CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2001 Honda Accord suffers from widespread transmission failure, subframe rust, & problems with the airbag system (SRS). We recommend avoiding this model year like the plague.
The transmission begins slipping & eventually has to be replaced, typically soon after 100,000 miles & with a repair cost of over $2,000. Transmission failure problems have been a huge problem for Honda Accords & other models all through the early 2000s model years. Honda eventually extended the transmission warranty to 93 months/109k miles for the 2000-2001 Accords as settlement for a class action lawsuit, but that period is over & owners of Accords with transmission problems are out of luck.
Subframe rust near the front passenger side wheel has become a problem recently, due to the poorly positioned A/C drain hose directly above that area. Repair cost to the subframe is over $2,000.
The SRS warning light likes to come on due to a defective seat belt sensor -- typically the driver's side. This sensor is covered under Honda's lifetime seat belt warranty, but some dealers charge a $100+ "diagnostic fee" or tell customers the entire SRS unit ($800) is bad. Also make sure your 2001 Accord has been checked for the airbag recall: excessive pressure may cause metal fragments during airbag deployment.
A couple years ago when my mom first bought this car, she would let me drive it to work and out with friends, when she wasn't using it. The first time I drove it, I had placed a few CD disks into the 6 disk CD player, and went on my way. The first CD played great, me singing along to every word. But when it went to change to the next CD, it stopped and read Error, not playing anything. When I got to my destination, I tried to eject the disks, but it would not eject any of them. My Dad and I had to take the whole CD player out and to retrieve the CDs out. Now the CDs have a ton of scratches on the top of them from whatever the CD player did.
CD player stopped working for no apparent reason. Mostly an annoyance but not something you would expect from a Honda. I have three Hondas in my family and they have been a royal pain in the ass in the past year. My next car will not be a Honda.
- Boyan B.,
Portland, OR, US
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A couple years ago when my mom first bought this car, she would let me drive it to work and out with friends, when she wasn't using it. The first time I drove it, I had placed a few CD disks into the 6 disk CD player, and went on my way. The first CD played great, me singing along to every word. But when it went to change to the next CD, it stopped and read Error, not playing anything. When I got to my destination, I tried to eject the disks, but it would not eject any of them. My Dad and I had to take the whole CD player out and to retrieve the CDs out. Now the CDs have a ton of scratches on the top of them from whatever the CD player did.
- Codi S., Tucson, AZ, US