RoadVitals

2002 Honda Accord Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
34
Latest May 10, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 1,050 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
9
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
7

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Honda Accord submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 34 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.

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words

BrakesElectrical
Filed May 10, 2020

I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE MY KEYS FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK. OTHER HONDA ACCORDS ARE OF THE SAME YEAR HAVE BEEN RECALLED, EXCEPT FOR MINE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN #05V025000 FOR THE OTHER ACCORDS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
11324005
Incident
May 8, 2020
Mileage
153,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Dec 12, 2017

SRS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR MONTHS. WE GET RECALL NOTICES BUT THE VIN # IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. THE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON WHEN DRIVING. BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. BUT, THE BRAKE LIGHT HAS RECENTLY COME ON WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11054378
Incident
Oct 1, 2017
Brakes
Filed Nov 24, 2017

I WAS AT HOME WENT TO CAR. CAR WOULD NOT START. DASHBOARD SHOWED PROBLEM WAS BRAKE LAMP. HAD ALREADY GONE TO MECHANIC WHO THOUGHT HE CORRECTED PROBLEM BUT OBVIOUSLY HADN'T.

NHTSA ID
11048321
Incident
Nov 24, 2017
Brakes
Filed Nov 24, 2017

DASHBOARD SHOWS: BRAKE LAMP PROBLEM. CAR WAS AT MY HOME AND WOULD NOT START. WHEN CHECKED BY MECHANIC CABLE UNDER BATTERY FRAYED AND WAS REPLACED. CAR WAS THEN ABLE TO BE DRIVEN HOWEVER GOT THE SAME MESSAGE TWO DAYS LATER.

NHTSA ID
11048319
Incident
Nov 21, 2017
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 9, 2017
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CONTINUE TO GAIN SPEED. HAD TO BRAKE REAL HARD, VEHICLE CONT. TO ACCELERATE. EXITING FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED, BLOW A STOP SIGN COULD NOT STOP. CONTINUE HARD BRAKING CAUSED BRAKES TO CATCH FIRE. FINALLY ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. UNKNOWN WHAT CAUSED VEH. TO ACCELERATE

NHTSA ID
11013835
Incident
Aug 5, 2017
Mileage
92,736 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 30, 2015

REAR BRAKES DRAG WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND DRIVEN. *JS

NHTSA ID
10817068
Incident
Aug 28, 2015
Brakes
Filed Feb 12, 2015
Crash reported

2002 HONDA ACCORD LX, THE CONSUMER STATED, SOFT BRAKES CAUSED AN ACCIDENTS. UPDATED 02/18/15 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID
10683337
Incident
Nov 11, 2014
Brakes
Filed Jan 31, 2015

I RECENTLY HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON MY HONDA ACCORD, ALONG WITH A LOWER CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT AND CALIPER/ROTOR REPAIR/REPLACE. UPON PICKING UP MY CAR THE TECHNICIAN ASKED ME TO COME OUT TO THE GARAGE - MY CAR WAS ON A LIFT - HE SHOWED ME SOMETHING ALARMING....THE SUB FRAME IS RUSTING OUT - TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. THERE IS ABOUT A 2" X 3.5" HOLE IN THE FRAME. WHEN I GOT HOME I GOOGLED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND QUITE A FEW COMMENTS/COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS BOARDS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE ON SIMILAR YEAR VEHICLES. MOST OF THE COMMENTS ALSO SAID THE COMPLAINANT FOUND OUT THAT IN THE MODEL YEARS 1998-2002 THE DESIGN ALLOWS THE AC CONDENSER OUTLET DRIP WATER ON THE SUB FRAME AT THIS EXACT POINT. THIS SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING HONDA NEEDS TO ANTE UP TO REPAIR. I HAD PLANNED TO KEEP MY HONDA UNTIL AT LEAST 200,000 OR MORE MILES, NOW NOT SO SURE THAT IS A WISE IDEA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10680269
Incident
Jan 15, 2015
Mileage
175,283 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 28, 2013

