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.
Humming sound isn't noticeable until about 40 MPH. At highway speeds it is loud enough you have to turn up the radio. It sounds commensurate with speed, not RPM. Sound doesn't change when it shifts gears. It sounds like, from the driver seat, like it's coming from the rear end. The sound gets louder when you veer right and quieter when you veer left. Otherwise, car handles normally.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Humming sound isn't noticeable until about 40 MPH. At highway speeds it is loud enough you have to turn up the radio. It sounds commensurate with speed, not RPM. Sound doesn't change when it shifts gears. It sounds like, from the driver seat, like it's coming from the rear end. The sound gets louder when you veer right and quieter when you veer left. Otherwise, car handles normally.
- sgiles, Amarillo, TX, US