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.
Disappointed after my family's loyalty to honda, that they won't recall this problem with the transmission. quoted me a repair at 3,796.00.. when the car is not even worth that much. I don't know what to do, I can't afford this. It's really making me depressed, I thought I was making a good decision when I purchased this car two years ago. I wish I had found this website before i bought the car for 7,000.
Please people- if you can help it- DO NOT BUY THIS CAR.... or any honda for that matter. They can't take responsibility.
My Accord transmission died at 71,000 miles. I have several complaints documented while the car was still under warranty. The dealer ( Madison Honda, NJ ) told me back then that there was nothing wrong with the car. I could kick myself for not putting up more of a stink back then. So I put up with the drag and the occasional knock until the car just died.(Yes, I do see how stupid I must look to anyone reading this). Corporate is willing to help me with some of the cost of a re-built, but I feel that this was an inherent problem from the beginning and should have been corrected then. Also, I was told by Corporate that if there had been a problem with the transmission while the car was new, it would have died before now. I see from reading other postings that this isn't true. I also called Lee Myles, Aamco and an independent trans specialist . They all said that, yes, the car could have waited until now to crap out. I am thinking of fixing it at a place other than the Honda dealer and then suing in Small Claims.
June 24, 2010 part #652C 72147-S84-A03 description-TRANSMITT, was put on. I was charged $92.51 but credited back so no charge. 09/11/10, car still leaking oil Russ Darrow ordered a part, TRANS SHIFT LINKAGE SEAL LEAKS. SOP. 09/18/10 Russ Darrow installed a new shift link seal and stated no leaks at this time and charged me $188.73 for repairs. 11/01/10 took car back still leaking oil. Russ Darrow checked seal that was installed not leaking. Cleaned area and test drove possible leak from the case. If leak persists may need a trans? 11/11/10 took car back still leaking oil. Now I was being told the car needs a new transmission $3400+TX. LEAKING AT LF AXLE AND TORQUE CONVERTER SEAL. I went to the Manager Gregg Lecher on 11/12/10 and picked up copies of prior invoices I asked him to make for me. Then I asked for my $188.73 refund since the part I paid for was not the problem. He ignored all the voice mail messages I left him. Gregg sent me an email on 08/11/11 thanking me for allowing Russ Darrow to service my car for an oil change. I replied asking about my refund of $188.83 again I got no straight answer from him except he couldn't find any oil problems associated with that part. I responded informing him I have invoices that states otherwise. He responded by offering a credit of $188.73 towards a new transmission. I responded to him by thanking him for finally taking the time to respond to my concern. Yes transmission oil has to be put into the car often to keep it running. What I don't understand is why does the 2002 Honda Accord NOT have the simple shift D for DRIVE. Why does it have only shift 3 and shift 4. The sales person said to drive the car in shift 4. Should it have been driven in shift 3 perhaps? Not sure what or why this Honda's were made the way it was but I will never buy another car unless the D (drive) appears on the gear shift box.
I bought the car new, kept is services as per the manual, on last service, they recommended that I change my transmission fluid. Car did not shift properly afterwards (Honda dealership service). I brought it to the mechanics attention and was told to bring it back in for checking. I did this and left the car for 2 days, they told me they did not detect any irregularity but within a month, the transmission failed. Called Honda US and they said sorry, not their problem due to age of car. I spent years babying this car, keeping it like new, garaging it, servicing it with the dealership, etc. only to have a major part fail without warning. I will now seek another manufacturer to buy my next car and want to warn others that Hondas talk a big talk, but beware of their low quality major parts and systems.
- Tom O.,
Tampa, FL, US
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2002 Honda Accord 3.0L V6, automatic transmission, 135,700 miles
This 2002 Accord was my 3rd Honda. Had an 88 Civic (manual) - never had a problem.
Had a 2000 Accord. That tranny failed at 84,000 miles and was covered under extended
warranty. When the 2002 Accord tranny failed last week, I called the dealer who told me
$3500 plus tax for a remanufactured tranny. Offered no discounts. Said at 135,000 miles, what do I expect and to try American Honda. Well, I certainly had to pay more for a Honda because of their reputation and I certainly did not think I was buying a car that would have a major component failure. I could have bought any car and saved enough on the purchase price to pay for a new transmission. Called American Honda to tell them about another one of their now well-known transmission failure problems and see if loyalty to Honda counted for anything. Had read that some folks did get American Honda to pay for a remanufactured transmission and the customer pay for the labor. The American Honda rep said that American Honda would not help in any way even though I had bought Hondas for the last 23 years. That's what loyalty to Honda gets you - a $2,750 bill for a transmission rebuild and a corporation and dealership that turns their back on you. The transmission shop that did my work says that they see a steady stream of Hondas. I had to wait for them to finish rebuilding a 2005 Odyssey to start on mine. To anyone that has a Honda - you should seriously think about trading it in on a reliable vehicle or start saving for your transmission rebuild. Its not a question of if it will happen, because it will. Its just a matter of time. Honda does not stand behind its product.
I love Honda, I want to keep buying Hondas, but here is where the waste of adverting and marketing meets the road. Everyone spends way too much money getting new customers and not trying to keep the loyal ones they have. A major problem that was clearly the fault of design and manufacturing. I have and have had Hondas that have gone 260,000 + miles with now problems, just regular recommended maintenance. That is why we/I ( I have been responsible for my whole family buying Hondas about two dozen and counting) buy Hondas, and not an American or other makers vehicles. If they try to dodge to ball like all the American car companies, then all of it customers will do the same, change loyalties. Be Japanese and do the right thing and keep happy and loyal customers.
