2002 Honda Accord Engine Problems

See attached document for complaint.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD BANG NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE WATER HOSE HAD FRACTURED IN HALF AND ANTI-FREEZE HAD SPLATTERED EVERYWHERE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER (NORM REEVES HONDA SUPERSTORE CERRITOS 18500 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703; (562) 345-9100) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WATER HOSE AND THE WATER PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAVE AN OFFICIAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTING PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE 304,000.

THE HEADS ON THIS CAR HAVE TO REPLACED, WE PAID OVER $1,000 A FEW YEARS AGO TO REPLACE THE HEADS IN THE CAR. THIS PAST YEAR THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND IT WAS GOING TO COST OVER $1,000 AGAIN. BUT THIS TIME IT CAUSE THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK IN THE ENGINE CASING BECAUSE OF THE HEAD IN THE CAR.

ALTHOUGH THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED, THE ENGINE BLOCK IS VERY CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO GET OIL ALL IN IT. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE.

MY HONDA WAS IDLING AS I WAS CLEARING THE SNOW OFF OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR, I COULD SMELL EXHAUST FUMES, I ASSUMED IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS IDLING. AS I DROVE HOME, THE SMELL FADED, SO I DID NOT PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO IT. ON 1/31/15 I HAD MY CAR INSPECTED & THE OIL CHANGED. ASIDE FROM HAVING THE BRAKES & ROTORS REPLACED, ALL WAS WELL & THE CAR PASSED INSPECTION. ON 2/8/15 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE. SUDDENLY MY OIL LIGHT STARTS TO BLINK & THE SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES BECOMES OVER WHELMING. I OPENED MY WINDOWS & CONTINUED HOME. I PULLED THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE & NOTICED A TRAIL OF OIL. I BACKED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE & THERE WAS A POOL OF OIL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. MY HUSBAND & I CHECKED TO BE SURE THE DRAIN PLUG & FILTER WERE INTACT, THEN WE CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND IT WAS EMPTY! WE WERE LUCKY THE ENGINE DID NOT SEIZE UP! WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR NON-HONDA MECHANIC WHO INFORMED US THAT THE BALANCE SEAL HAD BLOWN OUT. AS A RESULT OIL SPRAYED ALL OVER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE.THIS IS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE EXHAUST FUME SMELL PERMEATING THE CABIN. HE TOLD ME THAT HE CAN REPLACE THE SEAL, BUT THAT HE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP, PULLEYS, TENSIONER, CAM & CRANK. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM & THAT THE BALANCE SEALS NOW COME WITH A BRACKET TO HOLD THEM IN PLACE. I ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BALANCE SEALS & HE TOLD ME NO, MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPAIR. I HAD TO PAY $848 TO REPAIR MY CAR DUE TO A BLOWN SEAL THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF. HONDA SHOULD MOST DEFINITELY RECALL THIS MODEL OF ACCORDS & FIX THE BALANCE SEAL ISSUE; FOR NO OTHER REASON OTHER THAN THE DANGEROUS FUMES THAT FILLED THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR. I'D LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. IF YOU SUDDENLY SMELL EXHAUST FUMES, GET THE BALANCE SEAL CHECKED IMMEDIATELY AS IT IS A WARNING! *TR

THE SEAL ON THE BALANCE SHAFT CAME OUT, DRAINING ALL THE ENGINE OIL OUT OF THE CAR. POSSIBLY CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. THE CAR HAD IT'S TIMING BELT CHANGED, NOW IT HAS TO BE DONE AGAIN. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ENGINE FIRE. HONDA DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL BUT SHOULD. DORMAN MADE A PART TO LOCK THE SEAL IN TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING. HONDA SHOULD HAVE TO REIMBURSE FOR THE EXPENSE. *TR

AUGUST 2013 - JUST STOPPED WHILE DRIVING; PLACED IN PARK AND STARTED OK; DECEMBER 2013 - STOPPED ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING - 60 MPH IN CENTER LANE - DANGEROUS - PLACED IN PARK AND STARTED AGAIN. TOOK TO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AS OLD HONDAS HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM TWO DAYS LATER, JUST STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. PLACED IN PARK AND TRIED TO START; TURNED OVER, BUT DIDN'T START - WAITED 1/2 HOUR - STARTED AGAIN. DROVE ABOUT 10 MILES, THEN STOPPED AGAIN. CALLED TOW TRUCK. NOW IT STARTS, BUT I'M AFRAID TO GO ANYWHERE NOTE: FEELS LIKE I RAN OUT OF GAS WHEN IT STOPS. *TR

TRANSMISSION SKIPS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND AND NEEDS REPLACED. ONLY 112,000 MILES AND I HAVE DONE EVERY SERVICE RECOMMENDED - ALL BUT ONE WERE DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP! THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE JERK THERE WHEN ACCELERATING BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING PAST 20MPH OR WHEN PUTTING IT IN REVERSE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 HONDA ACCORDS YET IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE SINCE A LOT OF DRIVERS APPEAR TO BE HAVING THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR

TURNING A CORNER OF A BUSY INTERSECTION THE CAR MADE A LOAD WUMP THUNK SOUND AND STOPPED WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. LUCKILY, NO ONE REAR-ENDED ME OR KNOCKED ME INTO THE POLICEMAN IN THE ROAD CONDUCTING A LICENSE CHECK. *KB

CAR DELAYS SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR THEN SHIFTS HARD CAUSING ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE GEAR INDICATOR TO FLASH RESULTING IN LOSS OF MOVEMENT. I HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF THEN RE START TO KEEP MOVING. *KB

2002 HONDA ACCORD. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG AND SAFETY CAMPAIGN *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER CLEARED THE CODE, BUT THE NEXT DAY, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING AND ONE OF THE DRIVE BELTS WERE NOT PERFORMING CORRECTLY. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE VIOLENTLY WHEN STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE COULD POSSIBLY CONTINUE TO VIBRATE WHEN STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

AT FIRST INSTANCE, THE CAR BEGAN TO SHOW SLUGGISH CONDITIONS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. AS TIME WENT ON, THE 'SLIPS' BEGAN TO GROW MORE AND MORE DANGEROUS TO THE POINT THAT THE CAR COULD BARELY SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS AT ALL AND WAS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR BOTH DRIVER AND TO ANYONE AROUND ME AS I WAS VULNERABLE TO BE REAR-ENDED BY ANYONE TOO CLOSE BEHIND (BECAUSE THE CAR COULD NOT ACCELERATE) AND TO THOSE AHEAD OF ME AS THE CAR TENDED TO JERK FORWARD. AFTER A REPAIR TO THE SOLENOID ONCE BEFORE, THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE IMPROVED, HOWEVER SOME SLUGGISH CONDITIONS REMAIN AND THE CONDITIONS ONLY WORSEN AS TIME GOES ON. AT 102,000 MILES, THE CAR'S 2ND' TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO NEED TO BE REPLACED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR HONDA ACCORDS AS REPORTED ON SEVERAL WEBSITES AND KNOWN AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY INDEPENDENT MECHANICS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND REPREHENSIBLE FOR HONDA TO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. AT THIS CURRENT TIME HONDA REFUSES TO TAKE SUCH ACTION AND WILL ONLY OFFER MINOR REDUCTION IN REPAIR COSTS THAT HARDLY SEEMS FAIR TO THE THOUSAND'S OF OWNERS AFFECTED BY THIS. PLEASE KEEP RECORD OF THIS AND OFFER WHATEVER ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE. SOURCE: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/HONDA/ACCORD/2002/TRANSMISSION/HESITATES_AND_SHIFTS_VERY_HARD.SHTML OTHERS MAYBE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST.

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS GIVEN ME A PROBLEM ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED IT USED IN 2011. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE MUFFLER FIXED TWICE JUST RECENTLY MARCH 22,2016 COST WAS $422 AND PRIOR IN 2014.. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT JUST KEEPS COMING ON ,AND THE VEHICLE INSPECTION IS FAILING BECAUSE OF EMISSIONS. I AM FEARFUL THAT ODORLESS GASSES ARE SEEPING INTO THE CAR WHICH IS A HAZARD TO MYSELF AND PASSANGERS

2002 HONDA ACCORD EX V6. THE TRANSMISSION WAS DETERMINED BY HOLLER HONDA TO BE TERMINAL, MEANING NO GOOD NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE DANGER OCCURS WHEN YOU HAVE TO ACCELERATE WITH THE NORMAL TRAFFIC FLOW AND ARE UNABLE TO BECAUSE OF SLIPPING AND IMPROPER SHIFTING. A ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I'M SURE THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS BY PEOPLE WHO UNAWARE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM. FROM WHAT I'VE READ THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, HONDA HAS AGREED TO SPLIT THE COST OF THE REPAIR OF $4,600, WITH MY MOM HAVING ALZHEIMER'S AND ME NO JOB THAT FIGURE MIGHT AS WELL BE 4 MILLION DOLLARS. PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP US WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON ROADWAY. *TR

PURCHASED THE 2002 HONDA ACCORD SE COUPE IN MARCH 2008 WITH 64K MILES. AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF DRIVING I BEGAN TO FEEL A SLIGHT JERK WHEN I PLACED MY FEET ON THE ACCELERATOR. TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT I NEEDED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. AFTER DRIVING CAR I BEGAN TO FEEL THE SLIGHT JERK AND OVER A YEAR I RECIEVED 2 TRANSMISSION FLUSHES. JERKING HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT I AM NOT ABLE TO TRADE BECAUSE IT IS BASICALLY A LEMON. HONDA DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME NOW THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. OVER 3K TO REPLACE AND AFTER CALLING AMERICAN HONDA THEY REFUSED TO HELP WITH THE COST. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 ACCORDS BUT YET THEY WONT OWN UP TO IT. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A HONDA EVER AGAIN. *TR

