Honda S2000 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
107 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
27,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 67 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 107 complaints (7.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 8.4% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 8.4% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 |
| Structure | 8 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 7 |
| Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Steering | 5 |
| Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Structure: 8; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 7; Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars: 6; Electrical System: 5; Steering: 5; Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear: 5; Air Bags: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 27 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 27; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 40 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2000: 6; 2001: 4; 2002: 6; 2003: 17; 2004: 19; 2005: 3; 2006: 9; 2007: 5; 2008: 6; 2009: 5; 2010: 6; 2011: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2023: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 10089393 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
CONSUMER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM DOES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY YET NOTHING WAS BEING DONE BY THE DEALER TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ALSO, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WILL NOT EVEN TALK TO CONSUMER TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171502 · 2006-10-21 (October 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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171502 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050588 · 2003-12-16 (December 16, 2003)
I OWN A $32,000 HONDA S2000. AFTER ONLY 3 YEARS, MY TAIL LAMPS ARE SO FADED THAT THEY APPEAR ALMOST WHITE. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES, IT LOOKS LIKE I'M IN REVERSE! THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IN MY EYES AND IN THE EYES OF THE COP THAT GAVE ME A TICKET FOR IT. I WENT TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER TO GET THIS FIXED, AND THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT THEY SAID THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I TOLD THEM IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T CARE, WORD FOR WORD! "THAT IS NOT OUR PROBLEM", IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050588 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8002633 · 2002-01-22 (January 22, 2002)
WHEN CONSUMER TAKES FOOT OFF THE BRAKE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS. ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8002633 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11338343 · 2020-07-09 (July 9, 2020)
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 TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,520 miles reported. Look up ODI 11338343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10308641 · 2010-02-11 (February 11, 2010)
I OWN A 2001 HONDA S2000. LAST WINTER THE POWER STEERING PERIODICALLY FAILED WHEN I STARTED THE CAR IN COLD WEATHER, IN THE 30 DEGREE OR COLDER RANGE. IT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY UNTIL THE CAR WARMED UP. BEFORE IT WARMED UP, THE CAR HAD NO POWER STEERING AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. AFTER IT WARMED UP, THE STEERING WAS MUCH BETTER, BUT STILL FELT LIKE IT WAS "PULSING" WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL HARD RIGHT OR HARD LEFT. THE SAME THING OCCURRED THIS PAST JANUARY WHEN WE HAD VERY COLD WEATHER HERE IN FLORIDA. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER W…
Owner-reported narrative. 123,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10308641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172619 · 2006-11-04 (November 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…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 887818 · 2001-05-09 (May 9, 2001)
THERE IS A DEFECT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH IS CAUSING VEHICLE TO FAIL TO START/ WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE, AND HEADLIGHTS FLASHING ON AND OFF. THESE EVENTS OCCUR ON RANDOM BASIS OR WHEN CONSUMER TRAVELS OVER A BUMP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK CONSUMER STATES TURN SIGNALS DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK, ALSO HEADLIGHTS DO NOT JUST FLASH ON/OFF THEY ALSO SOMETIMES JUST STAY OFF, CONSUMER STATES HE REQUESTED THAT THE SECURITY DEVICE THAT IS INSTALLED IN VEHICLE NOT BE INSTALLED IN HIS, CONSUMER STATES ONE MORNING W…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 887818 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149739 · 2006-01-23 (January 23, 2006)
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 MECHA…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193354 · 2007-06-14 (June 14, 2007)
WHEN CAR WAS 8 MONTHS OLD WITH ABOUT 25,000 MILES ON IT, IT BEGAN STALLING. ONLY PREMIUM SHELL GASOLINE WAS EVER PUT IN THIS CAR. INJECTOR CLEANER WAS PUT IN A FEW TIMES WITH NO RESULTS. CAR WAS TAKEN INTO ONE DEALERSHIP TO BE TOLD FIRST THAT "SHE MUST NOT BE PUSHING THE CLUTCH IN ALL THE WAY" AT WHICH TIME THEY DID AN EXTENSIVE TESTING OF THE CLUTCH. WE HAD BOTH TOLD THEM THIS WAS NOT CLUTCH RELATED AS THE CAR WOULD ALSO DIE IN NEUTRAL. SO THEN THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN BAD GAS, AT WHICH TIME THEY GAVE IT BACK. THE SEC…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10193354 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
2000: 3; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 0; 2005: 0; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 0