2001 Honda S2000 Complaint Log

This vehicle has the same steering mechanism and the same mechanical issues as the Honda sedans recall earlier this year,, The steering suddenly becomes difficult to turn and hard to maintain. You can restart the car and the steering mechanism will also reset.

WHEN I WAS GOING ON HIGHWAY I FELT REALLY SHAKY STEERING. SO WHEN I GET OUT AND CHECK THE TIRES MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE DISK WAS REALLY HOT. I WAITED LITTLE BIT AND I TRIED TO KEEP GOING TO HOME. HOWEVER IT WAS KEEP GETTING REALLY WARM AND CAUSING THE CAR PULLING ONE SIDE AND SHAKING ON THE STEERING WHEEL. NEXT DAY WHEN I CHECK MY BRAKES AND BRAKE CALIPERS I FOUND OUT MY BRAKE CALIPER WAS SEIZED. AFTER A FEW SEARCHING ON INTERNET I FOUND OUT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I THINK IT MIGHT CAUSE A BIG PROBLEMS AND EVEN ACCIDENTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA S200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ENTERED INTO THE LEFT LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

I OWN A 2001 HONDA S2000. LAST WINTER THE POWER STEERING PERIODICALLY FAILED WHEN I STARTED THE CAR IN COLD WEATHER, IN THE 30 DEGREE OR COLDER RANGE. IT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY UNTIL THE CAR WARMED UP. BEFORE IT WARMED UP, THE CAR HAD NO POWER STEERING AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. AFTER IT WARMED UP, THE STEERING WAS MUCH BETTER, BUT STILL FELT LIKE IT WAS "PULSING" WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL HARD RIGHT OR HARD LEFT. THE SAME THING OCCURRED THIS PAST JANUARY WHEN WE HAD VERY COLD WEATHER HERE IN FLORIDA. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WITH THIS COMPLAINT AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REP THAT HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN HIS CAR, ALSO A HONDA. HE TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS THE ELECTRIC ASSIST WHICH WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY IN COLD WEATHER UNTIL THE CAR WARMED UP. HE OFFERED NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 HONDA S2000, WHICH HAS JUST 30,000 MILES ON IT AND CAME WITH A PLASTIC REAR WINDOW. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE REAR WINDOW BEGAN TO DEVELOP POCK MARKS AND IT BECAME SO BAD THAT IT IS NOW IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE OUT THE BACK. THE CAR BEEN MAINTAINED WELL AND I WAS INFORMED BY THE CAR WASH EXPERTS THAT THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE SUN AND BECAUSE THE REAR WINDOW IS PLASTIC. NOW, IT IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I HAVE CALLED HONDA AMERICA AND REPORTED IT AND REQUESTED THEM TO FIX IT. THEY ALSO SAID THEY WILL NOT FIX IT AND HAD NO SUGGESTIONS EVEN WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS I NOR MY WIFE OR ANYBODY CAN SEE OUT THE REAR WINDOW. INCIDENTALLY, ONE ISSUE IS THAT THE PLASTIC REAR WINDOW WAS DISCONTINUED IN 2001 AND FROM THE MODEL YEAR 2002 ONWARDS, HONDA USED A GLASS REAR WINDOW. AS A RESULT, THERE ARE NOT MANY VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM OUT THERE AND IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IF THE VEHICLE WERE GARAGED 24 HOURS, THAT THE SUN WOULD NOT BEAT ON THE PLASTIC WINDOW AND IT MAY STAY CLEAR. THUS, THERE IS VERY LITTLE OR NO INCENTIVE FOR HONDA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ON THEIR OWN VOLITION. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 HONDA S2000 TO WORK LIKE ANY OTHER NORMAL DAY. I GOT ON THE ON RAMP TO THE FREEWAY AND AT THE END OF THE RAMP I WAS UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SUDDENLY THE CAR BEGAN TO SPIN I TRIED TO COUNTER STEER INTO THE SLIDE TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR SPUN AROUND VIOLENTLY CROSSING THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC AND ENDED UP WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AGAINST THE CENTER DIVIDE. I GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND SEVERAL WITNESSES STOPPED TO SEE IF I WAS OK FROM THERE DESCRIPTIONS I GATHERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL HAD BUCKLED UNDER THE CAR CAUSING IT TO PIVOT ON THAT WHEEL THAT WAS NOW PARALLEL TO THE GROUND AND STILL PARTIALLY ATTACHED TO THE CAR UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THE UPPER A ARM HAD BROKEN AND THE WHEEL ROLLED ON ITS SIDE UNDER THE CAR THE A-ARM HAD SIGNS OF FRESH BREAKAGE BUT ALSO SHOWED RUST ON THE SURFACE OF THE BREAK AS IF IT HAD BEEN CRACKED FOR SOME TIME AND FINALLY BROKE ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BUT I TOOK PICTURES I CAN SEND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMED TO WORK FINE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND MY SEAT BELT HELD I WAS UN INJURED BUT LOST MY CAR. IT SEEMED TO BE A DEFECTIVE CASTING OR WEEK PART THAT CAUSED MY ACCIDENT. IT COULD KILL OTHER PEOPLE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED AT. *TR

