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.
7.5
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,420
Average Mileage:
101,500 miles
Total Complaints:
71 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
surface needs preparation and then be repainted (32 reports)
I don't understand why Honda USA does not address this problem. I drive around St. Louis Mo and see the same problem on every green Honda, the clear coat is giving up and the paint is next... Can anyone tell me why the BBB, the insurance companies, lending companies, and the Honda consumer does not stand up to this shoddy work... In this day of technology, surely someone in Honda's engineering department would have located the problem they have.. I am sure there are many more owners of the 2002 Honda Accord that have the same problem with their paint, but they have not used this program.. I would like to know how many complaints that Honda has received... I'll bet there are many...anyway to make Honda disclose this info???????
I bought my 2002 car brand new . May I say that it has run great and it now has 121,000 miles on it and I have not had any mechanical problems with it. But I am totally disgusted with the paint on the vehicle.. I am so embarrased that Honda has not done something to remedy this problem. Do they really think they are going to get repeat customers if all they have to look forward to is driving around in a disgusting looking car. I should not be responsible to have this repainted, it should have been a recall a long time ago. Bad advertising for their company, they need to remedy the problem immediately. If I traded it in on a new honda would they give me a good trade in value looking they way it does not. I doubt it. Honda should be embarrased !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would never imagine that Honda chooses to do nothing about this defect. A recall should have been issued long time ago. I really hope that more and more this type of complaints would get Honda executives wake up and do a right thing about this problem!
I live in Oklahoma so I am not prone to paint issues like other parts of the country. About a year ago, I noticed the paint was starting to change and grey areas were starting to appear. It is not chipping, it is simply fading. What originally began as a small issue on the roof has progressed rapidly to now bumper to bumper. This will require an entirely new paint job. I have never had this happen to any vehicle I have owned. I get regular seasonal waxes to protect the paint and clear coat.
- driskillok,
Mustang, OK, US
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I love my Honda Accord but I am extremely disappointed in the paint. My car has always been garaged and the paint is just wearing off, as if someone is rubbing off just spots of paint on the car. I have gone to the dealership but they say it's not covered but did take pictures to send to their headquarters.
I'm dismayed that Honda would ignore their poor choice of paint, when the problem is this widespread. I have had many (8+) hondas and this is the only one that the paint has come off.
My clear coat has started eroding on the roof and rear window, which after some investigating (on the internet, but also noticed so many hondas in parking lots with the same issue) is a very pervasive problem in Hondas from this time frame. This along with a failed transmission and I'm looking at $6-7K in repair costs and my blue book value is only $6200.
There are numerous complaints regarding both the paint jobs and transmissions on Honda 2002 Accords, so now it looks like I'm stuck with a lemon of a car. I never thought I would say that about a Honda.
Love my 2002 Honda Accord. Had problem with the hood when I first got it. Honda In Coutryside repainted it. So they said. Has been peeling on the hood occurring since they repainted it 2003. It hasn't gotten really a problem until nowThe dealer said they did the best job they could when I took it back in 2004.. Over time it is now peeling. Looking awful each day. The car is garage kept and very well taken care of.
I own a 2002 Black Honda Accord and the paint is peeling really bad. Even though it is a little older now, I bought this car brand new and have taken good care of it. I have huge places on the trunk right now,and soon they will be coming off of the roof as well. The clear coat looks as if it is coming off in places, and causing it to peel off to the metal. I googled this and found other to have the same problem. So I think it is a honda problem! I haven't taken it to the dealer yet, but others have said they chalked it up to not taking care of your car. This is very discouraging, being that I am not under warranty anymore. I just think honda should recall this, now I will probably have to spend over $2000 on repainting the whole car! I would buy another honda in the future if not for this problem!
the clearcoat on my wifes honda has started peeling on the hood,trunk , and top of car. you can just peel it off with your finger and the paint underneath still looks good.
Bought new for my wife and have been so pleased with it that we are now looking to buy her a new one and give the 2002 to our son. Runs great and looks great except for the deterioration of the clear coat sealer on the roof and trunk. Started turning white and peeling off a couple years ago and now really looks like junk. Dealer told us that it was caused by time, wear and tear in general. For them to correct would cost approx. $3,000 (WOW!) They suggested we take it to our local Maco shop which we did. To do it properly they estimated $1,250. That's still way too much money for something that SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. Very disappointed that Honda refuses to fess up and take responsibility for this obvious defect on an otherwise excellent product. Disappointed enough that I will be looking at other models to replace it in the next month or so.
