Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the contact crashed into a guard rail, and then the median's metal barrier. None of the air bags deployed upon impact. The contact sustained a bulging disc in her neck, and her husband, who was the passenger, had a broken neck. The contact and her husband later received medical treatment at the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and later taken to the contact's residence, where it remained. The insurance company did not deem the vehicle totaled. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Prior to the collision, the vehicle had previously been serviced for the driver's and passenger's side air bags. The failure mileage was 258,673.
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.
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 …
On Sept. 28, 2023 I was driving this car and it was on a very rough highway and it went into a skid and flipped over and was totaled. It was towed to Willow Creek, CA for one week. I was badly injured and had no way to get to Willow Creek, CA so I had to pay $500 for it to be stored and they eventually got the title of the car from me and allegedly disposed of the 2002 Accord. I did not see it after the accident as I was bedridden and unable to travel to see the condition of my car. The passenger's side of the back seat was GONE and you could see the ground, I do remember that much despite my severe injuries to my head and body. I was the driver and the driver's side airbags failed to deploy despite the numerous time I took it in to Mid-City Motor World in Eureka, CA responding to numerous airbag recalls. …
I was traveling on a three lane road on the morning of 7-18-15. A vehicle in front of me in the middle lane suddenly slowed down. To avoid hitting that vehicle I swerved to the right lane and into the bike lane. I went up the curb with the passenger side of the vehicle and continued on, while braking, and hit a light pole just behind the curb. I had 'help' going up the curb as a farmer (who farms the parcel adjacent to the accident site) had built an illegal 40 ft 'ramp' up the concrete curb with asphalt to allow access for his farm equipment. The driver's side of the vehicle stayed on the road traveling along the curb (in the gutter). The driver's airbag did not deploy. Estimated speed was 50mph per the county sheriff. The vehicle has been inspected by our insurance company and is a total loss. Had to go to the hospital for ct scan of the head as I hit the windshield. …
I was in a bad car accident was on Saturday, 11/02/2019, where both cars were totaled. I was a stoplight on a city street (glenwood dr) waiting to turn left. As I proceed to turn left on a green arrow (going approx 5 mile/hr) I was hit on the passenger side by a vehicle traveling (per the other driver's statement) approximately 37-40 mile/hr at the time of impact. A large part of the impact was absorbed by the left front side of the vehicle and then travel to the passenger door. My airbags had been recalled this summer an taken to Honda of conyers where they were replaced. Unfortunately, no airbags deployed on impact. I was the driver and my 14-year old niece was in the passenger seat. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver and front passenger sustained head injuries. The passengers in the rear sustained neck and leg injuries. The vehicle sustained extensive front end damage. It was unknown if medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. Prior to the incident, the vehicle was taken to the dealer for an air bag inspection where the dealer stated that the air bags were functioning. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 162,000.
I was driving on y way to worked at 40 west around 9:30 am on 03/14/2015 Saturday morning, when one of the car start spinning ahead of me, so I merge to the left hand side to avoid but is too late he still got me...everything is on process tru other party insurance... My main concern is my car driver airbag it wasn't deployed just the passenger side does, and now I got a mail today that they have a recall for airbag on my 2002 Honda civic, if u have any concern on this u May call me at [redacted].
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. While driving, another vehicle ran a stop sign and t-boned the contact's vehicle. The air bag failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the knee, lower and mid back, and neck. Medical attention was not required. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was able to be driven from the scene and was later taken to an independent mechanic for the body repairs. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 227,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 25-30 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed with another vehicle while approaching an intersection. The air bags failed to deploy. Two occupants were injured and received medical attention. A police report was not filed. The air bags were replaced in October of 2014 by the manufacturer. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to the contact's residence. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000...updated 06-16-15 updated 10/18/2017
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
NHTSA investigations
Rupturing driver's air bag inflators
This RQ investigation was opened to collect and analyze additional information to better evaluate the scope and timeliness of Honda's two safety recalls addressing rupturing of the driver's side air bag inflators (08V-593 and 09V-259).In an earlier response to RMD's request for information, Honda indicated that the second recall (09V-259), essentially an expansion of the first (08V-593), was necessary since later…
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Airbag complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2002 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 273 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Honda Accord, 26% of the model year's 1,050 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (25 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Honda Accord airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-499 (inflator module, Jun 27, 2019); NHTSA recall 19V-182 (inflator module, Mar 6, 2019); NHTSA recall 15V-320 (inflator module, May 28, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Honda Accord airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 86,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 86 crashes, 1 fire and 80 injuries and 2 deaths to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.