2002 Honda Accord Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 33about this part
- Share
- 3%of 1,050 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 84,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 33 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2002 Honda Accord, 3% of the 1,050 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 84,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“At first instance, the car began to show sluggish conditions when shifting gears. As time went on, the 'slips' began to grow more and more dangerous to the point that the car could barely shift between gears at all and was a safety hazard for both driver and to anyone around me as I was vulnerable to be rear-ended by anyone too close behind (because the car could not accelerate) and to those ahead of me as the car tended to jerk forward. …”
NHTSA complaint #10385629, filed 2011-02, 102,000 miles“Turning a corner of a busy intersection the car made a load wump thunk sound and stopped with the engine still running. Luckily, no one rear-ended me or knocked me into the policeman in the road conducting a license check.”
NHTSA complaint #10437450, filed 2011-11, 87,269 miles“While not crashes or injuries have been related to the Honda vehicle I own, there are a number of engineering and manufacturing defects on the vehicle which are a cause of serious safety concerns. I have a 2002 Honda Accord with about 131,000 miles which has had the following issues: 1. The transmission went out around 60,000 miles and was replaced by Honda. At around 100,000 miles the transmission started to exhibit same symptoms. I took the car in, but, of course, Honda dealer said there is nothing wrong. …”
NHTSA complaint #10298836, filed 2010-01, 36,000 miles“I purchased this vehicle the end of mar 2008 with 83000 miles on it. Approx 30 days after purchase I took it in for an oil change, radiator flush and tune up. A week later my car overheated, the upper radiator hose had blown. A new mechanic looked at it and saw evidence of stop leak and said it did not look like it had been flushed-he took care of it properly. Then, approx 30 days later I took the car in for it's scheduled oil change and he said there was oil leaking into the radiator fluids-right now it is a one way leak, the antifreeze is not leaking into the oil. …”
NHTSA complaint #10251868, filed 2008-12, 102,000 miles“Automatic transmission jerks when accelerating past 20mph or when putting it in reverse. After some research, I found out that this seems to be a common problem with 2002 Honda accords yet it has not been recalled. Please look into this issue since a lot of drivers appear to be having the same transmission problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10439158, filed 2011-12, 129,000 milesRelated recalls
- 02V226000Aug 28, 2002On certain minivans, sedans, coupes, and sport utility vehicles equipped with v6 engines, a timing belt tensioner pulley on the water pump is misaligned and…Covers: Honda Accord 2002, Odyssey 2002, Acura MDX 2002 +3 more
Related service bulletins
- 10053545Aug 9, 2013Honda: troubleshooting of diagnostic trouble codes (dtc) p1456 and p1457. Dealers are to run evap function test to find if there is a leak so the vehicle can be repaired.
- 10016295May 16, 2005Engine-cranks won't start, immobilizer light flashes.
- 10015294Feb 16, 2005Timesert 14mm drain plug thread repair kit.
- 10015292Feb 16, 2005Timesert 12mm head bolt thread repair kit.
- 10014485Oct 16, 2004Engine coolant leaks.
- 10013614Oct 1, 2004Use oil deflector when changing oil filter.
- 10013851Sep 16, 2004Engine coolant leaks.
- 10013838Sep 16, 2004Oil filter deflector.
- 10014064Aug 16, 2004Engine coolant leaks. 2002 honda pilot
- 10014050Aug 16, 2004Dtc (diagnostic trouble code) p1279, pgm tester software error.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 0% |
| 2021 | 3 | 1% |
| 2020 | 2 | 1% |
| 2019 | 10 | 1% |
| 2018 | 28 | 1% |
| 2016 | 2 | 0% |
| 2015 | 4 | 1% |
| 2014 | 5 | 1% |
| 2013 | 7 | 0% |
| 2012 | 9 | 2% |
| 2011 | 4 | 1% |
| 2010 | 12 | 2% |
| 2009 | 29 | 4% |
| 2008 | 41 | 3% |
| 2007 | 26 | 5% |
| 2006 | 19 | 4% |
| 2005 | 27 | 4% |
| 2004 | 28 | 3% |
| 2003 | 95 | 5% |
| 2002 | 33 | 3% |
| 2001 | 29 | 3% |
| 2000 | 65 | 5% |
| 1999 | 144 | 13% |
| 1998 | 134 | 11% |
| 1997 | 48 | 10% |
| 1996 | 96 | 20% |
| 1995 | 43 | 8% |
| 1994 | 84 | 23% |
| 1993 | 35 | 19% |
| 1992 | 19 | 9% |
| 1991 | 14 | 7% |
| 1990 | 13 | 7% |
| 1989 | 12 | 14% |
| 1988 | 8 | 9% |
| 1987 | 6 | 5% |
| 1986 | 3 | 6% |
| 1985 | 1 | 8% |
| 1984 | 4 | 18% |
| 1982 | 1 | 10% |
Other parts of the 2002 Honda Accord
478 complaintsAir bags
273 complaintsBody and structure
75 complaintsElectrical system
69 complaintsVehicle speed control
46 complaintsSeat belts
39 complaintsBrakes
34 complaintsSuspension
32 complaintsOther or unknown
30 complaintsSteering
24 complaintsSeats
20 complaintsEngine
19 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Honda Accord
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology