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:
$1,500
Average Mileage:
185,500 miles
Total Complaints:
4 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
shift to D then back to R to temporairly fix it (2 reports)
I have been stuck in parking lots for 10 minutes because I couldn't reverse out of the spot, I have almost gotten hit too many times to count from trying to get out of my driveway and halfway through I wasn't able to reverse. It's dangerous and extremely annoying, especially when people repeatedly ask if I have my e brake on when I clearly don't.
Great car otherwise, except for this one anomaly. It started behaving EXACTLY as though the brake was on when I tried to back up. It happens in varying degrees from a minor load to one so great I'd have to floor the car to get it to move. I've discovered that shifting it to D, momentarily, then back to R, temporarily fixes the problem. I sure hope it doesn't get worse.
- Bobbie P.,
Mountain View, CA, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I have been stuck in parking lots for 10 minutes because I couldn't reverse out of the spot, I have almost gotten hit too many times to count from trying to get out of my driveway and halfway through I wasn't able to reverse. It's dangerous and extremely annoying, especially when people repeatedly ask if I have my e brake on when I clearly don't.
- jakkie, Fall River, US