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.
Bought the car new in 2001 from John Eagle Honda Clear Lake. The first transmission gave out at 37400 miles due to a defective transmission. Honda placed vehicle on their computer and received an error message. We were told a new transmission was only solution. Now the same error message came up on the "new" transmission and the only solution is $5200 transmission again. We were told to try Honda customer service, which told us the solution, was totally up to the dealership. We waited for over two weeks for Mr. Gregory to call; I left messages on his voicemail and with the receptionist. I did talk to him once and he stated he was still waiting for Mr. Sage to call him back. I had to call him again today to get his reply. He never had the courtesy to call back customers that have been coming to this dealership for 15 years. The Clear Lake Honda dealership that we have been going to since 1997 says their "hands are tied". Glenn Gregory the service manager states he talked to Vernon Sage, district manager, and states they have no transmissions to corrected another defected transmission but they can sell me one??!! This is an issue of safety not just cost and it is absolutely unacceptable that Honda cannot honor their mistake. If this transmission would go out while on a highway there could be a real tragedy. They knowingly replaced transmissions with the same defect. This car is driven 90 percent on the highway and maintained only by the same Honda dealer. There is no reason that this car should need two transmissions within only 112000 miles. I have owned five Honda's and never experienced such poor service or reliability. The dealer passes the problem to Honda customer service, which in turn hands the problem back over to the dealer. It should be a crime to know of a failure that could cause a major tragedy and not honor or accept your mistake and make it right. This is an issue caused 100% by a known defective transmission that Honda and the dealership are completely aware of. There are entirely too many other Honda owners with the exact same problem with the second transmission. There is not any "goodwill" from Honda by putting in the same defect.
Very disappointed with this Honda Accord 2001 that I bought three months ago. Everything started with a grinding noise. They rebuilt the differential assembly cost $1,277.00. I didn't know car was under extended warranty. After came out of dealer a very loud clunk noise started when put in reverse. Now they say that's a normal noise, they all do that. Never heard it before the work on the differential assembly. Eventually I took it to another dealer because I found out it was under extended warranty; and guess what? The car runs good after they put another transmission in it, but put it in reverse and it sounds like a piece of junk. I took it back to the dealer and because is not doing it continuously they don't want to do anything for now. So I have another appointment for tomorrow at another dealer to see if they decide to fix it before the car reaches 109,000 miles. Last Honda I buy....
- ricmont,
Erie, PA, 16510, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Bought the car new in 2001 from John Eagle Honda Clear Lake. The first transmission gave out at 37400 miles due to a defective transmission. Honda placed vehicle on their computer and received an error message. We were told a new transmission was only solution. Now the same error message came up on the "new" transmission and the only solution is $5200 transmission again. We were told to try Honda customer service, which told us the solution, was totally up to the dealership. We waited for over two weeks for Mr. Gregory to call; I left messages on his voicemail and with the receptionist. I did talk to him once and he stated he was still waiting for Mr. Sage to call him back. I had to call him again today to get his reply. He never had the courtesy to call back customers that have been coming to this dealership for 15 years. The Clear Lake Honda dealership that we have been going to since 1997 says their "hands are tied". Glenn Gregory the service manager states he talked to Vernon Sage, district manager, and states they have no transmissions to corrected another defected transmission but they can sell me one??!! This is an issue of safety not just cost and it is absolutely unacceptable that Honda cannot honor their mistake. If this transmission would go out while on a highway there could be a real tragedy. They knowingly replaced transmissions with the same defect. This car is driven 90 percent on the highway and maintained only by the same Honda dealer. There is no reason that this car should need two transmissions within only 112000 miles. I have owned five Honda's and never experienced such poor service or reliability. The dealer passes the problem to Honda customer service, which in turn hands the problem back over to the dealer. It should be a crime to know of a failure that could cause a major tragedy and not honor or accept your mistake and make it right. This is an issue caused 100% by a known defective transmission that Honda and the dealership are completely aware of. There are entirely too many other Honda owners with the exact same problem with the second transmission. There is not any "goodwill" from Honda by putting in the same defect.
- kroy, Pearland, TX, US