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.

8.8

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,350
Average Mileage:
102,550 miles
Total Complaints:
143 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace with a rebuilt transmission (60 reports)
  2. not sure (35 reports)
  3. replace with new transmission (33 reports)
  4. replace/rebuild transmission (8 reports)
  5. dealer fixed under 109k mile warranty extension / goodwill repair (4 reports)
  6. replace with aftermarket transmission (2 reports)
2001 Honda Accord transmission problems

transmission problem

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2001 Honda Accord Owner Comments (Page 6 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #43

Apr 302008

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

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

Yep just from reading the other posts I really don't have to put much here... this is the short story...

Last summer my car started jerking between 1st and 2nd... would fall into neutral and then jam back into 1st. Got worse and worse... especially when hot out. Finally the whole thing seized up... replaced the transmission last October. Now roll forward to today June 17th 2008... and guess what??? Thats right my car is doing it again! Its only been 8 months!

Also complaints about the rotor and breaks wearing unevenly I can relate to. I have had the same issues. If I had known about all these issues I would have never bought this car.

- Claire H., Albuquerque, NM, US

problem #42

May 302007

(reported on)

Accord DX V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,000 miles

Transmission failure at low mileage. Absurd. Now the dealer may raise a stink over maintenance records when it is clearly a design defect in the car. I think my next car will be a Toyota.

- sdyates150, New York, NY, US

problem #41

May 182008

Accord LX 2.3L 4speed

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,012 miles

Took car to two different Honda dealers over the past 3 years for rough shifting / jumping between 1-2 gears when upshifting/down shifting. Told 4 times the dealer was not able to repeat the problem and to bring it back once I could get it to repeat for them.... just 10K outside of purchased extended warranty and the torque converter disintegrates inside the transmission. Honda will replace the transmission for $3700.00.. not under warranty.

- Kathy E., Newnan, GA, US

problem #40

Nov 092006

Accord EX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,394 miles

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

Geez...where to start?!?! Well, I guess with the transmission since it was/continues to be the largest problem. Let me first say that if there is a lemon on the lot, I am sure to find it. This is my second car with tranny probs (first was a Mercury Sable)!! ERGH!

Ok, when I first bought this [used] car in October 2005, it was in the shop roughly 6 times before the end of the year for several different, recurring (minor) problems. Suddenly, I began to notice what felt like a jerking. I held off taking it for service for this issue for several months because 1) they couldn't even fix the minor issues I kept having, and 2) I thought it may be paranoia from the problems I had with my previous car. The jerking got worse; occurring more often and harder. I finally took the car in for this issue in November 2006, and the transmission was replaced for free (I had an unexpired extended warranty and it fell under that 109K extended warranty for specified transmissions, but I am not sure which warranty picked up the cost).

Shortly after the repair, I noticed the jerking again, which is getting worse and worse. I took the car in twice after the "new" transmission was put in, and of course, they can't find any problems. SO--I am back to where I started, except this time the mileage is over 109K and my extended warranty is expired.

Let me also note: I have spent over $600 on brake system repairs (2 sets of rotors, I don't know how many sets of brakes, a caliper, alignment, balancing--I am sure there is more), and still have a shaking when braking issue; my brake light STILL comes on intermittently when the car is cold, which was one reason my car was in the shop those 6 times before the end of the first year that I purchased it; and my SRS light has come on a couple of times.

SUCKS!! Here I am stuck with another car that is a money pit, and the only reason I felt the need to have a car payment (as my other money pit was paid off) was for the security (you know--Honda's reputation for "excellent, long-lasting" cars).

- Kasey M., Dayton, OH, US

problem #39

Apr 232008

Accord EX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 170,000 miles

Since I bought my 2001 Accord V6, within the 30,000 mile warranty the first transmission went out, so they replaced it with a re-built one, next around 60,000 the next one went out and it also had the same problem, so at 94,000 here we go again. As it was still being covered my American Honda I made no complaints, Now I'm at 138,000 and still the tranny fails, so they informed me that they would comp the actual re-built but I had to pay for the labor 800.00 dollars later, and now that I'm at 170,000 this is the final straw as I coming up on my 6th. transmission, it appears that I'm no longer being covered for the same issues. I'm a dedicated Honda buyer, but am losing faith in them. How many corrupt trany's can I go through before they fix the problem?....

- Scot D., Brea, CA, US

problem #38

Mar 182008

Accord 3.2L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 138,000 miles

I bought this car from my mother in law in 2006. Car was running great. When I purchased the car, the mileage was 109,000. I went and put a new timing belt on due to mileage and then in a few months the transmission started acting funny. It was pop going from Park to Reverse and then it starting slipping from 1st to 2nd. This eventually got worse, so I had to locate a wrecked Honda in the state of Alabama and bought a transmission from a salvage yard. This cost me $980 plus $400 for labor. The salvage transmission I bought had 73,000 miles on it and I'm to pick it up today from the garage. Keeping my fingers crossed that this transmission lasts a while. I can't keep affording these problems. Other than the transmission, all is fine with the car. I was just hoping the transmission would have lasted me well over 200,000 miles.