I purchased my 2002 Honda Accord EX V6 brand new (8 years ago). While I had the luxury of a garage for the first 5 years, I've had to park it outside for the past 3 years. Since I have regular washings at a full service car wash, I thought that the hot Texas sun started creating "oxidation" spots in the paint. Then, the clear coat started peeling. Now, 6 months after the discoloration started, about 25% of the paint is gone. My car looks hideous. Unfortunately, the problem started just after 100k, so it's not possible to convince Honda to cover it under the extended warranty. I took it to a paint/body shop, who wants $650 to resurface and repaint it.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ALL HONDAS ARE HAVING THE SAME PAINT ISSUE. ME AND MY HUSBAND WENT THROUGH OUR APARTMENT COMPLEX AND LOOKED AT OTHER HONDAS AND WE WERE AMAZED .... ALL OF THEM LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE TOOK A SPONGE TO THE CARS. I AM SURPRISED THAT MORE PEOPLE HAVE NOT COMPLAINED, BUT THEN AGAIN THEY FIGURE WHY SHOULD THEY. HONDA WILL NOT STEP UP AND FIX THE ERROR. THIS IS THE LAST HONDA I WILL EVER OWN. GOOD LUCK NEW HONDA OWNERS... ONE DAY YOU WILL WAKE UP AND YOUR CAR WILL NOT LOOK SO HOT EITHER.
I am such a Honda fan so it hurts me to put in these complaints. My 2002 Honda Accord is a great car it has 239,800 miles on it and I have never had a problem with it. I have noticed the clearcoat problem that all these other folks have. I will be writing to Honda and complaining. Wish everyone would not blow out Honda so much. Anything made by man will never be perfect. I know the paint problem looks terrible and Honda dropped the ball on this one but over the years I have seen almost every car brand have a paint problem.Honda is stll the best.
The paint on my 2002 Honda Accord is failing. It is a beautiful silver and is dulling to a gradient of grey. The roof near the sunroof is particularly failing. The clear coat is disappearing. My daughter owns a 1995 Accord and her paint is still in pristine condition. I think the car should be repainted to the same caliber as the 1995 models at Honda's expense.
I have a 2002 SE model,coupe...the clear coat on the roof and the trunk is peeling...The same problem with my friend's hondas(he owned 2 of them 1998,2000 both black coupes)...there is definitely an issue with the clear coat on hondas...next time you are somewhere at a big parking lot,like walmart,just find a 1998-2002 honda and you will see that it also have the same problem...i used to have a 1995 accord coupe which i later lost in an accident and the paint on it was bulletproof...i always loved hondas but this problem might make me consider another brand in the future...
This is my second Honda Accord, and overall they have been pretty good. I would have bought a third one but on this 2002 Accord, the paint began to peel. I had the extended 100,000 mile warranty on the car and it was right at 5 years old when this began. I took it to a Honda dealer where I was told that this was very unusual, however it was not covered under the warranty. I took it to a second dealer where they told me that this was a very high demand car in trade, but the paint had cost it most of its value. Again, not covered under warranty. Driving around I'm noticing a lot of Hondas in this age time frame with the same problem. Since this seems to be a somewhat widespread problem, I wish Honda would address it, and at least offer discounted repairs. I would think they would be embarrassed. I still own the car, but when I bought a second car, it was NOT a Honda. The paint problem DEFINITELY lost them a sale. Honda.. Think about the other future sales you have lost because you won't stand behind YOUR mistake!
Defective top coat is making the car I love look awful. People are noticing and commenting on. Honda will not honor and fix problem. I have noticed other models same year same problem. Honda should be ashamed of not repairing. Leaves a bad taste for Honda lovers.Please help and report if you have the same problem.
Last year I noticed tiny little bubbles in the hood of my car. These bubbles then began to spread and then started chipping away. The clear coat is just about chipping away on the entire hood of the car, and it looks awful! Mechanically I've only had the transmission problem that was recognized by the Honda Dealership, and they fixed it no problem. I don't understand why they refuse to recognize all these paint issues with the Accord's as a problem. I see it more often with the darker Accords. I've heard that they continue to blame the owners, but honestly do all bad owners happen to own an Accord, and all have the same problem, and we are all doing the same exact thing to cause it? Really?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
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I already registered a complaint and have not heard a word from Honda as yet.
Theresa Hubin
- Theresa H., Frederick, MD, US