Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Honda Accord submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 47 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 47, in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Accord. The contact stated that after the vehicle was inspected, he was informed by the technician that the vehicle had failed due to the subframe had rusted and was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer nor the manufacture were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,299.
HONDA ACCORD 2001 4-DR SAB: PASSENGER SIDE REAR FRONT ENGINE SUPPORT COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY DUE TO AC LEAK. DRIVER SIDE REAR FRONT SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY FINE, NO RUST. MECHANIC SAID CAR IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE UNLESS I INVEST IN NEW SUBFRAME FOR OVER $1,200. MY CAR ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IT HASN'T BEEN RECALLED FOR CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE AC LEAKAGE. I HAVE FOUND MANY FORUMS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM INCLUDING THE ARTICLE 'CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY REQUESTING RECALL OF 1.5 MILLION HONDA ACCORDS FOR RUST ISSUE IN SUB- FRAME AND HONDA ACCORDS FOUND WITH SUB-FRAMES RUSTED OUT BY THE NHOU. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED DRIVING THIS CAR WHILE I WORKED AS A FOOD DELIVERY DRIVER FOR GRUBHUB. I DESERVE COMPENSATION, MY PASSENGER SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND HANGING BY A THREAD WHEREAS MY DRIVER SIDE SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY FINE. THAT DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED.
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR FRONT ENGINE SUPPORT IS RUSTING AWAY DUE TO A AC LEAK MY CAR WAS BOUGHT LAST YEAR EVERYTHING WAS FINE DUE TO HOT SUMMERS AND SALTY WET WINTERS WHEN THIS SUMMER CAME MY CARS FRAME WHERE THE FRONT SUPPORT MEATS THE BACK END AND WHERE THE ENGINE MOUNT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY DUES TO THE YEARS OF THE AC LEAKING DIRECTLY ONTO THE FRAME WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE INFO WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO ME THAT HONDA WITH THE YEARS 98-02 HAD THIS PROBLEM MY FRAME HAS NOW COMPLETELY BROKEN AND IS HANGING BY A THREAD THIS I'D A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS IF I'M DRIVING AND THE FRAME BREAKS IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUSLY INJURY OR DEATH I NOTICED THE NOISE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND WHEN INSPECTION THE VEHICLE AND DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON THING AND DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE TO FIX THE MISTAKE HONDA MADE HAVING A LEAK THAT DROPS DIRECTLY ONTO THE FRAME AFTER 19 YEARS OF THAT HAPPENING THE CAR IS FINALLY BREAKING DOWN BECAUSE OF IT
SUBFRAME WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION DEW TO RUST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS LARGE HOLES GOING THROUGH IT
FRONT SUB FRAME SUSPENSION PASSENGER SIDE ROTTED . ABOUT TO FALL APART AND/OR CAUSING RIGHT SIDE TO LOSE STEERING CAPABILITY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS RUSTED AND THE SERVICE/MAINTENANCE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,875.
SUBFRAME COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH UNDERNEATH AIR CONDITION. CAR 18 YEARS OLD BUT HAS ALWAYS BEEN KEPT IN THE GARAGE. ALSO IT HAS ONLY 70580 MILES AND HAS BEEN IN FLORIDA FOR A FEW YEARS, AND USED ONLY 3 MOS. PER YEAR.
UPON INSPECTION BY A GARAGE, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE A/C DRAINS INTO FRONT CROSSMEMBER/ SUBFRAME, CAUSING ACCELERATED LOSS OF STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY BY RAPID OXIDATION.
VERY RUST UNDERNEE THE MOTOR SUPORT IS BROKE IS TNGER ON ROAD
TAKATA RECALL I AM WRITING YOU BECAUSE I BROUGHT A CAR A LITTLE UNDER A YEAR AGO. I WAS DRIVING IT 2 WEEKS AGO AND MY BREAKS GAVE OUT IT WAS MY BREAK LINE. I GOT THE CAR LOOKED AT AND MY FRAME IS RUSTED AND CAVED IN ON MY BREAK LINE. I CALLED THE DEALER THE SAME DAY NOMORE THEN 30MIN AFTER IT HAPPEN. THE FATHER WAS NOT THERE WHICH IS THE MAN WHO SOLD ME THE CAR AT NEHRE SERVICE. HE WAS ON VACATION HE CAME HOME 5/16/18 WHICH IS 2WEEKS AND A DAY OF IT HAPPENING. HE TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO CALL THE HONDA FACTORY THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO FOR ME. I'M WRITING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE BY LAW YOU CAN NOT SALE A CAR WITH A RUSTED, DAMAGED OR BRUISED FRAME. HE REFUSED TO LATE ME TRADE IN WHEN MY PAYMENTS WAS DONE WHICH WAS BACK IN SEPTEMBER. I'M TO THE POINT WHERE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. PLEASE HELP ME BECAUSE I PUT 3000 DOLLARS INTO THIS CAR AT THIS MAN SHOP. PLEASE GET BACK TO ME, I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM
TRYING TO AVOID CAR INFRONT, MY SPEED LIMIT IS 35 MPH, CAR WENT DOWN TO THE EMBANKMENT, AIRBAG DEPLOYED.
