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.
The clear coat started peeling on the roof then the hood. Now its starting to peel around the fenders. We were told that if we added the cost of the clear coat that it would protect the paint from peeling and sun damage. We are very unhappy with the quality of the clear coat product being that its a Honda product. We expected much more from this type of product. We would like to find a way to solve this problem with minimal money out of our pockets, as we have taken care of this car and it still runs well, but doesn't look nice because of the poor quality of the clear coat.
Found this website looking for answers as to what is happening to my paint. What started out as a small white haze spot has taken over the hood, roof and trunk - like a cancer. The car has been babied since purchased. And to those claiming it's "something YOU did" environment, blah blah - I just sold my 67 Ford Galaxy 500 silver blue original paint second owner and she looked beautiful - that's quality. Honda has some explaining to do.
The paint or clear coat is really unacceptable on this car. We bought it used in 2012 and it had a small spot that was starting to show. Since then a lot of areas on the car are showing signs of a defective paint or clear coat process. Unacceptable. This car sits in a garage most of the time and should not be looking so poorly. Not sure I'll buy another Honda.
The color of the car really became gross and ugly. I don't even want to drive it because of its looks. It drives real well but why can't the appearance be ok. I believe the paint job was to cut cost. I am sure the robots lifted the roof, truck, hood, and side panels..either not enough paint or clear coat. So the 2 reasons that I believe is why this is a horrifying paint job. (cut cost and poor engineer set up to properly paint/coat the parts)--which falls back on the company.
I am in my 50's and have NEVER HAD A CAR'S PAINT LIKE THIS.
I WANT MY CAR FIXED AT THEIR COST NOT MINE. WHY WOULD I RECOMMEND HONDA WHEN ALL SOMEONE HAS TO DO IS SEE THE UGLY LOOKING PAINT JOB. EVERY DAY THE PAINT JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE AND IT HAS ITS OWN CANCER SPREADING.
Update from Aug 23, 2015: SHOULD BE PEELING PAINT THEN CLEAR COAT
- Terrie K.,
Findlay, OH, US
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All right, so it's going to be really difficult to sell a car that looks like the paint is peeling off it. This happened for no good reason at all. I've had MANY other vehicles and lived in the same region (same weather, same driving conditions, same amount of washing) and it's never happened before. This is a defect, and Honda should own up to it and fix it for people.
Had clear coat on roof repaired to the tune of $1000. A year later the clear coat on the car started peeling off. It looks awful. I've contacted Honda and they told me they were repairing the clear coat on Honda Civics but not Accords. We've been Honda Accord owners since the early 1980's, but they don't seem to care. Last Honda we will ever buy. Right now we're a driving sign as to why you shouldn't buy a Honda!!!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The clear coat started peeling on the roof then the hood. Now its starting to peel around the fenders. We were told that if we added the cost of the clear coat that it would protect the paint from peeling and sun damage. We are very unhappy with the quality of the clear coat product being that its a Honda product. We expected much more from this type of product. We would like to find a way to solve this problem with minimal money out of our pockets, as we have taken care of this car and it still runs well, but doesn't look nice because of the poor quality of the clear coat.
- Julie M., Sacramento, CA, US