Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Honda Accord problems

Owners filed 1,062 complaints about the 2002 Honda Accord with NHTSA between Oct 2001 and Nov 2025. The most-cited component is power train (483).

Complaints
1,062
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
133
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
104
People reported injured
Deaths
3
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train483
  2. Air bags274
  3. Structure75
  4. Electrical system70
  5. Vehicle speed control47
  6. Seat belts38
  7. Engine and engine cooling34
  8. Suspension32
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic26
  10. Steering24
  11. Seats19
  12. Engine19
  13. Tires19
  14. Exterior lighting17

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20014
200250
200348
200452
200541
200636
200742
2008103
200995
2010144
201176
201258
201339
201446
201551
201631
201741
201836
201940
20209
20211
20226
20234
20246
20253

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

483 reports6 crashes3 fires
“The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle went over a concrete island with the engine revving and the vehicle accelerating. The contact turned the vehicle to the right and grazed a pole which stopped the vehicle. The contact sustained a knot under her right clavicle but did not seek medical attention. A Police report was filed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 7, 2023Power train, Electrical systemODI 11530813

Air bags

274 reports87 crashes1 fire3 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the driver's side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 354,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 29, 2024Air bagsODI 11611624

Structure

75 reports7 crashes1 fire
“-The front subframe on the passenger side completely rusted through and broke. The driver side is perfectly fine and still has factory paint on it, but the passenger side is completely rusted out. Yes the vehicle and issue are available for inspection. -The front subframe is the frame component that holds and supports your front suspension, steering, engine and transmission. With the failure of the subframe the front passenger side of the car dropped down and the steering and suspension were compromised. Very unsafe for the driver and passengers to lose control of the vehicle. Loss of control is also very dangerous for others on the road. -The problem is very prominent for this year and model of car. It is an engineering flaw from the factory for years 1998-2002. The air conditioning evaporator drain hose is routed right onto the passenger side sub frame. The moisture from the drain is what accelerates the rust. The car only has 55,000 miles on it and it has failed this soon. -The car has been inspected by a shop previously and the shop welded a new support piece to “patch” the frame to make back home. -There were no symptoms, there was just a loud clunk on the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2025Steering, Suspension, StructureODI 11693726

Electrical system

70 reports10 crashes2 fires1 related recall
“Car exploded spontaneously. Fire department thinks it started in the steering wheel/ignition area. Vehicle is still parked on the street and is available for inspection. No one was in or around the vehicle, but it seems if someone had been in the car they would certainly have been incinerated. Anyone in the street would have been struck by shrapnel. Only the fire department has seen the vehicle so far, to put the fire out. This happened last night (1/31/24) about 8:30 pm central time. This happened with no warning, car was parked and turned off - had just been driven 2 hours prior.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2024Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11569213

Vehicle speed control

47 reports18 crashes1 fire
“AS THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE RPMS SUDDENLY ROSE TO 5-7K ! THE DRIVER COULD NOT CONTROL OR STOP IT FROM LURCHING FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC, SO SHE CUT OFF THE ENGINE. UPON TRYING TO RESTART, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AT NORMAL RPM. A BYSTANDER CAME OVER AND ADJUSTED SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE AND IT WORKED AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES SINCE THEN. NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM, BUT AFTER A WEB SEARCH, THIS IS NOT RARE FOR 2002 MODEL. UNACCEPTABLE! THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED AS IT THE CAR IS PUT INTO PARK, AND THE RPMS RISE QUICKLY TO HIGH LEVELS. IT STOPS WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, OBVIOUSLY, AND USUALLY DOES NOT RECUR ON THE SAME DAY. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING ABOUT 1 TIME PER MONTH SINCE WE BOUGHT IT USED FOR OUR TEENAGER TO USE. I'M NOW AFRAID TO LET HER DRIVE IT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE! THIS COULD HAVE KILLED THE DRIVER, MY DAUGHTER, AS WELL AS OTHERS IN HER PATH.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 5, 2020Vehicle speed controlODI 11337559

Seat belts

38 reports8 crashes
“recalled COMPANY HONDA reason I follow them too much time recalled my car over 10 year from 2007 to now , But It did not work , It is not fix include my car was destroy more , they destroy horn my car more , include cheatting and charged my money Recalled INSURANCE department OF CALIFORNIA : they abused POWER Violate my human right and my civil right before COURT and CONGRESS , Include theft my mail certified I bought INSURANCE full way , I was involve accident TO DID NOT HIT RUN and I DID NOT AT FAULT , MY car was total loss , my head pain , injury and I was Vomit , I am not solve settlement and compensation for me , opposite order FEDERAL POLICE KIDNAP , FALSE arrest and mugshot my face as crime and TREASON when I save all my life , my enjoy even my stomach for Tax and full Insurance yes, now I am disability , But before I am disability , I was cosmetologist and professional electronic at MD, OR, CA, AZ I did not involve welfare for my son grown up I live alone and I am single mom I pay full tax and full insurance by my blood , my bone marrow , my tear eye and my sweat ' yes, I love USA and loyal with USA with all my heart I filial piety to all AMERICAN , I…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 2, 2022Air bags, Seat belts, StructureCrash reportedODI 11467144
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.