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:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 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.

2002 Honda Accord transmission problems

transmission problem

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2002 Honda Accord Owner Comments

problem #1

Apr 222002

Accord

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This is the 3rd brake failure (2 partial/1 complete) that we have had with this vehicle, all of which have been reported to the dealership(technicians, management and owner), american Honda, and NHTSA. On 4/22/02, odometer 498/traveling 25mph/dry pavement/smooth road, the ABS and tcs warning indicator lights came on and remained on. I immediately pushed the brake pedal which had softened to a little less than half before engaging. Frightened, I pulled over using my emergency brake to safely stop the vehicle. After stopping, I placed the vehicle in park and pumped the brake several times in an attempt to get the brake pedal to re-engage properly. It did not and both warning light indicators remained on. Because I was 1 block from the house and there were no other vehicles on the road, I decided to coast home at 5mph using the emergency brake. At my house, I placed the vehicle in park, left emergency brake engaged and turned off the vehicle. I immediately called the dealership with a detailed description and a tow truck was dispatched. It was determined to be a disconnected left ABS sensor. I do not believe this is accurate nor is it consistent with the braking (and electrical) issues that we have experienced and previous repair attempts made by the dealership. I refused to pick up the vehicle on the grounds of this safety defect and the dealerships inability to accurately diagnose it. The vehicle was taken back by the dealership and we were placed in another new Accord. I aggressively stated to peter heuy, his sales manager, service manager, and technician and american Honda, that this vehicle contains a major safety defect in its brake system that an engineer from american Honda needs to isolate before placing the vehicle back on the road. Anything less than that is gross negligence. The dealership indicated this would not be done and the vehicle would be used as a demo.

- Ballwin, MO, USA

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