PAINT PEELING AND FLAKING
THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A WRECK WITH AN 18 WHEELER THAT HAD A TRAILER ON IT. IT PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF MY CAR AND THE TRAILER HIT THE FRONT OF MY CAR WHERE IT TOTALED MY CAR. THE AIR BAG HAD ALL TYPES OF TRASH THAT SMS OUT ONCE THE AIR BAG EXPLODED.AUHUST
FRONT ENGINE CRADLE (PASSENGER SIDE) RUSTED THROUGH, FAILED STATE INSPECTION. AC HAD NOT BEEN USED FOR 5-6 YEARS, JUST FIXED BEFORE THIS SUMMER. ACCORDING TO OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINS, SEEMS IT WAS DUE TO MISPLACEMENT OF AC DRAIN (BY DESIGN) WHICH DRIPS WATER TO THE AFFECTED AREA. MILEAGE 108800.
TAKATA RECALL - ON JAN 10TH 2017 MY SON WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH HIS 2001 HONDA ACCORD AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND STUFF HIT HIM IN THE FACE HE WAS BLEEDING ALL OVER HIS FACE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND ITS NOW SITTING IN A JUNKYARD HERE WHERE WE LIVE I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAR. MY SON WAS RUSHED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM IN RENO, NV. HE IS OK NOW AND HE A LOT OF CUTS, BRUISES AND HAD WHIPLASH. THIS CAR WAS NOT SAFE FOR A TEEN TO BE DRIVING FOR HIS FIRST CAR! THE CAR LOST CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAY AND BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES OFF THE GUARD RAILS AT 65 MPH.
WHILE CHANGING THE FRONT BRAKES ON MY CAR I NOTICED THE RIGHT REAR CORNER OF MY SUBFRAME WAS HEAVILY RUSTED. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE SUBFRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL SPOTS. DIRECTLY BELOW THE AIR CONDITIONING DRAIN TUBE I WAS ABLE TO PUT A FINGER THROUGH THE METAL WITH LITTLE TO NO PRESSURE. THE LOCATION OF THIS DRAIN TUBE ALLOWS WATER TO DRIP DIRECTLY ONTO THE SUBFRAME. THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME HAS BARELY ANY RUST ON IT AT ALL. SEARCHING THROUGH THE INTERNET I FOUND MANY REPORTS AND STORIES FROM OWNERS OF THE 1998 TO 2002 HONDA ACCORDS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. A WALK THROUGH A LOCAL JUNKYARD YESTERDAY PROVIDES FURTHER PROOF THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND HONDA NEEDS TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE PROMPTLY.
MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE FRAME IS ROTTED OUT UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DRIVERS SIDE IS FINE. THE AIR CONDITIONING HOSE DRIPS AT THE SPOT THAT IS RUSTED OUT. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED.
UPON A STANDARD OIL CHANGE AT 160,000 MILES, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT SUB FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE. I WAS TOLD TO TALK TO A BODY SHOP IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THE CAR WASN'T "ROAD SAFE". LOOKED INTO THIS A BIT AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ACCORDS FROM THIS TIME PERIOD DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE AIR CONDITIONING DRAINPIPE (WHICH EMPTIES RIGHT ONTO THE SUBFRAME) . THE CAR FOR THE MOST PART IS RELIABLE, MINUS THE TRANSMISSION THAT FAILED AT 130,000 MILES. BUT A FRAME SHOULDN'T BE "RUSTED THROUGH" AFTER 15 YEARS! SOUNDS UNSAFE, CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF THESE CARS THAT ARE STILL ON THE ROAD. CALLED HONDA TODAY AND WAS INFORMED THE REPAIR WOULD COST OVER $1200 WITH NO GOODWILL ON THEIR END. FIGURED THIS WAS THE BEST ALTERNATIVE TO THE SITUATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, WHICH CAUSED THE PASSENGER TO SUSTAIN A LARGE CUT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FOREHEAD AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE HEAD. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. IN ADDITION, THE DASHBOARD SPLIT IN HALF. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE SUBFRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND IS DUE FOR IMMEDIATE FAILURE. UPON RESEARCHING THE SUBFRAME FOR THE 6TH GENERATION HONDA ACCORD, MULTIPLE ARTICLES, BLOGS, AND EVEN A NEWS VIDEO REPORT BY WEWS NEWS CHANNEL 5, POINT TO A/C DRAIN HOSE AS THE ISSUE CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUBFRAME IS SIGNIFICANTLY IN MUCH BETTER CONDITION VS THE PASSENGER SIDE.
