9.1
really awfulTypical Repair Cost:
$2,395.00
Average Mileage:
78,448 miles
Total Complaints:
54 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace transmission (47 reports)
- not sure (5 reports)
- i did not choose to fix it, but i sold it immediately (2 reports)
transmission problem
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Honda dealer.
Helpful Websites About 2002 Honda Accord transmission failure
2009Oct 18
Accord SE 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 57,196 miles
Driving my 02 accord on a sunday morning around town when it downshifted, jerked violently then shifted up. I turned around to go home and when I went to pull up on the driveway the transmission would not grab until around 1500 rpms. I took it to the dealer which was 40 miles(65kms) away and on the way the check engine light came on as well as the abs,tcs and D4 lights. Dealer looked at it and said it needed a new transmission and the cost of $5000. I phoned Honda head office for a goodwill repair but they said they were willing to do nothing for me. At 58,000 miles(92000kms) there is no acceptable reason that a transmission should fail like this. This is my wife's car which she loves and was looked after very well. Beware when buying a honda because they don't seem to have a problem putting a sub-par major component in their vehicles, and they don't stand behind their product.
2009Oct 07
Accord EX 3.2L
- Automatic transmission
- 105,000 miles
OK - so I HAD (key word) a 2002 Honda Accord EX. I'm putting this story on here because I promised Honda that I would tell as many people as I could about this story & convince more than the 2 I already have NOT to buy Honda. I bought it brand spanking new. At 40,000 miles, the transmission failed. Now here's the kicker; it was covered under my EXTENDED warranty - the warranty the dealership was trying to convince me NOT to buy. I'm glad I listened to my gut. Anyway, it was replaced (rebuilt trans - new ones didn't exist nor do they exist now for this make/model). At 59,000 miles, THIS trans failed. The dealer ship (Coast Honda in Wall, NJ) told me too bad - they didn't put an ext. warrenty on that trans, even though my car was still within 10,000 miles of the warrenty. I took it to Kay Honda in Eatontown & they replaced and put a warranty on it. Then at 105,000 miles, THIS trans began failing. Keep in mind, this transmission only had about 45,000 miles on it. They said the best they could do was to give me the trans but I had to pay $1700 to have it installed. I told them that by now they owe me a new car, not a trans and that their best wasn't good enough and at this point with all the problems I've had (trans wasn't the only problem), I will never buy Honda again. Please be sure to do your research! I've looked up this make/model & see that now people are getting screwed over with the brakes with the 2008 model! Do yourself a favor...don't buy a Honda!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Mar 01
Accord EX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 82,000 miles
I had experienced no problems with my transmission..went in for routine motor oil change. Service mngr told me I needed a new transmission. He said the 2002 was the only model that did not have a Honda transmission installed. I told him I'd had no problem and would hold off on the replacement of my transmission. Went back in 4 months later for another oil change, was told I needed new transmission...$3100. I delayed again. In mid October, 2009 at 92,000, my engine began to rev up on its own. I took the car to an independent mechanic who found no problems...revving had stopped after 2 hours driving. I took it to Honda and they said it did need a new transmission. (apparently they don't investigate to see what's wrong...just replace the entire transmission). I found online Honda complaints that 2000-2003 Hondas have a transmission problem...can rev up due to torque converter, burn out transmission fluid, and burn up the transmission. I called Honda and they now say they will pay 1/3 of the cost of replace of my transmission....the total cost of which is now $3200....$100 more than 3 months ago.
I fully intended to drive my one and only Honda (bought new because of my mistaken buy-in to their false reputation)300,000 miles. Now I am sick! There should be full free replacement of the transmission IMO.
2009Oct 03
Accord EX 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 90,000 miles
Second transmission in two years, and Honda doesn't want to absorb the cost. They replaced my first recalled transmission at a cost to me of $640. Now, just two years later, they want to charge me $1,370 because they replaced my first faulty transmission with a second faulty transmission. They suck. They don't back up their product, so I won't buy a Honda again and neither should you.
