2002 Honda S2000: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
26,051 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 10 complaints (30.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 10.0% |
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 | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv) | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Suspension:Rear | 1 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv): 2; Air Bags: 1; Suspension:Rear: 1; Tires:Tread/Belt: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2003: 5; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002600 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003207 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
I OWN A 3 MONTH OLD HONDA S2000 THAT HAS A DEFECTIVE ENGINE THAT HONDA REFUSES TO FIX. I WAS TOLD THAT I MAY HAVE ABUSED THE CAR AND HONDA WOULD COVER PART OF THE REPAIR. I WAS DOING RESEARCH OF THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY OF THESE LIMITED PRODUCTION CARS WITH DEFECTIVE ENGINES AND MOST OWNERS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED AND ASKED TO PAY SOME OR ALL OF THE REPAIR BILL. SEVERAL OF THE OWNERS AND MYSELF ARE HAVING TO HIRE ATTORNEYS TO TRY TO MAKE HONDA FIX THESE CARS AND RENT CARS IN THE MEAN TIME. HONDA WILL NOT DISCUSS OR RETURN CALLS WITH ANY OF US. …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003207 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010947 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 26,051 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010947 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021068 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030503 · 2003-07-31 (July 31, 2003)
#4 CONECTING ROD BROKE. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 15,460 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030503 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091140 · 2004-09-16 (September 16, 2004)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,948 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091636 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091636 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116458 · 2005-04-06 (April 6, 2005)
(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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116458 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.