CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2000 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.
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.
6.0
fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$760
Average Mileage:
92,750 miles
Total Complaints:
66 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (41 reports)
repair at own cost (9 reports)
seat belt switch replaced under lifetime warranty. (5 reports)
This Accord was great. However, the airbag light has been on for a while now and after multiple attempts to repair it, we decided it wasn't worth it for a 257,000 mile car.
The SRS light has remained consistently on in the instrument panel since 10/20/16. The light draws my attention off the road to unwittingly see that it is on in the instrument panel. It is a true annoyance.
Last month the SRS light came on within a couple days of an oil change at the dealer. I was certainly alarmed when I was told upon dealer inspection that the car's airbags will not operate properly and that the SRS "unit" needed replacement to the tune of $800. This frustration is backdropped with the fact that I have been driving for over 40,000 miles using the emergency method of getting the car out of park. And starting last week I cannot get the key out of the ignition. So I went to the dealer to shop for cars today...the same Honda dealer tells me my car is worth trade-in $750 - $1000. Needless to say , I left. And I am so happy to see from you guys here that there is an extended warranty to fix the problem. I checked my file and yes I have the notice dated Spring 2006. Thank you all so much. Now about that key in the ignition? Hey i see here too something with the power seat...mine recently was acting goofy. Oh did I mention this car had two transmission replacements?
I'm trying to sell my 2000 honda accord.2 doors.n this may sound weird but..this is the first time the damn SRS light is bothering me...All the customers are asking me why is it on n crap...like wth.. i've been driving this darn car since 2009.. -.- never even understood why the damn light is on..now that i wanna sell this car.. i have to find a way to reset the light or get the issue fixed..i can't locate the MES yellow connector..so yeah,anyone have the same car??and can help me locate this wire?
- Lisa N.,
Virginia Beach, VA, US
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Defective seat belt sensor caused my SRS light to be on 24/7 back in 2008, and Honda strangely never mentioned it during my normal service visits from 2008-2010. Honda finally fixed it under the lifetime seat-belt warranty of the vehicle in 2010, when I finally pointed it out to them, but they charged me $75 first to diagnose the exact source of the malfunction.
Paid the Buena Park Honda Dealer 100.00 for diagose SRS light. The say the car needs a new battery. So it had nothing to do with the SRS system but the battery that starts the car is bad. even though it starts the car. Something to do with failing the load test. Going to save some money and go back and let them change the battery.
SRS light has been on for nearly a year. Found out that there was a recall regarding this situation, but when I checked my VIN on the Honda website to see if there were any recalls associated with this problem, nothing seemed to apply.
Soon after trans problems accelerated in the car, the SRS light went on (week and a half ago) and stayed on. This light did the same at least twice (three times?) earlier in the car's history (I am the original owner). The first time I was told not to have grocery bags lean against the passenger-side airbag as the weight could trigger the symptom. Okey-dokey. The second (third?) time, no explanation. I think all that was done in any of these events was to push a reset button. Off I went.
This time, same action--reset and hope. I was told by the local dealer that if the problem re-presented, I might need to replace the computer part that controls the system, at an estimated more than $700. Meanwhile, what does all of this mean from a safety perspective? Crash and I'm dead?
All service, required and otherwise, was done, timely and religiously, at Honda West in Las Vegas, where I bought the car, until I moved to AR in 7/09. Service since has been at local dealers.
Is it odd that the SRS light goes on soon after the trannie takes a dive?
Took the car to the local Honda dealer. It cost $80 to diagnose the problem. Found out that it was a problem with the driver's seat belt latch establishing a proper connection when put in its holder - maybe some debris was preventing a good connection. They did some sort of cleaning, the light shut off and hasn't lit up again in 3 months. Next time I will try blowing out the holder with the compressed gas aerosol can that I use on my computer to see if that helps
At 180,000 miles and the SRS light now stays on continuously. Asked a non-dealer mechanic and he said he couldn't diagnose it because you need a "dealer tool." Haven't taken it to a dealer since I don't trust any of them.
Took in 2000 Honda EX with low mileage because SRS light remained on. It had come on over a year ago, then off following non-dealership service, then back on again. The 10 year extended warranty is up the end of this month, so I took it into the local Honda dealer. Service managed told me it would be a $110 charge because it would take his technicians an hour to see if that was the problem. I said "SRS light is on, good chance it's the Occupant Position Detector System" but he wouldn't waive the charge.
I passed on service, came home and found this website and my Honda notification letter, which stated "The inspection is also free of charge, even if there is not a problem with the OPDS control unit or the OPDS sensor ..." Took it back to service manager who had a man with a small device check problem out in 2 minutes. Told me it was a seatbelt sensor and he would order part. No apology, just left me with the old dealer-will-screw-you-whenever-they-can feeling. This is why I go to local repair shops for all my work.
If your SRS light stays on, look at technical service bulletin 06-009. There is a warranty extension (10 yrs or 150,000 miles) on the OPDS control unit or sensor. The warranty page clearly states that if the SRS light stays on you are entitled to a FREE inspection, even if the OPDS control unit or sensor is not the problem. Long story short - when you go to several dealerships they will all try to charge (scam?) you out of $100 for the FREE inspection. Show the dealership service manager the extended warranty page that says the inspection is FREE, or tell the to look at technical service bulletin 06-009 at the bottom of which is a letter from American Honda Inc. to service managers telling them that the inspection is FREE. If this does not work tell the dealership to call American Honda Inc. Automobile Customer Service, if they refuse you call Customer Service yourself and tell the you are having trouble getting your extended warranty honored by a dealership. Customer Service should be able to help and can open a case file regarding your dealership difficulty. The dealerships will give you a hard time at first, but keep pressing for your FREE inspection. Don't listen to the dealerships excuses, American Honda will set them straight. My SRS light was on because of some seatbelt part that was covered under lifetime warranty.
It was very frustated to drive with SRS light on all the time. I send my car to dealer. I paid US$87.00 to reset the light with the comment "No guarrantee it will re-appear." One week later, It's on.
If it is so wide spread problem why is it not covered under lifetime guarantee? It is safety problem, airbags might not work, Honda should fix this problem for free.
For no apparent reason the srs light just came on. I found out that it was something to do with the airbags. I am the original owner of the car and have driven it without any problems until July 2009 when I allowed the local dealer to change the timing belt. The car has never driven the same since then.
After reading others were having this same problem with the srs light and the cost of the repair, I probably will opt out of reparing it since I have zero confidence in the local dealership's mechanic. I now take my car anywhere else for maintenance and repairs.
I am disappointed in American Honda, they don't seem to stand behind their cars.
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SRS LIGHT ON MY 2000 ACCORD AS SOON AS THE WARRANTY WAS UP. AT FIRST THE LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF DEPENDING IF A PASSENGER OR GROCERIES WERE OCCUPYING THAT SEAT. NOW THE LIGHT STAY ON AND IS CONSIDERABLY ANNOYING. I GUESS HONDA WILL TELL ME THE REPAIR WITH BE IN EXCESS OF 600 BUCKS CONSIDERING MY 95 ACCORD HAS THE SAME SRS PROBLEM AND THAT WAS THE ESTIMATE GIVEN BY THE DEALER.
COME ON HONDA, HOW ABOUT OWNING UP TO THESE PROBLEMS SINCE U HAVE TO KNOW THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH MANY COMPLAINTS ON FILE WITH HONDA MOTOR CORP. GUESS NEXT TIME I WILL BUY A HYUNDAI SINCE THE WARRANTY IS MUCH BETTER AND THE MSRP ON A SONOTA IS MUCH CHEAPER.
Well, one person said they'd installed a new battery, and so far, that's worked okay. In fact, the battery failed me recently, which is why I installed a new one. Then, I reset the light, and (so far, touch wood) it hasn't come back on. Hopefully, it was the battery.
In fact, this happened with my 2000 Odyssey once when I charge the battery without disconnecting it... I ended up with the SRS light on. I reset it, and it never came back.
I did call Honda, and they said my particular VIN number indicates I'm NOT covered by the extended warranty! My VIN# is JHMCG5675YC0*
I sure hope the light stays off, since going by what I've read, the average cost for a real SRS repair is just over $700.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
This Accord was great. However, the airbag light has been on for a while now and after multiple attempts to repair it, we decided it wasn't worth it for a 257,000 mile car.
- drew_p13, Littleton, MA, US