RoadVitals

2000 Honda S2000

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
40
Latest Jul 9, 2020
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Jun 1, 2004
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 40 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 Honda S2000, most frequently naming the visibility, body & structure and exterior lighting categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 107 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Visibility817.0%
  • Body & structure714.9%
  • Exterior lighting612.8%
  • Engine510.6%
  • Seat belts48.5%
  • Brakes36.4%
  • Airbags36.4%
  • Electrical24.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
04V257000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

Jun 1, 2004
7,067 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE LENS OF THE SIDE MARKER LAMP AND SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR IN THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY WERE MANUFACTURED WITH INCORRECT DYE.
The risk: THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL AFFECTED TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)Manufacturer number P35View on NHTSA.gov
00V316000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

Oct 10, 2000
9,147 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CAN DEFORM AND CAUSE COMPLETE OR FREQUENT LOCKING OF THE RETRACTOR. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT BELTS CANNOT BE PULLED OUT OF THE RETRACTOR AND CANNOT BE USED.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY.
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.View on NHTSA.gov
00V016000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Jan 24, 2000
4,930 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CONVERTIBLE PASSENGER VEHICLES. WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS DOWN AND THE SEAT IS PUSHED ALL THE WAY BACK, THE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RETRACT PROPERLY RESULTING IN SLACK IN THE SEAT BELTS.
The risk: THIS SLACK CAN REDUCE THE PROTECTIVE CAPABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BELTS AND INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP COVER TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE WITH THE SEAT BELT.
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 40
Body & structureSteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 9, 2020
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING MY S2000 AND TURNING ON CURVY ROADS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN CORRECTLY AND ENDED UP IN A FIELD TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE NOTICED THE UPPER CONTROL ARM SPOT WELD BROKE FREE MEANING THE UPPER SUSPENSION MOUNT WAS NOT CONNECTED AND CAUSED THE INCIDENT. HONDA KNOWS IT'S AN ISSUE WITH 2000-2003 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES AND HAS ISSUED A TSB SN040903 "09/01/2004 POPPING FROM FRONT WHEEL UPPER CONTROL ARM MOUNT" MULTIPLE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE ISSUE OVER THE YEARS SO MUCH THAT MANY COMPANIES DEVELOPED REINFORCEMENT PLATES SUCH AS THESE: HTTPS://ORIGINFABRICATION.COM/PRODUCTS/UPPER-CONTROLL-ARM-MOUNTING-POINT-GUSSET-KIT-HONDA-S2000 IF THIS ISSUE HAD OCCURED JUST 500 FEET BEFORE I WOULD HAVE ENDED UP STEERING INTO AN ONCOMING SEMI-TRUCK.

NHTSA ID
11338343
Incident
Jul 3, 2020
Mileage
79,520 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 9, 2020

YOUR WEB SITE DOES NOT SEARCH THE VIN. VIN IS CORRECT. WEB SITE IS UNRESPONSIVE

NHTSA ID
11298166
Incident
Jan 9, 2020
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 8, 2009

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2000 HONDA S2000...THIS PAST MONTH I REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES FOR BOTH HEADLIGHTS BECAUSE THE PLASTIC SHIELDS WHICH PROTECT THE LIGHTS HAD DETERIORATED SO MUCH THAT VIRTUALLY NO LIGHT WAS EMITTING FROM THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE PART WHICH WAS THE PROBLEM (THE PLASTIC LENS COVER OR SHIELD)CANNOT BE REPLACED AS A SEPARATE PART..YOU MUST PURCHASE THE COMPLETE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FROM HONDA...AS THERE ARE NO AFTER MARKET ALTERNATIVE PARTS...THE COST FOR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WAS $1,100 PLUS TAXES...AGAIN NOTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THE ENCASEMENTS WERE REPLACED..STILL USING THE ORIGINAL BULBS, MOTORS, TRANSFORMERS, ETC.....IT'S OUTRAGEOUS THAT A PART WOULD DETERIORATE TO THE POINT OF IT BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT I AM STUCK WITH AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE OF CLOSE TO $1,200 TO CORRECT THE SITUATION... THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN OFFER IN THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10264487
Incident
Mar 19, 2009
Mileage
82,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 10, 2008

DIP STICK SHOWED GOOD OIL LEVEL. HOWEVER, UPON DRIVING IT ONE DAY THE ENGINE BLEW AND THE LOW OIL WARNING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. ENGINE CONSUMED OIL ENOUGH THAT IT THREW A ROD BEARING. REPLACED THE BEARINGS AND IT RAN ABOUT 24 MILES AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT DESTROYED THE CRANK IN NUMBER 2 CYLINDER. HONDA CORP. WASN'T VERY FRIENDLY ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH OIL DISTRIBUTION IN THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10233734
Incident
Jun 25, 2008
Mileage
27,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 4, 2006

