7.9
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $2,340
- Average Mileage:
- 99,550 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 190 complaints
Most common solutions:
- honda should recall 2002 accords to replace defective tranny (79 reports)
- honda should replace transmission at no charge (41 reports)
- not sure (29 reports)
- transmission needs to be replaced (13 reports)
- Honda replaced the transmission at no cost (10 reports)
- Honda should replace the transmission (8 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Honda dealer.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I bought this car yesterday and today when I went to work the transmission started shifting rough. I have discovered this is a common problem with the 2002 Honda Accord and this should be repaired.
- Andrew F., Roanoke, VA, US
Took veh into dealer as check iengine light was on and veh was not shifting properly. Was told by dealer that I needed a new transmission at the cost of $3700., but that since I had such low mileage Honda might cover it. I have called around to other independent Transmission shops and was told by several that this is a common problem with the Accords and that it shoudl only cost between $1700-$2200. I'm waiting for word from the dealer if Honda will pay all the cost or part of it.
- Regina G., Menlo Park, CA, US
I bought the car brand new with only 35 miles on it in April 2002. It has been sitting in my garage since august 2007 because of personall reasons. When I finally get to driving it again in September 2010 the transmission starts to slip and shifts hard. WTF! ! ! I bought it cause I love Hondas, but now I don't know.
- Jonathan T., Hesperia, CA, US
wow, what an education I just got. No longer can you buy a Honda with confidence. Obviously 2002 Accords have major problems with the automatic transmissions. Going to go thru the hoops with Honda on this but I'm sure they will deny our claim.
Our car has been taken care of and is in excellent shape at 82,000 miles.
Please everyone complain and register your complaints with Honda for a possible future class action lawsuit.
best to all
- Daniel L., Superior, CO, US
A five year old transmission with 56,000 miles on it, especially in a Honda, which is supposed to be a reputable car, should not have to be replaced.
- Hayley A., Port Charlotte, FL, US
BABY A CAR WELL I DO, AND WHERE DOES IT GET YOU ( TO TRANSMISSION ISSUES.) NOTICE THE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND WOW FUNNY HOW CLOSE IN THE MILEAGE WE ARE. I THINK THAT THERE WAS OF SAYING ITS TIME TO BUY A NEW CAR. MOST ISSUES REGARDING VEHICLES IN LONG TIME SPANS SEEM TO KEEP DISHONEST CAR DEALERSHIPS IN BUSINESS. THIS DOES NOT MAKE ME RUN OUT TO BUY A NEW HONDA. I THINK BEFORE YOU BUY A NEW CAR MAYBE WE NEED TO WRITE UP OUR OWN CONTRACTS. IF SEVERAL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS COME IN ON A VEHICLE THINGS NEED TO BE LOOKED AT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.... OH AND HONESTLY!
- Patty D., Fairfield, OH, US
This is the second time I've had transmission problems in my car within 3 years. The first time I had my transmission replaced, a used one was put in, resulting in the same issue.
- Hayley A., Port Charlotte, FL, US
My 2002 Honda Accord Coupe is top of the line everything, with all the bells and whistles. Today, my transmission wouldn't go into gear for my wife. I was able to get it into gear by placing my foot on the brake and reving the engine until it caught. The car worked fine when it was on the Freeway, but at every stop the Transmission did it again and again.
This is a dangerous circumstance. First, if the Transmission won't engage, the danger of someone rear ending you is really a possibility. But worse, if the car lunges when the Tranny engages, you are very probably going to ram into someone.
This is a genuine problem and I think Honda should stand up and make a recall on these cars. It is pretty unbelievable that they don't consider this a hazardous circumstance in view of uncontrollable lunging, etc.
- Jim P., Garden Grove, CA, US
Faulty torque converter damaged my transmission to the point where both need to be replaced. Dealership said that if the torque converter would have been replaced earlier, the transmission could have been saved, but they had no way to diagnose the problem until the computer sent the appropriate codes. By then it was too late - and I was also driving, in traffic, when suddenly my car wouldn't shift out of first gear.
- Catherine W., St. Petersburg, FL, US
I bought the car brand new in 2002 and loved it! Then a couple of years later the transmission went bad and needed to be replaced luckily under warranty. after the replacement, 45,000 miles later THE SECOND transmission blew and i had to pay out pocket. finally I was so fed up with the transmission problems (and throwing away money and time) i traded it in for a new honda accord 2010.
this was frustrating to me because anyone who saw my car said "wow looks brand new". i kept up with all the maintenence, regular oil changes, changed spark plugs, and EVERYTHING you can imagine to keep a car like new. it wsa a shame that all the money i put into the car, the transmission was actually FAULTY FOR THAT YEAR MAKE OF THE CAR!!!! Why wasnt there a recall????
I should get some osrt of reimbursement for all the money i spent coupled with the fact that i traded it in for another honda...that 2002 shold have lasted me AT LEAST another year. Im a teacher im nyc (far from rich) and wished i was able to rely on a car that i took such good care of.
- Christina M., West Islip, NY, US
Add me to the list of 2002 Accord owners experiencing transmission problems. In reading all the postings on this site, it seems I've been lucky to get this far before my transmission started seriously acting up. So far, the hesitation and slipping problems are primarily around 1st and 2nd gear. I have noticed also the the TCS light often comes on when the vehicle reaches a speed of 50+ miles.
