2002 Honda Accord -- Any Common Problems?

[ThirdeYe]

Hey everyone,

I've been looking at used cars to possibly replace my aging Acura. I found a 2002 Honda Accord SE with only 43,000 original miles. It's a 5-speed, which I'd prefer for my next car. I've read a lot of horror stories about the automatics in the early to mid 2000s Accords... but does anyone know if the manuals suffer the same fate, or are they pretty much reliable with regular fluid changes? Anything else to look out for on this particular generation of Accord? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Derek

 

[pbm]

I believe the A/T was the main weakness on the 6th generation Accords (1998-2002) and the 5 speed should be very reliable.

 

[FZ1]

I've got an 02 V6 auto with 134,000. Very good car. The only maintainance,other than routine,was 2 broken motor mounts. So far,so good,on my auto trans. Fingers crossed.

 

[Stang40]

Had a 2000 auto with the 2.3 that was one of my first cars. Bought it with 90k and sold it with 160k a couple of years ago. I had this car when I didn't know anything about cars, so it wasn't taken especially good care of mechanically, and it still never had a single problem. Had the trans flushed at about 100k and never had trouble with it either. The only thing that bothered me was that I could never get the SRS light to turn off.

 

[bepperb]

Is an 02 the last year with the 2.3 or the first year with a new body and the 2.4?

I've owned both. If it's the 2.3 you're due for a timing belt, otherwise my 2000 was great. My 06 with a 2.4 got about 1~2mpg better mileage and a little more power in the low/mid range. The 2.3 vtec (ex and lx) you could actually feel the vtec at 4000 rpm, which is lost on the new car. The older Accord probably had a better interior.

No, on either nothing really to watch for. Both my clutches lasted as long as I owned the car. The first was a 2 door and was lost when I had a second child. The second was a 4 door and sold when I had a third. So maybe watch out for... um... have a birth control discussion.

 

[JHZR2]

The inlaws have one in severe service in the Caribbean.

Its AT failed at 28k miles - not an issue for you.

Otherwise it has been fine, and IMO it rides and drives better than their Camry. Rubber parts are iffy, as they were on the wife's 94 integra though...

 

[SatinSilver]

Is it a coupe or sedan?

2002 was the last year of the F23.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Originally Posted By: bepperb
Is an 02 the last year with the 2.3 or the first year with a new body and the 2.4?

I've owned both. If it's the 2.3 you're due for a timing belt, otherwise my 2000 was great. My 06 with a 2.4 got about 1~2mpg better mileage and a little more power in the low/mid range. The 2.3 vtec (ex and lx) you could actually feel the vtec at 4000 rpm, which is lost on the new car. The older Accord probably had a better interior.

No, on either nothing really to watch for. Both my clutches lasted as long as I owned the car. The first was a 2 door and was lost when I had a second child. The second was a 4 door and sold when I had a third. So maybe watch out for... um... have a birth control discussion.


'03 is when they switched body styles. 2002 was the last of that style. I figured it would be due for a timing belt due to age rather than mileage... we just did that with my gf's low mileage Civic as well, to be on the safe side.

I've only driven a manual once, so I'm sure I'd be learning it as I test drive it. I think I understand the basics, at least.

 

[SLCraig]

I love that generation of Accord, one with manual should be a great car to get. Don't see those that often up in these parts anymore.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Why not go with a 2003? If you get the 2.4 litre, it has a timing chain and you wouldn't have to worry about changing a timing belt. It's also a nicer car.

 

[JHZR2]

For all the talk about timing belts, really, who cares? Sure, its a $400-$600 job, but at some mileage, the wear on the chain will effect timing too, and at some mileage other parts under there will need replacements.

Timing belts really dont scare me, though I dont currently have any cars that use them. I wouldnt avoid a car just on that basis.

 

[ThirdeYe]

I'd actually prefer an '03 or newer, but it's pretty tough to find ones with this low of mileage. I'm used to timing belts on my Acura, so it's not a big deal to me. Mine's due next year on my Acura anyways, so it evens out.