2007Aug 10
Accord EX 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 66,668 miles
The transmission in my 2002 Honda Accord EX, V6 Engine failed after 66,668 miles. Even though a recall was made on 1998-2002 Honda transmissions, when I called the dealer, they said my VIN was not covered under the warranty. However, if I paid the shipping and some other costs, they would replace it at a cost of $642. What could I do? I didn't think it was fair that I had to pay anything, but I did. Now two years later with 90,000 miles, the transmission failed again. They claim they gave me a new transmission, but how can two transmissions fail in two years? Now they want me to split the cost with them where they will pay 60% (or $2,000) and I will pay 40% or $1,370. I am fighting with American Honda Corporation right now. It's been three days and I've yet to hear from the Regional Case Manager. To top it all off, last week I purchased a brand new 2010 Honda Insight. I chose not to trade in the car because I thought the transmission problem was fixed and it was very reliable otherwise. Now I'm stuck with a big repair bill after I used every bit of my savings plus took out a $20,000 loan to buy the Insight. I was going to give the car to my son as he just started a new job and needed something reliable to travel back and forth to work at fairly long distances. Ha -- what a joke!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Sep 17
Accord SE 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 105,400 miles
My husband and I purchased a 2002 Certified Honda Accord special edition from Barber honda in Bakersfield Ca. When we purchased this car in January of 2007 it had 47,524 miles. At 57,106 miles and 8 months later the transmission goes out WOW right?? So Barber Honda replaces the transmission & all is well up till we put 47,000 more miles on it and the transmission goes out AGAIN. We take the car in and YUP the transmission FAILED AGAIN SO OH MY GOD I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS "CERTIFIED" ACCORD TWO YEARS AND ITS ALREADY NEEDING ITS THIRD TRANSMISSION!!!! Barber Honda contacted American Honda and they don't wanna help in any way shape or form to fix the problem So now we have a BIG MONEY PROBLEM to fix the transmission Barber Honda wanted $3,027.58 + tax ....So I have now filed a complaint with the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU against Barber Honda We have also contacted an attorney and they said we HAVE A CASE....AND I PROMISE THIS ISN'T THE LAST BARBER HONDA HAS HEARD FROM ME =D
2009Aug 24
Accord LX 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 76,000 miles
This V6 Accord had been hesitating then hard down-shifting on acceleration since about 45,000 miles or so. This time, after accelerating onto a highway, the Accord would not shift up into D4. The Check Engine and TCS lights came on steady, and the D4 light blinked. Putting the gearshift into D3 caused the D4 light to extinguish, but the other lights remained lit. Putting the gearshift into D4 caused the D4 light to blink again, but the car didn't shift. The Accord made it home in D3. When I restarted it after it sat for about 20 minutes to drive it to the dealer, it shifted normally but the Check Engine light remained on. The dealer put it on a tester, and the error code indicated that the transmission had failed and needed replacement after just 76,000 miles. I cajoled Honda (through the dealer) into stepping up to the plate. They covered 25% of the cost, leaving me with about $2200 to pay. I believe that they should have covered much more of the cost, as transmissions, especially Hondas, should last longer than 76,000 miles. I have friends with U.S. cars over 180,000 miles with no major issues. I was shocked when I found this site and learned that 2002 Honda Accord LX's are 13th on a top 20 list of most troubled cars. Shame on Honda!
2009Sep 02
Accord LX 2.3L 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 68,288 miles
Since my 2002 Honda Accord 4-cylinder had a replacement transmission at 21,000 miles or so and was fully covered by the factory, I was shocked when the transmission failed again at 68,000 miles. At first Honda wasn't going to cover the repair but through persistence I was able to get the repair bill down to $200.00. As I told the Dealer Service Manager and AHM personnel in Torrance, CA: It is not normal for a vehicle with 68,000 miles to need a second replacement transmission.
Be polite yet firm with people you come in contact with; stay focused on the problem, not the person, and you'll get results. I know Honda tracks these failures carefully; contrary to what some within the company told me when I was talking to folks there. My next question I need to resolve is will this car need another transmission in another 40,000 miles or so? Should I sell this car? I don't know the answer to that question but I do know it's nice NOT having a car payment...something to ponder as I use this car.
2007Jul 07
Accord LX 2.3L I-4
- Automatic transmission
- 21,000 miles
Read about the transmission problems on 2002 accords but only thought that the V-6's were affected; this car is a 4 cylinder model. Had car towed to dealer where transmission was replaced at no charge.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Sep 14
Accord EX 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 99,419 miles
I always trusted Honda and am responsible for a number of honda sales via word of mouth recommendations. But now I totally regret it; I never expected such a major failure so early. And Honda Canada chose to totally play by the policy and didn't help at all. I'll never buy Honda again and will disseminate the same message to others as well unless their customer service is willing to take this feedback seriously and do some sort of recall (there are hundreds of issues reported and probably thousands non reported)...