I have been a dedicated Honda buyer for my entire adult life. I plan on calling my dealer tomorrow. Will post an update later. I keep reading about a class action lawsuit. Is anyone aware of any actual progress being made towards this end?
- mhoran, Conway, NH, US
My husband and I bought this car thinking it would be the last car we would need. I am handicapped and in a wheelchair and have hand controls on the car to make it easier for me to drive.
The transmission has started to fail before the car has even reached 100K. We are told that we will either need to repair the solenoid switches or have the transmission entirely replaced. Seeing that there are hundreds of the same complaint on the 2002 Accord transmissions I feel that this is a problem that Honda needs to address and take care of.
I also feel that there is danger when driving the car because as the car jerks forward when downshifting at a stop sign it gives such a jolt that if the driver isn't pressing hard on the brake the car could move into the oncoming traffic. Because I'm using hand controls my confidence in the situation is worrisome and I'd rather not drive the car until the matter is fixed.
- Joanne T., Rogue River, OR, US
honda accord trannys are p.o.s.!!, went tru 2 in 2 years.
- lmicinski, Mishawaka, IN, US
I bought this car for my wife in November 2001, brand new: a 2002 Honda Accord EX. I have always done the regular maintenance on this car.
Around 90,000 miles it started shifting weird, we took it to the Honda dealership in Lewisville, TX and they said it needed a new transmission. I threw A FIT and wondered why a Honda would fall apart so quickly. The salesman called someone to see if they could cover some of the costs and they said 20% if we can down all the maintenance records over the past 9 YEARS! Come on, really?! They told me the tranny fluid looked fine when it was changed.
I will never buy another Honda if this is the way Honda treats their customers. I have always thought of Honda being the strongest, longest lasting cars on the road. To keep that reputation they need to fix these problems and get us back on the road. BULLCRAP!
- Gary S., Lewisville, TX, US
I bought a Honda because at the time they had a good reputation for being reliable car. My transmission would catch some from the start but in got worse. I took it into my local dealership and they said they didn't see any problem and no recalls were issued. I took it to another dealership in a different town and same thing. They acted like they had not heard of any problems. Then I find out that they are seeing issues with the v6 which does not pertain to me. Yet if Honda has tranny problems with some many different makes and models wouldn't that tell you they make a faulty transmission.
I think they need to step up to the plate be accountable for this and take care of Honda customers. The longer they ignore this it will end up in a class action and cost them so much more in the end. I hope this kills Honda's reputation and I'm going to do my part telling everyone I meet the truth about Honda.
- borr, Dallas, TX, US
I have a 2002 Honda Accord EX v6. I bought this car end of February this year. I know the dealership did everything they could to hide the transmission problem. I paid $10,000 for this car. I expected EXCELLENT condition. The dealer blew me off twice when i wanted them to look at it. I took it to another mechanic who told me the transmission needs replacing. I decided to look online to see if anyone else was having the same issues and BAM! thousands of people with the same problem. Honda needs to step up to the plate and own up to this massive mistake! I've always owned Honda and i currently have 2 of them (01 civic), never had a problem like this. From this point on Honda has lost my business. All 2002 Accord transmissions need recalled and replaced at no charge.
- Edward R., Fort Pierce, FL, US
The vehicle has rough (but tolerable) shifting since I bought the car in January 2010. Last week, however, it was stuck in third gear until I turned the car off and on at a traffic light. The check-engine light is on and has been on since.
American Honda (the manufacturer) refuses to help me fix this problem because it has over 100,000 miles, I am the third owner and they have no repair records for it.
- Aaron C., Claremont, CA, US
Transmission continues to become more problematic but Honda dealership can only suggest I bring it in for a trial run and each time I am charged for the appt.
They still have not agreed they have any responsibility for fixing it suggesting there is nothing wrong. I am afraid it will soon lock up and someone will be hurt!!
- M S., State College, PA, US
Car has been great until auto transmission started shifting oddly between first and second gears. Only 80,000 miles at that time. 85,000 now and getting worse. Hesitates, engine revs and transmission jumps roughly into gear. Very similar to the description of the problem experienced by many other compliants on this website. Honda dealer changed fluid and said Honda has not had any problems with that transmission. Mechanics that I know as well as the number of reported complaints tells me this is not the truth. Fluid change had no effect except to lighten my wallet by $100 and was not needed because the fluid had already been changed according to honda specs.
My familly has bought five new hondas since 1993 with only minor problems and I used to be a satisfied, loyal honda owner. If Honda doesn't do something about this problem, then they have lost a good customer to Toyota, Nissan or maybe even Hyndai?
- bobco77, Harrisburg, PA, US
I purchased a 2002 Honda Accord LX from an original owner, two months ago. As of now the speedometer reads just over 65000 miles and tthe engine revs high until it hits 20mph and then bangs into second gear and then does the same thing going into third. When coming to a stop it again jumps forward and thereby could possibly hit a pedestrian or ram into the car in front of it.
ANY CAR THAT UNPREDICTABLY JERKS/LURCHES FORWARD AND COULD RAM INTO THE CAR OR A PERSON IN FRONT OF THEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD.
After researching this problem online i noticed that I'm not alone with this problem and I believe it's a manufacturing defect and this has to be recalled and replaced at Honda's expense.
- Lisa A., Coral Springs, FL, US