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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,095 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.
Our automatic transmission began acting up by "lurching" when we came to a rolling stop. We had the car checked by our two regular mechanics and they suggested we take it back to ellena Honda here in lawrence where it was purchased since it was still under warranty. Honda checked it and said they would replace the transmission. This is to be done next Monday. I am very disappointed since I thought Honda was a brand that could be trusted.
2001 Honda Accord V6 transmission, replaced twice - with only 59,000 miles on the car. I want Honda to compensate me with a new vehicle. This is just absurd - they keep re-installing defective transmissions. Total cost is roughly around $12,000 - that's what I owe left on my loan.
Automatic transmission occasionally shifts violently (so violent that I at first assumed that the ignition had been turned off - I was doing up to 65 mph when this occurred). Problem is very intermittent - so the dealer has not been able to duplicate. I consider it a definite safety issue since I could easily be rear ended or lose control on snow or ice. Has happened 5 or 6 times since after delivery - every time on a slight down slope. Additionally the car often 'searches' - up and down shifts on downgrades but most often these are what I would call poor quality shifting- which I'm told by the dealer is a known short fall.
Transmission would not upshift, engine light came on and D3 light start blinking. Car would not shift properly, would jolt instead of smooth shift and then would only accelerate very very slowly. Also would backup while stopped and gear in drive.
Vehicle was leaking transmission fluid initially. Took it to dealership. First time dealership sent us home with a really bad transmission leak for weekend. Informed us not to drive more than 200 miles. We informed them we live 60 miles away and would need to get home and back to dealership on Monday. No rental car was offered. When taken back to dealer for repairs they replaced differential. Two weeks later we noticed leaking again and the car wa shifting funny. We took the car in for repairs. They replaced the transmission. We approached both the manufacturer and the dealership about an extended warranty on the transmission, both refused. About a year later I received a letter in the mail regarding a warranty extension for the transmission for all 2001 Honda Accord. Apparently I was not the only consumer who was sold a lemon. Dimsii IVOQ entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis------------------770780.
On 4/4/03 a loud thud came from the transmission and the check engine light came on and the D4 on the shift indicator started to blink. I shut off the car and restarted. The shift indicator stopped blinking but the car would shift very hard. I took it to Honda and they warranted the transmission because the car only had 65000 miles they also gave me a rental. I would like to know if the root cause of this problem has been fixed or will I have this problem again at 120000 miles?
In November 2002, I discovered a problem with my automatic transmission in my 2001 Honda Accord. Subsequent to this date I had three transmission replacements, all unsuccessful. Two of my transmissions did not last longer than a week before they were diagnosed with transmission failure. Honda is unwilling to deal with this problem and has been difficult to reach. The service staff continually tries to tell me that the problem is "in my head", yet they continue to replace my transmission unit on each visit. If you have a problem with your 2001/2002 model please file a complaint with the BBB auto line, the bureau of automotive repair, or the new motor vehicle board, this is the only way that Honda will become responsive to this problem. Although they extended the warranty on all transmission to 100,000 miles, this only covers 100,000 miles on the odometer not on the life of the new transmission. How can I make Honda accountable for my unsafe vehicle? they are not responsive in any way!
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.
The automatic transmission failed while the consumer was driving. The dealer suggested that they would have to replace the transmission. Ts also, the wheel bearing(s) failed. Scc
Honda is sending letters to owners of two models of Accord, Prelude, and several other models due to a defect in the carrier bearing. They are replacing transmissions. They are willing to assume cost for those already done or to be done. However they are not issuing a recall.
The first symptom was rough idling where the car has actually died several times. It has been into the dealer repeatedly since Feb of 2002. They kept it for over a month one time to replace the transmission, but the same problem occurred, even when leaving the dealership. They had it in again in June & the problem is growing more intermittent, but I still think it is a flaw and possibly dangerous. Nlm
Transmission was just replaced with a re-built. In shop 9/4 through 9/7/02. I complained multiple times, starting 2nd day of ownership about "sluggish response". pacific Honda said it's a new car, give it time to limber-up. What a joke. Independent Honda mechanic identified auto-trans problem. I requested new car - Honda refused. I paid for a new car, and continue to make auto-payments for a new car, but have never enjoyed the performance or reliability of a new car. I requested that pacific Honda save my old part (transmission) - they refused. I understood a new transmission would be installed - they told me when I picked it up that a re-built transm. Had been installed. Now, after a couple of days w/rebuilt, I sense engine jerkiness when driving vehicle. Please help!
Consumer states dealer diagnosed a transmission problem and was informed that no transmissions were available for one month, was also informed that he was fourth in line for a transmission.
Transmission, since day one, has always made a loud metal-to-metal clunking/popping noise at low speeds. Dealer advised there was no problem, was normal. Then at around 28K miles, it started shuddering and slipping on downshifts between 35-45mph. I then took it to right Honda in scottsdale, and they then flushed the linear solenoid, and when I got it back, it was still was doing it. They then replaced the entire transmission, and it came back with a thumping noise when in park or N. they then replaced it a second time. It is shifting better, but the car has not as much pickup and is still making the metal to metal noise, after over $6,000 in warranty repairs! it also lurches through gears sometimes, and is not as smooth as it was when I bought it. The service manager told me that this is a common problem, and that they have had to replace quite a few transmissions. I first spoke with angie williams at Honda corporate, and she would not help nor let me speak to her supervisor, rick thomas. I finally got through to rick thomas, and they said they would not buy the car back, nor was I going to get any help from him. I then asked to speak to his supervisor, and he would not let me speak with ron garner. The receptionist then lied to me and said that rick garner doesnT have voicemail, I caught her in the lie. Under magnuson-moss warranty act, they have had sufficient times to try and repair this vehicle! I have found that I am not alone in dealing with this problem, as almost everyone with a V6 automatic Accord seems to notice this problem with the transmission! the dealership I bought the vehicle from suggested I file a report with the BBB, since there was nothing he could do. That is ridiculous! I did not pay to lease a $28,000 car, and be given a cheap rental to drive around in for a month. How am I going to ever sell this car with a repair record like this? I really hope that you may be able to help. Nlm
During a trip, the car began to have a rumble in the drivetrain. Expecially at a bout 40-45 mph. Took car to dealer and they told us that the differential was faulty and they needed to replace the transmission. They would only replace with a factory rebuilt, not new. No extension on warranty. This was the second one they had in a month. Transmissions had been on back order which sounds like they had more with problems.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lawrence, KS, USA