2002 Honda Accord Engine Problems

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11696407

Incident

Oct 2, 2025

The ignition system of the vehicle is faulty. The engine keeps stalling intermittently and the vehicle shuts down. The issue has been observed at both low and high speeds. The issue occurs on average once in two weeks. This issue has put our family's safety in jeopardy. We filed a complaint with Honda but they are not willing to help with addressing this issue. This issue has been a problem for several years with no restitution from Honda. We need to be compensated USD 2.5million for the stress and aggravation this issue has caused us and for putting our family's safety in jeopardy. Please help us by arranging for mediation services with Honda Motor Company of America. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11528676

Incident

Jun 16, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD BANG NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE WATER HOSE HAD FRACTURED IN HALF AND ANTI-FREEZE HAD SPLATTERED EVERYWHERE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER (NORM REEVES HONDA SUPERSTORE CERRITOS 18500 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703; (562) 345-9100) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WATER HOSE AND THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAVE AN OFFICIAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTING PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE 304,000.

NHTSA ID

11355160

Incident

Aug 26, 2020

Mileage

304,000 mi

FOR THE STEERING, THE POWER STEERING PUMP DOESN'T HOLD POWER STEERING FLUID AND WHEN YOU GO AROUND A CURVE AND THERE IS A BUMP IN THE ROAD, YOUR STEERING WHEEL JERKS THE OTHER WAY. IT'S WAY WORSE WITH NO POWER STEERING BUT IT IS STILL THERE EVEN IF YOU HAVE FLUID. THE TRANSMISSION WILL JUMP IN BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR SO ROUGHLY IT FEELS LIKE YOUR TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO FALL OUT, SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T GO BECAUSE OF IT AND IT'S ALMOST CAUSED SOME ACCIDENTS. YOU CAN'T GET UP TO THE SPEED YOU NEED TO WITH IT BEING SO ROUGH AND JUMPY. THEN THERE IS A TICKING NOISE WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDDLE, FROM THE TIMING BELT AND TRANSISTOR. SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I GOT THE CAR, LIKE THE SHIFTING AND THE STEERING. THE TICKING HAS BEEN THERE BUT NOT AS BADLY AS IT IS NOW. I ALSO KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY HONDA DRIVER WITH THESE ISSUES FROM THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND ERA FOR THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID

11257816

Incident

Feb 6, 2018

Mileage

116,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,284.

NHTSA ID

11182013

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

106,284 mi

THE HEADS ON THIS CAR HAVE TO REPLACED, WE PAID OVER $1,000 A FEW YEARS AGO TO REPLACE THE HEADS IN THE CAR. THIS PAST YEAR THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND IT WAS GOING TO COST OVER $1,000 AGAIN. BUT THIS TIME IT CAUSE THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK IN THE ENGINE CASING BECAUSE OF THE HEAD IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11092254

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL: MY TRANSMISSION OF MY VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE A FAULTY PART WAS USED IN THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND WILL COST $3,000 TO FIX BECAUSE HONDA USED A BAD PART. HONDA HAS RECALLED TRANSMISSIONS IN HONDA ACCORDS YEARS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE VEHICLES YEAR. THEY HOWEVER DID NOT DO THIS ONE AND I FEEL LIKE I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE.

NHTSA ID

11079160

Incident

Mar 9, 2018

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD THE CODES PRINTED THAT SHOWED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND CYLINDER FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 279,000.

NHTSA ID

10934797

Incident

May 6, 2016

Mileage

279,000 mi

ALTHOUGH THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED, THE ENGINE BLOCK IS VERY CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO GET OIL ALL IN IT. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE.

NHTSA ID

10860719

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

Mileage

182,500 mi

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS GIVEN ME A PROBLEM ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED IT USED IN 2011. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE MUFFLER FIXED TWICE JUST RECENTLY MARCH 22,2016 COST WAS $422 AND PRIOR IN 2014.. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT JUST KEEPS COMING ON ,AND THE VEHICLE INSPECTION IS FAILING BECAUSE OF EMISSIONS. I AM FEARFUL THAT ODORLESS GASSES ARE SEEPING INTO THE CAR WHICH IS A HAZARD TO MYSELF AND PASSANGERS

NHTSA ID

10852429

Incident

Jan 11, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PRESSURE WAS DOWN AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10787969

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

DRIVING AROUND 60 M/P/H ON 08/12/15 , A BANG CAME FROM THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. WHEN I GOT HOME I INSPECTED THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE SUB-FRAME HAD ROTTEN AND FELL APART, I WAS VERY LUCKY I DID'NT HAVE A BAD ACCIDENT. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT HONDA HAD IT AC DRAINPIPE DIRECTS WATER, WHICH IS RIGHT ONTO THE SUB-FRAME IN THIS SECTION, WHICH CAUSE IT TO RUST OUT FASTER THAN THE REST OF THE FRAME. I WILL BE GETTING IT REPAIRED, BECAUSE MY GRANDDAUGTHER NEED THIS CAR TO GET WORK & COLLEGE. HONDA MOTOR SHOULD REPAY ME. I UNDERSTAND THAT HONDA KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SOME YEARS AGO. (1999 - 2002 PROBLEM).

