The Honda S2000 spans 2000–2009 with 12 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 3.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2000, 2003, 2001 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2009, 2007, 2008. It delivers up to 21 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Honda S2000 is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2000 to 2009 across multiple generations.
How to read a Honda S2000 VIN — every digit explained
Every Honda S2000 carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Honda and the country it was built in (real Honda codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this S2000.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- USA19U · 19V · 19X · 1HF · 1HG · 478
- Canada2HG · 2HH · 2HJ · 2HK · 2HN · 2HU
- Mexico3CZ · 3DH · 3H1 · 3HD · 3HG
- JapanJH2 · JH3 · JR2
- ChinaLAL · LWB
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your S2000, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Honda S2000 have?
The Honda S2000 has 12 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2000–2009. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2007 Honda S2000 recalls 1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
What's wrong. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2006 Acura RSX vehicles manufactured January 18, 2006, through August 12, 2006; and model year 2006-2007 Honda S2000 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2006, through November 13, 2006. The brake booster may be unable to maintain a vacuum when the brake pedal is depressed, decreasing brake assist.
Risk. With reduced braking assistance, the vehicle may require additional brake pedal force to prevent a lengthened stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake booster assembly. If necessary, the dealers will replace the booster assembly free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-310-783-2000. Honda's recall number is JA4. Acura's recall number is JA5.
2006 Honda S2000 recalls 2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
What's wrong. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2006 Acura RSX vehicles manufactured January 18, 2006, through August 12, 2006; and model year 2006-2007 Honda S2000 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2006, through November 13, 2006. The brake booster may be unable to maintain a vacuum when the brake pedal is depressed, decreasing brake assist.
Risk. With reduced braking assistance, the vehicle may require additional brake pedal force to prevent a lengthened stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake booster assembly. If necessary, the dealers will replace the booster assembly free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-310-783-2000. Honda's recall number is JA4. Acura's recall number is JA5.
Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual
What's wrong. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES, THE OWNER'S MANUALS CONTAIN INCORRECT CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S (NHTSA) VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE.
Risk. THE LANGUAGE IN THE OWNER'S MANUALS IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CURRENT MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS.
Fix. HONDA WILL SEND A POSTCARD TO DEALERS AND OWNERS WITH THE CORRECT NHTSA VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE INFORMATION AND WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO INSERT THE CARD INTO THE "REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS" SECTION OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 2, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009, ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238 OR HONDA MOTORCYCLES AT 1-866-784-1870.
2000 Honda S2000 recalls 3
Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
What's wrong. CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE LENS OF THE SIDE MARKER LAMP AND SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR IN THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY WERE MANUFACTURED WITH INCORRECT DYE.
Risk. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL AFFECTED TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
Seat Belts:front:anchorage
What's wrong. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CONVERTIBLE PASSENGER VEHICLES. WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS DOWN AND THE SEAT IS PUSHED ALL THE WAY BACK, THE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RETRACT PROPERLY RESULTING IN SLACK IN THE SEAT BELTS.
Risk. THIS SLACK CAN REDUCE THE PROTECTIVE CAPABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BELTS AND INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO AN OCCUPANT IN A CRASH.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP COVER TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE WITH THE SEAT BELT.
Seat Belts:front:retractor
What's wrong. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CAN DEFORM AND CAUSE COMPLETE OR FREQUENT LOCKING OF THE RETRACTOR. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT BELTS CANNOT BE PULLED OUT OF THE RETRACTOR AND CANNOT BE USED.
Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY.
Best and worst years for the Honda S2000
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 10 tracked years, the worst years are 2000, 2003, 2001 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2009, 2007, 2008.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 S2000 | Exterior Lighting | Avoid | |
| 2001 S2000 | Power Train | Avoid | |
| 2002 S2000 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Average | |
| 2003 S2000 | Air Bags | Avoid | |
| 2004 S2000 | Power Train | Average | |
| 2005 S2000 | Power Train | Average | |
| 2006 S2000 | Air Bags | Average | |
| 2007 S2000 | Power Train | Best | |
| 2008 S2000 | Seat Belts | Best | |
| 2009 S2000 | — | Best |
What are the most common Honda S2000 problems?
The most-reported Honda S2000 problems are Air (1 reports), Other (1 reports) and Seats (1 reports) — out of 162 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Honda S2000 specifications & dimensions
The 2000–2009 Honda S2000 measures 162″ long on a 94″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 2,844 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Honda S2000 window sticker.
| Years | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–2009 | 162″ | 69″ | 51″ | 94″ | 2,809 lb |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Honda S2000 cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the S2000 holds — passengers and cargo. Seating, cargo and interior dimensions vary by trim and seat configuration — decode your VIN for the exact build.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Honda S2000 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Honda S2000 get?