MY 2002 HONDA ACCORD LX-V6 HAS DEVELOPED PREMATURE FAILURE OF BOTH THE FRONT AND SIDE MOTOR MOUNTS. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF HONDA V6 VEHICLES, FOR WHICH HONDA HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB). MOTOR MOUNTS ARE NOT A NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEM; THEY ARE NOT LISTED IN THE HONDA RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR HONDA ACCORDS UP TO 120,000 MILES AS AN ITEM THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR INSPECTED. MANY EXPERTS SUGGEST THAT MOTOR MOUNTS SHOULD OUTLAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR; HENCE THIS CLEARLY REPRESENTS A PREMATURE FAILURE OF A CRITICAL ENGINE SAFETY COMPONENT. THE BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS REPRESENT A 'SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT' AS DESCRIBED IN THE U.S. CODE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY (TITLE 49, CHAPTER 301). A SAFETY DEFECT IS DEFINED AS A PROBLEM THAT EXISTS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE OR ITEM OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT THAT POSES AN RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY, AND MAY EXIST IN A GROUP OF VEHICLES OF THE SAME DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE, OR ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT OF THE SAME TYPE AND MANUFACTURE. BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS (ENGINE MOUNTS) ARE DANGEROUS AND COULD LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED DUE TO WEDGED LINKAGES CAUSING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DRIVING WITH DAMAGED ENGINE MOUNTS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. THE ENGINE CAN ALSO SPIN FRONT WARD AND DAMAGE THE RADIATOR WITH THE FAN BLADES. THE NHTSA HAS PREVIOUSLY RECOGNIZING BROKEN ENGINE MOUNTS AS A 'SAFETY-RELATED' DEFECT. ON OCTOBER 15, 1971, NHTSA ISSUED A CONSUMER PROTECTION BULLETIN ADVISING MOTORISTS OF THE "POTENTIAL RISKS" OF BROKEN GM ENGINE MOUNTS. *TR UPDATED 03/01/10 UPDATED 03/08/10 UPDATED 03/12/10

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THE END OF MAR 2008 WITH 83000 MILES ON IT. APPROX 30 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE I TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, RADIATOR FLUSH AND TUNE UP. A WEEK LATER MY CAR OVERHEATED, THE UPPER RADIATOR HOSE HAD BLOWN. A NEW MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAW EVIDENCE OF STOP LEAK AND SAID IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE IT HAD BEEN FLUSHED-HE TOOK CARE OF IT PROPERLY. THEN, APPROX 30 DAYS LATER I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR IT'S SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE AND HE SAID THERE WAS OIL LEAKING INTO THE RADIATOR FLUIDS-RIGHT NOW IT IS A ONE WAY LEAK, THE ANTIFREEZE IS NOT LEAKING INTO THE OIL. HE RECOMMENDED A HEAD GASKET JOB. DURING THE REPAIR IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECENT HEAD JOB DONE AND HE PUT OUT A QUERY ONLINE. THE INFORMATION THAT CAME BACK WAS THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT HONDA WAS AWARE OF, BUT SEEMED TO BE KEEPING QUIET ABOUT-THEY HAD NOT ISSUED ANY SERVICE WARNINGS, SUGGESTIONS, OR RECALLS-THEY WERE DEALING WITH IT ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS...MECHANICS HAVE DETERMINED BY TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM (HEAD JOBS, REPLACING RADIATORS, ETC) AND IT NOT BEING SOLVED THAT IT IS A CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK. MY MECHANIC AND I AGREED TO WATCH IT CLOSELY AND BE VERY DILIGENT WITH OIL CHANGES. WITH EACH OIL CHANGE HE ALSO INCLUDES A RADIATOR FLUSH AS THERE IS ALWAYS OIL IN THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW TANK AS WELL AS THE OIL LEVELS ARE NEAR EMPTY. LAST NIGHT ON THE WAY HOME IT OVERHEATED AGAIN AND WHEN WE LOOKED IN THE RADIATOR IT WAS FULL OF SLUDGE. MY "RELIABLE" USED CAR PURCHASE LESS THAN NINE MONTHS AGO HAS BECOME A GREATER EXPENSE TO ME THAN IF I HAD PURCHASED A BRAND NEW CAR. THE ONLY REASON I PURCHASED THIS CAR WAS BECAUSE OF ITS RELIABLE REPUTATION AND THE MOST AFFORDABLE OF A USED CARS. I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD THIS CAR, OR TO GET RID OF IT AND GET A NEW ONE. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY WELCOMED! *TR