MILEAGE: 133,000- STARTED MY CAR AT HOME AND COULDN'T GET IT OUT OF PARK. TRIED TURNING IT OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN WHILE STEPPING ON THE BREAKS. BREAK PETAL RELEASE AND HIT THE FLOOR. HAD TO TOW VEHICLE TO SHOP. SHOP FOUND THAT ENTIRE UNDER BODY (SUB-FRAME) WAS RUSTED, ROTTED/ LEAKING. BRAKE AND FUEL LINES TOTALLY ROTTED ALONG WITH ENTIRE UNDER BODY, ESPECIALLY NOTED- LOCATED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE STRUT ASSEMBLY, BENEATH THE AIR CONDITIONER DRAIN. TOTAL COST OVER $2,000. ALSO, PAINT PEALING/ RUSTING OFF. STARTED AT 60,000 MILES. AFTER READING HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THESE SAME ISSUES, AND FINDING THAT HONDA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY (AIR CONDITIONER IS LOCATED RIGHT ABOVE ENGINE) I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO SPEND ANOTHER TIME ON THIS CAR AND WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER HONDA FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE. I GUESS PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE HONDA WILL ADMIT MODEL FLAW. I'M SO LUCKY I WASN'T DRIVING WHEN MY BREAKS WENT OUT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
SUBFRAME RUST CAUSED BY MISPOSITIONED A/C DRAIN PIPE DROPPED MY CAR OFF FOR HER 200K TUNE IN NH. THE MECHANIC SAID THE SUBFRAME UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS SHOT. I DEBATED WHETHER TO SPEND $1100 FOR A USED SUBFRAME AND LABOR. DECIDED IT WAS A GAMBLE, BUT PROBABLY WORTH IT. DROPPED IT OFF TWO DAYS LATER AND HE SHOWED ME WHERE. I GRABBED THE FRAME AND IT JUST CRUMBLED. WITH THE NEW SUBFRAME AND TUNE, SHE RUNS LIKE NEW, EVEN AT 200K. LATER I DID MORE RESEARCH LATER AND FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I GOT THE CAR UP ON A FRIEND'S LIFT AND FOUND THE A/C DRAIN HOSE. IT WAS HIGH UP IN THE CAR AND REALLY SHORT! IT POINTED DIRECTLY AT THE SUBFRAME. I SIMPLY REPLACED THE HOSE, CLAMPED IT ON, THEN TIED THE END TO A THINGY FURTHER DOWN, SO THAT THE OPENING POINTED AT THE GROUND. LIKE $2 IN PARTS AND 20 MINUTES, AND I'M AN AMATEUR. I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT HONDA NEVER OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS DESIGN DEFECT. I GET THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR SUBFRAME REPLACEMENTS - THEY'RE A BUSINESS, YADDA YADDA. BUT IT'S SUCH A BASIC OVERSIGHT WITH AN EASY SOLUTION. JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE DILIGENCE ON THEIR PART WOULD HAVE SAVED ME OVER A THOUSAND BUCKS. SUBFRAME RUST IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THEY DESERVE TO BE PUNISHED FOR SUCH LAZINESS AND NEGLIGENCE. TO NIP THIS IN THE BUD: YES, I LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND. THERE'S A LOT OF SALT ON THE ROADS, BUT I WASH THE UNDERCARRIAGE REGULARLY. AND IF IT WERE GENERAL WEAR-N-TEAR, THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME WOULD HAVE HAD SIMILAR LEVELS OF DAMAGE. HOWEVER, THE ROT WAS LOCALIZED DIRECTLY UNDER THE A/C DRAIN HOSE. ALSO, THE DEALERSHIP SAID NOTHING ABOUT SUBFRAME RUST WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL. SOME 100 POINT INSPECTION, HUH?
SUBFRAME RUSTED, PASSENGER SIDE. NOT SURE HOW LONG I DROVE THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE WITH THE BAD FRAME.
MY 18 YEAR OLD SON BOUGHT A 2001 HONDA ACCORD AFTER SAVING HIS MONEY. ONE YEAR LATER WHILE HAVING A OIL CHANGE THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF FRONT SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED SO BAD A SECTION WAS MISSING. TERRIBLE THAT HONDA WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO AFFECT MANY ACCORDS. I ENCOURAGED HIM TO BUY A HONDA OR TOYOTA FOR THEIR RELIABILITY, AT LEAST TOYOTA DID A RECALL ON THEIR FRAMES.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .