CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2001 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 100,000 miles & with a repair cost of over $2,000. Transmission failure problems have been a huge problem for Honda Accords & other models all through the early 2000s model years. Honda eventually extended the transmission warranty to 93 months/109k miles for the 2000-2001 Accords as settlement for a class action lawsuit, but that period is over & owners of Accords 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. Also make sure your 2001 Accord has been checked for the airbag recall: excessive pressure may cause metal fragments during airbag deployment.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,714 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.

2001 Honda Accord miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2001 Honda Accord Owner Comments

problem #14

Dec 012020

Accord

  • miles

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

Honda Accord 2001 4-dr sab: Passenger side rear front engine support completely rusted away due to ac leak. Driver side rear front subframe is completely fine, no rust. Mechanic said car is too dangerous to drive unless I invest in new subframe for over $1,200. My car only has 70,000 miles on it and I'm very disappointed it hasn't been recalled for clearly a defective ac leakage. I have found many forums with the same problem including the article 'center for auto safety requesting recall of 1.5 million Honda Accord for rust issue in sub- frame and Honda Accord found with sub-frames rusted out by the nhou. I could have been seriously injured driving this car while I worked as a food delivery driver for grubhub. I deserve compensation, my passenger subframe is completely rusted out and hanging by a thread whereas my driver side subframe is completely fine. That doesn't just happen it should have been recalled.

- Howell, MI, USA

problem #13

Apr 242019

Accord

  • miles
Takata recall...I got a recall letter in the mail...I went to the dealer and had it fixed. It was the SRS red light. However, the SRS redlight still came on after it was fixed. When I mentioned that to the representative he said:" The SRS light serves several purposes. Not only SRS, but also seat restraints.and several others. If we want to determine that, it is an extra charge of $ $150 plus parts". I do not believe that is right. The warning light clearly says "SRS". your comments please.

- Naples, FL, USA

problem #12

Mar 152017

Accord

  • 100,000 miles
Takata recall. Vehicle was parked in the hot Florida sun. Airbag deployed spontaneously on front drivers side.

- Ft Lauderdale, FL, USA

problem #11

Jan 012001

Accord

  • miles

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

Hi! I am hoping to own this car for ten more years. Since purchase complained headlights not working (have service complaint documented) as I cannot see in snow, rain, ice, when you need them the most. Also believe car fills with exhaust fumes for many years. Has anyone checked this out?

- St. Paul, MN, USA

problem #10

Jul 012017

Accord

  • 190,000 miles
Vehicles brakes malfunctioned while driving, causing accident where injuries took place. Driver applied brake but pedal went all the way to the floor with no stop. Instead of stopping the vehicle accelerated from 20mph to 65mph on its own and there was no way of stopping it. Emergency break was then tried, when this did not work, car was put in neutral in hopes that this will slow down cars unwarranted acceleration. It was when vehicle hit a pole causing tire to mangle which caused vehicle to stop, had it not been for this collision with the pole the car would not have stopped even with all the other attempts. All star Honda 414-269-1399 in milwaukee, wi was called to inquire about what might cause break malfunction and acceleration, mechanic by the name of belal indicated that there have been a lot of problems with the break lines of this particular year, make and model. He mentioned that if break line has pressure in it it might cause the line to burst therefore causing the breaks not to work. He could not give an explanation for the acceleration, although other mechanics have told me it can be a number of factors from the throttle position sensor to something electrical or mass air flow sensor etc. Police accident report J9L0xblhkf

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #9

Apr 042016

Accord

  • miles
Takata recall Honda called me back in January to notify me of the inflator recall on my car and told me I need to bring it in to be repaired. Since I was working a lot at the time and was carpooling with my brother I took the option to set up an appointment at a later date. I recently got to the point where I need to start driving the car a lot again I called Honda back to set up the appointment. They notified me that the recall was already complete and gave me the number to the location this repair was apparently done. I called them and they told me a different dealer was the one that did the recall. I went back and forth between different dealers and Honda's resolution team multiple times over the next few days before they finally gave me the number to the Honda association. I called them and the lady on the phone told me it was already done. I explained everything that happened and she continued to tell me that the recall was already done in houston (which is about a 4-hour drive from where I live) on January 29th. She told me that there was nothing she could do to help me and continued that it was already done. I am the only one that drives this Honda and definitely did not take it to be repaired, and Honda won't do anything about it. Meanwhile after going back and forth with them the past few weeks I am at the point where I am driving my car with dangerous inflators and can't get the repair work done that was supposed to be offered by Honda, with a new job in frisco (about an hour drive) starting in a few weeks. I told the lady on the phone that I was going to contact the NHTSA next and she said that she would make note of that.

- Grand Prairie, TX, USA

problem #8

Oct 032015

Accord

  • 170,000 miles

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

The front subframe on the passenger side has rusted through due to Honda great idea to let the A/C drain there. It's a very common problem and something needs to be done about this. Now my car could fall apart at any moment which is clearly not safe.

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #7

Jun 202014

Accord

  • 139,000 miles
My ignition-park interlock is faulty but isn't under the current recall. It may be common sense to put the E-brake on when parking but not everyone is perfect, my vehicle has nearly rolled away multiple times now. Luckily I caught it in time to stop it from crashing. Also if I do leave the vehicle in D4 with the E-brake on, ignition key out of course, and I leave the vehicle parked, someone could break in and push it away. Regardless what I showed the dealership, they told me to contact Honda of America to file a complaint. I just did that and got told the same thing.

- Goodyear, AZ, USA

problem #6

Jul 202011

Accord

  • miles
Car changes gears when excelerating.

- Bronx , NY, USA

problem #5

May 272015

Accord

  • 118,000 miles
On inspection of the vehicle, the engine cradle/ subframe on the passenger side is rusted most of the way through making the car unsafe to drive. The drivers side is fine.

- Fergus Falls, MN, USA

problem #4

Jan 012003

Accord 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

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

The paint on my 2001 Honda Accord is peeling and the clear coat is lifting, front to back, I have noticed this on many Honda's of years around the same age, dark colors, the paint and body shops said that there must be a problem with the paint and procedures in painting the car, this is the only Honda out of the 9 other Honda's, I've owned with a paint problem, this car only has 60000 miles on it, other Honda's that I have had as much as 250,000, and the paint looked great (1990 Accord) the dealer ship (groppetti Honda claims they never heard of this problem, but I continue to see Honda with this same paint problems, this looks like the same type of problem General Motors had back years ago and they corrected the paint with a recall, after many complaints, I know there are many complaints out there.

- Visalia, CA, USA

problem #3

Aug 212006

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I have a 2001 white Honda Accord. I purchased the car used in July 2004 and it was purchased from a Honda dealership. It was a "Honda certified used car, " and I purchased the additional warranty for it. Over the past year, I have noticed the paint is starting to stain. I have kept the car waxed, at least 1 time a year since I got it, but even this doesn't help. The paint is starting to bubble up and flake off...like blisters bursting open. There are several spots like this on the car. Also, every time I run through something on the road, the white paint stains. It will not come out during a hand washing or waxing. I took it to Honda, and they would not help. I took it to a local shop that is very reputable in the area and was told there is no clear coat left on the car, and it appears to have been a problem when the original paint was applied.

- Cumming, GA, USA

problem #2

Nov 152002

Accord

  • Manual transmission
  • 0 miles
All of the above dates and mileage are approximate. I have the information on paper at home. I have also had the hardest time with Honda financial services with them calling me and saying that I never paid my monthly bill (last fall), which I did, and then finally they found the check and said "oh, our mistake, it has been here the whole time." and then now, I have them saying that I was in default of my lease because they never had information for my insurance, which my insurance was supposed to send them that information. I checked back with them a week later (today) and they said that they were going to impound my car because my insurance company never got back with them. Called my insurance company, and it took 5 mins. To have someone fax over proof of insurance. That was all - was it that difficult"?" this car had to have the back brakes replaced after 25000 miles (about a month ago - it was making this awful noise, like rattling chains underneath) - that should not have happened. The back window tinting lifted up after 1 year, the tire blew out on the freeway 1 month after getting it (leased the car Aug 2001). The service engine light has come on twice, for no apparent reason. And the SRS light was on 2 different times. Had it turned off the 1st time. Then 1 week later it was back on, brought back to my dealership and they said it was something wrong with the computer system, but they could not give me a good enough explanation. When I first was looking for a car at the dealership, this car was not on the lot where all the other cars for sale were, it was in the back, by the service department. Asked the sales rep if the car was in okay condition and he said it was, and there was nothing wrong with it because it only had 10 miles on it - I should have known then. This car is a pain in the behind and it is just a hassle for everything that keeps happening with it.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #1

Sep 152001

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Engine check light came on, dealer replaced sensor.

- Newburgh, NY, USA

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