THIS STORY REFERS TO THE REAR, RIGHT TIRE OF A 2001 HONDA S2000. I HAD REPLACED THE REAR TIRES LESS THAN TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE050A POLE POSITION TIRES. I DROVE 120 MILES FROM SW RICHMOND, VA TO ANNANDALE, VA. THE PRIMARY HIGHWAYS I TRAVELED DURING THE TRIP INCLUDED I95 N AND I495 INNER LOOP; AND THE CONDITIONS ON I95 N WERE WINDY THE ENTIRE TRIP. I FREQUENTLY HAD TO SWERVE TO COUNTER LARGE WIND GUSTS. A FEW MINUTES AFTER EXITING I95 TO I495 (INNER LOOP) I SMELLED BURNING RUBBER, THEN NOTICED MY REAR TIRE WAS SMOKING LIKE CRAZY. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND MANAGED TO AVOID ONCOMING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC (VERY DANGEROUS). MY CAR ALSO STARTED TO SPIN OUT, BECAUSE BY THEN THE REAR, RIGHT TIRE HAD COLLAPSED WHILE BURNING; BUT I SOMEHOW MANAGED TO SAFELY STOP THE CAR. TWO FIRESTONE DEALERS CLAIM THAT A ROAD HAZARD PUNCTURED THE TIRE, WHICH IN TURN LEAKED, COLLAPSED AND STARTED TO CATCH FIRE. NEITHER DEALER COULD DETERMINE THE LOCATION OR CAUSE OF THE PUNCTURE. THIS INCIDENT SEEMS ODD TO ME, BECAUSE I FELT NO INDICATION OF A FLAT TIRE UNTIL SMOKE BEGAN TO FORM. FOLLOWING TWO PREVIOUS TIRE PUNCTURES (ON THE LAST SET OF TIRES, ONCE AT EACH REAR TIRE), I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING, AND BEFORE THEY CAUSED A PROBLEM. THE REAR, RIGHT TIRE WAS COMPLETELY RUINED, BECAUSE IT STARTED TO SMOLDER AFTER COLLAPSING, SO I REPLACED THE ORIGINAL, TWO-WEEK-OLD TIRE WITH A BRAND NEW IDENTICAL REPLACEMENT. TO THIS DAY I DON'T FEEL FIRESTONE ADEQUATELY INVESTIGATED WHAT CAUSED THE TIRE TO PUNCTURE, AND I WONDER IF A ROAD HAZARD REALLY CAUSED IT. *JB

ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING FACTORS MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS FAILURE TO OCCUR: THE NORMAL WEAR OF HITTING BUMPS, OR TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES IN THE SUMMER (I.E. SUDDEN A/C COOLING AFTER SITTING IN 90 DEG HEAT). I CAN'T THINK OF ANY OTHER CAUSE. THE CLEAR PLASTIC WINDOW THE DRIVER SEES THROUGH WHEN VIEWING THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO CRACK IN MULTIPLE PLACES. OVER TIME THE CRACKS INCREASED IN SIZE. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE PRIMARILY COSMETIC, BUT COULD ALSO POSE A SLIGHT HAZARD WHILE TRYING TO READ THE NUMERIC READOUTS AND INDICATORS. HONDA REPLACED THE PART FOR FREE USING THE WARRANTY, BUT AS I SUSPECTED THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THIS COULD PROVE A MAJOR HEADACHE IF I HAVE TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WINDOW ONCE/YEAR. I'D LIKE A STRONGER PLASTIC OR GLASS REPLACEMENT IF POSSIBLE. *NM

VEHICLE HAS A CONVERTIBLE TOP MADE OF PLASTIC REAR GLASS. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING GLASS WILL FOG UP IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, CAUSING DRIVER NOT TO SEE CLEARLY. *AK

THE TIRES THAT COME ON HONDA S 2000 AUTOMOBILES ARE OFTEN EXHIBITING A TREAD WEAR LIFE OF ONLY 6,000 MILES OR SO, BEFORE THE TREAD BECOMES UNSAFE IN WET WEATHER. AT 10,000 MILES, WEAR IS OFTEN SO THE STEEL BELTS SHOW THROUGH. NEITHER HONDA OR BRIDGESTONE (THE TIRE MAKER) IS TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. ALL OF THESE CARS ARE EFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM, SO THE CAUSE SEEMS TO BE FROM ONE OR MORE BATCHES OF DEFECTIVE TIRES. IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW MANY INJURIES, DAMAGE, OR FATALITIES HAVE RESULTED. HOWEVER, IT IS BEYOND DISPUTE THAT "BALD" TIRES, AND THOSE WITH THE STEEL BELTS IN CONTACT WITH THE ROAD, CONSTITUTE A PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD THAT YOUR AGENCY SHOULD INVESTIGATE. *NLM

I BOUGHT THE CAR USED. IT HAD APPROX 12K MILES ON IT. SINCE I HAVE HAD IT, IT HAS HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION WITH A GRIND INTO 2ND GEAR. THIS IS BEING EXPERIENCE BY MANY OTHER S2K OWNERS. GO TO WWW.S2KI.COM AND DO A SEARCH FOR CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION. HONDA IS NOT HONORING THE WARRANTY CLAIMING IT IS USER NEGLIGENCE.*AK

SQUEAK NOISE WHEN USING CLUTCH. LATER THE SQUEAK GETS LOUDER AND REQUIRES MORE PRESSURE TO PRESS THE CLUTCH. ALSO THE CLUTCH IS NOT SMOOTH OPERATION. *JB

BELOW IS A LIST OF ALL THE FAILURES THAT MY 2001 HONDA S2000 HAS SUSTAINED. THE FIRST BEING THE ONLY ONE THAT HONDA HAS COVERED VIA WARRANTY DESPITE KNOWLEDGEABLENESS OF ISSUES. 1800 MILES - 5TH AND 6TH GEAR SYNCHROS HAD TO BE REPLACED 3000 MILES - CLUTCH FAILURE 8500 MILES - REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE 12000 MILES - SECOND GEAR FAILURE 15000 MILES - ENGINE FAILURE ALL BESIDES THE FIRST WERE DENIED WARRANTY REPAIR FROM WHAT HONDA CALLS "DRIVER ABUSE". HAVING NO PROOF BESIDES THE FACT THAT TIRES I PURCHASED USED SHOWED SOME WEAR. EVEN AFTER THE INITIAL CLAIM OF ABUSE, AFTER BRINGING IT IN FOR THE NEXT ISSUE, THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH SPECIFICS OF TREAD DEPTH OR ANYTHING. ALSO THEY HAD THROWN OUT MY OLD PARTS, FOR THE REASON THAT I BELIEVE TO BE SO I COULDN'T USE THEM AGAINST THEM. *PH