2002 Honda S2000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA S2000. THE CONTACT STATED HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 50 MPH AROUND A CURVE. THE REAR TIRES WOULD NOT GRIP THE ROADWAY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD INTO A NEARBY FOREST. THE VEHICLE CRASHED WITH AN UNKNOWN OBJECT AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LUNG INJURY, BROKEN RIBS AND CONTUSIONS. THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED A BROKEN COLLAR BONE AND NECK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED ON SCENE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

NHTSA ID

10334453

Incident

May 17, 2010

Mileage

97,000 mi

2002 HONDA S2000 ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DUE TO SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. *TS NEITHER THE DEALER, MANUFACTURER OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. FOUR WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A WEAK BATTERY AND REPLACED IT ALONG WITH THE SPARK PLUGS. AFTER THAT REPAIR THE DEALER STATED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. UPON THE CONSUMER'S REQUEST THE DEALER DID A FURTHER BREAK DOWN OF THE ENGINE AND DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE LOCK UP WAS CAUSED BY A MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN OF A WORN OUT THRUST WASHER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10149739

Incident

Oct 31, 2005

Mileage

39,000 mi

(1) NO KNOWN EVENTS LEADING UP TO FIRST FAILURE. SECOND FAILURE, IS DUE TO AN UNEXPLAINED OIL LOSS. NO OIL TRAILS ARE VIABLE FROM / ON THE ENGINE, NOR ARE THERE PUDDLES PRESENT IN THE DRIVEWAY. LAST OIL CHANGE WAS LESS THE 10 DAYS PRIOR TO THE CRANK BEARING FAILURE. OIL LEVEL VERIFIED GOOD BY OWNER PRIOR TO LEAVING SERVICE STATION AND AT NO TIME DID THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COME ON. (2) "FIRST FAILURE", HEAD DAMAGE DUE TO MISALIGNED VALVE AND LOSS OF COMPRESSION ON CYLINDER #3. SECOND FAILURE, SHORT-BLOCK DAMAGE DUE TO OIL LOSS AND SUBSEQUENT BEARING DAMAGE. FAILURE CONFIRMED OFF CYLINDER # 3, WITH STETHOSCOPE. (3) REBUILT THE HEAD UNIT AT 6 MONTHS WORTH OF MY TIME, AND AT A COST OF $3,500. CURRENTLY WAITING HAVE THE SHORT BLOCK REPLACED TO CORRECT ITS BEARING FAILURE, AT AN EST. COST OF $8,000. ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN DONE WITH OUT ASSISTANCE FROM HONDA, DESPITE MY BEST EFFORTS IN REPEATEDLY ASKING FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE / COMPENSATION. HONDA AND THEIR DEALERS DO THEIR BEST TO DELAY, IGNORE, REFUTE ALL CLAIMS IN THE HOPES THAT I'LL JUST GO AWAY. I HAVE READ SIMILAR POSTS ABOUT ENGINE FAILURES FOR THE SK2, ALL HAVING A SIMILAR FAILURE ON CYLINDER # 3, AND ALL GETTING THE SAME RESPONSE / TREATMENT FROM HONDA: "THAT THE CUSTOMER CREATED THIS PROBLEM" OR "DESPITE THE FACT IT'S UNDER WARRANTY, IT'S YOUR FAULT THE ENGINE FAILED, AND HENCE WE WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS" EITHER HONDA IS UNAWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ITS DEALERS (WHICH SERIOUSLY I DOUBT), OR IT DOESN'T CARE. REGARDLESS, ITS SERVICE DEALERS ARE RUNNING AMOK, MAKING UPWARDS OF 3 TO 8 THOUSAND DOLLARS A VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10116458

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

16,000 mi

PURCHASED A HONDA S2000 IN AUGUST, 2002. IT HAD TO BE TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS AUGUST 16, 2003. THE CAR WAS SERVED BY HONDA OF MENTOR IN MENTOR, OHIO. DAMAGE WAS TO THE CYLINDER HEAD AND ENGINE BLOCK. A NEW ENGINE ASSEMBLY WITH HEAD WAS REQUIRED GIVEN INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE PISTONS/VALVES. HONDA REFUSED COVERAGE UNDER THE 36/36,000 FACTORY WARRANTY. I HAD ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH CNA NATIONAL WARRANTY CORPORATION AND THEY DENIED BECAUSE "THE MANUFACTURER...VOIDED OR RESCINDED THE FACTORY WARRANTY." THERE WAS 28,948 MILES ON IT. HONDA INSISTED THE DAMAGE WAS HOW DRIVEN/MAINTAINED. I INSTALLED A USED ENGINE (WITH 3,500 MILES) & THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED 9/29/03 BY HONDA OF MENTOR AT A $6,400 COST TO ME. MARCH 25, 2004, THE CAR TAKEN IN BECAUSE THE ENGINE MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK CASE HONDA IN EUCLID, OHIO. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BEARINGS AND BLOCK (#2 AND #3 CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS WERE WELDED TO THE JOURNALS). THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE HAD GONE 9,540 MILES WHEN IT FAILED. [HONDA OF MENTOR'S INVOICE-MILEAGE WHEN RECEIVED AT 28,948. RICK CASE HONDA'S INVOICE - MILEAGE AT 38,488 MILES; A DIFFERENCE OF 9,540 MILES.] THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD 2 ENGINE FAILURES IN 1 1/2 YEARS. BOTH DUE I BELIEVE TO PROBLEMS IN THE CAR NOT HOW IT WAS DRIVEN/MAINTAINED. THE INITIAL FACTORY WARRANTY IN AUGUST, 2002, WAS 36/36,000 AND I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE 1ST MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AUGUST, 2003, AT 28,948 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS INSTALLED SEPTEMBER, 2003, HAD A 12/12,000 LIMITED WARRANTY. IT MALFUNCTIONED MARCH 25, 2004, AFTER 9,540 MILES. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINES TO MALFUNCTION. I AM COPYING AMERICAN HONDA AND CNA INSURANCE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10091140