THE HONDA S2000 IS A MANUAL SHIFT CAR. THE MAP SENSOR ON THIS PARTICULAR CAR ADJUSTS WHEN NEEDED TO CONTROL AIR INTAKE OF THIS CAR. DURING SHIFTING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY STALL AND SHUT OFF, DUE TO SOME TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THIS SENSOR. ON DOZENS OF OCCASIONS, I WAS IN ATLANTA RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND THE CAR STALLED. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND I AM LUCKY THAT I OR NOBODY ELSE WAS HURT. LUCKILY I AM GOOD WITH A STICK SHIFT AND NEW TO PRESS THE SHIFT PEDAL AND COAST TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE I COULD RESTART THE CAR. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IF THEY HAD A WARRANTY ON ALL PARTS OF THE CAR THEY WOULD GO OUT OF BUSINESS. BECAUSE OF THE APPROXIMATELY $900 REPAIR FEE, I SOUGHT HELP ON THE FORUMS OF THE LARGEST S2000 FANSITE. ON THE FORUMS SECTION OF THIS SITE, THERE ARE LITERALLY DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. IN FACT, THERE IS A SECTION ON THE FORUM CALLED THE "MAP WACK", A PROCEDURE WHERE YOU TAKE A HAMMER AND WACK THE MAP SENSOR TO GET IT TO WORK PROPERLY. I AM OUTRAGED THAT THEY HAVE RECALLED MY BACK TAIL LIGHTS BECAUSE THE PAINT COLOR FADES, YET NO SUCH RECALL EXISTS FOR A DEVICE THAT CAN STALL AN S2000 AT ANY SPEED. I ENDED UP GETTING A NEW THROTTLE BODY AND SENSOR AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RESURFACED IN 2 YEARS. HOWEVER, I AM OUTRAGED THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I ONLY LABEL THIS AS A DEFECT BECAUSE THERE ARE LITERALLY DOZENS AND EVEN HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AS MINE ON THE S2000 FANSITE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10172619
Incident
Jun 11, 2004
Mileage
45,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 21, 2006

THE HONDA S2000 IS A MANUAL SHIFT CAR. THE MAP SENSOR ON THIS PARTICULAR CAR ADJUSTS WHEN NEEDED TO CONTROL AIR INTAKE OF THIS CAR. DURING SHIFTING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY STALL AND SHUT OFF, DUE TO SOME TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THIS SENSOR. ON DOZENS OF OCCASIONS, I WAS IN ATLANTA RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND THE CAR STALLED. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND I AM LUCKY THAT I OR NOBODY ELSE WAS HURT. LUCKILY I AM GOOD WITH A STICK SHIFT AND NEW TO PRESS THE SHIFT PEDAL AND COAST TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE I COULD RESTART THE CAR. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IF THEY HAD A WARRANTY ON ALL PARTS OF THE CAR THEY WOULD GO OUT OF BUSINESS. BECAUSE OF THE APPROXIMATELY $900 REPAIR FEE, I SOUGHT HELP ON THE FORUMS OF THE LARGEST S2000 FANSITE. ON THE FORUMS SECTION OF THIS SITE, THERE ARE LITERALLY DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. IN FACT, THERE IS A SECTION ON THE FORUM CALLED THE "MAP WACK", A PROCEDURE WHERE YOU TAKE A HAMMER AND WACK THE MAP SENSOR TO GET IT TO WORK PROPERLY. I AM OUTRAGED THAT THEY HAVE RECALLED MY BACK TAIL LIGHTS BECAUSE THE PAINT COLOR FADES, YET NO SUCH RECALL EXISTS FOR A DEVICE THAT CAN STALL AN S2000 AT ANY SPEED. I ENDED UP GETTING A NEW THROTTLE BODY AND SENSOR AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RESURFACED IN 2 YEARS. HOWEVER, I AM OUTRAGED THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I ONLY LABEL THIS AS A DEFECT BECAUSE THERE ARE LITERALLY DOZENS AND EVEN HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AS MINE ON THE S2000 FANSITE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10171502
Incident
Jun 15, 2003
Mileage
42,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 19, 2004

THE REAR PLASTIC WINDOW BECAME OPAQUE AND YELLOW, TO THE POINT WHERE 3 YEARS AFTER BUYING THE CAR, YOU COULD NOT SEE THROUGH IT AT ALL. THIS MADE THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS NOT DOWN, BECAUSE REAR VISIBILITY WAS ONLY THROUGH THE SIDE MIRRORS. WHILE I WOULD CONSIDER A FUNCTIONAL REAR WINDOW TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, HONDA REFUSED TO REPLACE IT, SAYING MY WARRANTY DID NOT APPLY TO "UPHOLSTERY". I ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN IT WITH VARIOUS WINDOW CLEANERS, AND WHILE THEY HELPED RESTORE OPACITY, THEY DID NOT RESTORE TRANSPARENCY OR VISIBILITY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10104096
Incident
Jan 1, 2004
Mileage
22,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 1, 2004

DEALER TRIED TO REMOVE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DUE TO RECALL 004V160000 INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE COVER AS THE RECALL STATED. CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS GLUED TOGETHER WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK IT UP. DEALER STATED THAT THE TOP IS GETTING OLD. *AK

NHTSA ID
10090218
Incident
Aug 31, 2004
Mileage
37,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

A07-030

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

"Service Bulletin - There are several A/C leak detection tools available. -Refrigerant Gas Leak Detector -Ultrasonic Leak Detector -Leak Dye"

SB-99-075

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

HONDA: TROUBLESHOOTING OF DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) P1456 AND P1457. DEALERS ARE TO RUN EVAP FUNCTION TEST TO FIND IF THERE IS A LEAK SO THE VEHICLE CAN BE REPAIRED. *KB

08-040

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY REDUCED LABEL FOR ALL HONDA VEHICLES. *PE

1205

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION GRINDS AT SHIFTS, SKIP SHIFTING. *TT

02065

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

CONVERTIBLE TOP DOES NOT OPEN PROPERLY. *TT

09012005

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE OIL COOLER CENTER BOLT TORQUE SPEC. *NM

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Honda S2000 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2009000—
2008300—
2007310—
2006102053.0
2005150041.6
2004500—
2003800—
2002100040.8
2001130048.9
2000Viewing403047.0

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.