2002 Honda ACCORD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,050 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
88,573 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 791 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 336 of 1,050 complaints (32.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 449 | 42.8% |
| Braking behavior | 91 | 8.7% |
| Steering behavior | 37 | 3.5% |
| Engine operation | 34 | 3.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 32 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 336 |
| Air Bags | 204 |
| Power Train | 131 |
| Structure:Body | 49 |
| Electrical System | 48 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 |
| Seat Belts | 30 |
| Unknown Or Other | 29 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 336; Air Bags: 204; Power Train: 131; Structure:Body: 49; Electrical System: 48; Vehicle Speed Control: 33; Seat Belts: 30; Unknown Or Other: 29
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 54 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 73 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 174 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 175 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 210 |
| 150,000 and above | 105 |
Under 25,000: 54; 25,000 to 49,999: 73; 50,000 to 74,999: 174; 75,000 to 99,999: 175; 100,000 to 149,999: 210; 150,000 and above: 105
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (210). 259 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 49 |
| 2003 | 46 |
| 2004 | 51 |
| 2005 | 37 |
| 2006 | 36 |
| 2007 | 40 |
| 2008 | 102 |
| 2009 | 94 |
| 2010 | 144 |
| 2011 | 76 |
| 2012 | 58 |
| 2013 | 39 |
| 2014 | 46 |
| 2015 | 51 |
| 2016 | 31 |
| 2017 | 41 |
| 2018 | 36 |
| 2019 | 40 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 3 |
2001: 4; 2002: 49; 2003: 46; 2004: 51; 2005: 37; 2006: 36; 2007: 40; 2008: 102; 2009: 94; 2010: 144; 2011: 76; 2012: 58; 2013: 39; 2014: 46; 2015: 51; 2016: 31; 2017: 41; 2018: 36; 2019: 40; 2020: 9; 2021: 1; 2022: 6; 2023: 4; 2024: 6; 2025: 3
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 449 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 91 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000026 · 2002-12-13 (December 13, 2002)
THE AUTO TRANSMISSION HAS PROBLEM WITH 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. WHEN CAR MOVES SLOWLY AT 20 MILES OR LESS, A ROUGH DOWN SHIFT STARTS FROM THE 2ND GEAR TO 1ST GEAR THAT MAKES CAR JERKING. TOOK IT BACK TO A HONDA DEALER FOR A CHECK BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STILL RANDOMLY SHOWS UP WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN IN THE 25 MILES/H ZONE.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003505 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
ON DECEMBER 27, 2002 I EXPERIENCED POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY HONDA ACCORD LX V4 2002. ON A EXIT OUT OF A SHOPPING CENTER I REGULARLY GO TO (TERRA NOVA SHOPPING CENTER ON EAST H IN CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA) THE CAR IN DRIVE STARTED TO ROLL BACK AFTER THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED AS TRAFFIC STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD. IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM CONTINUING TO REVERSE IN FREE FALL AND STRIKE ANOTHER CAR IN THE REAR IT WAS NECESSARY TO SLAM THE ACCELERATOR DOWN TO REGAIN FORWARD MOTION. AFTER I GOT HOME I CALLED MY DEALER (TIPTON…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006767 · 2003-02-07 (February 7, 2003)
WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006767 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050075 · 2003-12-03 (December 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…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050075 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058544 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
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 R…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058544 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004040 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND IT WOULD BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004229 · 2003-01-30 (January 30, 2003)
THERE WAS A RATTLING SOUND NEAR THE REAR DOOR AND PASSENGER SEAT, HOWEVER THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, ALSO THE VEHICLE STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004229 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074570 · 2004-06-01 (June 1, 2004)
I HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT WRITING TO YOU, BUT I DON'T WANT ANY OTHER FAMILIES TO LOOSE A LOVED ONE . I AM NOT EVEN SURE IF THIS IS A VALID COMPLAINT, BUT HERE IT GOES. MY MOTHER OWNED A HONDA ACCORD, I AM NOT SURE WHAT YEAR BUT SHE BOUGHT IT USED JUST RECENTLY AND IT WAS FAIRLY NEW, MY BROTHER HAS POSSESSION AT THIS TIME AWAITING THE BANK DECISION ON HER ESTATE. DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF APRIL 10, 2004, SOMETIME BETWEEN 2 AND 4 AM, MY MOTHERS CAR ALARM WENT OFF, THE NEIGHBORS WILL TESTIFY TO THIS. (I WAS TOLD IT WAS A FEATURE TO LET …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086847 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING MY HUSBAND NOTICED THAT THE SRS LIGHT TURNED ON. WE PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE CAR BUT THE LIGHT STAYED ON. NOT KNOWING WHAT THE SRS LIGHT INDICATED I WAS CONCERNED. SO I LOOKED IT UP ON THE OWNERS MANUAL THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO A TISSUE BOX BEING STUFFED UNDER THE SEAT, WHICH HAD CUT THE WIRING SYSTEM TO THE AIR BAG. THE MANUAL ADVISED THAT IF THE LIGHT WAS ON THERE MAY BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SRS SYSTEM (AIR BAG) AND TO HAVE A HONDA DEALER CHECK IT OUT. I TOOK IT INTO PASADENA HONDA AN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10086847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088914 · 2004-08-31 (August 31, 2004)
1/4 TO 1/2 GALLON OF FUEL JUST STARTED TO RUN OUT FROM UNDER THE FUEL TANK WILL FILLING UP WITH GAS AT A LOCAL SAFEWAY FOOD STORE .CALLED THE DEALER SIMS HONDA MOUNT VERNON WA THEY SAID IT'S NOT A EMMISION CONTROL DEVICE AND IS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY.I ASKED WHAT ABOUT A SAFETY ISSUE HE SAID IT WAS BUT I WILL COST ME I SAID NO THANKS ILL TRY YOU GUYS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 42,176 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10787969 · 2015-11-03 (November 3, 2015)
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 FAIL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10787969 at NHTSA ↗