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:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
84,983 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.
My 2002 Honda Accord SE (automatic transmission, 4-cyl) has problems with the transmission. It is very slow to shift from 1st to 2nd gear. The transmission has been flushed without positive results and it has been recommended that the transmission be replaced. The mileage is 106,000 miles. Hearing of other similar complaints, this could have negative results in heavy traffic. A owner of a transmission repair business, said this car should not be driven and it has been known to have the transmission come apart on the road.
2002 Honda Accord with automatic transmission transmission started slipping after 64,000 miles and is a known defect in this year model car. I started slipping in first gear and then in first and second gears. I started doing some research and this is an issue with many customers and Honda refuses to help resolve the issue. I called Honda of America and they told me they knew nothing about this issue and refused to help with it. I did a search on google for "2002 Honda Accord transmission issues" and found people had the same problem.
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. When the accelerator pedal was engaged the vehicle accelerated when she shifted from first to second gear. The failure occurred intermittently and it also recurred while driving in reverse. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where she was informed that the failure was within the transmission. An authorized dealer informed her that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure continued to occur intermittently. The failure and current mileages were 110,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact was driving approximately between 30-40 mph, the transmission exhibited severe hesitation and slipping of the gears. The vehicle taken was taken to a transmission auto shop for diagnosis. The technician informed that the transmission would need to be replaced. The transmission was replaced with a new transmission. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
- New Cumberland, PA, USA
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2002 Honda Accord started having transmission problems around 98K miles. Transmission would jerk and slip and then stay stuck in first gear. Eventually the tcs lights would come on and light up the prnd321 indicating an electrical problem. Would have to pull off the road in busy traffic and shut down the car and then restart it to clear the electrical issue. Eventually would get the car to shift out of first gear and then could continue on driving. After reading hundreds of the same complaints online, I contacted Honda customer service who then directed me to the dealer. The dealer charged me $115 to hook my car up to the computer to tell me I had a transmission problem and it would need to be replaced with an estimate of $4500. The dealer called the regional case manager at Honda to request a goodwill repair assistance and they were turned down. The dealer indicated that Honda was not obligated to do anything since the vehicle was out of warranty. I referred to the hundreds of exact same complaints and the safety issues involved with a car not being able to drive normally in traffic. I am now researching the cost to repair the transmission (outside of Honda) as opposed to the $4500 charge they wanted to replace the faulty transmission.
Honda has an ongoing problem with the 2002 Honda Accord transmissions. I bought my car in February of this year with 64000 miles on it. The transmission is ruined in this car. The dealership definitely did their best to cover this issue before I drove it off the lot. Come to find out Honda has thousands of complaints on defective transmissions on this model Accord. Honda needs to be found at fault for this issue. I bought the car for $10,000 and am now stuck with a lemon and a $3000 repair bill that I cannot afford. Honda needs to step up to the plate and held accountable.
The transmission is failing, shifting hard and slowly, especially at slower speeds. It occurs every time I drive the car. Have not gotten the transmission replaced yet.
I bought my 2002 Honda Accord 4 door ex automatic from a coworker approximately 1.5 years ago. I immediately noticed hard shifts from first gear to second gear during any type of acceleration. The issue has been getting worse and worse. Under no circumstances should a transmission be faulty at under 100,000 miles. What is more disturbing is that Honda recalled the 2001 Accord for this issue and they used the same transmission in the 2002's. this is a major problem, especially when a $2000 transmission replacement is the end-game. Honda must take responsibility for their lack of quality and recognize that their reputation as a quality auto manufacturer is in serious jeopardy.
2002 Honda Accord ex sedan had total transmission failure with only 80,000 miles, it never had difficulty engaging gears or rough shifting, it just stopped one day. I brought it to the dealership and they told me that I had a total transmission failure & would need to replace it or buy another car. I was shocked it had so little miles & needed the transmission($3304.11)! they said they are seeing alot of 1998-2002 Accord needing new transmissions with less than 100,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 15-20 mph, she engaged the accelerator and the vehicle failed to accelerate. She removed her foot from the accelerator and tried to accelerate again and it hesitated. The contact stated the failure was constant. She took the vehicle to a local mechanic and he advised her that the failure was with the transmission. The contact then took the vehicle to an authorized dealer and she was informed that the problem was with her transmission and the cost of the repairs would be approximately $1,700. The vehicle had not been repair. The approximate failure mileage was 76,400 and the current mileage was 76,474.
2002 Honda Accord SE just started having a transmission problem. Car would lurch forward while stopped, which could have caused an accident. The car while driving would surge and jump out of gear, which could also cause an accident. Second transmission in 70,000 miles. After reading on the internet, there has seems to be hundreds of complaints about this transmission. Honda needs to own up to there faulty transmissions.
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at speeds of 35 mph, the vehicle began exhibiting severe jerking while in first and second gear. The dealer advised the transmission would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and would not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 126,000.
This is an update to the safety complaint that I submitted yesterday. I just had an update from the transmission shop about my vehicle. In the initial inspection, they missed the fact that a baring spun out and said this was the actual cause of the transmission going out and that this is a design flaw. The baring part was 91007-pcj-003. They also said that the secondary idle gear was another main component that was part of the problem.
I just purchased a car from a third party and the car drove nicely but it had some dashboard lights on so I took the car to my mechanic the next day. He went through the car and checked the codes. The code that came up was the tc (torque converter) solenoid. He recommended replacing the transmission oil to see if that might knock off some crud off the solenoid. The next day I went to get it serviced and noticed on my way to the mechanic that my car seemed to come to a dead stop when I stopped instead of having the feeling like it was still in gear and ready to move forward. I told my mechanic about it, he did the service and said to drive it around to get the new fluid moving through the system. I immediately started having worse issues, the car was not going into first gear when I hit the gas, the rpms would go up and then the car would lurch forward into second. I felt this was not safe because I could Ram into the car in front of me if I wasn't careful. When I would stop at a light, I would stop several feet behind the vehicle in front of me to allow for more room to lurch ahead, and I was very concerned about parking my car in the garage if it might unexpectedly lurch into the wall. By the time I got home, my D4 light was flashing. My mechanic recommended not driving until the transmission was checked out. I was surprised when the transmission shop said I needed to replace the transmission... at 81,700 miles!"!". the cause of the problem was a clutch drum and something about a ceiling ring being worn down. They did a soft part overhaul and had to replace the torque converter, clutch drum and linear solenoid. After doing some research, I understand that there was a recall for a similar issue for this type of car in a previous year. I think this year should be added to the list.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Geneseo, IL, USA