2009Aug 21
Accord SE 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 67,000 miles
2002 Honda Accord with 67,000 miles. Properly maintained with a total transmission failure. After repeated calls to Honda USA I had to finally call the president of the local dealership to get a response for me. Honda finally decided to pay for half. I will still owe $1500. If you are the second owner of the vehicle you are out of luck. It also appears they are not giving anything if your vehicle is over 100,000 miles. Be persistent and you may get half the cost paid. Good Luck
2009Aug 15
Accord 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 115,000 miles
Well add yet another Honda Tranny Failure, SURPRISE! Really to me it is, but at one point really trusted a foreign auto maker, heard only great things, resale value, reliable engines, and a long road life, that was at one point. Now, Honda, well appears they can not be trusted.
Well add me to the list of another Honda fool stuck between a rock and a rock, the story starts about a year ago, me and my wife purchase our 1st Honda, after hearing of the high resale value, and a stable engine performance. How could we go wrong? Well 08/15/09 presented that answer, the transmission can go south.
The problem started about at 100,000 miles, when I noticed that if I did not allow the vehicle to warm up, that if I just got in the vehicle, and backed out of the drive way, placed in drive, apply the gas, that there would be a huge surge in the RPM's, and a strong jerk, as it shifted into a gear, at the time figured perhaps a transmission flush would solve the issue.
All seemed well, then the warm up scenario crept up once again at about 110,000 miles, well figured it runs fine, as long as It is properly warmed up, vehicle getting a bit older, so we'll baby it .
That all changed the other day, as I was out and about hiking, went to the car to head home, got a 30 mile trip. After about 5 miles, the D$ and check engine lights lit up, and there was this definite RPM Surge with no forward motion.
I pulled over, shut the engine, and waited a few, re-started the engine, the D$ light stopped blinking, but the C.E light was still on, I was able to get home, as long as I went slowly, and slowly I went.
Finally got home, and re-newed the ill forgotten AAA member ship, (Hence Why I ended up driving very slowly for 30 miles) and towed it to our mechanic, still awaiting the $ quote, and the final out come.
Honda should have a recall, seems like a pretty common issue, as I learned googling to see just what we faced. We will try any phone number, and see what assistance there is, Honda still does not appear to Qualify for the "Cash For Clunkers", unless I am missing something, and still would have to repair the Tranny.
Look forward to hearing any advice, or suggestions from fellow afflicted Honda Tranny folks!
2008Jun 16
Accord ES
- Automatic transmission
- 94,000 miles
As a former loyal Honda owner, I was totally disgusted when the transmission failed. I purchased this car used, so I had no warranty protection. Honda did offer me $800 towards replacement, but the total repair bill would still run over $2000 which I could not afford. It's one year later, and I purchased another transmission, had a mechanic put it in the car and it lasted one day. Can you feel my pain. I'm still paying for a car I can't drive.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Jun 17
Accord 2.3L 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 44,424 miles
Without any warning my Accord transmission started jerking and slipping. We checked the transmission fluid and couldn't figure out what the problem was so I took it to the Honda service department. The service manager told me that the transmission needed to be replaced immediately because total transmission failure was imminent. I was shocked because my mileage was only 44,242. Also, I am very conscientious about maintaining my vehicle. Baytown Honda wanted to charge me $3600.00 for a rebuilt tramsmission. I told them that was unacceptable and that an Accord transmission should not fail at such low mileage. Baytown Honda was not willing to negotiate with me so I took my Honda to a local transmission specialist who rebuilt the transmission for $2849.16. After I left Baytown Honda I went online to research Honda Accord transmission failure. This web site was very helpful. One of the posts suggested that I negotiate directly with American Honda Corporation In Torrance, California. After numerous faxes and telephone conversations with a regional Honda case manager, American Honda Corporation offered to reimburse me 50% of the replacement cost. Today a check in the amount of $1,424.58 arrived in the mail from American Honda. I think that I was successful in part because I submitted a complaint to the Office of Defect Investigation ( branch of NHTSA) and received a case number. I used my ODI case number as leverage with American Honda Corporation.
2009Jul 06
Accord SE 2.3L 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 93,000 miles
I loved my Honda. I noticed the transmission slipping and it having trouble shifting. I took it into the Honda dealer and paid them $105 to tell me what I know - I need a new transmission. They tell me it will cost $3400 to fix. I figure, oh well stuff happens so I decided to look on the internet to see how much a tranny would cost to do it myself and discover this site with 150+ other complaints describing the same thing.
