VehicleVerdict

2002 Honda Accord engine problems

The 2002 Honda Accord has 53 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 4% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

53

Engine complaints

4%

Share of year

3

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Accord engine complaints by model year514 complaints1982: 1 complaints1984: 5 complaints1985: 2 complaints1986: 3 complaints1987: 8 complaints1988: 9 complaints1989: 13 complaints1990: 13 complaints1991: 18 complaints1992: 23 complaints1993: 39 complaints1994: 96 complaints1995: 49 complaints1996: 109 complaints1997: 59 complaints1998: 158 complaints1999: 176 complaints2000: 81 complaints2001: 43 complaints2002: 53 complaints2003: 147 complaints2004: 55 complaints2005: 56 complaints2006: 40 complaints2007: 55 complaints2008: 251 complaints2009: 140 complaints2010: 128 complaints2011: 29 complaints2012: 52 complaints2013: 185 complaints2014: 184 complaints2015: 109 complaints2016: 46 complaints2017: 61 complaints2018: 514 complaints2019: 159 complaints2020: 66 complaints2021: 28 complaints2022: 28 complaints2023: 11 complaints2024: 10 complaints2025: 2 complaints
Accord engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

02V226000EngineAugust 28, 2002 · 17,551 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SEDANS, COUPES, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES, A TIMING BELT TENSIONER PULLEY ON THE WATER PUMP IS MISALIGNED AND COULD CAUSE THE TIMING BELT TO CONTACT A BOLT ON THE CYLINDER HEAD. EVENTUALLY THE BELT COULD BE DAMAGED AND FAIL.

Consequence

IF THE TIMING BELT BREAKS, THE ENGINE WILL STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WATER PUMP AND IF IT IS ONE OF THE DEFECTIVE PUMPS, THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 30, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

What owners report

“WHEN IAM TRAVELING WITH MY AND MY WIFE BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN MY HONDA ACCORD 2002 GEARS ARE NOT CHANGING .AS HONDA COMPANY KNOW ABT THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE ( LIKE KNOW ISSUE) AND FOR FIXING THIS WE NEED TO SPEND ALMOST 5000$ .BUT WE CAN'T IF HONDA COMPANY KNOW THIS IS COMMON ISSUE WHY…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · June 22, 2013 · crash

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2002 Honda Accord have?

NHTSA has 53 complaints about the 2002 Honda Accord engine — 4% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2002 Honda Accord engine?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the engine: 02V226000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.