DURING A REGULAR OIL CHANGE AT A FIRESTONE AUTO CARE STORE ON 9/12/2009, THE STORE INSISTED THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE MY CAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED. THEN, ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE FIRESTONE STORE AFTER THE OIL-CHANGE AND BRAKE SERVICES, MY NEW BRAKES STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. FIRESTONE DID NOT TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED TO MY NEW BRAKES WHEN I RETURNED TO THE STORE NEXT DAY. I LATER ON LEARNED THAT 1) FIRESTONE HAD INSTALLED INCORRECT BRAKE PADS ON MY CAR ON 9/12/2009 AND 2) THEIR MECHANICS HAD KEPT THE INCORRECT BRAKE PADS ON MY CAR DURING MY RETURN VISIT ON 9/13/2009. THEN, IN MAY OF 2012, I STARTED HEARING NOISES FROM THE BRAKES AGAIN. FIRESTONE INSPECTED MY BRAKES AND INSISTED THAT THEY DID NOTHING WRONG DURING MY SEPTEMBER OF 2009 VISITS AND THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE 1) MY BRAKE CALIPER SYSTEM REPLACED, 2) THE ROTORS REPLACED, 3) THE 2009 FIRESTONE-INSTALLED INCORRECT BRAKE PADS REPLACED WITH THE SAME INCORRECT BUT NEW BRAKE PADS. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE HONDA DEALER AND LEARNED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE CALIPER SYSTEM AND THAT THE INCORRECT BRAKE PADS HAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR. I REPORTED THESE ISSUES TO FIRESTONE'S CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT AND THEY NEVER RESPONDED TO MY COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR MORE THAN A YEAR AND THE INCORRECT BRAKE PADS FIRESTONE INSTALLED IN 2009 ARE STILL ON MY CAR. SINCE 1600 FIRESTONE AUTO CARE STORES IN US SHARE THE SAME AUTO PARTS SYSTEM, THESE STORES MUST HAVE INSTALLED THE INCORRECT BRAKE PADS ON MANY CARS BETWEEN 9/12/2009 AND 6/2/2012 AND PUT MANY MOTORISTS AT DANGER. SINCE THEIR CUSTOMER-CARE DEPARTMENT HAS CHOSEN NOT TO INVESTIGATE AND RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT AND NOT TO DO A GENERAL RECALL OF CARS WHOSE BRAKE PADS FIRESTONE HAS REPLACED DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO PUT THEIR COMPANY'S PROFIT AHEAD OF MOTORISTS' SAFETY AND THEIR WELL BEINGS. CAN YOU HELP? *TT

NHTSA ID
10537617
Incident
Sep 12, 2009
Mileage
78,511 mi
Brakes
Filed May 11, 2010

I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I WAS ONLY GOING PROBABLY 5-10 MILES PER HOUR AS I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. AFTER PUSHING ON THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES, THE CAR SLOWED. AS I RECALL, THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE OVER A YEAR AGO. I THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE BEEN WEARING TOO BIG OF SHOES AND NOT HIT THE BRAKE PROPERLY. IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY. LUCKILY, TRAFFIC WAS SLOW AS I WAS UNABLE TO STOP AT THE STOP SIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10329988
Incident
May 11, 2010
Mileage
59,395 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Jan 30, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2002 HONDA ACCORD AT 30 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN TO 20 MPH TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT TRIED TO STEP ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS TURNED ON. THE CONTACT TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION THEN RESTATED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE DROVE LIKE IT HAD NOT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK THE ENGING SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 03/15/07. *JB

NHTSA ID
10181097
Incident
Jan 28, 2007
Mileage
40,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 26, 2005

DT: WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE RAN GREAT UNTIL 57000 MILES, WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. WHEN DRIVING 55 MPH, CAME TO A RAILROAD CROSSING AND APPLIED WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. BRAKES PRESSURE WAS FELT BUT BRAKES DID NOT GRAB AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WAS NEEDED, AND DRIVER TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURED ON DRY PAVEMENT ON FLAT SURFACE. BRAKES WERE APPLIED UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS. THE ABS SYSTEM IS 4 WHEEL ANTILCOCK. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO FAILURE. NO PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES BEFORE. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT FEEL ANY DIFFERENT THAN NORMAL. HAS HAD AN ESTIMATE FROM A DEALERSHIP, DEALERSHIP REPORTS THAT ENTIRE SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED AND ALL LINES FLUSHED AT A COST OF 2,300. VEHICLE IS REGULARLY SERVICED WITH RECORDS AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10122233
Incident
May 25, 2005
Mileage
57,077 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 16, 2004