This is unacceptable Honda. Especially since it seems to be a known issue. I shall call their corporate and complain and take my complaint to my local Honda dealer. Maybe they will stand by their product and resolve this for me
2009Jun 05
Accord SE 2.3L 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 71,300 miles
I just got off with phone with Honda Customer Service in Torrance. Told them this was the 4th Honda I've owned and that I just had it serviced at the dealer and that the dealer said that the transmission would need to be replaced soon and was given a quote of $3,000. I asked for some "good will assistance" as I just learned I am being laid off. I was told that Honda sticks by the 3-year/36,000-mile warranty and that my car was out of warranty. I explained that this car has the same transmission as the '00s and '01s and that thousands of online users had the SAME PROBLEM. He tried to end the call. I said that this would be last Honda and that I would be buying a Toyota, and that as a marketing writer I'd be warning others about this problem. No response. Adios, Honda.
2009Apr 17
Accord LX 2.3L
- Automatic transmission
- 55,000 miles
We bought this 2002 Honda Accord brand new, and my wife has been driving it to and from work. The transmission failed two months ago when it only had 55,000 miles on it. Totally unexpected. The dealer said it would cost $3,300 and we complained loudly. Eventually it was replaced with a re manufactured transmission and we paid $900 for the work. I always thought Honda should be of the highest quality, never to think so again. My next car will not be a Honda for sure!
2009Jun 16
Accord EX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 90,200 miles
Called the Honda dealership where they have done all the service and was told my warranty went out 6mo ago =( done some research and found out that 2002 honda is a POS ! Also called Honda america and was issued a case # but was told I would have to buy a new transmission. If you know of anyway to get this fixed please Email me at SuvWith20s@aol.com Thank you
2009Jun 01
Accord LX V4
- Automatic transmission
- 103,000 miles
Bought a used 02 Accord w/20K miles on it. Sure enough, at 78K miles the transmission died. Luckily it was covered under warranty and was replaced with a 'brand new' transmission. Sure enough, at 103K miles the 'brand new' transmission failed again. Based on all of the other complains it looks like this is a very common problem with this car, which is completely ridiculous. I will never buy Honda again. Since I've purchased the car there have been 9K in repairs needed. Awful!!!!
2009Jun 01
Accord LX V4
- Automatic transmission
- 103,000 miles
Bought an 02 Accord w/21K miles in 04. First transmission blew out at 87K miles, which was covered under my extended warranty. They stated to replace it with a 'brand new' transmission. Here I am, at 103K miles and this so-called 'brand new' transmission has failed once again. All I've heard was that Honda makes reliable cars, but this one has had $7500 in warranty work done on it, and now an additional 3K in non-warranty work for this 2nd failed transmission. That totals out to be worth around what I paid for this car, unbelievable!
2009May 21
Accord SE 2.3L
- Automatic transmission
- 89,000 miles
i just want to know where can i get my recall paper on honda tranmission /
2009Apr 24
Accord EX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 91,000 miles
i wonder how much it would cost to replace a 2002 accord ex 6cycl vtech transmission? the engine light is on so i cant pass smog the check.
2009Apr 05
Accord EX 3.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 88,850 miles
You can add me onto this infamous list. I have a 2002 Honda Accord EX Coupe with 88,850 miles and my car went through all the cycles mentioned on this site before giving out. First, the TCS, check engine light, and D4 blinking would come on all at once after the high engine revving and the car does not move. This happened at least three times. When this happened, I had to pull over the side of the road, and restart the car to reset it. The TCS and D4 blinking went away but check engine light stayed. In the morning, it does not matter how long I warm up the car, 5 minutes to 15 minutes, the first few shifts on my car were really hard, the RPM would shoot up, but the car barely moved, followed by a huge "thud." After 2 or 3 hard shifts, the car would then shift ok. When merging into fast traffic, again the RPM would blast past 3,500 but the car barely moved.
Those are all signs telling you it's time for a new transmission. I just bought my car in January and now it's April and my car is at Honda. Right off the bat, the manager said they will cover $1,800, so that sounded fishy to me, but I was glad they kinda took care of the problem. I had to shell out $1,200 to cover the rest though. This sucks because my wife has an older 96 Accord with 200,000 miles on it and it has original motor and original transmission and it's FINE. That's why I bought the this car, thinking it would be reliable like hers, NOT!