 

[FZ1]

I prefer to have a car,built,at the end of the model run (98-2002):Not at the beginning of a new model run(2003).

 

[SLCraig]

You would not be disappointed with a 2002, they are less fat than the 2003 and are nicely laid out and well made in and out. I have always really liked that generation (and the one before) and in general are my favorite Accords, other than the late 80's coupes with popup headlights.

 

[ThirdeYe]

We test drove an '04 or '05 (can't remember for sure) Accord and loved it, but it wasn't well taken care of at all. Scrapes, dents, paint peeling, etc. and the interior had a number of broken parts. This one appears to be much better taken care of. I'm checking it out after work. Wish me luck.

FZ1 -- I can understand that. I've heard that from a number of people as well. My parents bought a 2003 Malibu new and we hardly had any problems with it aside from the few common ones (intake manifold gaskets and the cruddy GM brakes). It has well over 100,000 miles on it now and still runs great. That was the last year they were sold to the public, IIRC. I think they sold the leftovers as 2004 "Classic" models to fleets. I've seen quite a few of the first years of those with tons of rust around the gas tank, and we haven't had that issue at all.

 

[meep]

I had an 02SE with the auto. 2.3L. I didn't have any trouble out of it at all.

I think honda 4cyls in general always mate better with manual transmissions. I think the 2.3 MT would be a wonderful car to drive.

Actually I did have one issue... front end alignment. I +1 sized the tires, and the wider tire made it more sensitive to camber. I had a heck of a time getting it aligned--- the shop that got it right had to loosen the engine cradle and ever so slightly push it to the side. It was not an issue after that.

Engine had plenty of power for nice long hwy runs. The AT made it a bit of a dog on hot hot summer days in stop/go/merge. drove like a typical honda-- accurate, smooth, reliable.

Nice car.

 

[Schmoe]

The 03 AT's had their problem....lack of oil on the some of the gears. Easy fix and I believe a factory recall. The only problem I had with my 02 besides the dreaded AT was the clock backlight going out twice....easy to replace yourself, and the SAP. That was also a factory recall. Towards the end of my ownership...started losing dash lights and shift indicator lights and didn't want to fool with it so I traded it in. Other than that, the catalytic converter shield came off and that was it. Great engine, 3.0.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Originally Posted By: Schmoe
The 03 AT's had their problem....lack of oil on the some of the gears. Easy fix and I believe a factory recall. The only problem I had with my 02 besides the dreaded AT was the clock backlight going out twice....easy to replace yourself, and the SAP. That was also a factory recall. Towards the end of my ownership...started losing dash lights and shift indicator lights and didn't want to fool with it so I traded it in. Other than that, the catalytic converter shield came off and that was it. Great engine, 3.0.


I had some of the same problems in my Acura. Interior lights started going out. The one that light up the gear you're in on the center console went out by the shifter, and the light behind the "A/C" button went out as well. Surprisingly, my digital in-dash clock still works fine though.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
Originally Posted By: Schmoe
The 03 AT's had their problem....lack of oil on the some of the gears. Easy fix and I believe a factory recall. The only problem I had with my 02 besides the dreaded AT was the clock backlight going out twice....easy to replace yourself, and the SAP. That was also a factory recall. Towards the end of my ownership...started losing dash lights and shift indicator lights and didn't want to fool with it so I traded it in. Other than that, the catalytic converter shield came off and that was it. Great engine, 3.0.


I had some of the same problems in my Acura. Interior lights started going out. The one that light up the gear you're in on the center console went out by the shifter, and the light behind the "A/C" button went out as well. Surprisingly, my digital in-dash clock still works fine though.


Should say "The one that lights up the gear..."

I forgot to mention that the D4 bulb on the instrument cluster has gone out more than once for the previous owner and was out when I bought it. I just drove without it for the 7 years I've owned it.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

The best combo for Honda's is a 4 with a stick. Someday I will own one.....someday.
This sounds like quite the find. If mechanically it checks out, get it.