2002 HONDA S2000 Problems & Complaints

2002 HONDA S2000 ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DUE TO SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. *TS NEITHER THE DEALER, MANUFACTURER OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. FOUR WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A WEAK BATTERY AND REPLACED IT ALONG WITH THE SPARK PLUGS. AFTER THAT REPAIR THE DEALER STATED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. UPON THE CONSUMER'S REQUEST THE DEALER DID A FURTHER BREAK DOWN OF THE ENGINE AND DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE LOCK UP WAS CAUSED BY A MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN OF A WORN OUT THRUST WASHER. *NM

(1) NO KNOWN EVENTS LEADING UP TO FIRST FAILURE. SECOND FAILURE, IS DUE TO AN UNEXPLAINED OIL LOSS. NO OIL TRAILS ARE VIABLE FROM / ON THE ENGINE, NOR ARE THERE PUDDLES PRESENT IN THE DRIVEWAY. LAST OIL CHANGE WAS LESS THE 10 DAYS PRIOR TO THE CRANK BEARING FAILURE. OIL LEVEL VERIFIED GOOD BY OWNER PRIOR TO LEAVING SERVICE STATION AND AT NO TIME DID THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COME ON. (2) "FIRST FAILURE", HEAD DAMAGE DUE TO MISALIGNED VALVE AND LOSS OF COMPRESSION ON CYLINDER #3. SECOND FAILURE, SHORT-BLOCK DAMAGE DUE TO OIL LOSS AND SUBSEQUENT BEARING DAMAGE. FAILURE CONFIRMED OFF CYLINDER # 3, WITH STETHOSCOPE. (3) REBUILT THE HEAD UNIT AT 6 MONTHS WORTH OF MY TIME, AND AT A COST OF $3,500. CURRENTLY WAITING HAVE THE SHORT BLOCK REPLACED TO CORRECT ITS BEARING FAILURE, AT AN EST. COST OF $8,000. ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN DONE WITH OUT ASSISTANCE FROM HONDA, DESPITE MY BEST EFFORTS IN REPEATEDLY ASKING FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE / COMPENSATION. HONDA AND THEIR DEALERS DO THEIR BEST TO DELAY, IGNORE, REFUTE ALL CLAIMS IN THE HOPES THAT I'LL JUST GO AWAY. I HAVE READ SIMILAR POSTS ABOUT ENGINE FAILURES FOR THE SK2, ALL HAVING A SIMILAR FAILURE ON CYLINDER # 3, AND ALL GETTING THE SAME RESPONSE / TREATMENT FROM HONDA: "THAT THE CUSTOMER CREATED THIS PROBLEM" OR "DESPITE THE FACT IT'S UNDER WARRANTY, IT'S YOUR FAULT THE ENGINE FAILED, AND HENCE WE WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS" EITHER HONDA IS UNAWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ITS DEALERS (WHICH SERIOUSLY I DOUBT), OR IT DOESN'T CARE. REGARDLESS, ITS SERVICE DEALERS ARE RUNNING AMOK, MAKING UPWARDS OF 3 TO 8 THOUSAND DOLLARS A VEHICLE. *AK

PURCHASED A HONDA S2000 IN AUGUST, 2002. IT HAD TO BE TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS AUGUST 16, 2003. THE CAR WAS SERVED BY HONDA OF MENTOR IN MENTOR, OHIO. DAMAGE WAS TO THE CYLINDER HEAD AND ENGINE BLOCK. A NEW ENGINE ASSEMBLY WITH HEAD WAS REQUIRED GIVEN INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE PISTONS/VALVES. HONDA REFUSED COVERAGE UNDER THE 36/36,000 FACTORY WARRANTY. I HAD ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH CNA NATIONAL WARRANTY CORPORATION AND THEY DENIED BECAUSE "THE MANUFACTURER...VOIDED OR RESCINDED THE FACTORY WARRANTY." THERE WAS 28,948 MILES ON IT. HONDA INSISTED THE DAMAGE WAS HOW DRIVEN/MAINTAINED. I INSTALLED A USED ENGINE (WITH 3,500 MILES) & THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED 9/29/03 BY HONDA OF MENTOR AT A $6,400 COST TO ME. MARCH 25, 2004, THE CAR TAKEN IN BECAUSE THE ENGINE MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK CASE HONDA IN EUCLID, OHIO. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BEARINGS AND BLOCK (#2 AND #3 CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS WERE WELDED TO THE JOURNALS). THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE HAD GONE 9,540 MILES WHEN IT FAILED. [HONDA OF MENTOR'S INVOICE-MILEAGE WHEN RECEIVED AT 28,948. RICK CASE HONDA'S INVOICE - MILEAGE AT 38,488 MILES; A DIFFERENCE OF 9,540 MILES.] THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD 2 ENGINE FAILURES IN 1 1/2 YEARS. BOTH DUE I BELIEVE TO PROBLEMS IN THE CAR NOT HOW IT WAS DRIVEN/MAINTAINED. THE INITIAL FACTORY WARRANTY IN AUGUST, 2002, WAS 36/36,000 AND I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE 1ST MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AUGUST, 2003, AT 28,948 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS INSTALLED SEPTEMBER, 2003, HAD A 12/12,000 LIMITED WARRANTY. IT MALFUNCTIONED MARCH 25, 2004, AFTER 9,540 MILES. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINES TO MALFUNCTION. I AM COPYING AMERICAN HONDA AND CNA INSURANCE. *JB