2009Feb 27
Accord EX 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 74,000 miles
My wife and I bought a used 2002 Accord EX with a V6 engine on Dec 31st, 2004. The car had about 34,000 miles on it and we drove it another 40,000 miles. Around 68-70 thousand miles, the down shift of the gear was becoming hard especially at lower speeds. Finally around 74,000 miles the check engine light came on. I had my Honda dealership run diagnostics and they said that the transmission would need replaced as it had failed. And also they gave me a quote of $3,000 + tax to fix it. Having been married to the Honda family, I was flipping out and considered going to AAMCO to fix the transmission. I was doing some online research and found out here that talking to Honda may be helpful.
So my wife called Honda and explained the issue, and told them that we are on our 3rd car from the Honda family. Honda asked us to go back to the dealer first and if nothing worked out there they asked us to call them back. So we went to the dealer and told him that Honda asked us to talk to him. The dealer considered the fact that we've been a loyal customer to him for the last 8 years and talked to Honda and worked out a deal for us. So in the end Honda agreed to pay 50% of the cost and provided us with refurbished transmission with 3 years/36,000 miles warranty and it cost us $1,265 including taxes.
All in all I'm happy that it worked out although it sucks that the transmission failed so prematurely.
2009Feb 02
Accord EX 4cy
- Automatic transmission
- 74,000 miles
We bought this car new and had all the recommended service done at Honda. We only have 74k miles on this car? Honda agreed to pay for part of the problem but I have to pay $1720. I will never buy another Honda. The dealer told be only the 6 cy have this problem but on this site I see many 4 cy. I will tell everyone I know about this problem and hopefully people will stop buying these.
2008Dec 12
Accord EX 2.3L
- Automatic transmission
- 64,400 miles
As with the others in this class, the failure of the transmission at just over 60,000 miles is completely unexpected and extremely disappointing. The Honda repair shop wanted $3,200 - AAMCO did it for $2,700 - anything more than a $100 is completely unacceptable given the historical, implied and expected reliability of Honda vehicles. I'm in the process of coordinating with Honda. I hope to get a good portion of the costs covered somehow by Honda as this repair is thoroughly unwelcome - especially given the layoff I'm facing in a month!
2009Jan 16
Accord LX 2.3L
- Manual transmission
- 104,000 miles
Driving home from work the transmission would not let me go over 20 mph. Never had any problems with it before. Very disappointed. Thought hondas were more reliable than that. The dealer is going 60/40 with me so, I am out 1500.00. ouch. Will not buy another Honda, going with Toyotas for now on.
2009Jan 06
Accord 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 97,000 miles
My schoolteacher wife bought the 2002 Honda Accord 4 cylinder brand new. She was the only driver and her driving style is rather gentle. The automatic transmission started slipping (not shifting correctly) when the car had only 90,000 miles on it. At 97,000 miles it slipped so badly that we could barely get it to the dealer for repair. The fluid level was fine and all routine service was performed at Honda per schedule. The Honda technician said the transmission was shot and that the only option was a Honda re manufactured transmission. The cost: $3000.00. We begged for help and pleaded that ourselves and extended family had bought four new Honda's from them. They contacted Honda and agreed to pay about half. Our final bill was $1732.00 for the re manufactured transmission (that came with a 36,000 mile warranty. I'm very disappointed in this major mechanical failure. Honda's are supposed to be indestructible. My 1996 Nissan Infinity I30 has over 176,000 miles with never any serious issues. It's sad when the auto transmission on a 2002 Accord fails in less time than an auto transmission on a 1966 Ford. On a positive note, we've never had any other issue with the car.
2008Dec 12
Accord LX
- Automatic transmission
- 95,000 miles
My first Honda. I purchased it brand new and the transmission went out at 95k miles. I called the dealer where I purchased the car. I did have my scheduled maintenance done there over the years and also replaced the timing belt there. Naturally my extended warranty had expired. The service department told me that since I did have my service done there and because the vehicle had less than 100k miles, there was a good chance Honda would help me. I had my car towed there and they informed me that it was in fact a bad transmission. They put in a call to Honda for me and they agreed to pay 50%. My cost was $1200 that I had to charge. Although I appreciate them helping me, it seems this is an issue with Honda transmissions and I'm hesitant to purchase another Honda.
