Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Honda S2000 problems
Owners filed 22 complaints about the 2002 Honda S2000 with NHTSA between Oct 2002 and Jun 2010. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (7).
Complaints
22
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Power train5
- Air bags3
- Vehicle speed control2
- Electrical system1
- Electronic stability control1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Tires1
- Suspension1
- Structure1
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 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
7
3
5
1
2
1
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
7 reports
“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 MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN OF A WORN OUT THRUST WASHER. *NM”
Power train
5 reports
“THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 HONDA ODDYSEY WAS MAKING CLUNKY SHIFTS TO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. LARRY HOPKINS HONDA SERVICE SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACEMENT. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR 1999-2001 HONDA ODDYSEYS TRANSMISSIONS, AND THEY STILL DIDN'T FIX IT ON 2002 MODEL. OTHER INFO: ON 7/16/04, I TOOK CAR IN FOR THE RECALL/FIX (28,537 MILES)-- INSTALL OIL INJECTOR INTO TRANSMISSION. *JB”
Air bags
3 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA S2000. THE CONTACT STATED HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 50 MPH AROUND A CURVE. THE REAR TIRES WOULD NOT GRIP THE ROADWAY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD INTO A NEARBY FOREST. THE VEHICLE CRASHED WITH AN UNKNOWN OBJECT AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LUNG INJURY, BROKEN RIBS AND CONTUSIONS. THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED A BROKEN COLLAR BONE AND NECK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED ON SCENE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000.”
Vehicle speed control
2 reports2 crashes
“WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE (CAR IN REVERSE). DUE TO THE TIGHTNESS OF THE AREA, HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO PULL FORWARD SLIGHTLY AND THEN AGAIN IN REVERSE. WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT IN DRIVE THE SECOND TIME, IT LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING WHEN IT HIT A PARKED CAR. EVERYTHING TURNED OFF ONCE THE CAR WAS PUT IN PARK AND THE IGNITION TURNED OFF. *TR”
Electrical system
1 report1 crash
“2002 HONDA CIVIC COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER BRAKING GOING 15 MPH. CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE FAILERE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALERS AND BEEN SEEN IN MANY WEB FORUMS. THIS TIME MY SON WAS DRIVING WHEN THE ENGINE FAILERE LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKES WENT OUT TURNING A CORNER. NO AIR BAG WAS EVER DEPLOYED WHEN HE HIT THE CURB AND SIGN WHICH SHOULD HAVE AS HE HIT A SIGN AND TREE STRIPPING THE FRONT BUMPER OFF AND CRUSHED THE RADIATOR INTO THE ENGINE. NO AIR BAGS WEAR EVER DEPLOYED. EVEN THE POLICE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND QUESTIONED IT . IT HAPPENED IN THE CITY OF HURST TEXAS. IN THESE FORUMS MANY DRIVERS HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ENGINE FAILERE AND BRAKES IN SOME CASES. HONDA JUST PUT OUT A RECALL ON 1998-2000 FOR THE ENGINE IGNITION SWITCH SHORTING OUT CAUSING ENGINE FAILERE. I SUGGEST THEY INCREASE THAT RECALL TO 2002 POSSIBLY. ALSO I READ WHERE THE ELECTRICAL LOAD DETECTOR IS GETTING WET AND SHORTING OUT CAUSING THE SAME THING IN SOME CARS. IN ONE CASE I READ THAT THE VACUMM HOSE TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER MAY BE BAD. PUMPING THE BRAKES CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL. SO ANY CASE I THINK HONDA HAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH ENGINES STALLING WHILE…”
Electronic stability control
1 report1 crash
“WHILE DRIVING N ON I-97 I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN RIGHT ONTO THE EXIT RAMP TO 32-W WHEN THE STEERING ON MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC FAILED. ALTHOUGH I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THEY ALSO FAILED, AND THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT DOWN AN ENBANKMENT UNTIL IT STRUCK A TREE.*AK”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.