HondaAccord1998Overview/honda/accord/1998/base/

1998 Honda Accord

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 Accord.

Body PASSENGER CAR

As a passenger car entry in Honda's long-running Accord lineage, the 1998 model is specified with a 4.5-quart oil capacity running 5W-20 API lubricant, figures that anchor its routine service profile. In the nameplate's broader 1990–2022 complaint record, the 1998 Accord registers 1,239 owner complaints—nowhere near the 2,013 logged for the troublesome 2003 model year, but well above the 213 reported for the 2022 low mark—while carrying 19 recalls with the electrical system as the leading complaint area. That mid-pack positioning helps explain why the 1998 car is treated less as a paragon and more as a baseline reference point when researchers chart the Accord's reliability arc.

Model year202420232022202120202019201820171998

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 450 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 450 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195-70SR14OEM · verified
Wheel / rim5.5-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length187 in
Overall width70.5 in
Overall height55.1 in
Wheelbase105.1 in
Curb weight3263 lb
Track (front / rear)61 / 60.2 in

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Accord of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.7–8.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.70 sec — 1998 LX V-6 Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1998LX V-6 Sedan 3.0L V67.70 sec16.00 sec200 hpFWD
1998LX V-6 Sedan 3.0L V67.80 sec16.10 sec200 hpFWD
1998LX V-6 Sedan 3.0L V67.80 sec16.10 sec200 hpFWD
1998EX Coupe 2.3L I-48.20 sec16.50 sec150 hpFWD
1999LX V-6 Coupe 3.0L V67.40 sec15.80 sec200 hpFWD
2000EX V-6 Sedan 3.0L V68.10 sec16.20 sec200 hpFWD
2001EX V-6 Sedan 3.0L V67.60 sec15.90 sec200 hpFWD
2002LX V-6 Sedan 3.0L V68.30 sec16.60 sec200 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.6 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs6MM
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs17 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts181 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts181 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsAT: 54 ft-lbs, MT: 76 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts76 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts23 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub181 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub134 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-4-2-5-3-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)680 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.45-.55 VTEC ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance16,800-25,200 ohms

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.31-1.44 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.33-6.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance450 cca
Standard BCI Group Number24

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)41.0-48.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)32.0-40.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)47.0-54.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)38.0-46.0 psi
Engine Compression135 minimum PSI. 28 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Compression135 minimum PSI. 28 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure10 psi @ idle, 50 psi @ 3000 rpm psi
Engine Oil Pressure10 psi @ idle, 71 psi @ 3000 rpm psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket17 ft-lbs / 36 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle28 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket18 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle28 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle80 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.063; Rear: 0.063 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9014 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9014 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
129 ft. lbs.29 ft. lbs
251 ft. lbs.51 ft. lbs
372.3
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep If using old bolts:

122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
2180 degrees; If using new bolts:180 degrees
122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
2270

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miClutch Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Exterior Lighting (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Antilock Brake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 45,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Timing Belt (replace) · Water Pump (inspect)
Every 90,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 105,000 miBalance Shaft Drive Belt (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1998 Accord represents a dramatic generational break in the federal data, with complaints more than doubling from 484 in 1997 to 1,239, recalls jumping from 15 to 19, investigations rising from 0 to 3, and TSBs surging from 83 to 263 — by far the sharpest year-over-year escalation in the entire dataset. This elevated complaint plateau persists through 2002 (ranging from 941 to 1,215 complaints annually), with a further spike in 2003 to 2,013, before declining to prior-generation levels by 2005–2007. The 1998 model's top complaint areas are the Electrical System (270), Power Train (258), Engine & Engine Cooling (111), and Air Bags (60), alongside 101 crash complaints and 3 fire complaints; the data does not specify root causes for any of these categories. As the first year of a new generation, 1998 carries the highest TSB count in its immediate vicinity at 263, indicating Honda was actively cataloguing and addressing issues throughout this period, while subsequent years (1999–2001) show comparable or slightly lower complaint volumes with gradually increasing investigation counts (peaking at 10 in 2001). The takeaway: 1998 is a first-year redesign with markedly more reported problems than the preceding generation and the highest TSB burden of its era, making it a riskier purchase than a 1996–1997 Accord or a later, more stabilized year in this generation such as 2001.

19
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
263
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,239
Owner complaints
101 involved a crash · 3 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,239 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System270
Power Train258
Engine & Engine Cooling111
Air Bags60
Structure47
Vehicle Speed Control47
Suspension42
Fuel System, Other35

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 19 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V026000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 17/01/2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The…

08E050000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/08/2008

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 263 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
ABOM080920189012018-08-09EquipmentDealer message - Today, American Honda is notifying dealers of a voluntary noncompliance…
A180702018-08-09Engine And Engine CoolingService bulletin - Emission certification labels that were replaced on a small number of…
SB-99-0752013-08-09Engine And Engine CoolingHONDA: TROUBLESHOOTING OF DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) P1456 AND P1457. DEALERS ARE TO…
050212006-11-03SuspensionREAR STABILIZER LINK IS BROKEN. *TT
060352006-06-17SuspensionREPLACEABLE BALL JOINTS. *TT

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Accord. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1998 Accord take?

4.5 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1998 Accord have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 19 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.