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.
Since I have owned this car for a couple years I have always had to add tons and tons of power steering fluid and I replaced the power steering pump myself thinking that would fix it, but it didn't. And then one day someone told me it's a leak coming from the rack and pinion around the inner tie rod on the driver's side. So, I tried a bottle of Lucas Power Steering stop leak several months ago which slowed it down about 90%. I will try another bottle when the reservoir gets low again.
My power steering sucked for a bit and I was about to go on a 10 hr trip. So I went to the shop and asked to have the power steering fluid added along with all routine maintenance before a long trip (oil change, tires rotated, topped off fluids, etc) The mechanic came to me and said I had no steering wheel fluid and has never seen that before. Filled it up all good to go. Anyways go on my trip to my parents. Stay for about 4 days all is good.
Then I was planning on leaving early in the morning. Next thing I know there is 3:30am panic... I run downstairs go out the garage and there is my car up in FLAMES!!! My car was running fine before that. The only thing I did the day before was go on a few errands near by came back by 2pm. Then did a few small turns in their lane about 9pm to put the car closer to the house to put my things in the car when I packed in the morning. We even sat in the garage and chatted for another hour or two before calling it a night. The fire marshal couldn't confirm what happened and we had no clue.
Well one of our friends did a bit a of research and saw there was a recall on 2003-2007 Honda Accords where the steering fluid depleted and caused fires. Mine was a 2002, and I'm not sure if this is just a coincidence. The car is very old and has gone through many travels so it could be anything. But I just wanted to put this out there! I won't be parking any cars in the garage in the future!
I was driving home from Arizona to San Diego on a hot weather day , just cruising , then I was pulling to put gas , allof sudden my steering stiffen, I look in the hood, there, steering fluid all over the engine, coming out of the fluid reservoir, and I know I have bigger problem than just replacing fluid, but still have a long ways to San Diego, drove again, steering stiff again, replace fluid again, finally on the highway i heard a loud thump, pulled over to check it out, the pulley came-off broken, out of the hinges with belt still intact, what do I do now, some good guy pulled over and ask me what was wrong, steering, he look at it, he told me it still drivable but will "old school", i got home late but I made it , now what do I do except to have it fix . replacing the whole pump assembly.
- Virgilio C.,
Chula Vista, CA, US
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Since I have owned this car for a couple years I have always had to add tons and tons of power steering fluid and I replaced the power steering pump myself thinking that would fix it, but it didn't. And then one day someone told me it's a leak coming from the rack and pinion around the inner tie rod on the driver's side. So, I tried a bottle of Lucas Power Steering stop leak several months ago which slowed it down about 90%. I will try another bottle when the reservoir gets low again.
- Korey M., Fort Payne, AL, US