RoadVitals

2003 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.
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Latest May 6, 2008
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.
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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.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Honda S2000, most frequently naming the engine, body & structure and brakes categories. 59 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

  • Engine450.0%
  • Body & structure112.5%
  • Brakes112.5%
  • Steering112.5%
  • Tires & wheels112.5%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed May 6, 2008

WHILE TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND DROVE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. AN INSPECTION SHOWED THE TIRE WAS SLIGHTLY INFLATED. (THE RIM WAS NOT CRUSHED INTO THE RUBBER.) I DETERMINED THAT THE SAFEST THING TO DO WAS TO DRIVE THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER AND TAKE THE FIRST EXIT TO GET AWAY FROM THE HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC WHERE I CHANGED THE TIRE. THE TIRE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO RIDING ON AN UNDER INFLATED TIRE. THIS IS NOT SO. BEFORE THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED, I WALKED TO MY CAR FROM THE RIGHT REAR AND I WOULD HAVE NOTICED AN UNDER INFLATED TIRE. ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER LEAVING THAT PARKING PLACE THE TIRE FAILED. MY CAR IS A HONDA S2000 AND I FUSS OVER IT ALL THE TIME. THE TIRES ARE WELL INSPECTED WHEN THE CAR IS WASHED AND THEN TIRE SHINE IS APPLIED. THE TIRE WAS NOT UNDER INFLATED. THE TIRE DEALER COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE OF A PUNCTURE THAT WOULD CAUSE UNDER INFLATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10226861
Incident
May 6, 2008
Mileage
23,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 31, 2007

THE CONVERTIBLE SOFT TOP SEEMS TO HAVE LITTLE HOLES APPEARING THROUGHOUT THE TOP. ALSO CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP ARE ALSO RIPPED DUE TO MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10192090
Incident
Apr 19, 2007
Engine
Filed May 15, 2007

SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE VEHICLE THOROUGHLY MAINTAINED LOST VALVE IN CYLINDER 3.I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT VEHICLE WAS OVER REVVED. I WAS AT A CONSTANT SPEED ON THE HIGH WAY WITH A STATE TROOPER IN FRONT OF ME SO THERE WENT THE OVER REVVED THEORY THAT THEY SEEM TO LIKE PRESENTING EVERYONE. SO IF SOME ONE COULD TELL ME WHY HONDA IS SCREWING EVERYBODY OVER WITH THEIR WARRANTY CLAIM I WOULD APPRECIATE IT,SINCE THE DEALER WANTS TO PUT A MOTOR IN THE CAR FOR 11K.P.S. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 7,000 MILES AND OWE CLOSE TO 200O0 ON THE CAR SO WHAT DO I DO FROM HERE?IM SPEAKING WITH A LAWYER ABOUT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS BEING TOLD THE SAME THING LIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10190809
Incident
May 3, 2007
Mileage
50,500 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 3, 2006
Crash reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED TWICE FOR ABOUT THREE SECONDS EACH TIME. THREE MINUTES LATER, WHILE ENTERING A CURVE, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT HIT A CONCRETE BARRICADE ON THE LEFT SIDE , CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BOUNCE BACK ONTO THE ROAD AND HITTING THE CONCRETE BARRICADE A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE QUARTER PANEL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND FOUND PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN LYING ON THE ROAD ABOUT 25 FEET BEFORE THE CRASH SITE. THE PART WAS NOT RETRIEVED DUE TO THE TRAFFIC. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER BOTH WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS AND SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10146755
Incident
Dec 27, 2005
Mileage
18,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 1, 2004

ENGINE SIEZED, HONDA REFUSES TO HONOR WARRANTY. ALTERNATELY CLAIMS LOW OIL WHICH IS INCORRECT, AND NO OIL LIGHT WAS INDICATED, OR AFTERMARKET AIR INTAKE SYSTEM IN CLEAR VIOLATION OF MAGUNUSSON - MOSS. ESCALATION TO HONDA HQ HAS RESULTED IN NO RESPONSE.*AK SAFETY ISSUE: IF THIS HAD OCCURED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE REAR WHEELS WOULD HAVE IMEDIATELY LOCKED UP CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND ASSOCIATED ACCIDENT/INJURY.

NHTSA ID
10098116
Incident
Oct 1, 2004
Mileage
26,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 3, 2004

ENGINE BEGAN KNOCKING WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY. 14741 MILES ON CAR.OIL LEVEL WAS FULL AND HAD ~1600 MILES ON OIL AND FILTER CHANGE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. WARRANTY DENIED BY HONDA. ENGINE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10083195
Incident
Nov 12, 2003
Mileage
14,741 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 16, 2004

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CASE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER SINCE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID IT WAS A COMPUTER GLICH AND THEY RESET THE COMPUTER. A WEEK LATER ON A TRIP TO TEXAS THE LIGHT RETURNED. WE TOOK THE CAR AGAIN TO THE CLOSEST HONDA DEALER IN TEXAS. THEY CHECKED CAR AND REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES. THE LIGHT STAYED! THEY THEN SAID THAT CYLINDER 2 FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL DAYS! THEY TOLD US TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME TO OKLAHOMA AND THEN TAKE IT TO OUR HONDA DEALER. WE DID AND NOW THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER SAYS THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS CYLINDER 2 REPLACED! THEY SAY IT ISN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE WE REVIVED THE RMPS TO HIGH. WE DID NO SUCH THING AND THEY WANT $1700 TO FIX THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF FAILURE. WE WILL SOON BE FILING SUIT AND CONTACTING THE BBB SINCE THEY WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE WARRANTY! I HAVE READ AND SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10081167
Incident
Jun 7, 2004
Mileage
13,778 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 27, 2004
Crash reported

WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT A GUARD RAIL. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP , BUT DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10071656
Incident
Apr 13, 2004
Mileage
13,000 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"

DLR MSG - Honda

AIR BAGS

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.

DLR MSG - Stop S

AIR BAGS

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.

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

SB-06-085

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

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

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
2003Viewing800
2002100040.8
2001130048.9
2000403047.0

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.