Incident

Sep 29, 2003

Mileage

28,948 mi

WHILE DRIVING 44 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT CRASHED INTO A CEMENT BARRIER. DRIVER TO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10091636

Incident

Sep 6, 2004

#4 CONECTING ROD BROKE. *PH

NHTSA ID

10030503

Incident

Jul 14, 2003

Mileage

15,460 mi

MY HONDA S2000, WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE OF 2002 CAME WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA SO-2 TIRES FRONT AND REAR. THIS VEHICLE IS USED AS A THIRD VEHICLE IN A TWO DRIVER HOUSEHOLD, AND IS USED ONLY AS A DAILY COMMUTER CAR TO TRAVEL 15 MILES TO WORK (ROUND TRIP). I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR MY STATE INSPECTION, AND AT 6100 MILES, THE REAR TIRES WERE DOWN BELOW 2/32 OF TREAD DEPTH AND THE FRONT TIRES WERE FEATHERED BADLY ON THE INSIDE EDGES (BOTH) AND TREAD WAS BELOW 5/32 OF DEPTH. I HAVE SEEN MANY POSTS OF PEOPLE WITH THESE TIRES WHO HAVE HAD TREAD LIFE WELL BELOW 10K MILES UNDER LITE DRIVING CONDITIONS, WHILE OTHERS CLAIM UP TO 20K, EVEN UNDER HEAVY CONDITIONS. THE TIRES WERE UNACCEPTABLE IN THE RAIN AFTER ABOUT 4000 MILES ON IT AS THE REAR WOULD FISHTAIL EVEN UNDER THE LIGHTEST OF CORNERING. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF HONDA AND BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTON, AND NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO FESS UP TO A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN BATCHES OF THE TIRE HAVING TOO SOFT A COMPUND, OR DESIGN SPEC ISSUES. THIS IS A SERIOUS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. IF I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE MORE OFTEN, I WOULD HAVE RUN THE RISK OF HAVING A TIRE PROBLEM (BLOWOUT OR LOSS OF CONTROL) DUE TO UNACCEPTABLE TIRE WEAR ON THE DRIVE WHEELS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10021068

Incident

May 23, 2003

I HAVE A ONE-YEAR-OLD HONDA S2000. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A DEALER FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND FACTORY RECALL OF SPARK PLUGS. THE REPLACEMENT WAS PERFORMED AND I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK. THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER. I WAS INFORMED THERE NOW WAS 80% LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN ONE OF THE CYLINDERS. I WAS INFORMED THAT I CREATED THIS PROBLEM AND THE WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. I ASKED THE COST AND WAS TOLD I DON'T KNOW. PROBABLY $10,000.00 DOLLARS. I ASKED HOW THAT WAS DETERMINED AND WAS TOLD WE DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT. I COMPLAINED AND WAS INFORMED THAT A DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER DETERMINED OVER THE PHONE THAT I CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I ASKED IF A RENTAL WOULD BE PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD NO THIS IS YOUR FAULT. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE (800) 999-1009. I SPOKE WITH MIKE BOGAN AT EXT 118142. HE INFORMED ME, HE WOULD GET THE ANSWERS. I WAITED TWO DAYS WITH NO RESPONSE. I GOT A VOICE MAIL SAYING THAT THE DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS MY FAULT AND HONDA WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR OR RENTAL. I COMPLAINED THEN ABOUT THE LANGUAGE USED BY TECH # 702 AT CLINTON HONDA. HE INFORMED ME THAT HE DOES NOT LIKE DOCTORS AND SINCE HIS WIFE LOST A LAWSUIT BY A DOCTOR THAT HE WOULDN'T AUTHORIZE ANY REPAIRS FOR MY CAR SINCE I AM A DOCTOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010947

Incident

Feb 28, 2002

Mileage

26,051 mi

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

Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for various 2001-11 Honda models. As of August 4, 2014, affected VINs have been identified, and VIN status inquiry has been updated.

Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for various 2001-11 Honda models. As of July 23, 2014, affected VINs have been identified, and service bulletins 14-040, Safety Recall: Accord, Civic, and Others ? Front Passenger?s Airbag Inflator Can Be Over-Pressurized, 14-045, Recall: Front Driver?s Airbag Inflator May Produce Excessive Pressure After Long-Term Exposure to High Absolute Humidity Recall, and 14-046, Recall: Front Passenger?s Airbag Inflator May Produce Excessive Pressure After Long-Term Exposure to High Absolute Humidity have been posted to ISIS. However, due to the large number of affected units, American Honda is still in the process of populating the VIN status inquiry function on iN, which is expected to take several days. When this process is complete, American Honda will notify all dealers again via iN message. Until that time, the existing acknowledgement procedure must be used for all potentially affected vehicles.

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

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

HONDA: WARRANTY EXTENSION-VEHICLE WARRANTY MILEAGE. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ALLEGING THAT THE ODOMETERS ON CERTAIN 2002-2006 HONDA MODELS WERE OVERSTATING MILEAGE. FEDERAL COURT PROVIDED FINAL APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT ON 12/29/07. NO MODELS LISTED. *PE