The Honda S2000 returns up to 21 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $3,650/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 2009 Honda S2000 (2.2L 4-cyl) gets 21 mpg combined and costs about $3,650/yr to fuel, emitting 423 g/mi CO₂ (smog 5/10) — about $7,250 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 S2000 | 18 | 25 | $3,650 | 423 | 5/10 | 2.2L 4-cyl | |
| 2008 S2000 | 18 | 25 | $3,650 | 423 | 5/10 | 2.2L 4-cyl | |
| 2007 S2000 | 18 | 24 | $3,850 | 444 | 5/10 | 2.2L 4-cyl | |
| 2006 S2000 | 18 | 24 | $3,850 | 444 | 5/10 | 2.2L 4-cyl | |
| 2005 S2000 | 17 | 23 | $3,850 | 444 | 1/10 | 2.2L 4-cyl | |
| 2004 S2000 | 17 | 23 | $3,850 | 444 | 1/10 | 2.2L 4-cyl | |
| 2003 S2000 | 18 | 24 | $3,850 | 444 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2002 S2000 | 18 | 24 | $3,850 | 444 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2001 S2000 | 18 | 24 | $3,850 | 444 | — | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2000 S2000 | 18 | 23 | $3,850 | 444 | — | 2L 4-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the S2000 stacks up against the most fuel-efficient two-seaters, or calculate this S2000's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Honda S2000 have? Power & range
The Honda S2000 is offered with 1 powertrain — 2.2L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.2L · 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Honda S2000 cost to own?
A used Honda S2000 sells for a median of about $42,599 for a 2007 — most listed between $39,999 and $44,997, from 33 real US listings we track. That real market price is what depreciation eats into, so it's the true anchor of the cost to own:
| Year | Typical price | Market range | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 S2000 | $39,999–$44,997 | 3 | |
| 2006 S2000 | $23,900–$59,995 | 9 | |
| 2005 S2000 | $28,900–$33,500 | 3 | |
| 2004 S2000 | $21,000–$37,995 | 5 | |
| 2002 S2000 | $14,000–$45,000 | 4 | |
| 2001 S2000 | $11,900–$38,500 | 9 |
For every model year mileage-adjusted, trade-in vs private-party vs dealer pricing and a good-deal check, see what a S2000 is worth today, or browse used-market prices across all models.
A Honda S2000 holds its value well. A typical example keeps roughly 56% of its value after five years — losing about 44% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 84% | $25,200 | −$4,800 |
| Year 2 | 76% | $22,800 | −$7,200 |
| Year 3 | 68% | $20,400 | −$9,600 |
| Year 4 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 5 | 56% | $16,800 | −$13,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this S2000 loses about 44% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $18,250 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the S2000 ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
How much is a Honda S2000 to insure?
A Honda S2000 costs about $2,330 a year to insure for a typical driver on full coverage — roughly 62% above the average car. That's from its real HLDI insurance-loss index (162, where 100 = average car); your own rate moves with state, age, record and coverage.
Estimate = US-average premium × the S2000's HLDI loss index. See Honda insurance cost by model, cost by state, or compare any car.
Is the Honda S2000 safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the S2000 yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Honda S2000 last?
A well-maintained Honda S2000 typically lasts 200,000–250,000 miles. With regular oil, transmission and timing service, most examples comfortably pass the 200,000-mile mark. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 3.5/5.
Check your Honda S2000’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this S2000’s VIN free →All Honda S2000 model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Honda S2000 — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 S2000 | 0 | — | |
| 2008 S2000 | 1 recall | — | |
| 2007 S2000 | 1 recall | — | |
| 2006 S2000 | 2 recalls | — | |
| 2005 S2000 | 1 recall | — | |
| 2004 S2000 | 1 recall | — | |
| 2003 S2000 | 1 recall | — | |
| 2002 S2000 | 1 recall | — | |
| 2001 S2000 | 1 recall | — | |
| 2000 S2000 | 3 recalls | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the S2000?
By owner-complaint volume, 2000, 2003, 2001 drew the most reports. 2009, 2007, 2008 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the S2000 have?
12 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2000–2009. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Honda recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the S2000 get?
Up to 21 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a S2000 last?
A well-maintained S2000 typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the S2000 reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the S2000 is 3.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Honda S2000 warranty?
New Honda models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Honda dealer.
Where is the Honda S2000 made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your S2000's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Honda may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much does a S2000 weigh?
The S2000's curb weight is around 2,844 lb. Its GVWR — the maximum loaded weight — decodes from the VIN.
How much ground clearance does the S2000 have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.