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:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
87,857 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2002 Honda Accord Owner Comments (Page 4 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #71

Aug 162012

Accord 4-cyl

  • 130,000 miles

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

1.request for an immediately recall for Honda Accord LX 2002 models as having dangerous transmission problems, widespread transmission failure, subframe rust, & problems with the airbag system (SRS ), and overall the car's safety or quality numerous concerns. Orderly problems occurred as it bulleted down: "got it with slipping and jerking gear. Within two days returned, but I was advised that there are no urgent problems and that only my imagination. ?key time from time do not starts or hard to remove. ?problem with a back window to close when opened it. The dealer closed it and recommended not to open it anymore. ?wheel bearings going out and car drags that cause to replace a few times tires and the brakes pads. Premature tire wear. ?ball joint it was thought in the beginning, but then a transmission or both. As of per carscomplaint.com January/2013 report it talks about subframe rust near the front passenger side wheel. ?change sensors but still ?check engine light remains? ? it shows P1166 and P1167 an air /fuel ratio sensor ? are generally wide band O2 sensor that could be anything. Smells. ?it could be this problem with sensor & check engine light as according to the Japanese automaker ?Honda said the sensor wire could break and cause the air bag warning light to be illuminated and prevent the sensor from working properly. When the sensor fails, the air bag system automatically moves to full inflation pressure, which could increase the risk of injury for smaller drivers in a frontal crash?. "finally transmission gone and my car now taking a long rest in someone's parking lot. I believe it is also a gear breakage! my core survival existence is in a great danger due to it, I have encounter numerous damages/injuries.

- Morrisville, NC, USA

problem #70

Nov 132010

Accord 6-cyl

  • 113,000 miles
Your urgent response and an action needed 1.request for an immediately recall for Honda Accord LX 2002 models as having dangerous transmission problems, widespread transmission failure, subframe rust, & problems with the airbag system (SRS ), and overall the cars safety or quality numerous concerns. 2.to fix the problems and refund caused damages and personal injuries due to it, refund paid purchase cost including damages, replace to a new car with included paid and damages occurred to whom it may concern, 2002 Honda Accord problems & complaints 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.

- Morrisville, NC, USA

problem #69

Jan 212013

Accord 6-cyl

  • 127,000 miles
Transmission began surging and tcs light illuminated along with blinking 4th gear light. Shut vehicle off and restarted with no issues. Two days later problem occurred again in traffic. Pulled to side of road. Limped vehicle home in 2nd gear.

- Wesley Chapel, FL, USA

problem #68

Jan 132013

Accord 6-cyl

  • 70,600 miles

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

The check engine light came on suddenly so I took it the shop to get it checked out. The technician said that the transmission failed and needs to be replaced. The car is a Honda Accord ex V6 2 door coupe and only has 70,600 miles. It seems like many Honda vehicles are experiencing early transmission failures that normal.

- Forest Hills, NY, USA

problem #67

Sep 112012

Accord 4-cyl

  • 92,000 miles
My 2002 Honda Accord SE with 2.4 L 4 cyl has 95,000 miles. The transmission will sometimes slam into gear when going from park to drive and slips when the car goes from 1st gear to 2nd gear. When you roll into a stop and press the accelerator to go again the vehicle will slam into gear. When I do come too a complete stop, the transmission seems like it still wants to go and then hesitates and the slams into 1st gear again. Other friends of mine with 2000-2001 Accord with 80,000 to 100,000 miles are experiencing the same issue.

- Carpentersville, IL, USA

problem #66

Dec 012006

Accord

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact stated that when the vehicle was shifted into drive, he was able to haphazardly remove the key from the ignition, causing the vehicle to roll away. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis. The contact was unsure of the diagnosis however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. The current mileage was approximately 199,000.

- Ridgefield, CT, USA

problem #65

Dec 122012

Accord

  • 116,000 miles

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

My car has roll-away problem. If the transmission is not in park and the parking brake is not set, the vehicle rolls away. I have noticed a recall on the similar grounds on various other vehicles (www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/12/us-autos-Honda-recall-idusbre8bb11220121212). my vehicle should also be included in this recall. Thanks

- Richardson, TX, USA

problem #64

Sep 112012

Accord

  • 74,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, a clicking sound was heard from the front end of the vehicle. The contact also stated that a grinding noise was noticed when shifting between gears. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and a private mechanic who both informed the contact that the transmission and bolt joints failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000 and the current mileage was 75,000.

- Mooresville, NC, USA

problem #63

Dec 252004

Accord

  • 29,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord V6. While driving approximately 40 mph, the transmission began to hesitate with a delayed response when applying the accelerator pedal. The failure recurred three times. In addition, the transmission gears slipped continuously. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the transmission was replaced twice within four years. In 2007, the failure recurred and the transmission required replacement. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.

- Columbia , SC, USA

problem #62

Sep 152012

Accord 4-cyl

  • 104,500 miles
I have been the single owner for this car since December 2001. Car has 103500 miles on it and has been well maintained. Vehicle started experiencing jerks when upshifting from 1st to 2nd gears. Took it to the dealer who says it will cost $4600 and I would have to pay $3100. There should be a recall as too many people are reporting the same problem.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #61

Jun 132012

Accord 4-cyl

  • 69,908 miles

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

I was driving on the highway and my transmission starting slippin and was sticking at 3000rpm's. I had brought the car to the Honda dealer where I was told "it is still safe to drive, I dont need to replace the transmission at the time and to drive the car until transmission no longer works". I took the car home and had to jump on the highway, as soon as I did this the cars transmission would not shift and left me stranded with my children. I got the car home and then had a mechanic from our area look at the car and he immediatly had told me that there has been problems with the transmissions for this car and Honda should never have told me it was safe to drive. I had to spend $2400 on a new transmission. Honda needs to take care of this bill.

