Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

1998 vs 1999 HONDA ACCORD

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 335 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 4.8% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

1998 1,178 complaints 1999 1,122 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 1998 share 1999 share Share change
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23.6% 31.0% ▲ 7.4 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM 6.2% 1.4% ▼ 4.8 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 22.3% 20.3% ▼ 2.0 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 4.0% 2.1% ▼ 1.9 pts smaller share
ENGINE 10.4% 12.0% ▲ 1.6 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 0.4% 1.3% ▲ 0.8 pts larger share
VISIBILITY 2.0% 1.3% ▼ 0.7 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4.4% 3.9% ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
WHEELS 0.7% 0.3% ▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 3.0% 3.3% ▲ 0.3 pts larger share
TIRES 0.8% 1.1% ▲ 0.3 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS 2.0% 1.8% ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS 5.8% 5.6% ▼ 0.2 pts smaller share
STEERING 1.5% 1.4% ▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE 4.8% 4.8% ▼ 0.0 pts smaller share
PARKING BRAKE 0.2% 0.2% ▲ 0.0 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 74.5% 66.5% ▼ 8.0 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1998 19

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN, SEAT BELTS, and SUSPENSION

1999 17

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, and EXTERIOR LIGHTING

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
3 → 5
◆ Injuries
64 → 44