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. CONSUMER'S SPEED IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT POWER ASSIST:VACUUM WAS DEFECTIVE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10101036
Incident
Jan 14, 2003
Mileage
11,857 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 10, 2004

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10087639
Incident
Apr 10, 2004
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jul 14, 2004
Crash reported

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT FAILED, AND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10081995
Incident
Jul 3, 2004
BrakesSteering
Filed Feb 19, 2004
Crash reported

THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED AS I WAS PROCEEDING THROUGH A YIED SIGN, THE VEHICLE WHICH PRECEEDED ME HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THE CAR DID NOT STOP. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE ONLY THING STOPPING THE CAR WAS THE IMPACT WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE. BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAPPEN SO FAST, I ASSUMED THAT I DID NOT REACT QUICKLY ENOUGH. ON 1/24/03 WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED, THERE WERE TWO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR WITH ME WHO WITNESS THE BRAKE INCIDENT AGAIN. THIS TIME AS I TRIED TO VERE TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. AGAIN THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE CAR WAS THE IMPACT. IN BOTH SITUATIONS I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND THERE WAS AMPLE TIME FOR THE CAR TO STOP HAD THE BRAKES WORKED. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE HONDA DEALER, THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING BEFORE. I INSISTED THEY CHECK THE VEHICLE OUT ANYWAY AND, OF COURSE, THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS IS A GREAT SAFETY ISSUE AND UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SERIOUS OR EVEN FATAL.

NHTSA ID
10058544
Incident
Dec 7, 2001
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Feb 4, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED ANOTHER VEHICLE TO MERGE INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE LANE, RESULTING IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10057564
Incident
Feb 4, 2004
BrakesSteeringSuspension+1 more
Filed Dec 3, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S STEERING AND SUSPENSION. *MR THERE WERE STEERING PROBLEMS, CLICKING NOISES THAT HAD RUN THROUGH THE SHIFTER AND THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN PLACED INTO GEAR. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM FOUND IN THE STEERING OR THE SUSPENSION. THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RETURN COMPLETELY AND WHEN IT DID IT WOULD DO SO SLOWLY, IT ALSO MOVED IN CIRCLES. THE BRAKE PEDAL MADE NOISES WHEN IT WAS APPLIED AND METAL LIKE NOISES THAT HAD COME FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGH OVER BUMPS. WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR, IT FELT AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY IN PARK. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE RODE ROUGH DUE TO TOO MUCH AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES (OVER 50LBS OF PRESSURE IN TWO OF THE TIRES. *SCC THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND RACK AND PINION WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10050075
Brakes
Filed Sep 26, 2003

DEALER HAS REPLACED REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10040761
Incident
Sep 26, 2003
Brakes
Filed Aug 26, 2003

THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE SPONGY. WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, AFTER ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS, THE PEDAL MOVED, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PRESS DOWN HARDER , TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THE BRAKES PERFORMED AS DESIGNED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10031468
Incident
Jul 29, 2003
Brakes
Filed Jul 16, 2003

CONSUMER NOTICED WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES A CLICKING LOUD NOISE COMING FROM GEAR BOX, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPONG DISTANCE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10029464
Brakes
Filed Jul 11, 2003

CALIPERS ARE RUSTED CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF THE ROTORS AND BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10027046
Incident
Jul 10, 2003
Brakes
Filed Jun 9, 2003

WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH AND COMMING TO AN STOP BRAKES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10022638
Brakes
Filed Dec 30, 2002

VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. BUT DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THESE ARE FAULTY BRAKES. SCC...*AK

NHTSA ID
568452
Incident
Nov 14, 2002
Mileage
134 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 15, 2002

BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR WHEN CAR IS STANDING AND STILL MOTOR RUNNING, CAUSING TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
8022833
Incident
Nov 14, 2002

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .