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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
60 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
57 / 2
Average Mileage:
83,978 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.
The yellow light for my side air bags started coming on right in the middle of my driving. The dealer checked it, but it didn't come on when it was being test driven. Now it is coming on constantly and for longer durations. The car is now out of the 3 yr warranty. I was told I'll be charged for checking it out. The dealer said that nothing can be done unless the light is on when they are checking it. Since the yellow light comes on & off while driving, I can not replicate it at will.
2002 Honda Accord SE. The contact's wife was driving at 30 mph on October 18, 2005 and she lost conscious. She hit the vehicle in front. Upon impact, the driver's side air bag did not deploy. She hit the steering wheel and sustained chest injuries. She was taken to hospital by ambulance. A police report was taken. The contact had not contacted dealership or manufacturer. The contact's wife was wearing seat belts. Had the front bumper replaced about three months ago.
While operating my 2002 Honda Accord, , my passenger leaned against the passenger door. The SRS light came on and remained on until the dealer was able to look at the car. It was determined that the occupant position detection system had failed and had to be replaced. I was under the impression that the repair was to have been covered by the vehicle service contract I had purchased when I bought the car in 2001. Of course it was not covered. The repair was a safety related problem for which I had no control over nor did I do anything to cause the ''occupant position detection system to malfunction. The device could have caused serious injury had it deployed accidentally or failed to deploy during an accident.
While sitting at an intersection another vehicle crashed into consumer's vehicle on the passenger's side door, air bags did not deploy. Driver took vehicle to the dealer for inspection, but mechanic claimed that a cause could not be determined at this time.
- Montgomery, AL, USA
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While driving SRS light illuminated the dashboard. Consumer stated that there was a problem with the seat. Consumer contacted the dealer, and was told that there was a piece missing from the seat.
I have a 2002 Honda Accord which has its SRS aribag light on all the time. Honda indicated the onboard computer may be defective, but suggested I replace the battery first before proceeding. I spent $85 for a diagnosis and then $119 to replace a two year old battery and the light is still on! honday wants $800 for a new computer and $400 for labor to replace the computer. A 2 year old car with only 44,000 miles should not have this type of problem. Surfing the iinternet indicates that I am not alone with these troubles.
My car hit another car in the rear. Sustained front bumper, fenders, hood loss. My complaint is that neither of the front airbags deployed. Have visited with several body shops that advise me this is an ongoing problem with Honda.
While driving my husband noticed that the SRS light turned on. We pulled over and restarted the car but the light stayed on. Not knowing what the SRS light indicated I was concerned. So I looked it up on the owners manual the consumer was informed that the cause was due to a tissue box being stuffed under the seat, which had cut the wiring system to the air bag. The manual advised that if the light was on there may be something wrong with the SRS system (air bag) and to have a Honda dealer check it out. I took it into pasadena Honda and explained the problem. The service manager said they would take a look at it and that the car was still under warranty. The service advisor told me that I had stuff under my seat and that I jammed a tissue box under the drivers seat that cut the wiring system to the airbags in my car. I asked him, "to show me the stuff"!. we walked over to the car and all we found was a tissue box. My entire air bag safety system was compromised by a common tissue box. I added that the manufacturer should have had the air bag a system, encased so it does not accidentally become disconnected or cut. I asked, does this mean I don't have airbags now. His answer was that the whole system was down because of the detached wiring. I was so upset and concerned about the safety system failure that when I returned home I immediately called Honda Corp. To express my concern. A Honda customer service operator noted my concern and said an adjuster will call in 3-5 days. On Wednesday August 11, 2004 a Mr. Anthony hill, who represented himself to be the western regional supervisor, called to say that it was not covered under the warranty. I tried to explain what happened but he said, I just want to make this short and get this over with. I would suggest that Honda make every effort to secure and/or encase the wiring for the air bag safety system, so that the consumers cannot accidentally disconnect and/or cut their safety system.
Vehicle was involved in a front T-bone collision while driving at 35 mph. Upon impact, driver's side air bag failed to deploy. The front end of the vehicle was pushed into the engine compartment. Driver's chest hit steering wheel, and driver sustained bruises to chest, whiplash, and a mild concussion.
SRS light came on at about 35,000 miles meaning there was a problem with the seat belt restraint system or airbags. Car is well kept and in new condition. Repairs for this are very expensive. There should be a recall because of numerous complaints about SRS.
SRS light does not go off. Indicates that a fault exists in the air bag safety system. This is the second occurance. Within the first 800 miles of operation, the light did the same thing. The technician at Honda of el paso in el paso, Texas turned the light off and informed me that if it happened again, a part would have to be ordered. The vehicle now has approximately 17,000 miles and the fault has reoccured. The original manufacturer of the required part is no longer producing the part.the vehicle is now at jack diamonds Honda in tyler, Texas. The vehicle is equipped with handicap equipment for use by my wife. I consider the vehicle unsafe to drive with a nonoperational air bag system.
Consumer's vehicle was involved in a collision, it T-boned another vehicle. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Consumer called Honda, and was told that the air bags operated properly, and there was no defect. Consumer did not see why the air bag did not deploy because he was traveling about 40 mph. Consumer was also told by a Honda representative that the sensors were in the fender, and that was why air bags did not deploy. Consumer stated that this made no sense.
The SRS light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer four times. The dealer could not fix the problem. State attorney general deemed the vehicle a lemon.
The airbag light has been on for a month. Consumer is afraid the airbag may not deploy in an accident or may deploy unexpectedly. Dealer has been contacted.
Consumer states that when hit at 35mph in the front center of the vehicle the air bag did not deploy causing minor injuries to the consumer. Dealer notified.
I am the owner of a Honda Accord 2002 ([xxx]). on August 30, 2002 my car was hit by another car at the left front end of my car. In this accident my cars both air bags were deployed. The driver of my car [xxx] was taken to the osf emergency health center in bloomington for the treatment. A second-degree burn on my wife's right hand was diagnosed. For the past five weeks I have tried hard to find out the cause of the second degree burn in the absence of any electrical short circuit or flame. I have contacted Honda co. Twice over the phone but both times they neither answer my question nor was I allowed to speak to any technical person from the Honda company. Also, I have written two letters to them but no response. I am speculating that the second degree burn is caused by some chemicals which came out of the defective air bag. Is there anyway to get Honda's attention at this problem? mr information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Airbag light has illuminated, indicating a problem. Consumer has contacted dealer, parts were not available. Consumer felt very unsafe driving while light was on.
The glove box does not close properly. Occasionally, the driver seat belt will not retract. Dealer found that the belt was curled/twisted. States driver's seat is loose and sometimes upon acceleration and braking, there is movement in the seat. Dealer found track was faulty, but problem still exists. The airbag indicator light came on. Dealer advised that the required part to rectify the problem would be ordered however no one has contacted consumer regarding this matter.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Milpitas, CA, USA