- Tammy D., Tuscaloosa, AL, US

problem #37

May 142005

(reported on)

Accord EX V6

  • 70,000 miles

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

Repair issue that did not solve the problem second gear was not getting enough oil, injector installed, however my trans still blew up and they gave me a rebuilt one. If I wanted a used junk pile I would have bought one and saved myself a ton of cash.

- jalopycar, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada

problem #36

Feb 012008

Accord EX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 119,000 miles

I didn't find this website until recently when someone pointed it out to me. However, my story seems to be a little better than most. I've always taken my car to the Honda dealer I got it from. Many people think they get ripped by the dealer, but I've been hosed far worse by the quickie little oil lubes and shady garages than dealers. Dealers have their franchise to worry about, and they DO have access to all the information about your car. Joe in the corner shop just fixes a car and charges for it, whereas I've gotten my car back thinking I had a big bill and it ended up covered by a warranty I didn't know about.

Regarding my transmission, it was the same thing. It started slamming into gear, a little at first, and then pretty badly. I took it in and they gave me some info. There's no recall on these transmissions. But there is a warranty extension. And it was good till 109,000 miles. Yes I had more miles. But since I always take my car back to the dealer they covered it under what they called "good will". And that, my friends, was worth the several years of $30.95 oil changes, which still cost me about the same as the quickie lube when I used to go there. I also have a ford, and you can bet your butt it also goes to the dealer, in case I need that good will someday.

- David B., Cotati, CA, US

problem #35

Apr 112005

Accord EX 2.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 87,000 miles

this is from bsmoke, the ford truck guy. we ( my family and three neighbors) a total of seven Honda's four being accords my wifes car 2001 with over 80,000 miles was making a noise in the tranny brought it to our dealer NEW TRANNY not even a blink of a eye from them so i told my neighbors about it. i check there cars all had some noise. one Accord had 98.700 they replace all of them, no problem. i wish ford was that good. one more thing we had a 1987 prelude with just over 300,000 miles on it. i did two water pumps and timing belts just because Honda said to at 100.000. one alt. and normal maintenance that car NEVER left me stranded always started that was one nice car. we sold it to a friend for is kid he drove it for two more years then used it for a trade in and got $ 2.000 for it

- bsmoke, Middleboro, MA, US

problem #34

Nov 262007

Accord 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles

Unfortunately, I did not discover this website before taking the car to a mechanic. He in fact told me of his problems with his own Honda, but failed to mention that the car may be under extended warranty. It is under extended warranty, a fact I discover after having incurred the $3,000 bill. I wonder if any one has a suggestion as to what I might do next (other than gripe, rant and yell).

My thanks,

- Paul M., University Place, WA, US

problem #33

Oct 302007

(reported on)

Accord ES 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,000 miles

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

Just a word to the wise. Bought this car BRAND NEW (my first!) because I wanted to have a car that would last >10 years or 150K miles. Not an unexpected outcome for a Honda. However, within the first 28000 miles, the transmission began to whine and fail to up shift out of first gear. The solution, new transmission. Just great, I thought, now I will be set for the 100K+ miles. NOT SO FAST BUCKO! At 48,500 miles, the identical problem occurs. The solution, yet again, a new transmission. Yes, it was covered by the warranty extension given by Honda motor corp, BUT shouldn't a transmission last longer than a set of brakes? Well my next move is to get rid of this car, as the extended warranty only lasts for 9 years, and I am 7 years in....

- professor, Kenmore, NY, US

problem #32

Oct 232007

(reported on)

Accord EX Coupe 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,633 miles

I have to say, I am very happy I found this website. I just bought this 2001 accord used from a nice couple 3,000 miles ago, and one morning, the shifting started to get fairly rough. It progressively got worse, and started jerking and hanging even when the car was warm (when the symptoms would typically go away). Just 2 weeks ago, the transmission delayed so long between 2nd and 3rd gear that the RPMs redlined, causing the �check engine �light to illuminate.

It was pretty clear that transmission failure was just around the corner so I got online to try and figure out what was going on and wanted to see if other 01 Accord owners were experiencing the same thing. Transmissions should not fail at 60,000 miles, and definitely not on a Honda. I have owned a combination of 4 Hondas and Acuras in the past, never once running into an issue like this, so I was pretty stunned to say the least.

One of the previous postings said that Honda had extended the powertrain warranty to 7yrs/100K miles because of poor workmanship on the transmission. Further research indicated that this is a common problem with 2000-2001 Accords, Preludes and Odysseys, and in the winter of 2002, Honda sent out a letter to the owners of these vehicles notifying them of the symptoms and extending the warranty.

I am happy to tell you that I took my car down to the local Honda dealership, and was told that a new transmission would be ordered and installed free of charge under the warranty. It is VIN # specific, so dig around in your files and make sure you have this letter from Honda Motor Corp with the transmission warranty extension.

Yes it was inconvenient to lose my car for a couple of days so it could be repaired, but it is a lot better than having to drop a couple thousand dollars on a replacement transmission on a relatively young car.

- Brian T., Beaverton, OR, US

problem #31

Oct 122007

(reported on)

Accord LX 2.3L Ulev

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

Thank God I found this site! My 2001 Honda Accord transmission failed at around 82,000 miles! Can you believe that? It seems like I'm not the only one. I'm glad I'm not alone! My car started jerking and hesitating at first...and then I heard strange noises coming from the engine. All of a sudden I saw the "D4" indicator light started flickering on and off. I took this problem to my local Honda dealer.

At first they did a transmission flush and replaced the fluid. A month later, the check engine light came back on and the car started to jerk and hesitate again like last time. It seems like a lot of people had this same problem. Luckily, Honda extended the transmission warranty to 7 yrs, 9 months or 109,000 miles whichever comes first. Only because they were sued. Which cause them to extend the warranty longer! Or else, everyone would still get the 3 yr, 36,000 warranty crap.

So I contacted my local Honda dealer about this and it is V.I.N specific. Which means I had to give them my VIN number in order for them to check to see whether or not this transmission extended warranty applies to my car.

Thank god it did! They replaced my transmission without any cost to me whatsoever! However, after reading everyone's complaints about how their second rebuilt transmission is starting to act up tells me that maybe I should sell my car while it's still running. It seems like the older model accords in the 90's are built tougher than today's models!

- mclovin, Seattle, WA, US

problem #30

Oct 122007

(reported on)

Accord LX 2.3L Ulev

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

Thank god I found this website! I guess I'm not the only one that has this problem! My 2001 Honda Accord automatic transmission failed on me. The car started jerking and slipping at first..and then the

- mclovin, Seattle, WA, US

problem #29

Aug 212007

(reported on)

Accord LX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,000 miles

Needed Transmissions replacement. standard cost was 4000$.

- Amandeep B., Waterloo, ON, Canada

problem #28

Jun 092007

(reported on)

Accord EX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 109,700 miles

Second Honda I've had (1996 Accord and now 1999 Accord), excellent cars until they hit 100K miles then the fall apart. Both cars were hand downs from my family and both cars had similar problems after hitting 100K. Gauge failures, wheel bearings, etc. All not too bad to fix maybe $100 to $300. But the real kicker is both transmissions failed at around 110K. Honda doesn't repair transmissions and wants $4000 to replace it. Going to go to AAMCO to see if they can repair it for cheaper. If you're getting near 100K or 110K with no problems yet, sell the damn thing!

- Paul M., Naperville, IL, US

problem #27

Jun 112007

(reported on)

Accord LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles

Covered under the extended warranty. Will not buy another Honda again as I have had many other problems with this car. Will definitely stick with American next time around.

- sergioman, Pasadena, CA, US

problem #26

Aug 132007

(reported on)

Accord LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,000 miles

Like everyone else's story, my transmission went out on my 2001 Honda Civic last week at only 69,000 miles! I always kept up on the maintenance for this car, including a transmission service just recently at 60,000 miles. And the reason why my husband and I bought Honda's (unfortunately we have 2) is because we thought they were good quality cars which run forever. Never again will we ever buy a Honda because of this! Very disappointed, especially in hearing all these other occurrences. With all these transmissions failing, why didn't Honda ever recall!? I smell a class action...

- Julie E., Aliso Viejo, CA, US

problem #25

Aug 042007

(reported on)

Accord VP 2.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 129,232 miles

Bought my 2001 Accord off Miller's Honda used car lot, for the last four years nothing but problems. One month ago the car wouldn't go in gear went press gas petal was felt like going to stall went stop but after that problem stop. Took to back to Dealer service and was told nothing wrong with the transmission. Now today transmission started hesitated went press on the gas petal and now the check engine light is on. Ask the dealer about recall on the transmission told there is no recall on the transmission. Very angry got sold a lemon car and very expensive to replace the transmission

- Douglas K., Pacoima, CA, US

problem #24

Jun 222007

(reported on)

Accord 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 113,000 miles

I bought a used 2001 Honda Accord off of Courtesy Toyota/Brandon and I have had to replace the transmission after paying it off finally in April 2007. That is the worst and most expensive cost of a car and wouldn't ya know it? I got the paperwork in the mail regarding the Collis v. Honda and have written to them to find out what happened in that lawsuit. I sure would love to get my money back as it is borrowed from my retirement money!!!!!!!!!

- cynthiafl, Orlando, FL, US

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