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.
2.2
hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,194 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 45 mph, the instrument panel failed. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the mulitplex control unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V256000 (interior lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 150,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 40 mph at night, the contact noticed that the instrument panel lights were inoperative. She continued to drive but periodically checked the dome light to check the speed. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that the vehicle was not included in recall 04V256000 (interior lighting). The failure mileage was approximately 100,000 and the current mileage was approximately 100,400.
The instrument panel backlighting fails intermittently for days at a time. When it's out, I cannot see the speedometer or any gauges on the dash at night. I have to use a flashlight or other external lighting to see the gauges. The backlighting never flickers -- it's either on or it's off. I am unable to discern any pattern or action that causes the backlighting to go out or to begin working again. The dash indicator lights still work. My 2001 Honda Accord ex-V6 sedan was not covered under recall 04V256000. My dimmer control works when the backlighting is working (and still dims the radio and climate controls even when the backlighting is not working). I replaced the multiplex control unit at my own expense in Sept. 2009, but it has had no effect on the problem.
A few months ago we began experiencing intermittent failure of the lighting on the instrument panel. We took the car to our local repair shop, who determined the dimmer control for the instrument panel lights was failing, and they replaced it with a genuine Honda part. This did not fix the issue. Instead, the instrument panel lights are now non-functional, causing the whole cluster to need to be replaced. I was searching the NHTSA website and found NHTSA campaign number 04V256000. Which states, 'on certain passenger vehicles, the dimmer control for the instrument panel lights could fail due to heat buildup. Consequence: If this occurs, the instrument lights may fail and, at night, the driver may not be able to see the instrument panel gauges, such as the speedometer'. I phoned Honda and was told our car was not included in the recall. I then searched the web, and found many instances where other 2000/2001 Honda Accord have suffered this same problem but were not included in the recall. I have called our local Honda dealership and the national 800 service number, all of whom have told me that our car is not included with this recall. Though, the situation is too much alike to be a coincidence.
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Accord. The interior lights for the instrument panel failed because of heat build-up. Consequently, he cannot read the information on the gauges of the instrument panel. A representative from the dealer and the manufacturer stated that since the vehicle identification number was excluded from recall# 04V256000 ( interior lighting), he was ineligible for a free remedy. The failure mileage was 75,000 updated 12/11/09 12/11/09. The consumer wants to know the status of his complaint. Updated 01/21/10 updated 02/19/10 updated 05/11/10.
Odometer light does not come on. Dealership said that this is not a recall for my [2001 Honda Accord.[ recall id 04V256000]. this could cause all instrument panel lights to fail.
2001 Honda Accord ex sedan 4D interior lighting description: On certain passenger vehicles, the dimmer control for the instrument panel lights could fail due to heat buildup. If this occurs, the instrument lights may fail and, at night, the driver may not be able to see the instrument panel gauges, such as the speedometer.
Refer to NHTSA campaign id #04V256000. I have 2001 Honda Accord ex. My instrument light on the car failed and I cannot see gauges at night time. I am taking a flashlight with you at night when I am driving. According to #04V256000, it only covers certain LX models. I think it should be expand to ex models as well. I was shocked after the dealer told me that they cannot fix because your car is not on a recall list even though it is obviously due to the failure of potentiometer.
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Accord. 5 years ago the instrument panel lights failed to illuminate. The failure mileage was 10000. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the vehicle was operating normally. Recall campaign# 04V256000 is related to the contacts interior lighting failure. The manufacturer stated that the recall is not related to his VIN. The previous attempt to repair the instrument panel was unsuccessful; however, the radio was replaced. The contact has driven the vehicle at night for several years and is aware of the safety risk involved for him and his teenage driver. The current mileage was 133000.
- the contact said that dash light (multiplex control unit) for the instrument panel light is broken. It is part of a safety recall 04V256000, component interior lighting. The dealer told the contact that her VIN number is not included in the campaign. The contact can't read her instrument panel at night. The contact would like to be included in the campaign so that her vehicle can be fixed.
Instrument panel lights go out and at night I can't see some of the gauges like the speedometer or gas gauge. But other lights like, check engine, maintenance required, tcs lights work ok. I have read what NHTSA considers a safety hazard and lighting is one of them. There has already been a safety recall on other 2001 Honda V6 models with the same problem as I am experiencing. Yet, there is no investigation being done on my problem. NHTSA representatives won't even talk to me, I get a person on the phone and the only thing they keep repeating is " there is no investigation being done on your vehicle at this time" I feel like im talking to a machine. I would like some feed back from a person at NHTSA as to why this problem is not being addressed. What is happening to the Honda? I've already gotten two other recall notices of other problems. I am very discouraged with what's going on. I paid a lot of money for my car because I trusted the Honda name, also to maintain it in top condition. I just don't feel that I should be responsible for this defect.
There is currently a recall on Honda Accord ex 2001(which is the year make and model of my car) for dimmer control lights inside the car not lighting up. My car has this exact problem / periodically the dashboard lights go completely black and do not work. I cannot see how fast I'm going, I cannot see if I am almost out of gas, cannot see if the car is overheating, cannot see anything on the dashboard. This is very dangerous when it is dark. I checked the recall and noticed that my year/make/model does have a recall for this problem but when I called Honda they did not include my VIN# so they won't fix it. My mechanic told me my car is way to new to be having this problem. I am requesting that this be researched because I feel my VIN# needs to be added to this recall list. When it is dark this is very dangerous. My VIN # is [xxx] the recall # is campaign# 04V256000 June 7 - 2004 thank you. Updated 07/18/2012 information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA recall 04V256000 subject: Instrument panel dimmer control. After having the multiplex control unit for the instrument panel lights replaced, the dimmer control for the instrument panel lights failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and the cause has not been determined at this time.
The customer contended the brakes were sometimes inoperative/noisy/rubbing and did not stop the car. The customer also had multiple complaints of service at the dealership. The transmission did not shift properly. Dealership was unable to duplicate abnormal shifting operations. The engine ran rough and the engine check light illuminated, engine had normal noise. Other complaints included the tcs light on, door ajar light, brake light and seat belt light all illuminated while driving. License plate bracket came off. Twisted seat belts, rear door, bumper and dash panel replacement.
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