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.
8.0
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$160
Average Mileage:
97,000 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
replaced main fuel relay and electrical part of ignition switch (1 reports)
Just want to say that this web site was extremely helpful. I read about other peoples Accords either not starting or shutting off in heavy traffic.
My car's problems showed up intermittently but usually on a hot summer day. Since we don't see too many of those here in Pennsylvania it only happened about 5 times between July 2013 & July 2014. What usually happened was after a short trip on a hot day, (like to the store) my car would not start. It would turn over & start for like a second then stall, (my mechanic later told me that was the fuel left in the line igniting for a second). Several tries & 10-30 min later it would finally start. Twice this happened on a first start of the day.
After much research on this site & on YouTube...I determined that the problem was the main relay. It's what tells your fuel pump to turn on. There is a circuit board in this module that can warp & crack in extreme temps, mostly high temps. I replaced it with an after market main relay from the local parts store. I also replaced the ignition switch, ( not the whole module , just the electrical part) because we were taking the car to Tennessee & did not want to take a chance on it shutting off in traffic. There was a recall on the ignition switch but not for my Vin #. Our trip to Tennessee was fine & I have made several short trips on some of the hottest days I have seen & "so far , so good".
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Just want to say that this web site was extremely helpful. I read about other peoples Accords either not starting or shutting off in heavy traffic.
My car's problems showed up intermittently but usually on a hot summer day. Since we don't see too many of those here in Pennsylvania it only happened about 5 times between July 2013 & July 2014. What usually happened was after a short trip on a hot day, (like to the store) my car would not start. It would turn over & start for like a second then stall, (my mechanic later told me that was the fuel left in the line igniting for a second). Several tries & 10-30 min later it would finally start. Twice this happened on a first start of the day.
After much research on this site & on YouTube...I determined that the problem was the main relay. It's what tells your fuel pump to turn on. There is a circuit board in this module that can warp & crack in extreme temps, mostly high temps. I replaced it with an after market main relay from the local parts store. I also replaced the ignition switch, ( not the whole module , just the electrical part) because we were taking the car to Tennessee & did not want to take a chance on it shutting off in traffic. There was a recall on the ignition switch but not for my Vin #. Our trip to Tennessee was fine & I have made several short trips on some of the hottest days I have seen & "so far , so good".
- Lisa B., Johnstown, PA, US