CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2002 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 90,000 miles & with a repair cost of over $2,000. Transmission failure has been a huge problem for the Accord & several other Honda models all through the early 2000s model years. Honda extended the transmission warranty to 93 months/109k miles for the 2000-2001 Accord as a class action lawsuit settlement, but owners of other Accord model years 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.
2002 Honda, replaced battery about 2006. One year later the battery acid had eaten away at the cable and completely disengaged. Luckily I was parked when this happened.
Next incident about 1 1/2 year later same thing! Had noticed something odd while driving but it was later when the car was parked that it just went kaput like before. Was told that we were lucky that it didn't disengage while driving.
Took a bit of complaining but Honda repaired at no expense to us and gave us a credit for the previous repair. How did the mechanics over look blue ooozing out from cable from both incidents
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Not only a pain...but dangerous.
2002 Honda, replaced battery about 2006. One year later the battery acid had eaten away at the cable and completely disengaged. Luckily I was parked when this happened.
Next incident about 1 1/2 year later same thing! Had noticed something odd while driving but it was later when the car was parked that it just went kaput like before. Was told that we were lucky that it didn't disengage while driving.
Took a bit of complaining but Honda repaired at no expense to us and gave us a credit for the previous repair. How did the mechanics over look blue ooozing out from cable from both incidents
I check the battery connection frequently.
- dbva, Richmond, VA, US