2008Dec 22
Accord SE 2.3L
- Automatic transmission
- 69,750 miles
A transmission going out after 70k miles - that's piece of crap. Honda customer service reps are fu***** rude. I could have bought a Kia or hyundai and got 10yr/100K warranty.
2009Jan 02
Accord EX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 61,078 miles
Will keep this short as possible. 61000 miles, two months after the extended warranty expired. The transmission failed. Waiting to see if the service manager at Carrs Honda in Chicago will be able to get any compensation on my behalf from Honda.
2008May 01
Accord EX 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 75,000 miles
My transmission started to shift hard last May at 75,000 mi;les but has got worse during the last six months. I now have 80,000 miles and Honda will not fix it. My friend has a 2001 Honda Accord and has had three transmissions starting at 37,000 miles replaced by Honda under extended Warranty. The same Transmission is in the 2002. This is my second new Honda but I will not buy another. This is BS on Hondas part. They know they have a problem and are ignoring it. This will cost them a lot more than a recall would. I wonder if all the people having problems as me would be interested in an ad campaign against Honda in the major cities in America showing the public what Honda has done to us. If anybody has any other ideas please email me at
nedgecomb1@yahoo.com
Nick Edgecomb Taft CA 93268
2008Sep 10
Accord LX 2.3L
- Automatic transmission
- 70,000 miles
I just bought a 2002 Accord. Before I bought it I checked Carfax. The car was bought and serviced regularly at Autowest Honda in Fremont Ca. Only 71k miles. Good enough for me. I bought it sight unseen. Turns out the transmission is bad. I took it to Autowest Honda. They confirmed it was shot. Would cost $4200 to fix. I couldn't believe it. I asked if there was anything they or Honda of America could do for me. No. Nothing. Sorry about your luck. After researching it, I found out that Honda was sued for faulty transmissions in 97-2001 Accords. They settled out of court. Never did anything to correct the problem. 2002 has the exact same transmission. Whats up with that? Seems like an automatic win for us 2002 owners. Whats happening out there?
2008Sep 11
Accord EX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 94,000 miles
Man. Never wanna buy Honda cars anymore. I thought Honda was a reliable car makers when I bought my 2002 Honda accord v6 last year. I got it at 79000 and it drove good for a year. Last month, I went to do the maintenance and they told me that I have to change a new transmission for 2800. Eventually, I decided to sell it but not fix it.It is not worth to do that.
2008Apr 21
Accord SE Coupe Vtec 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
I bought my car new, maintained it well...had some problems with it shifting hard and hesitating...was going to take it in shortly when the stupid thing died on me leaving me and my two year old in peril...I missed work without pay since I didn't have a ride and couldn't use emergency pay or anything. I managed to hobble it to the dealer and they quoted me $3300 for a used transmission and were not helpful. I had it repaired for less but was out of a car for over a week and had to spend over $200 on a rental. I got it replaced with a used transmission with 76k on it and it is starting to do the same thing within 6 months. I hate Honda. I paid $22k for a reliable vehicle which I didn't get, it has left me in a very sore spot because I had to charge the repairs....I will never buy another Honda and I let everyone know exactly how horrible they are. My managers sister had the same model and her transmission had to be replaced at 75k miles.
2008Aug 12
Accord EX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 80,112 miles
Ridiculous! This problem seems to be so well documented and yet nothing is being done. How they continue to offer little or no assistance is beyond belief, I have owned several Honda's but this will probably be my last. Beware to buyers, the tranny is a time bomb! I own a 2002 (last year of this model) and they have the same problems they did with the earlier models.
2007Jan 11
Accord EX-L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 116 miles
At about 216,000 miles I had to replace my transmission. I had taken it to the dealership 3 months prior with complaint of it slipping. They had told me this was the way it was designed to take more time upshifting to warm up, but really it was the first sign of transmission failure... When it did fail they did replace it with just the cost of labor but even that was about $2700.
2008Aug 01
Accord EX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
Just another V6 Accord automatic failure for the books. This one failed around 85k miles. Called the Honda rep, of course it isn't covered, its an 02, those are GREAT! (siiiiigh) Took it to the local dealer and, to my surprise, they started to work with me on it. Asking for service records to try and plead my case to Honda. Calls me back the next day and said they agreed to pay half, which would come out to be $1200.00 for a rebuilt with a 3 year/36k mile warranty on it.
Do not buy this car (from 98 to around 04) if you don't feel like wasting cash on it. Everything else in it has been great, but this is a costly repair that really nullifies the other reliability factors. Don't take our word for it here, feel free to search for it else where, you will get many hits on "V6 automatic transmission Honda failure"
2008Apr 07
Accord SE
- Automatic transmission
- 60,000 miles
My 2002 Honda Accord with $60000 miles had transmission problem, It was slipping ans jerking and oil leaking.We have done all the maintenance properly. We though we did not need to change oil transmission by following instructions under normal weather conditions, but Honda said we have to change it last year under severe weather conditions. I spent CN$4000.00 to replace a rebuilt one, but Canada Honda refused to reimburse any cost.
The failure transmission was sent back to Honda right away when I got the replacement by Honda dealer service center, Honda has so many problems on this typical transmission, they are even short of supply, I have wait for a week to get my replacement , This typical
I requested to check the the reason of failure of the transmission, I was told by Honda customer service I need to pay for the checking and I also have to be responsible for all the cost no matter what reason it is. It was awful! absolutely the worst experience I never had before.
According to repost result, failure of transmission is absolutely the design defect for this typical car. it should be recalled by Honda.
2008May 05
Accord LX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 70,000 miles
The transmission failure is a design defect.It should be recalled
2008Jun 27
Accord EX-V6 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 68,000 miles
Apparently transmission failures are quite common on the 2002 Accord. I have read some reports that warranties were extended on these models due to such high failure rates and I plan to research before having any repairs.
2008Apr 18
Accord
- Automatic transmission
- 96,000 miles
I bought my used 2002 Honda in 2003 with 15,000 miles because I heard Hondas were great cars. I did not have any major problems with the car other than the engine light coming on and needing a switch replaced. Over the last several months, I noticed the transmission slipping, but I thought this is a Honda with less than 100,000 and that the transmission could not possibly be going out. On April 18, 2008, the transmission began to slip badly and the check engine light came on. I took the car to my mechanic. He check the car and said that I needed a new transmission. Before he started the repair, he mentioned that his daughter also had a 2002 Honda with 66,000 miles and that Honda replaced her transmission at no charge. He also mentioned that many of the Honda manufactured during this period were having transmission failure because only one filter was placed on or in the transmission. This caused dirt to filter back into the transmission, which could lead to the transmission failing. He made a phone call to Honda and was told that they would not replace my transmission because the car had 96,000 miles. I wrote a letter to Honda and a customer service representative called me several days later and said that Honda would review my complaint and let me know if they would stand behind the transmission. A couple of days later, Honda called me back and said that they could not compensate me for my transmission repair. Since my transmission failed, I have talked to two other Honda owners that had to replace their transmissions. I believe that Honda should stand behind their cars and compensate individuals who had to replace their car's transmissions.
2008May 14
Accord SE
- Automatic transmission
- 88,000 miles
I have had several Hondas over the years and have purchased them for their apparent reliability. Now, after hard shifting between 1st and 2nd gear, I took my wifes car to the local dealership and the transmission is shot. I have since read all the similar complaints and the issues with the recall of 1999-2001 vs no current recall of the 2002. A transmission failure on a Honda with 88K miles should be a rare occurrence, but it is obviously typical for all Honda vehicles with this transmission. My sister had a 2001 Odyssey and the transmission went out at 80K as well, and I am now sure it is the same transmission as the 2002 Accord. Honda should be an industry leader and cover all costs for the replacement. The dealership was as helpful as I could expect, based on all the other similar complaints and has agreed to split the cost. I will be out of pocket $1400 to receive a rebuilt transmission with a 36K warranty. I have no reason to believe that this will not occur again. I plan on selling the car and buying Toyota's in the future and telling everyone I know that my family's experience with Honda's will lead me to never buy one again.
2008May 07
Accord 3.2L
- Automatic transmission
- 80,000 miles
First off, I just wanna say that this ordeal that I currently find myself in is the worst pain in the a** I've ever experienced with a vehicle, and to have it a happen to a HONDA of all things is just beyond my comprehension, since Hondas are supposed to "last forever." I was pulling out of a gas station with a used Accord which I purchased from a dealership 4 months ago when all of a sudden, my car refused to shift gears on its automatic transmission. After that, a rancid odor was coming from God knows where and all of a sudden, I find myself struggling to make it to 30 mph. Moreover, the check engine light went on and the "D4" light started blinking repeatedly. All this seemed to be happening for no apparent reason and I found myself in a dark alley calling for AAA.
