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.
4.0
definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,554 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.
When my car battery died last year, I took the vehicle to my dealership for replacement. The service technician called to tell me the car was ready but asked if I had noticed if my safety restraint system light had been on. I said it had not prior to the new battery being installed. The service technician told me he didn't want to charge me to diagnose the problem, and suggested I wait and see if it "self-corrected". he said that the light being on could mean my airbags would not deploy in an accident. The light remained on and several months later I took the car in for scheduled service I asked them to again look at it. They charged me $92 to perform an input function test which showed SRS control unit failure and informed me repairs would cost $616. The car is now out of warranty, but the service technician kindly informed me that if it was the seatbelt that had broken they could of fixed it no charge even if the car was out of warranty. I declined the repair and looked online only to find many Accord drivers have had the same issue, and each dealer charges a different amount for repair. This is a safety issue, not something normal wear and tear could cause to malfunction, nor could a driver cause this control unit to malfunction.
Consumer was going approximately 60mph when battery light flashed on and off. Consumer was on a 3-lane interstate in middle lane when vheicle stalled. Consumer managed to coast to the shoulder of the road. Consumer got help to charge battery, but sparks started coming from battery and was told not to drive it. Honda dealer never heard of problem, and will be looking at vehicle. Vehicle was about 7 weeeks old new then, also note cd that was playing was burning hot when it was taken out. Dealer replaced alternator and battery. Dealer also adjusted belt.
- Troy, NY, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Orange, CA, USA