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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
86,247 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.
Car exploded spontaneously. Fire department thinks it started in the steering wheel/ignition area. Vehicle is still parked on the street and is available for inspection. No one was in or around the vehicle, but it seems if someone had been in the car they would certainly have been incinerated. Anyone in the street would have been struck by shrapnel. Only the fire department has seen the vehicle so far, to put the fire out. This happened last night (1/31/24) about 8:30 pm central time. This happened with no warning, car was parked and turned off - had just been driven 2 hours prior.
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle went over a concrete island with the engine revving and the vehicle accelerating. The contact turned the vehicle to the right and grazed a pole which stopped the vehicle. The contact sustained a knot under her right clavicle but did not seek medical attention. A Police report was filed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
The ignition system of the vehicle is faulty. The engine keeps stalling intermittently and the vehicle shuts down. The issue has been observed at both low and high speeds. The issue occurs on average once in two weeks. This issue has put our family's safety in jeopardy. We filed a complaint with Honda but they are not willing to help with addressing this issue. This issue has been a problem for several years with no restitution from Honda. We need to be compensated USD 2.5million for the stress and aggravation this issue has caused us and for putting our family's safety in jeopardy. Please help us by arranging for mediation services with Honda Motor Company of America. Thank you.
This morning, my neighbor came over to see if I heard my car alarm go off. I saw that part of the driver side where the door buttons are located were some what damaged. They must have been trying to open other doors, trunk or something else. I'm not sure how they were able to open the driver side door, maybe a crow bar what whatever else they use. I did not hear my car alarm go off. I checked my car for anything stolen, but didn't seem to find any thing missing. Will check it again. On another note, there was a night about a month ago where my neighbor heard gun shots outside my back door under the plum tree. Same side of location where my car is parked. Perhaps its the same people. This neighborhood is becoming dangerous. Thank YOU! [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Due to the main relay my 2002 Honda Accord SE shuts off I have replaced the box over and over still repeated the same thing I almost got hit because it shut off in traffic with my kids in the car it is a safety issue as I read on many blogs the same thing is happening to many other Honda Accord owners Honda needs to fix this problem.
- Merced, CA, USA
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After reading the description for 2002-06 Honda CR-V power window master switch (pwms) recall (NHTSA recall number 20V-768 issued on 12/10/2020), I realized that my 2002 Honda Accord pwms has similar symptom of warm feeling and stopped to roll down/up windows. Upon googling, there are numerous pwms replacement diy videos with similar failures on youtube. During those years of production, the pwms for CRV and Accord looks similar. Particularly, driver's side pwms on my 2002 Accord has the identical symptom as the 2002-06 CRV has, hereby, exposing to the same safety danger of fire risk. I am filing the complaint to request Honda to issue safety recall driver's side pwms on 2002 Accord.
The radio caught on fire. The car radio the was the original factory installed radio when I purchased the vehicle from albany ga Honda. I did not make any changes or any upgrades to the radio. After I doused the radio with a soda, the speakers were emitting a radio static sound and I could hear the beeping sound of people unlocking their car doors with their devices. The vehicle was parked and the engine was off.
I was able to remove my keys from the vehicle while the vehicle was not in park. Other Honda Accord are of the same year have been recalled, except for mine. NHTSA campaign #05V025000 for the other Accord that have been recalled.
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the check engine and SRS warning indicators illuminated. The contact called bronx Honda (located at 2541 E tremont ave, the bronx, NY 10461, (718) 892-3300) and informed them of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,637.
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. When the contact started the vehicle and attempted to drive, the gear shifter would not move. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited the same symptoms as listed in NHTSA campaign number: 05V025000 (electrical system). The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
When I utilize my mirror lights when I have the headlights on.. the head circuit will short out, and I will not be able to see how fast I am driving in the night which is a serious safety risk problem.
Takata recall: This vehicle was bought in the usa and sent to greece for use there. We have been trying to correct the air bag issue for several years working with Honda America but there have been no results. The Honda dealership in greece is constantly lying about ordering the parts, no written documentation is ever given to state the parts are ordered, or not in, etc. We've had to get a rental this past summer because of the safety issue. Several letters have been sent to Honda America as well as phone calls and we are being ignored on all ends! what are our rights in this matter" how can we get them to respond and take some definitive action? can we sue" this car also has a recall on an ignition problem.
My requires the switch recall done dealer says its not covered by the VIN. I took it into the dealer as Honda recommend I marked the cover with clear tape.they claimed to look at it but didn't. they did get the description of the issue right on the job card. So I did the research I'm ase tech for 15yrs and found Honda document and performed inspection and found that recall should have been done on this car. I went to dealer and got the part listed in the document and compared it to the original and found them to be as described even the materials used on the construction were different and improved on the new parts. I think Honda is lying about how many of these switches are faulty.
My vehicle is rolling over when the ignition is turned off (and key removed) and the transmission in neutral. Honda is not responding to this matter properly.
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the key could be moved from the ignition while in gear and the vehicle can roll away. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 251,575. Updated 08/17/16 the consumer stated the vehicle rolled away on several occasions and on one of those occasions, the vehicle was damaged. The consumer also stated there was a recall on the SRS. Updated 11/03/16.
It has been brought to my attention that Honda had a recall in March 2005 on the 2002 Honda Accord for ignition park interlock. I checked the car by leaving it in drive, turned off engine and removed key - car then began to roll backwards. This is what the recall was for. Since the VIN numbers didn't match what Honda determined to be faulty, they now say that it isn't their responsibility. I am confused how this is a safety issue for some cars but not ours. Because it wasn't listed within the range of VIN numbers according to Honda? seems like it should have been.
My car is completely unsafe to drive. It stalls while driving. It has stopped on highways, busy intersections, daytime-nightime. Honda dealership as well as other repair shops have told me that nothing shows up on their electrical tests. They test drive and it doesn't happen. The car will go 2 -3 between occurences, but it happens. The ignition switch has been replaced. Presently, the car is a death trap at 125,000 mileage. I have read that this happens to other Honda. If this is true, this warrants a recall. The hood on my Accord does not close. There has been a problem with this for several months.
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. While driving 30 mph, the gauge and RPM unit on the instrument panel became inoperable without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle began to accelerate while attempting to come to a complete stop. The contact also stated that it was extremely hard to slow the vehicle down. The failure occured once. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Emporia, KS, USA