR AT DEALERSHIP IS $189.60. THAT IS IN ADDITION TO $59.00 I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THEY SQUEAK AND GRIND TO THE METAL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES A CLICKING NOISE OCCURS. DEALER SAYS THE BRAKE PADS ARE SHIFTING IN THEIR SOCKETS, CAUSING THE NOISE, WHICH IS NORMAL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT THE FRONT BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS IN DRIVEWAY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING IT HIT A TREE AND AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE DEPLOYED AIR BAGS CAUSED INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

BRAKE PADS FAILED CAUSING NOISE.

ABS SYSTEM LOCKS UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID AND VEER TO THE RIGHT.

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP, CONSUMER HAD TO HIT A CURB. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE LOST BRAKING ABILITY AND STOPPED BY SCRATCHING THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL TO THE ROAD DIVIDER. THE CAUSE WAS A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER.