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.
Honda supposedly makes a quality product but with the 2002 Accord sub-frame rusting due to a design flaw. It is an unsafe vehicle resulting in an extremely high risk for life threatening incident. I’m very worried regarding this potential of a fatal accident! Honda needs to recall and pay for all repairs to rectify this issue!
Started noticing a squeaking/clunking noise coming from the front passenger side while turning. After removing the front wheel I found that the rear beam of the front sub frame was completely rusted through on the passenger side at the body mount and sway bar bushing location. The driver side of the rear beam and the rest of the sub frame has little to no rust. Any rust is light surface. After doing some of my own investigation, along with some online research, it seems that the cause is the drain from the AC system. It drains directly above this sub frame location. The AC system was repaired this past summer, after not working for several years, and I assume this is what accelerated the issue.
Update from Mar 15, 2015: The cheapest I was able to find an OEM replacement for the rear beam was around $550. Although others online have stated that they could source them from junkyards for around $100-$125
My brother has done a lot of work on my car including welding the flange after it was almost rusted through. The last work he did was installing a new tailpipe. When he did this and inspected the undercarriage he and the welder who assisted him noticed two cracks in the subframe. They determined that this was caused by the fact that the air conditioner drains at this spot.
This appears to be a Honda design flaw as this is the only area where that has occurred. The Honda Accord is a good car and I'd like to continue driving it but I'm afraid that this problem could cause an accident. I believe that Honda should pay for repairs as its design flaw is causing the problem. I too have heard noises when I turned corners. So far nothing terrible has happened but I'm becoming worried about driving greater distances at high speed because if something happened it could be catastrophic for all concerned.
- gerty,
Listowel, Ontario, Canada
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Honda supposedly makes a quality product but with the 2002 Accord sub-frame rusting due to a design flaw. It is an unsafe vehicle resulting in an extremely high risk for life threatening incident. I’m very worried regarding this potential of a fatal accident! Honda needs to recall and pay for all repairs to rectify this issue!
- mnskorpi, Cotton, US