NHTSA ID

10749533

Incident

Aug 12, 2015

Mileage

146,055 mi

MY HONDA WAS IDLING AS I WAS CLEARING THE SNOW OFF OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR, I COULD SMELL EXHAUST FUMES, I ASSUMED IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS IDLING. AS I DROVE HOME, THE SMELL FADED, SO I DID NOT PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO IT. ON 1/31/15 I HAD MY CAR INSPECTED & THE OIL CHANGED. ASIDE FROM HAVING THE BRAKES & ROTORS REPLACED, ALL WAS WELL & THE CAR PASSED INSPECTION. ON 2/8/15 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE. SUDDENLY MY OIL LIGHT STARTS TO BLINK & THE SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES BECOMES OVER WHELMING. I OPENED MY WINDOWS & CONTINUED HOME. I PULLED THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE & NOTICED A TRAIL OF OIL. I BACKED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE & THERE WAS A POOL OF OIL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. MY HUSBAND & I CHECKED TO BE SURE THE DRAIN PLUG & FILTER WERE INTACT, THEN WE CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND IT WAS EMPTY! WE WERE LUCKY THE ENGINE DID NOT SEIZE UP! WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR NON-HONDA MECHANIC WHO INFORMED US THAT THE BALANCE SEAL HAD BLOWN OUT. AS A RESULT OIL SPRAYED ALL OVER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE.THIS IS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE EXHAUST FUME SMELL PERMEATING THE CABIN. HE TOLD ME THAT HE CAN REPLACE THE SEAL, BUT THAT HE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP, PULLEYS, TENSIONER, CAM & CRANK. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM & THAT THE BALANCE SEALS NOW COME WITH A BRACKET TO HOLD THEM IN PLACE. I ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BALANCE SEALS & HE TOLD ME NO, MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPAIR. I HAD TO PAY $848 TO REPAIR MY CAR DUE TO A BLOWN SEAL THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF. HONDA SHOULD MOST DEFINITELY RECALL THIS MODEL OF ACCORDS & FIX THE BALANCE SEAL ISSUE; FOR NO OTHER REASON OTHER THAN THE DANGEROUS FUMES THAT FILLED THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR. I'D LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. IF YOU SUDDENLY SMELL EXHAUST FUMES, GET THE BALANCE SEAL CHECKED IMMEDIATELY AS IT IS A WARNING! *TR

NHTSA ID

10682782

Incident

Jan 22, 2015

Mileage

130,500 mi

THE SEAL ON THE BALANCE SHAFT CAME OUT, DRAINING ALL THE ENGINE OIL OUT OF THE CAR. POSSIBLY CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. THE CAR HAD IT'S TIMING BELT CHANGED, NOW IT HAS TO BE DONE AGAIN. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ENGINE FIRE. HONDA DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL BUT SHOULD. DORMAN MADE A PART TO LOCK THE SEAL IN TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING. HONDA SHOULD HAVE TO REIMBURSE FOR THE EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10669762

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

126,000 mi

I HAVE HONDA ACCORD 2002 WHICH HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED BY HONDA DEALERS. I RECENTLY GOT MY 120K SERVICE DONE AND SPEND ABOUT $1000 ON SERVICE AND PARTS. AT THAT TIME EVERYTHING WAS DIAGNOSED OK. AFTER COUPLE OF MONTHS DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR NEEDS TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WITH A COST OF $4000 UPWARD. I RESEARCHED ON THE WEB AND CAME TO KNOW THAT THE 2002 ACCORD HAVE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. A RECALL WAS DONE IN 2004 FOR TRANSMISSION. I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY RECALL NOTICE FROM HONDA IN 2004. SINCE HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE I THINK HONDA SHOULD BE LIABLE TO PAY FOR THE COST OF FIXING THE TRANSMISSION. COULD ANYONE LET ME KNOW WHAT IS MY RIGHTS IN THIS SITUATION CONSIDERING IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND HONDA DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD SINCE FAULTY TRANSMISSION CAN LOCK THE ENGINE RESULTING IN CRASH. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561511

