Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
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).
Very unusual pattern of tread breakdown on federal formoza fd1 passenger car tires noted. Note this is not the "super steel" model indicated in the database entry. The dialogue did not provide "formoza" models for selection. Tread wear indicated over 3/4 of tread life remaining (car was rarely used), but car was parked outdoors in texas, and tires were 9 years old. Breakdown of tread not likely caused by wear, but rather more likely rubber compound deterioration or manufacturing problem. The tread developed fissures laterally across the entire width of the tread (not extending into the tread shoulder), evenly spaced with a fissure every 3/8ths of an inch around the entire circumference of the tires. Depth of fissures unknown. No event in the history of the tires or car can account for this bizarre pattern. The tires were judged unsafe and replaced. …
Interstate highway clear,dry road conditions in light traffic conditions. Vehicle becomes unstable, begins to swerve. Attempts to control & correct have no effect. Vehicle's front left impacts center "jersey barrier" sending the car into a counter-clockwise spin against the "jersey barrier". Ny wife suffered spinal fractures, broken nose, bruised ribs.......1 week hospitalization and 3 weeks rehabilitatve therapy. Injury to her spine is permanent. State police indicated at least one front tire blew-out causing the accident. None of the air bags deployed. Vehicle purchased new in October 2001.
The sub frame is rusted away on the passenger side. I noticed it while I was driving. If I would've kept driving the vehicle and the rusted frame gave way, me and my kids or other passengers in vehicles on the road could have been injured or even killed
I have experienced 3 tire blowouts within 1 year with my Michelin tires. I own a 2002 Honda Accord with only 19,000 miles & cannot believe that I have had to incur the cost of replacing 3 out of 4 brand new tires within a 1-year period. The first incident was nov. 2002, the 2nd on oct. 2, 2003 & the 3rd on oct. 9, 2003. It appears that these tires are not manufactured up to normal safety standards since they have caused 3 blowouts from usual road hazard conditions. Michelin claims the blowouts are not covered under the warranty since the damage was due to a road hazard. Why are these high-profile & very expensive tires not manufactured to perform under normal road hazard conditions? These blowouts could have caused serious injury to my and/or others if I had been traveling at a high rate of speed and/or on a major highway. …
On April 6 and July 1 of this year I was traveling at 70 MPH on the interstate when a loud explosion occurred. The first time I thought I must have hit something or been near a gunshot. When the same thing happened months later the noise sounded as though it was in the cabin with me. No warning lights, difficulty in handling, or visible damage has appeared. The noise is sudden, without warning, and immense--ringing in ears an hour later--not to mention frightening. We replaced tires in June, and all regular maintenance has been done on schedule. There was a transmission problem when the car was brand new-a clunking noise-which was difficult to diagnose, and required extended days in the shop (nearly four of the first six weeks owned). It was finally eliminated when the shop "dismantled" the car, drained transmission fluid (twice) and did assorted other "fixes". …
I was traveling home in the far north bound lane going 40 MPH and was hit head on by a Dodge durango traveling south bound in the far right lane. (2 lanes each way with a center.) I was driving and the airbag exploded as the durango cut off another car and hit head onto me. The airbag explosion produced a burning smell which I thought the car was on fire but it was the airbag explosion. My face was very red and swollen and just felt on fire from the explosion which covered my face. I had a scratch in my left eye and needed a rinse and a small laceration above my eye. My right hand was swollen immediately and was throbbing from the grip of the wheel and the airbag explosion. My right pinky was totally numb for quite a while with radiating pain up the right arm. The right had still has issues with grasping things and dropping them. …
The trunk lid is not stable when lifted up and will fall down easily. For many times, when we are loading stuff into the trunk, the trunk lid will fall down unexpected. The action of puting a luggage or grocery bag into the trunk will shake the car a little bit, which is normal for most cars, but the unusual thing for this Honda Accord is that the trunk lid will fall down by this shaking. I was hit by the trunk lid several times and I would expect some serious injury could happen to someone. Another complaint about the trunk lid is the sealing. I live in southen california so rain is rare. But a heavy rain caused the trunk became a pool and the trunk mat is fully soaked. Although at that time, the car was still under the Honda certified warranty, Honda told me the trunk sealing is not covered. What even angered me about Honda's service is they put an unmatched spare tire into my trunk. …
I purchased a Honda Accord new in 2002 recently I noticed that the two front tires had developed bulges (bubbles), on the surface of the sidewall measuring approximately 2 inches on the drivers side and 1 inch on the passenger's side of the vehicle. The tires have 17,000 miles of use. Out of concern for my safety, as well as that of my fellow motorists, I did some research online at http://www. Consumeraffairs.com/tires/Michelin.html and found that an alarming number of motorists using this brand of tire were experiencing the same type of sidewall problem some attributing the sidewall bulging as causing catastrophic failure of their tires. In each case (as in my own) the owner of the tire is left with no recourse as to replacement or at minimum safety bulletin warning of the possibility of sidewall failures occuring with this brand of tire. …
I drove my vehicle on a highway in the rain over one month ago. When the vehicle went with speed of about 50 miles/hour, the wheel cover (trim) of right front tire (passenger side) broke all the sudden, and a significant part of the wheel cover flew out after rounds of rotation with high speed very nearly hitting other moving vehicles. As a result, the wheel cover itself is completely damaged, the pint of the body around the right front tire is seriously scratched, and some minor damages around. This is a serious vehicle safety issue caused by defective part. As a result, I have to replace the defective wheel cover with a new one. Also, I need to get body repainted at the right front side with other repairs. The old broke part is available now.
My uncle was traveling on a state highway when his 02 Honda hydroplaned on a rainy afternoon and hit head on with another vehicle. My three month old daughter sustained severe head trauma and died at the hospital a little later. Eleven days later my uncle died from severe bleeding and brain damage. Honda said nothing was wrong with this car. My daughter who was 2 at the time was a passenger along with two other cousins, they all came out fine. Now 6 years later we received a recall notice about the airbags and I'm concerned that this vehicle was not safe enough and could have been the main result in my daughters death.
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2002 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2002 Honda Accord, 2% of the model year's 1,050 complaints. The component named most often is tread/belt (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Honda Accord wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires 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 wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 23% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 8 injuries and 2 deaths to wheels & tires 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.