- Prospect Heights, IL, USA

problem #60

Jun 152012

Accord 4-cyl

  • 87,000 miles
Lost power and unable to safely control car. Pulled into intersection and lost power in front of on-coming traffic. Defective transmission, cars is unable to shift, may lose power or accelerate suddenly. Well documented problem in Honda transmission, unsafe to drive as power is unreliable and transmission can fail at any moment. Honda already previously named in class action lawsuit, problems remain. Honda refuses to acknowledge or repair. Ntsb needs to order a recall for the safety of drivers and passengers.

- Williamsburg, VA, USA

problem #59

Jun 102009

Accord

  • 87,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 15 mph, the engine stalled with the illumination of all the warning indicators on the instrument panel. The failure occurred three times when driving at a low speed. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number 05V025000 (electrical system: Ignition: Switch); however the VIN was not included. The contact planned to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnosis. In addition, the transmission would slip in a jerking motion whenever the vehicle was in operation. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 87,000.

- Fort Bragg, CA, USA

problem #58

May 232012

Accord 4-cyl

  • 159,000 miles
I was driving down the highway and all of a sudden my transmission decides to not know what gear it was in. It just revs the engine acts like it is in neutral. This is a major safety concern since the car looses power and someone could have rear-ended me. Checked on autobeef.com and the majority of the complaints dealt with this issue on the Accord. This is a major safety concern since so many people are affected. Honda used to be dependable but not now. Now I had to miss work and look for a new car or get it repaired which costs 3,000 dollars.

- Howe , TX, USA

problem #57

Feb 242012

Accord

  • 94,000 miles
This vehicle was purchased from the original owner in January of 2012. I am the second owner. The car has over 100 documents in the service record folder I have for it. It has been well taken care of, with the transmission fluid just changed. The shifting has gotten progressively worse since about a month after I purchased the vehicle. Slipping, jerking, potentially dangerous wheel-spinning, it does it all. At 95,500 miles the transmission is pretty much blown. It could be unsafe to drive in traffic or at highway speeds, since at any time the vehicle could lose power or the wheels could lock up. I thought I was buying quality when I bought a Honda. Turns out I bought a car from the worst generation of Accord. These years are notorious for transmission failures, and one complaint website says to "avoid [this vehicle] like the plague". I wish I had. Looks like it will cost ~$2500 to fix, not sure I want to put the money into it, and unless Honda admits the problem and starts repairing these transmissions for no cost, I wont buy another Honda. They may offer to cover half the cost of a rebuild, but they'll charge $5000 for it, so it's pointless.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #56

Dec 152011

Accord

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number: 04V176000, (power train:automatic transmission). The contact stated that her vehicle was not included in the recall despite having experienced the same failure. The contact stated that while changing gears, the transmission seized. The dealer was notified and advised that the gear shifter needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Baker, LA, USA

problem #55

Mar 012012

Accord 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
My transmission does not engage in drive when in the cold weather. After the car and restarting it starts working but check engine light was on. I took the car to the Honda dealer and they called Honda service dept. Supposedly, my ECU is faulty and needs replacement. But my transmission could also need replacement after fixing my ECU. Now I am afraid driving my car thinking what if transmission fails while I am on the highway. My transmission has already failed once at around 40,000 miles in 2005. I thought it was a one-time thing and got the repair done at that time. Unfortunately, my model Accord V6 2002 was never the part of Honda transmission recalls despite having exactly same problem. Also, I do not trust Honda check engine light codes. For years my SRS light for passenger seat belt was always on. Everytime dealer told me that I ECU has failed. After driving my car for 5 years with unsafe conditions, Honda finally had a recall of SRS module and now it the light is gone. With the same ECU.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

problem #54

Mar 012012

Accord 6-cyl

  • 57,000 miles
Transmission slipping and jerking, warning lights come on. Dealer diagnostics recommends transmission replacement at a cost of $5,069 parts & labor. Dealer says our 2002 Accord V6 not included in previous transmission recalls. 57,000 miles is very low mileage for transmission failure. We use the car in city driving mainly, some highway. Never have pulled trailers or excessive weights, so victim can't be blamed.

- Minneapolis, MN, USA

problem #53

Apr 232010

Accord

  • 20 miles
2002 Honda Accord ex V6. The transmission was determined by holler Honda to be terminal, meaning no good needing to be replaced. The danger occurs when you have to accelerate with the normal traffic flow and are unable to because of slipping and improper shifting. A accident waiting to happen. I'm sure there have already been accidents due to this by people who unaware of the severity of the problem. From what I've read this is a very common problem, Honda has agreed to split the cost of the repair of $4,600, with my mom having alzheimer's and me no job that figure might as well be 4 million dollars. Please somebody help us with this problem.

- Casselberry, FL, USA

problem #52

Jan 102012

Accord 4-cyl

  • 121,782 miles
Transmission has been slipping for several months. I took it in for major service and asked mechanic about slipping transmission. He pulled pending code 1730 gear ratio. 2002 Honda Accord were known to have major transmission problems as reported by consumer reports.

- Stockbridge, GA, USA

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