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:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
84,983 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.
Honda replaced the transmission and engine for a 2002 Honda Accord. The transmission went out again. They will not fix it. I found out that there was no recall for this problem, but Honda would fix it if questioned the cost. They put in the same transmission that was bad in the first place. I had to buy a new car. A friend of mine has the same problem and they are replacing the transmission. Why is there no recall for this?
2002 Honda Accord is slipping in 2nd gear. Honda says it's an internal transmission failure yet Honda's repair shop told me that they have had a large amount of Accord come in with the exact same problem. In fact, there was an Accord V6 there at that time with the same problem. I called Honda's recall dept. But they told me that since there was no direct "safety issue" that there would not be a recall on the transmission. I feel that there is a transmission defect and that is the reason why a large amount of other people are having the exact same problems. Honda said they would pay for 75% of my repairs for a rebuilt trans. I would still have to pay $500. This does not seem reasonable to me since all Accord V6 models are receiving new (rebuilt) trans. Due to a recall. I have a 4 cylinder and feel it should also be a part of the recall.
The car hesitates and jerks at speeds between 0-20 mph. The floor in the back seat area of the car gets very hot most of the time when driving. Car also makes a strange noise upon acceleration. Dealer determined there is an internal transmission problem and it needs replacement. Since the car is out of warranty I'm expected to pay $4,450 for a new transmission on a car that's not 3 years old yet.
While accelerating consumer heard a loud noise coming from the vehicle. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for inspection, and mechainc determined that transmission needed to be replaced.
While starting from a stop, the transmission will not engage..then as the RPM begin to increase, the car will jerk into gear with severe force..causing your head to snap back.
- Crimora, VA, USA
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Thumping noise like a tire low on air noticeable from about 35 and above. Checked tires and they were ok. Determined it was something in drive train. Noise went away when in neutral and was less on downhill. Took car in and described problem. Service guy said it sounded like "some bad bearings" in the transmission and that they had seen this several times before. It would be replaced under warranty or out of warranty. Mine was in warranty.
Problems with vehicle's steering and suspension. There were steering problems, clicking noises that had run through the shifter and the steering wheel when placed into gear. There was no problem found in the steering or the suspension. The steering wheel did not return completely and when it did it would do so slowly, it also moved in circles. The brake pedal made noises when it was applied and metal like noises that had come from beneath the vehicle. The vehicle drove rough over bumps. When stepping on the brake pedal before going into gear, it felt as if the vehicle was already in park. The consumer was told that the vehicle rode rough due to too much air pressure in the tires (over 50lbs of pressure in two of the tires. The front brake pads and rack and pinion were replaced.
While driving 55 mph, the vehicle decelerated rapidly. The check engine light came on and the traction control system light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the consumer that the transmission did indeed fail. The dealer agreed to repair the problem.
I had the transmission replaced in Jan of 2002 after noticing a whine from the transmission around 45mph unaffected by gear selection and being confirmed by service techs. I am now noticing a similar, but not as loud, whine around 42-44mph which goes away if I shift from say 4th to 3rd, or into neutral
On December 27, 2002 I experienced potentially dangerous safety issue with my Honda Accord LX V4 2002. On a exit out of a shopping center I regularly go to (terra nova shopping center on East H in chula vista, California) the car in drive started to roll back after the brake was released as traffic started to move forward. In order to prevent the vehicle from continuing to reverse in free fall and strike another car in the rear it was necessary to slam the accelerator down to regain forward motion. After I got home I called my dealer (tipton Honda in el cajon, California) and one of the technicians informed me that a slight rollback was normal in small cars because of their transmissions. I then called a friend of mine who has a degree in automotive engineering and he told me that rollback is not normal on any car; there is a brake that is suppose to activate in the transmission to prevent this when then the car is stopped. I then began to contact other local Honda dealers, ball Honda in national city, connected me to a technician who said that in order to meet the stringent requirements on emissions (vtec ulev) in California the timing had to be altered which does result in some rollback. The next week I talked to lateefah from Honda (case no. 12002-12-300-1175) and she other customers had reported this and Honda was aware of it but the engine was designed to meet specs and they would never sell an unsafe car. She stated a service bulletin had been issued and said that the dealer should be have told me about it she stated that all you had to do was move your foot from the brake to the accelerator. After I talked to Honda I tried the car on my uncle's driveway and we found that it rolled back which his car does not and there was no evidence it would stop except when it leveled out. As neither Honda nor the dealer will do anything to fix the problem I find myself unable to safely drive the car anywhere with a steep incline.
The auto transmission has problem with 1st and 2nd gear. When car moves slowly at 20 miles or less, a rough down shift starts from the 2nd gear to 1st gear that makes car jerking. Took it back to a Honda dealer for a check but they could not duplicate the problem. The problem still randomly shows up when car is driven in the 25 miles/H zone.
Vehicle taken to dealer twice for whining transmission. New transmission ordered but not installed because they say the whining noise disappeared. Honda tech hears whining. Transmission and that is why it was ordered. The whining is still there.
Automatic transmission failure. Check engine light came on, 'd' light was flashing, and 'tsa' light came on. Drove to dealer and dealer checked and verified that internal failure of transmission had occured. Dealer installed new transmission.
The consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for check up. And the technician noticed that the transmission was making a winning sound. The dealership is aware of the problem. Mr the dealer has now replaced transmission under warranty.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Durant, OK, USA