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.

7.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,510
Average Mileage:
87,400 miles
Total Complaints:
12 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (10 reports)
  2. replaced the engine (1 reports)
  3. temp solution for blowby - added honey oil to seal the leak (1 reports)
2002 Honda Accord engine problems

engine problem

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2002 Honda Accord Owner Comments

problem #12

Oct 012015

Accord LX 2.3L

  • Manual transmission
  • 116,259 miles

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

I love my Honda but knowing the oil consumption on sooo many Hondas is horrible. I will eventually take out the pistons and rings. I service my vehicles regularly so this vehicle is in great shape except for the paint peeling and two spots of small surface rust!

I watch my car weekly and really everyday I drive. 99% reliable!!! HONDA - FIX the oil problem. Get better rings and pistons!!

- Tom S., Schofield, WI, US

problem #11

Jul 122016

Accord 2.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,000 miles

The dealership admitted that the 2002 vtec had an issue with the engine egg shaping cylinder walls. This was told to the DMV inspector in NY when I was having issues replacing the engine. I had to buy a JDM engine to solve the issue. it had very low mileage on it.

- Jim R., Lake Ronkonkoma, NY, US

problem #10

Oct 012006

Accord SE VTEC 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

In addition to having a factory-bad transmission and many other issues with the car, this car just started using oil - suddenly and excessively. No visible puddle or drips on the pavement where parked, but it really eats the oil. It just started suddenly. No one can tell me why. I have to carry a case of oil in the car. Mechanic suspects internal issues, but since it has the transmission issues, he is not advising to fix it.

- candacetn, Frederick, MD, US

problem #9

Nov 302011

Accord LX 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 121,789 miles

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

what the hell is the problem with this engine? where is all that oil going ? really never thought a Honda vehicle could be this bad !!!! what is Honda doing about it? that problem is not normal ,,,

- Philippe C., Casselman, Ontario, canada

problem #8

Jun 012007

Accord EX V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 152,000 miles

I guess I am not them only one with this problem. This car was doing graet since we bought it new in mid 2001, 10 years down the road with 152,000 miles the car burns oil like there is no tomorrow!!! The car factory specs says oil 5w 10 every 3000 miles !! Ya right, I have to put high mileage 10w 40 every 1000 miles!!!!! Can you believe it? And its a 4cyl car.

- macizo85, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, US

problem #7

Dec 192012

Accord EX 2.3L Vtec

  • Manual transmission
  • 117,000 miles

117k on the clock and I noticed the motor has started to burn oil at an exponential rate. Last oil change it was half a quart, and the last time i checked it 2.5 quarts were burned. Took it into the shop to ensure it wasn't a leak, which the mechanics confirmed. The mechanics claimed the last time the oil was changed, it wasn't filled up all the way. Plausible I guess, but there seems to be a pattern developing. Not sure what to do going forward, this is the most recent in a series of relatively major motor or electrical issues. Had tons of issues with a Honda crotch rocket I previously owned as well, but at least had the sense to part ways with that piece of sh*t. Perhaps Honda doesn't make them like they used to.

- Sean K., Seattle, WA, US

problem #6

Sep 012011

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 miles

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

I thought my Honda Accord would last me another 10 years but it start burning or loosing oil while driving. Every 700 miles I have to add a quart or more of oil. I have never found a leak yet. If you take the oil cap off while the car is running, you may hear a loud noise and feel high air compression which is called blowby. Check out blowby videos on the internet. A temp fix is to add an oil additive that will seal the ring and piston problem until you can sell it back to HONDA. Alternative rebuild the engine!

- Laura P., Hp, IL, US

problem #5

Feb 092010

Accord 2.3L

  • Manual transmission
  • 55,000 miles

I have bought a pre owned honda accord, just clocked 47000KM. I find car in good shape. But after few days i checked the engine oil level, i was surpirsed that it was near to min level. I took the car to service centre(not honda one) and they did the service of the vehicle , repalcing the oil , filter and others. They told that the previous engine oil was too low, so they did engine flushing before putting the new one. They asked to check the level of oil after every 500KM or 20days. I noticed the level drops and with 4000KM, oil was droped by 1.2-1.3L. I get it toped up from my service centre with 5W20 grade oil as usual. They told that there is no leakage , but there could be surely the bad engine symptoms, as per them the engine health is poor and cosuming more oil.

I am worried about this car. I donot want to have the engine work as it is costy as well as risky whether the problem would be fixed or not. As per prevoius owners record he used to maintain the car by authorised honda dealer. I donot much suspect if it was the neglience of prevoius owner, since the car only drived 47000KM with service record. I have the doubt that this car cosumes much oil. Anyne who put their valuable comments, welcome..

- harrydelhi, Delhi, Delhi, India

problem #4

Sep 032008

Accord EX 2.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

Bought this car new....Im pretty sure ive been having this problem for awhile even while it was under warranty because the check engine light would go on since the car would be running low on oil and the core would be heating up. I took it to the dealership a couple times while under warranty and they said all it needed was an oil change....even though the maintenance required light wasnt the one that was on it was the actual check engine light...anyways i didn't think much of it however it has never stopped happening and the car is no longer under warranty but i check the oil levels each week and the oil level gets lower and lower...and i have to add oil...hondas are no longer what they used to be in my opinion.

- Chet P., Mclean, VA, US

problem #3

Sep 212007

(reported on)

Accord LX 2.2L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles

Regularly add 1 quart of Honda oil every 1,000 miles on a 2002 Honda Accord 2.2L ULEV purchased new. This problem started from day one or after the very first 1,000 miles.

- John E., Castro Valley, CA, US

problem #2

Sep 092007

(reported on)

Accord EX 2.3L 4 cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 77,671 miles

The oil consumption has been a problem for a while but now at 125000 km, it used almost 7 L of oil in 5000 km. They won't admit there's a problem and now Honda says it's out of warranty for the oil consumption. PCV valve has been replaced twice in the last year. No oil on the ground and the car passed Ontario emissions testing in April 2007. No clue where the oil is going.

- Barbara M., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

problem #1

Oct 242006

(reported on)

Accord EX 2.3L

  • Manual transmission
  • 58,000 miles

I bought this car used about 4 months ago. Put all synthetic oil (5-w20) and quickly noticed that oil level drops as I drive the car. At about 1 quart per 1000 miles. SO I blamed it on the hot weather and the light weight of the oil. So I changed the oil again to a 10-w30 and am having the exact same problem. I have checked really good and the car doesn't seem to burn any oil and definitely has no leaks in the engine. I have added the 4.5 qt that the manual states and the level goes up to the upper hole in the dipstick. Now even after a few short drives, the level drops to slightly over the lower hole. Last time it took 1.5 qt to bring it up to level. It becomes annoying as I don;t know when I am going to run out of oil, so I have to check about twice a week, which is way too frequent. I had this same problem or condition in my old 626 with about 150000 miles, but on a car this new it is simply unacceptable.

- Jorge S., Amite, LA, US

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