Incident

Jan 13, 2014

Mileage

131,000 mi

AUGUST 2013 - JUST STOPPED WHILE DRIVING; PLACED IN PARK AND STARTED OK; DECEMBER 2013 - STOPPED ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING - 60 MPH IN CENTER LANE - DANGEROUS - PLACED IN PARK AND STARTED AGAIN. TOOK TO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AS OLD HONDAS HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM TWO DAYS LATER, JUST STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. PLACED IN PARK AND TRIED TO START; TURNED OVER, BUT DIDN'T START - WAITED 1/2 HOUR - STARTED AGAIN. DROVE ABOUT 10 MILES, THEN STOPPED AGAIN. CALLED TOW TRUCK. NOW IT STARTS, BUT I'M AFRAID TO GO ANYWHERE NOTE: FEELS LIKE I RAN OUT OF GAS WHEN IT STOPS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10556097

Incident

Aug 30, 2013

Mileage

269,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPORTED AS FAILING DUE TO CODES P0705 AND P0706. MY LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP STATED IT WOULD COST $4800 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS APPARENTLY A LONG STANDING ISSUE WITH THESE MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10544028

Incident

Sep 14, 2013

Mileage

136,900 mi

WHEN IAM TRAVELING WITH MY AND MY WIFE BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN MY HONDA ACCORD 2002 GEARS ARE NOT CHANGING .AS HONDA COMPANY KNOW ABT THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE ( LIKE KNOW ISSUE) AND FOR FIXING THIS WE NEED TO SPEND ALMOST 5000$ .BUT WE CAN'T IF HONDA COMPANY KNOW THIS IS COMMON ISSUE WHY THEY ARE NOT RECALLING THOSE TYPES OF CARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10535440

Incident

Jun 22, 2013

Mileage

190,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND MY CAR'S D4 LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING AND WHEN I WOULD SLOW DOWN TO A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR WOULD JERK BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR TO GET IT TO STOP JERKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MAYBE 4 TIMES BEFORE AND I TOOK IT TO SOMEONE AND THEY SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE GOING AND I WOULD NEED A NEW ONE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THESE OLDER HONDA ACCORDS, AND I THINK IT IS ABOUT TIME THEY DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10532714

Incident

Jul 29, 2013

Mileage

148,761 mi

LOST POWER AND UNABLE TO SAFELY CONTROL CAR. PULLED INTO INTERSECTION AND LOST POWER IN FRONT OF ON-COMING TRAFFIC. DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, CARS IS UNABLE TO SHIFT, MAY LOSE POWER OR ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM IN HONDA TRANSMISSION, UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS POWER IS UNRELIABLE AND TRANSMISSION CAN FAIL AT ANY MOMENT. HONDA ALREADY PREVIOUSLY NAMED IN CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, PROBLEMS REMAIN. HONDA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR REPAIR. NTSB NEEDS TO ORDER A RECALL FOR THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. *JS

NHTSA ID

10462224

Incident

Jun 15, 2012

Mileage

87,000 mi

2002 HONDA ACCORD EX V6. THE TRANSMISSION WAS DETERMINED BY HOLLER HONDA TO BE TERMINAL, MEANING NO GOOD NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE DANGER OCCURS WHEN YOU HAVE TO ACCELERATE WITH THE NORMAL TRAFFIC FLOW AND ARE UNABLE TO BECAUSE OF SLIPPING AND IMPROPER SHIFTING. A ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I'M SURE THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS BY PEOPLE WHO UNAWARE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM. FROM WHAT I'VE READ THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, HONDA HAS AGREED TO SPLIT THE COST OF THE REPAIR OF $4,600, WITH MY MOM HAVING ALZHEIMER'S AND ME NO JOB THAT FIGURE MIGHT AS WELL BE 4 MILLION DOLLARS. PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP US WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456010

Incident

Apr 23, 2010

Mileage

20 mi

TRANSMISSION SKIPS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND AND NEEDS REPLACED. ONLY 112,000 MILES AND I HAVE DONE EVERY SERVICE RECOMMENDED - ALL BUT ONE WERE DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP! THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE JERK THERE WHEN ACCELERATING BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10441100

Incident

Dec 13, 2011

Mileage

112,000 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING PAST 20MPH OR WHEN PUTTING IT IN REVERSE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 HONDA ACCORDS YET IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE SINCE A LOT OF DRIVERS APPEAR TO BE HAVING THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10439158

Incident

Dec 1, 2011

Mileage

129,000 mi

TURNING A CORNER OF A BUSY INTERSECTION THE CAR MADE A LOAD WUMP THUNK SOUND AND STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. LUCKILY, NO ONE REAR-ENDED ME OR KNOCKED ME INTO THE POLICEMAN IN THE ROAD CONDUCTING A LICENSE CHECK. *KB

NHTSA ID

10437450

Incident

Nov 23, 2011

Mileage

87,269 mi

CAR DELAYS SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR THEN SHIFTS HARD CAUSING ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE GEAR INDICATOR TO FLASH RESULTING IN LOSS OF MOVEMENT. I HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF THEN RE START TO KEEP MOVING. *KB

NHTSA ID

10425681

Incident

Aug 15, 2011

Mileage

60,000 mi