I brought the car to a Honda dealership in hopes of maybe getting a "goodwill repair" since after all, the vehicle had no history of major repairs and the VIN came up clean when I asked about its history report. Just from reading other people's war stories with this model from the early 2000's, Honda should be held fully accountable for the manufacturing defects with their transmissions for the '02 Accords. The reason I wasn't granted a "goodwill repair" was because my car was an '02 and not an '01 which apparently had more complaints.
I am seriously considering selling or trading in this car since there is no guarantee that even if I receive a new transmission, it will last me a long time. I am EXTREMELY ANGRY and disappointed that Honda can't take responsibility for a manufacturing defect, regardless of what year the car came out.
2008Feb 01
Accord LX 2.3L
- Automatic transmission
- 70,000 miles
Auto transmission shift points off. Slow to shift from 1st to 2nd with a quick shift from 2nd to 3rd. Much worse as temps lower outside. Felt like slipping clutches between 1st and 2nd. Dealer said they could only replace the "whole unit"for just under $3000 but would give us a break and charge $1250.
This is the same thing that happened to my 1999 Honda Accord LX. I was told it was the torque converter on that car and it cost me $850.
Next to the engine, a transmission failure is inexcusable. Both cars received all scheduled maintenance and I even had the transmission fluid changed early on both cars. I like Honda's for many reasons but will start to look elsewhere now.
2004Mar 10
Accord LX 2.4L I4
- Automatic transmission
- 48,000 miles
Honda is the worst car company, I mean hell its nice that the small stuff never broke as it did in my 2000 dodge caravan (the brake master cylinder wore out, several window motors/regulators were replaced and the brake rotors warped every year, but hell at least the dodge has 110k miles on it on the original engine and transmission! and it still is running extremely well). I have replaced the transmission on my accord at ~50k miles and at ~80k miles, i traded it in for a Pontiac g6 just to get out of that god damn nightmare of a crap car. Its funny how Honda has one of the best reputations and Dodge has one of the worst, hell I don't mind the minor repairs here and there that the dodge needs, it sure beats the constant major repairs that the accord needed!!!
2008Feb 27
Accord VP
- Automatic transmission
- 47,000 miles
I bought my 2002 Honda Accord NEW because I believed Honda to be a reliable car company. With only 47,000 miles on the odometer the Transmission went .Honda wanted me to see a certified dealer. Too bad I had already had my car towed to a transmission repair shop not affiliated with Honda. So in their words I'd pay to have it towed to a certified Honda dealer so they can run diagnostic testing . And then bend over while the charge me their outlandish prices for their crappy service. So I had the transmission repaired outside of Honda because it was a total hassle to have my p.o.s car towed to their dealers. This company should be ashamed of their products. Please do your research when dealing with these money hungry giants.
2008Mar 03
Accord EX 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 71,000 miles
I also am having transmission problems with my 2002 Accord LX coupe. It started having trouble shifting gears a few weeks ago and one day last week shifted into neutral instead of into third gear and I was almost rear ended. I only have 71,000 miles on the car and it has been meticulously maintained. Thank God, I kept all my receipts to prove it to Honda. The initial quote to replace my transmission with a refurbished trans was 3800 dollars. Only when I balked and started asking questions as to how this could happen and why the extended warranty didn't cover my model did I get anywhere at the dealership and without the maintenance receipts I don't think anything would have happened. I'm still waiting to hear back from the regional customer service manager about goodwill assistance.
2008Feb 28
Accord EX 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 77,000 miles
I was just informed by the dealer that my 2002 Honda Accord will need a new transmission and that this will cost around $3,300. WIth only 77K mi on the car this just didn't seem right so I began my web search for information and stumbled across this site - looks like I'm not alone and that is not just a random occurrence. Honda has a serious problem here.
The car is currently at the dealer and I'm trying to figure out what options I have.
Read the next 4 complaints »
We have partnered with JustAnswer to offer online auto repair help and advice from expert professional automotive technicians. You describe your transmission problem or ask your question and they try to help you figure it out. The fee is typically $9 to $15, but you can offer to pay more for really tough questions. You will usually receive an answer in 10 minutes or less, and you do not have to pay anything unless you accept the answer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Nov 02
Accord EX 3.2L V6
There is a national safety board that will accept complaints and look into our failing 2002 Accoord EX V6 Tranny failures. It has posed a great safety risk for me and I am sure it has for you guys too. http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov
John D.
Corona Del Mar, CA, USA
SEND A COMMENT »