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.

3.5

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,975 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Honda Accord engine problems

engine problem

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2002 Honda Accord Owner Comments

problem #11

Aug 152011

Accord 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles

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

Car delays shifting into second gear then shifts hard causing engine light to come on and the gear indicator to flash resulting in loss of movement. I have to shut the car off then re start to keep moving.

- West Milford, NJ, USA

problem #10

Dec 192009

Accord 6-cyl

  • 79,664 miles
My 2002 Honda Accord LX-V6 has developed premature failure of both the front and side motor mounts. This is a known defect of Honda V6 vehicles, for which Honda has issued a technical service bulletin (tsb). Motor mounts are not a normal maintenance item; they are not listed in the Honda recommended maintenance schedule for Honda Accord up to 120,000 miles as an item that needs to be replaced or inspected. Many experts suggest that motor mounts should outlast the life of the car; hence this clearly represents a premature failure of a critical engine safety component. The broken motor mounts represent a 'safety-related defect' as described in the U.S. code for motor vehicle safety (title 49, chapter 301). A safety defect is defined as a problem that exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that poses an risk to motor vehicle safety, and may exist in a group of vehicles of the same design or manufacture, or items of equipment of the same type and manufacture. Broken motor mounts (engine mounts) are dangerous and could lead to catastrophic failure at high speed due to wedged linkages causing unintended acceleration and loss of vehicle control. Driving with damaged engine mounts can be very dangerous. The engine can also spin front ward and damage the radiator with the fan blades. The NHTSA has previously recognizing broken engine mounts as a 'safety-related' defect. On October 15, 1971, NHTSA issued a consumer protection bulletin advising motorists of the "potential risks" of broken GM engine mounts. Updated 03/01/10 updated 03/08/10 updated 03/12/10

- Avon, CT, USA

problem #9

Nov 292008

Accord

  • 91,200 miles
My case is very similar to ODI id number: 10251868. I was driving on the freeway. The engine overheated and it was found that the upper radiator hose burst. Engine oil leaked into the cooling system also. The Honda dealer torn down the engine, and did a series of inspections, leak down test, and pressure test. No visible sign of a blown head gasket. No signs of warping and/or cracks on the cylinder head. The service manager said it is probably due to a very porous cylinder head. The most likely cause for the engine overheating is as follows: The porous cylinder head allowed engine oil to leak into the cooling system. The oil deteriorated the rubber gasket on the thermostat. (this was indicated by fresh engine oil residue found on the damaged rubber gasket of the original thermostat.) the deteriorated rubber gasket blocked the flow of the coolant. Without enough flow rate to cool down the system, the coolant boiled inside the hoses. Pressure built up, and the upper radiator hose burst. Coolant leaked out from the damaged hose, and the engine overheated. This is the first time the car has this problem. It has no major problems before. I completed all necessary maintenance on time according to the owner's manual. All major maintenance services were performed by the dealer. To correct the failure, the dealer recommended replacing the whole cylinder head, but the total repair cost for it, including changing the oil-contaminated hoses and others, cost more than $4200. It's just too expensive. All the old parts (damaged hoses, thermostat, etc) are available. Fyi, if it helps any investigations, this car is still torn apart at the dealer as of today.

- Santa Clara, CA, USA

problem #8

Dec 142008

Accord

  • 102,000 miles

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

I purchased this vehicle the end of Mar 2008 with 83000 miles on it. Approx 30 days after purchase I took it in for an oil change, radiator flush and tune up. A week later my car overheated, the upper radiator hose had blown. A new mechanic looked at it and saw evidence of stop leak and said it did not look like it had been flushed-he took care of it properly. Then, approx 30 days later I took the car in for it's scheduled oil change and he said there was oil leaking into the radiator fluids-right now it is a one way leak, the antifreeze is not leaking into the oil. He recommended a head gasket job. During the repair it was discovered that this vehicle had a recent head job done and he put out a query online. The information that came back was that this was a problem that Honda was aware of, but seemed to be keeping quiet about-they had not issued any service warnings, suggestions, or recalls-they were dealing with it on a case-by-case basis...mechanics have determined by trying to fix the problem (head jobs, replacing radiators, etc) and it not being solved that it is a cracked engine block. My mechanic and I agreed to watch it closely and be very diligent with oil changes. With each oil change he also includes a radiator flush as there is always oil in the radiator overflow tank as well as the oil levels are near empty. Last night on the way home it overheated again and when we looked in the radiator it was full of sludge. My "reliable" used car purchase less than nine months ago has become a greater expense to me than if I had purchased a brand new car. The only reason I purchased this car was because of its reliable reputation and the most affordable of a used cars. I simply cannot afford this car, or to get rid of it and get a new one. Any help would be greatly welcomed!

- Lawrence, KS, USA

problem #7

May 312008

Accord

  • 73,860 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle loses power and stalls. All of the instrument panel lights illuminate when this occurs. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer on May 31, 2008 and they kept the vehicle until June 4, 2008. The dealer informed the contact to retrieve the vehicle on June 5, 2008, but she ended up returning the vehicle to the dealer for the same failure. The dealer could not duplicate the failure. No repairs have been made because the dealer could not identify the code related to the failure. The failure mileage was 73,860 and current mileage was 74,000.

- Glendora, CA, USA

problem #6

Feb 142005

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving 45 mph vehicle stalled. Driver was not able to restart vehicle, and had it towed to a dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced.

- Riverdale, MD, USA

problem #5

Aug 082004

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Honda replaced the transmission and engine for a 2002 Honda Accord. The transmission went out again. They will not fix it. I found out that there was no recall for this problem, but Honda would fix it if questioned the cost. They put in the same transmission that was bad in the first place. I had to buy a new car. A friend of mine has the same problem and they are replacing the transmission. Why is there no recall for this?

- Durant, OK, USA

problem #4

May 112004

(reported on)

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Problems with vehicle engine stalling repeatedly.

- Metairie, LA, USA

problem #3

Mar 242004

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer will provide information on the cover motor mount problem.

- Anderson, SC, USA

problem #2

Jul 162003

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The engine light illuminated on the dashboard. The dealer had inspected the vehicle several times however the problem still continued.

- Quincy, MA, USA

problem #1

Jan 302003

(reported on)

Accord

  • miles
There was a rattling sound near the rear door and passenger seat, however the dealer could not duplicate the problem, also the vehicle stalled on numerous occasions.

- Metairie , LA, USA

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