2002 Honda Accord with ONLY 44,000miles. Problem started about 39,000miles. Transmission failure, almost had a bad accident. Code P0780...people are constantly repairing their tranny's only to have to repair again and again with same failures on trans. HONDA NEEDS TO RECALL - look at my low miles. I will never buy another Honda again - sincerely, Diane Kingsnorth. We need to have a class action lawsuite.
I purchased this vehicle in 2005 at checkered flag in Norfolk,Va where shortly after my transmission was defective. Do not get any warranties from them they are a rip off. My warranty covered nothing and I paid well over two grand. The person who sold me the warranty was fired. I feel he baited and switched me since i am a female who did not know much about cars. They fixed my transmission now i am back to needing a new one again.
this is very annoying and disturbing ,,while on a busy street driving my Honda...than suddenly when stop at a stop the vehicle wont take a gear to move..so embarrassing ..all cars piping horns and swearing at me and my family..all because of this stupid Honda accord i purchased..after so much on regular services still this damn vehicle has transmission failure....why ..later i had this is a common problem in Honda...such a beautiful car with so much problem..my friend has a Toyota ..auto...he has it for 30 years now..never gave a problem with transmission..even his service was poor with transmission
why only Honda...damn it ..this Honda are waste of money..until a agent helps me out..i will keep telling everybody never to purchase a Honda....can Honda agents freight me a new transmission??...no they just sell and forget
UPDATE 1st transmission replaced at 61,167 under "certified warranty" 2002 Accord EX-V6. 10/1/10 transmission went bad again. This time my wife had to drive on a side walk, just missing hitting neighbors dog and owner. The sidewalk was the wifes idea. But hitting the car pulling out of the driveway in front of her seemed a worse idea. When she applied the brake to the accord, it reved up and lurched forward hard and quickley going on sidewalk was best option for not hitting other vehicle. As she hit curb of side walk the car went into neutral even though the car gear shifter was in D4. Went through entire car electronics checked all. Had good, registered, shop take a look and they said transmission no good. WHAT A SHOCK. lol Have enough money to get it to Friendly Honda this weekend (170.00bucks) Will keep updated about what Honda says and how much they are/arenot paying.
Bought certified 2002 Accord EX-V6 sedan on 10/31/05. On 8/14/06 transmission would not shift properly. Brought to Friendly Honda. Told me nothing was wrong. Told them that I subscribed to consumer reports and i was expecting a review form to fill out for used car for Consumer Reports. I let them know that I saw how the 2001 Accord had a big black circle for transmission. He (service guy) would call me back after they looked into it a bit more. Called me back an hour later and told me I was getting a new transmission under warranty. Miles 61,167. Got car back all good until 10/01/2010
The car did not have very high miles but the warranty has expired. This problem has been around for awhile, everytime I took it to the dealership for tune up and oil change, they never tell me the transmission has problems. All they keep saying is that I have a really good car, there is nothing to worry about. The problem finally become un-bearable, I have the dealer checked again. This time they say it's the transmission failure, and need to be replaced. I called Honda to complain, and their answer is due to the mileage and age of the car, they cannot help fixing it, even though it's a known problem! Honda has very high repair costs: over $4000.
So I found that this is a common problem on this model of Honda. Although the car was no longer under warranty, the dealer agreed to pay a portion of the costs for the parts because of it being a common issue. I guess they didn't want to go all the way and admit any fault, but being a broke student at the time with no other options, I has happy to go with that lol! I've spoken to a few others I've run into with the same model and they've mentioned having the same issue. Otherwise, a very reliable car. I guess this was fixed in later models.
I called Honda customer service and they down right lied and said that they are not aware of any existing problems to Accords or Civics pertaining to the transmission. Since I passed the mileage warranty they pretty much said I'm SOL!
When my car started having this problem I couldn't believe it. The first Honda accord I had never had an issues and lasted over 200,000 miles. I only have 96,000 miles and have had the problem about 6 months now. The first time it did it I thought I got rear-ended by another car. I looked up to see no one behind me. The jump, or fling into gear is so bad I feel like we do get whiplash. The other day as I pulled out to major street the car wouldn't go! As I pushed harder on the gas it just revved higher, but wouldn't go. This is a major safety concern. We could have been rear ended or killed! The 2002 should be recalled. I can't believe Honda is ignoring the problem. I will never again purchase a Honda accord.
this car has had 1 transmission put in last year 2009...with 3 months warrenty..it last 1 year...now it need another transmission it started jerking on the road...i was so shock!! when i bought it it had 56000 miles on it ,so i thought oh this is a good deal...car drove good for 3 years..no problem..we need to be very careful on buying used cars....i learned a lesson. sometimes these car dealers know they sold you a lemon...i love the honda cars...i had a 1992 that last for 12 years never a problem... until after 12 years..but after that many years what could i say...?? AND IT WAS A KNEW HONDA..so if you have the money just buy yourself a FREAKY new car other people junk is not worth the stress
I was driving back from work and noticed the TCS and check engine light was on. The D4 light was also flashing. I've only had this car for a couple months. I bought it from the dealership and it had one other previous owner. I've also had to replace the timing belt because it cracked off the engine block. The car used to overheat although the radiator fluid was full. My mechanic told me that 2000-2003 Honda Accords were notorious for having horrible transmissions.
The car does drive fine when going forward, put it in reverse and it decides to do nothing. sometimes it will reverse but if its on a slope and has to be revved to go up the slope in reverse, never going to happen......
you cannot part and its practically brand new. only 62000 miles.....
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Transmission got bad just as the warranty expired. It was really very bad. I will never buy any Honda vehicles.
- Kaiming X., Snellville, GA, US