IN JULY OF 2002, I PURCHASED A 2002 HONDA 919. IMMEDIATELY, I NOTICED THAT MY JACKET SMELLED OF EXHAUST FUMES. NOT THE SULFUR - ROTTEN EGG SMELL, BUT EXHAUST FUMES. ONE FRIDAY AFTERNOON IN AUGUST 2002, I TOOK MY WIFE FOR A RIDE - SHE WAS THE PASSENGER. AFTER ABOUT A 45-MINUTE RIDE, SHE COMPLAINED OF A HEADACHE AND WAS GENERALLY JUST FEELING CRAPPY. SO MUCH FOR OUR ROMANTIC AFTERNOON. TO TOP IT ALL OFF, I TOOK MY 6 YEAR OLD SON FOR A RIDE, AND IN TRAFFIC, HE FELL ASLEEP AND ABOUT FELL OFF THE BIKE. HE COULD HAVE DIED, WE WERE IN TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO GRAB HIM WITH ONE HAND AND PULL OVER. I CONTACTED MY DEALER, ROB EIDMANN OF ST. JOE HONDA (816-671-0671) ON MANY OCCASSIONS, AND HE COULD DO NOTHING. I WAS IN LONG BEACH AT THE INTERNATIONAL MOTORCYCLE AND MENTIONED IT TO A HONDA REPRESENTATIVE, WHO PASSED ME ALONG TO "THE NATIONAL SERVICE MANAGER", TO WHOM I ALSO TOLD MY STORY TOO. THEY WERE IN DENIAL, SAID THEY HAD NO OTHER COMPLAINTS, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. TO REMEDY THE SITUATION ON MY OWN, I PAID FOR AND INSTALLED AN EXHAUST FROM ANOTHER HONDA MODEL THAT EXITS THE BIKE LOWER. HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM SINCE, BUT AM NOT REAL HAPPY ABOUT THIS WHOLE ORDEAL. I HAVE LEARNED THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT CAN WE DO?*AK

#4 CONECTING ROD BROKE. *PH

2002 HONDA ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION FAILURE NOTHING. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 HONDA ODDYSEY WAS MAKING CLUNKY SHIFTS TO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. LARRY HOPKINS HONDA SERVICE SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACEMENT. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR 1999-2001 HONDA ODDYSEYS TRANSMISSIONS, AND THEY STILL DIDN'T FIX IT ON 2002 MODEL. OTHER INFO: ON 7/16/04, I TOOK CAR IN FOR THE RECALL/FIX (28,537 MILES)-- INSTALL OIL INJECTOR INTO TRANSMISSION. *JB

I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM HONDA REGARDING MY 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY. IN THIS LETTER, IT CLEARLY STATES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND WATER PUMP. HENCE I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AT NORM REEVE'S HONDA - CERRITOS. AFTER HAVING MY CAR AT THE SERVICE CENTER FOR 2 DAYS NOW ( I HAD TO RENT A CAR FROM ENTERPRISE), NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I NEED TO PAY THEM $3,800 TO REPLACE MY WATER PUMP. I AM VERY UPSET THAT I AM BEING TREATED THIS WAY. THE LETTER CLEARLY STATES THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION, AND THAT ANY SERVICES THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED WILL BE PERFORMED BY HONDA FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SO WHY IS THE DEALER TELLING ME THAT I HAVE TO PAY?? PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU.

TRANSMISSION WORK VERY HEAVY LIKE IS PULLING SOMETHING, DON' SWIFT NORMAL. A TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL AT THE DEALER THEY SAY THAT THEY USE A DIGITAL CAMERA TO CHECK THE INTERIOR OF THE TRANSMISSION. I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT THEY ACTUALLY FIX SOMETHING IN THE TRANSMISSION , THIS A $5000 THIS IS NOT A JOKE. WHAT I CAN DO TO RESOLVED MY PROBLEM, GET A REAL CHECK, I NEED A LAWYER FOR THIS, I NEED TO START TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ODYSSEY, IS SOME KIND OF LEMON CAR. *NM

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL VEHICLE INFORMATION. *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA S2000. THE CONTACT STATED HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 50 MPH AROUND A CURVE. THE REAR TIRES WOULD NOT GRIP THE ROADWAY AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD INTO A NEARBY FOREST. THE VEHICLE CRASHED WITH AN UNKNOWN OBJECT AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LUNG INJURY, BROKEN RIBS AND CONTUSIONS. THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED A BROKEN COLLAR BONE AND NECK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED ON SCENE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

MY SRS LIGHT (AIR BAG) ON MY 2002 HONDA ACCORD CAME ON WITH NO REASON. NO ACCIDENT OR IMPACT THE CAR HAS 90K MILES. NOT SURE IF IT IS A DEFECT OR RECALL EQUIPMENT. *TR

THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON A FRONT END COLLISION. MR SCC *JB

WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE (CAR IN REVERSE). DUE TO THE TIGHTNESS OF THE AREA, HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO PULL FORWARD SLIGHTLY AND THEN AGAIN IN REVERSE. WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT IN DRIVE THE SECOND TIME, IT LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING WHEN IT HIT A PARKED CAR. EVERYTHING TURNED OFF ONCE THE CAR WAS PUT IN PARK AND THE IGNITION TURNED OFF. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 44 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT CRASHED INTO A CEMENT BARRIER. DRIVER TO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

2002 HONDA CIVIC COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER BRAKING GOING 15 MPH. CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIS COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE FAILERE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALERS AND BEEN SEEN IN MANY WEB FORUMS. THIS TIME MY SON WAS DRIVING WHEN THE ENGINE FAILERE LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKES WENT OUT TURNING A CORNER. NO AIR BAG WAS EVER DEPLOYED WHEN HE HIT THE CURB AND SIGN WHICH SHOULD HAVE AS HE HIT A SIGN AND TREE STRIPPING THE FRONT BUMPER OFF AND CRUSHED THE RADIATOR INTO THE ENGINE. NO AIR BAGS WEAR EVER DEPLOYED. EVEN THE POLICE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND QUESTIONED IT . IT HAPPENED IN THE CITY OF HURST TEXAS. IN THESE FORUMS MANY DRIVERS HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ENGINE FAILERE AND BRAKES IN SOME CASES. HONDA JUST PUT OUT A RECALL ON 1998-2000 FOR THE ENGINE IGNITION SWITCH SHORTING OUT CAUSING ENGINE FAILERE. I SUGGEST THEY INCREASE THAT RECALL TO 2002 POSSIBLY. ALSO I READ WHERE THE ELECTRICAL LOAD DETECTOR IS GETTING WET AND SHORTING OUT CAUSING THE SAME THING IN SOME CARS. IN ONE CASE I READ THAT THE VACUMM HOSE TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER MAY BE BAD. PUMPING THE BRAKES CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL. SO ANY CASE I THINK HONDA HAS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH ENGINES STALLING WHILE CONSUMERS ARE DRIVING. MY SON WAS LUCKY HE WAS ONLY DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN IT HAPPENED . IF HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOSS OF LIFE. THE VEHICALE IS IN THE BODY SHOP GETTING FIXED AND AFTER THAT WILL BE DRIVEN TO HONDA FOR AN ENGINE CHECK. I HOPE THE COMPUTER CODES TELL US SOMETHING BUT I THINK HONDA NEEDS TO RESEARCH THIS CLOSLY.

WHILE DRIVING N ON I-97 I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN RIGHT ONTO THE EXIT RAMP TO 32-W WHEN THE STEERING ON MY 2002 HONDA CIVIC FAILED. ALTHOUGH I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT THEY ALSO FAILED, AND THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT DOWN AN ENBANKMENT UNTIL IT STRUCK A TREE.*AK

MY HONDA S2000, WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE OF 2002 CAME WITH BRIDGESTONE POTENZA SO-2 TIRES FRONT AND REAR. THIS VEHICLE IS USED AS A THIRD VEHICLE IN A TWO DRIVER HOUSEHOLD, AND IS USED ONLY AS A DAILY COMMUTER CAR TO TRAVEL 15 MILES TO WORK (ROUND TRIP). I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR MY STATE INSPECTION, AND AT 6100 MILES, THE REAR TIRES WERE DOWN BELOW 2/32 OF TREAD DEPTH AND THE FRONT TIRES WERE FEATHERED BADLY ON THE INSIDE EDGES (BOTH) AND TREAD WAS BELOW 5/32 OF DEPTH. I HAVE SEEN MANY POSTS OF PEOPLE WITH THESE TIRES WHO HAVE HAD TREAD LIFE WELL BELOW 10K MILES UNDER LITE DRIVING CONDITIONS, WHILE OTHERS CLAIM UP TO 20K, EVEN UNDER HEAVY CONDITIONS. THE TIRES WERE UNACCEPTABLE IN THE RAIN AFTER ABOUT 4000 MILES ON IT AS THE REAR WOULD FISHTAIL EVEN UNDER THE LIGHTEST OF CORNERING. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF HONDA AND BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTON, AND NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO FESS UP TO A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN BATCHES OF THE TIRE HAVING TOO SOFT A COMPUND, OR DESIGN SPEC ISSUES. THIS IS A SERIOUS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. IF I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE MORE OFTEN, I WOULD HAVE RUN THE RISK OF HAVING A TIRE PROBLEM (BLOWOUT OR LOSS OF CONTROL) DUE TO UNACCEPTABLE TIRE WEAR ON THE DRIVE WHEELS. *AK

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION.*JB

CONSUMERS COMPLAINT IS ONE ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, CONSUMERS KNEE TOUCHED THE IGNITION AND CONSUEMR CANNOT SEE THE BUMPER WHEN LOOKING OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE IS THE LX SERIES. *JG