Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
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).
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 …
-The front subframe on the passenger side completely rusted through and broke. The driver side is perfectly fine and still has factory paint on it, but the passenger side is completely rusted out. Yes the vehicle and issue are available for inspection. -The front subframe is the frame component that holds and supports your front suspension, steering, engine and transmission. With the failure of the subframe the front passenger side of the car dropped down and the steering and suspension were compromised. Very unsafe for the driver and passengers to lose control of the vehicle. Loss of control is also very dangerous for others on the road. -The problem is very prominent for this year and model of car. It is an engineering flaw from the factory for years 1998-2002. The air conditioning evaporator drain hose is routed right onto the passenger side sub frame. …
I am writing to express my concern regarding a significant safety issue with my 2002 Honda Accord's subframe. The subframe is rusting severely in the area where the air conditioning drain line drips directly onto it. This design flaw has caused concentrated corrosion over time, significantly weakening the subframe and making the vehicle unsafe to drive. As the subframe supports essential components such as the engine, transmission, and suspension, its deterioration poses a serious risk of structural failure. This could lead to loss of control while driving, endangering both the driver and others on the road. Considering the critical nature of this defect, I urge Honda to take responsibility for addressing this issue and provide a resolution to ensure the safety and reliability of affected vehicles.
Was in an accident on the expressway where a latter flew out of the back of a guys truck and became to a complete stop and I hit him when I couldn't stop fast enough and no air bags deployed. I was berrybruised up and I did go to the hostpital.
I was involved in a frontal crash and none of the airbags deployed. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company; no injuries in either vehicle. Oct 26, 2018 intersection of maine avenue and 7th street, s.w., washington, dc
2002 Honda Accord with 115,000 miles making clunking noises when driven, made worse with turns. Took to a master mechanic 2 days ago who initially said that the sway bar was loose and needed to be replaced. He called me the next day and said that it's a lot worse than just the sway bar, that the sub frame is rusted on the passenger side and there's a hole. If the sub frame breaks while driving, it could be a very bad situation causing an accident. The vehicle is not drivable until repaired and the cost could exceed the value of the car if a new sub frame is used. In the past 4 years I have purchased 3 Honda vehicles, this Accord, a 2010 civic, and a 2010 crv, but if Honda doesn't take ownership of this design flaw (where the ac drain is constantly dripping on the sub frame causing it to rust) and do the right thing, I will never purchase another Honda in my life. …
Paint/clear coat is peeling/dissolving pretty bad on the trunk and the roof. Trim along windows is also beginning to peel. Honda dealership won't take care of me, I love the car, but it is completely embarrassing driving around with this paint problem and $3000 to fix shoddy paint from the factory is not something I feel I should be responsible for. There are many instances of the defective clear coat and it is not our fault they tried to cheap out on the paint and we are being made to pay the price. We have always bought our cars new and have owned many hondas. We are very disappointed as we are driving a car that looks horrible. We have other cars that are parked outside as well and none of the others have this problem. Something needs to be done so that Honda fixes their clear coat issue to loyal buyers of their cars. Shame on Honda.
The rear front sub-frame or cross member of my vehicle has rusted out on the passengers side due to the A/C dripping on that certain part of the vehicle. The drivers side is almost in perfect condition. This is happening to all the models 98-02. If something isn't done there will be an accident. The repairs are very expensive and it's almost impossible to find a used part because this happens to all the vehicles. It's my understanding that Honda knows about it but only address when asked, they have not informed the public of this potential hazard. It is an engineering flaw of Honda's that is going to get someone hurt. Toyota did the right thing with their trucks when the frames were splitting in half, Honda should as well. 2002 Honda Accord ex coupe.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact stated that a crack appeared in the subframe on the passenger side of the vehicle due to rust. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to Honda superstore of lisle (4475 Lincoln ave, lisle, il 60532, [phone]) for a brake inspection and a quote for the replacement of the subframe. The contact discovered that a hose drained onto the subframe to the passenger side of the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 09919793. No further assistance was offered. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 157,610.
My car is completely unsafe to drive. It stalls while driving. It has stopped on highways, busy intersections, daytime-nightime. Honda dealership as well as other repair shops have told me that nothing shows up on their electrical tests. They test drive and it doesn't happen. The car will go 2 -3 between occurences, but it happens. The ignition switch has been replaced. Presently, the car is a death trap at 125,000 mileage. I have read that this happens to other hondas. If this is true, this warrants a recall. The hood on my Accord does not close. There has been a problem with this for several months.
Body complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2002 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 75 complaints about the body & structure of the 2002 Honda Accord, 7% of the model year's 1,050 complaints. The component named most often is body (49 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Honda Accord body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2002 Honda Accord, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Honda Accord body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 121,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 1 fire and 11 injuries to body & structure 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.