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.
We (wife & myself) were given this car by my wife's mother and even though we are forever grateful I would not wish this transmission on anyone else. The car's transmission was faulty before we received the vehicle but nothing was ever done to repair it. My MIL owned the car since it was new and was the original owner. She had all of the regular maintenance done on the vehicle down to replacing the airbags for the recall but never could admit to the car having transmission problems due to her having denial issues. Since the car was given to us (MIL does not drive anymore) we have put up with the faulty transmission because we can't see putting $1750-$2500 into a vehicle that is only worth $2000. So we just wanted others to know if you are contemplating buying a used
2002 Honda Accord make sure you have a mechanic check the transmission for problems.
Update from Dec 5, 2017: I called the Honda 'Hotline' to ask them for a 'Goodwill compensation'
but they told me since my car was 15 years old that they can not help
me. End of story. I told them that the car had less than 45,000 original
miles on it and that there are thousands of Hondas with similar or
the exact problems and they didn't even blink. I said not even in the
Season of giving? It's Christmas time I said. Sorry they said. Honda
corporation won't help. To me they are one of the 'Grinches' that steal
Christmas. Personally, I will never purchase a Honda or Acura product
from this time forth!
Honda Accord with ~97000 on it. Automatic transmission, slipping, jerking, and lurking while decelerating. Almost got me killed exiting the freeway!
I have been dissatisfied with this car for quite some time due to a large number of nickel and dime issues.... This has totally put me over the edge. Honda once made some of the worlds most reliable cars in my opinion, so this is just pathetic that there is this many failures listed under 100k miles. Some other "up and coming" companies offer a standard warranty that would cover all these.
Going to have to limp this hunk of junk down to the repair shop, bend over and grab my ankles and brace for the right that Honda has strapped me in for.
After this many miles, I'm pretty sure the trans isn't covered. However, I thought Hondas were supposed to last 250,000 to 350,000 miles. Maybe they mean after one puts an extra $3000 into it and being its a 2002, it doesn't seem worth it. Any suggestions from anyone?
I'm very angry that my transmission is shot with relatively low mileage (especially given Honda's reputation). Also not happy to learn there are lots of problems with Honda transmissions in models from the early 2000s.
- Suzie S.,
Eau Claire, WI, US
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
We (wife & myself) were given this car by my wife's mother and even though we are forever grateful I would not wish this transmission on anyone else. The car's transmission was faulty before we received the vehicle but nothing was ever done to repair it. My MIL owned the car since it was new and was the original owner. She had all of the regular maintenance done on the vehicle down to replacing the airbags for the recall but never could admit to the car having transmission problems due to her having denial issues. Since the car was given to us (MIL does not drive anymore) we have put up with the faulty transmission because we can't see putting $1750-$2500 into a vehicle that is only worth $2000. So we just wanted others to know if you are contemplating buying a used 2002 Honda Accord make sure you have a mechanic check the transmission for problems.
Update from Dec 5, 2017: I called the Honda 'Hotline' to ask them for a 'Goodwill compensation' but they told me since my car was 15 years old that they can not help me. End of story. I told them that the car had less than 45,000 original miles on it and that there are thousands of Hondas with similar or the exact problems and they didn't even blink. I said not even in the Season of giving? It's Christmas time I said. Sorry they said. Honda corporation won't help. To me they are one of the 'Grinches' that steal Christmas. Personally, I will never purchase a Honda or Acura product from this time forth!
- webrunner, Orlando, US