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.

7.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,430
Average Mileage:
107,250 miles
Total Complaints:
50 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. new or rebuilt transmission (18 reports)
  2. not sure (16 reports)
  3. get a new transmission from American Honda (ha ha) (12 reports)
  4. took to transmission shop (3 reports)
  5. when tranny acts up tow car home asap (1 reports)
2001 Honda Accord transmission problems

transmission problem

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2001 Honda Accord Owner Comments (Page 3 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #10

May 202009

Accord EX 4 DR 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 119,000 miles

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

I bought this Honda Accord EX 4-Cylinder in March 2001. When I received letter in 2006 about Class action Law Suit filed in CA against Honda Motor that's when I found out about problem with Honda Accord models. But I never heard about decision of this Law Suit. But my car did not had any problems till recently, I thought it will be only few cars.

Quality Auto mechanic told me that there is a problem with transmission of my car and it will cost $ 2000 to 3000 to fix my car. I was expecting Honda Cars to be more reliable and last longer, but I am very disappointed. I may not buy another Honda.

I am planning to go to Honda Dealer from where I bought my car and discuss problem with my car. I am planning to submit my complain with consumer affairs as well as Honda ASAP. I will post more details later.

- Kal P., Roselle Park, NJ, US

problem #9

May 012009

Accord 4cyc

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,000 miles

Transmission should last many years under normal driving conditions.

- Luis D., Tucker, GA, US

problem #8

Apr 172009

Accord EX 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,000 miles

Well I have only had the car for 2 years and I took the car to Honda and told them that I think that the transmission was going out and that it shift hard. This was at 80,000 miles and they said that the car was ok. So now that the car is at 101,000 and my warranty is up they want me to pay $2,644 for a new transmission! So since there was a big problem in the 2001 Honda accord transmissions I contacted hondaproblems.com to see if they will pay for it.

I have had 3 other Honda's besides this one and I am starting to questions if Honda's are all that now. I use to swear by them but not anymore. I am very aggravated. I am waiting for a response.

- erinb, Florence, KY, US

problem #7

Aug 012005

Accord DX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

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

I bought my 2001 Honda Accord in 2003. Since then I have had to fix the tranny 3 times. It seems that every 1 1/2 years this problem occurs. It is not covered under the extended warranty so now it is going to cost me over $3,600. They won't admit that it is a recall its called "EXTENDED WARRANTY". This is the third time in about 5 1/2 years. I always spoke well about Honda Accords but I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE LIKE THIS AGAIN. American Honda will not fix this problem so what the dealer is telling me is that AMERICAN HONDA WILL SELL ME ANOTHER ONE OF THERE F_ KED UP TRANNY'S FOR OVER $3,600 AND GIVE ME 36,000 OR 3 YEARS IF I PURCHASE THE TRANNY FROM THEM. Hell No!!!!! So they sell me a car with a messed up tranny then they want to jerk me again NO THANKS!!!!. I hope American Honda sees this because I told them that from now on I will not encourage people to purchase this f _ked up car. ( by the way the dealer also said if I wanted to complaint about it to American Honda since I have not been getting my services done there that I would have to proof that I have been getting my maintenance done on a regular basis.) I did not want to get my services done there because I would go to a Honda Specialist Mechanic and would do the same job and same parts (Honda Parts Only) for a much less price than what Honda Dealers try to charge. Thanks for listening people.

- Angie A., Rialto, CA, US

problem #6

Aug 152003

Accord EX 3.0L

  • CVT transmission
  • 50,000 miles

Bought car as a Certified Used Vehicle from Mcdavid Honda notice jerky shift after about 2 months of driving took car to Honda dealer and was told that due to nonservice of transmission no warranty available . Certified Used Honda come with 100,000 mile warranty I told the dealer and I would not pay for check out of the transmission . Thought all service was verified since car was Certified and the warranty was a big selling point only thing ever covered by this warranty was a bad in dash cd changer and they looked at the transmission again at the same time because of me mentioning something about hearing of an extended warranty on my cars transmission needless to say the dealer told me the problem was not bad enough to be civered by the extended warranty , WILL NEVER BUY A HOND AGAIN .

- Robert K., Rosharon, TX, US

problem #5

Sep 092007

Accord LX F23a1 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Surges, almost seems like the fuel system or accelerator is going out check engine on/off about a year ago i had to slam the brakes and it threw the car into such a low gear my tranny almost blew the engine ROARED an it really scared me, changed the tranny fluid with genuine from Honda & the metal catcher was full, slips constantly, getting worse day by day, our other hondas whether they are manual or auto tranny never had an issue until around 300,000 miles plus!

- paulne, Omaha, NE, US

problem #4

Sep 032008

Accord EX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,000 miles

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

Just got this car on Monday. wanted to get a "dependable" car. original owner says no tranny problems and didnt notice any on test drive. Then as i drive it more i notice that whenever i slow down for a turn then accelerate, there's a little hiccup in the transmission. take it into transmission shop and they say 3rd gear problem and they have to take the whole thing apart and rebuild. so bummed because i just got the car.

- Jennifer S., Columbus, OH, US

problem #3

Jan 042006

Accord EX 2.3L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 156,000 miles

OK EVERYONE LISTEN UP!!!!! well i have looked around on the internet researching this problem and for those of you who have had this problem............im sorry, but for those of you who are barely experiencing this problem heres what you can do: 1st--->as soon as you notice anything with the tranny as far as an issue you must not drive too much longer YOU NEED TO GET THE CAR HOME. 2ND--->when the cars engine is cold your going to need a socket set,pair of ramps,and 3 quarts of honda atf fluid and one bottle of "LUCAS ATF STOP SLIP/LEAK"(2 bottles) and a drain pan,and a extension funnel and rags and gloves for all you clean freaks heheh(NOTICE: YOU CAN GET ALL THIS FOR UNDER 50$ AT YOUR LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE).... then you turn back on your car,drive it around the neighborhood until it is at proper operating temperature. after that is done drive it back home a.s.a.p DO NOT MESS AROUND...3rd---> drive the car up on the ramps(making sure you have someone else to guide you up SLOWLY) and turn off the car. 4th--->take off the atf drain plug and drain all of the atf fluid out and re-install the drain plug. once that is done take your atf dipstick out and get the extension funnel and put it in the place of the dip stick..then pour in the LUCAS ATF STOP SLIP/LEAK (whole bottle) in first,pour in the fluid next and put dipstick in and start car. WAIT 2 MINUTES FOR FLUID TO CIRCULATE. then while car is on ramps and foot on brake pedal, take tranny out of park and into THIS ORDER ONLY ((REVERSE,NEUTRAL,D4,D3,D2,D1, AND GO BACK IN REVERSE ORDER : D1 D2 D3,D4,NEUTRAL,REVERSE,AND PARK)) do this SLOWLY 5 TIMES. now you will have to drive the car for about 500 miles and do not drive the car fast BABY THE CAR. you will notice a difference. after 500 miles repeat the process. and drive for another 500 miles. now for the reason your tranny acted up the way it did: when Honda first made the trannys they skipped on one important part and went cheap on :BEARINGS!!! because these bearings weren't big enough to handle the load your tranny is acting like the way it is. but by doing this process you will notice a biggggggggg difference and although it will not fix the problem it will calm it by up to 90%. and all you need to do now is change fluid every 20,000 miles.

- jayca, Santa Clara, CA, US

problem #2

May 072008

Accord Limited 4.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,500 miles

There was a recall on the Honda transmission, which thank God because it was already out of warranty by the time my transmission started going out. I got it fixed in November 2006. Then, May of 2008, year and a half later, it started messing up again. I took it twice, the first time the mechanic said nothing was wrong, the next mechanic said there is definitely something wrong. I made them drive it forever just so they could see that when it's 1st to 2nd gear you have to actually drive that slow in order to feel it jerking. Of course the other issue was speeding up, the RPM's would rev really high. This was the 2nd transmission put in my car both had the same issue, good thing it's under warranty and I still think it's messing up shifting from 1st to 2nd. This is so aggravating, and you can't even get a rental car from them because Honda doesn't pay for one. To me, that definitely is another issue, especially when it's not your fault!

- txtude, Nrh, TX, US

problem #1

May 012008

Accord 2.3L 4 cyl Vtec

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles

The vehicle shifts hard into 2nd gear and sometimes if the rpm is to high it neutralizes. What i usually do when i'm driving is release the accelerator before it shifts hard or neutralizes and the vehicle shifts normal into second gear.

- Devardo S., Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas

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