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.
Again - this car was handled and cared for with kid gloves. I used my car for pleasure and not business. So yes, I used for shopping around town but also took it out for long distances on the highway and always got maintenance done on schedule according to the Honda maintenance schedule. Some jerk I turned out to be doing the right thing - one day I notice a little "leak" under the front of my car. So I moved it to another area and watched for the "oil drops" under the car and yes, it was coming from my beautiful Honda! At first I thought it was engine oil but later found out it was coming from the trans - THE TRANSMISSION!!!!! This is a well cared for, 6 cylinder 200 Horsepower engine so what happened and why? Have not repaired the problem because I still don't know what exactly is wrong but was told its a "leaking seal in the trans" and could cost from $200 to $600 to fix. What does this mean anyway? If I fix it, will it be OK and is that all it is? The car just started with a slight hesitation so now I'm getting concerned. There are honest trans mechanics out there I'm sure but I'm not sure how to find one and I'm not in a position financially to find out the $200-600 repair job will turn out to be $2600 + to repair.
Have driven Honda's for the best part of my life and so disappointed that between this and the peeling paint that I am not sure I'll stay with Honda going forward.
I LOVE this car and want to KEEP this car BUT.... My car has been cared for better than most people care for their pets. While having the 3K oil change done, my 1000% honest mechanic told me the trans oil was way down and did I notice oil under the car. Never noticed oil leak because this pampered and cared for baby of mine NEVER had an oil leak of any kind. That was in 2015 and since then, its been refilled and checked and was told I have a broken seal by a non trans expert.
Another mechanic who is a trans expert suggested a sealer liquid and that held for a while but the car doesn't shift and ride as smoothly as it should. I had everything done by the book with 100% Honda parts and did maintenance at every interval and still this happened. If I didn't love this car so much for sentimental reasons and the fact that my car with one owner (me) has only 118,000 miles on it, I would sell it and automatically purchase another Honda 6 Cylinder but this experience has me really not wanting to buy Honda. Have been a Honda owner for 25 years and never gave it another thought when it came to purchasing another vehicle. Now I have to start looking at other cars and trust me, that's not what I want to do.
This and the terrible glazing paint job is making the decision to stay clear of Honda until they get back on track with trans and painting again. Very sad because there are Japanese cars and then there are Honda's - they once were King in my book but not so now.
At first I thought that the engine was leaking oil. I brought it in and the dealership said that it was transmission fluid. They said I had to replace it, but I didn't believe them. I took it to two other auto service places and they confirmed that the transmission seal had failed and it needed to be fixed. Of course, if you are going to pay that much money to simply take the transmission apart to replace a seal, you might as well rebuild it.
I REALLY wish I had found this site before I bought my car.
After honda replaced the transmission for failing, the new transmission with 65,000 leaks. My regular repair shop and a reputable transmission shop both looked at it and said that the transmission must be rebuilt. I called honda and they want $100 just to look at it with no guarantee that they will cover any part of it.
Even i have problem with transmission fluid leak too,reason im posting again,to let you know, that you all guys should contact NHTSA-office of defects investigation(government run office)either on web or call them at 1 888 327-4236 and tell them about your concerns,i was told they had some complaints about problem but they wish they had more calls,so its up to all of us to try to do something about Honda ignorance towards us.
I took my car in for the 100,000 check up at the urging of my husband...hadn't experienced any problems. I am the second owner of the car. I have changed the oil, and I bought it w/ 48,000 miles 3 years ago. Great car! Got it back Sunday, drove it Monday - smelled something burning, so I took it back, and now there's a transmission leak; the seal is gone.
I took my car to the Honda dealership twice to report this issue, both times they reported that it was fixed. However, both times there was still a significant leak of transmission fluid. I took it to an independent shop and they found the actual problem and fixed it. Very dissatisfied with the service I received from Honda, they are pathetic.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Had no clue there was a problem until horrible smell occurred. It would slip but all of a sudden all the fluid was gone.
- Courtney P., Kailua Kona, HI, US