I posted this question already in a different post, but haven't really gotten any responces, so I'll try with this "title"


All things being equal should I avoid the automatic transmission in a 2002 accord, and get a manual? Or would a car with no issues, regular fluid changes, and maybe a cooler lastas long. Should I really be reluctabt to buy an automatic

If you're looking at any Accord from 1997-2003 avoid automatics. All those years have some known issue.

2002's do have warranty for 7 years/100k but overall, it is a design defect and no transmission fluid change is going to change that.

My 2000 Accord Coupe's V6 automatic transmission began missing shifts and shifting very rough. This started last year when the car had 93,000 miles. Honda replaced the transmission beyond the 7 year extended warrantee period, and gave me a rental car for three days. The service representative explained that the replacement transmissions do not have the same defect as the original. Don't get too concerned, Honda will stand behind their products.

The service representative explained that the replacement transmissions do not have the same defect as the original. Don't get too concerned, Honda will stand behind their products.

I don't believe it. There are many people who are on their 3rd and 4th transmission. Time will tell though.

My 02/AT/4cyl has had zero problems (60K miles), but I wouldn't buy one again due to the 98-02 AT's rep for failure. If you can find a 98-02 with a manual trans in good shape, buy it.

Honda's AT extended warranty actually only covers the 00-01's. The 02 was excluded for some reason - maybe a "fix." I doubt it was much of a fix, however, b/c you can find lots of posts on the web from 02 Accord owners with AT problems. A coworker's 02 Accord DX had an AT failure at 40K miles (Honda still covered it past warranty). He had the fluid changed at his dealer at 30K miles and he never drove it hard. OTOH, I read posts over at a 6thGen Accord site in which people claim they drive the snot out of their cars, never change the fluid get well over 100K miles out of the AT. :dunno:

My 02/AT/4cyl has had zero problems (60K miles), but I wouldn't buy one again due to the 98-02 AT's rep for failure. If you can find a 98-02 with a manual trans in good shape, buy it.

Honda's AT extended warranty actually only covers the 00-01's. The 02 was excluded for some reason - maybe a "fix." I doubt it was much of a fix, however, b/c you can find lots of posts on the web from 02 Accord owners with AT problems. A coworker's 02 Accord DX had an AT failure at 40K miles (Honda still covered it past warranty). He had the fluid changed at his dealer at 30K miles and he never drove it hard. OTOH, I read posts over at a 6thGen Accord site in which people claim they drive the snot out of their cars, never change the fluid get well over 100K miles out of the AT. :dunno:

Hm. Honda bought my aunts 02 SE back when the trans went out at 104k miles. She bought it CPO and the warranty had just expired. They paid off her upside down loan through AHFC and gave her $500 toward a new Honda. She has a 2008 LX-P in this hideous green color now. :lmao:

Hm. Honda bought my aunts 02 SE back when the trans went out at 104k miles. She bought it CPO and the warranty had just expired. They paid off her upside down loan through AHFC and gave her $500 toward a new Honda. She has a 2008 LX-P in this hideous green color now. :lmao:

She lucked out. Honda's official release on the AT warranty states 00-01 only, but from what I've read on the web Honda Corp has generally helped out year 2002 owners with AT failures under 100K miles.

I thought the extended warrantee was only for V6 Accords with automatic transmissions. The transmission on the 4 cylinder cars were not affected.

I thought the extended warrantee was only for V6 Accords with automatic transmissions. The transmission on the 4 cylinder cars were not affected.

August 2003

Automatic Transmission Warranty Extension

Dear Accord, Odyssey, and Prelude Owners:

American Honda is announcing a warranty extension for
the automatic transmission on all 1999–01 Odysseys,
2000–01 Accords, and 2000–01 Preludes. The automatic
transmission and torque converter are now covered for a
total of 7 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first,
from the date of original sale. We are providing the
warranty extension because a higher than normal number
of automatic transmissions in certain vehicles may have
problems due to defects in material or workmanship
beyond the 3-year, 36,000-mile new vehicle limited
warranty.

All as in V6 and 4Cyls.

She lucked out. Honda's official release on the AT warranty states 00-01 only, but from what I've read on the web Honda Corp has generally helped out year 2002 owners with AT failures under 100K miles.

Yeah, she did. They towed her car away to an undisclosed location. The dealer thinks they are using it for research purposes. Kinda cool.

If you're looking at any Accord from 1997-2003 avoid automatics. All those years have some known issue.

What was/is the issue for the 2003 Accords? Is it V-6 or I-4??

What was/is the issue for the 2003 Accords? Is it V-6 or I-4??

V6's have the 'known' issue. But we have seen 4 cyl's on this forum with transmissions making loud metallic noises and refusing to shift. The V6 issue carries onto early production 04's. I would be ok buying a 03 I4 with an AT, but I still think several 03's will have issues. 2005 is the year I fully trust since 1996 models. 1997 is when Honda screwed up, they redesigned the transmission in the 5th gen Accord for that year to improve shift quality. Quality as in smoothness. It's a rare sight to see a 97 go a day past 150-175k miles if it was driven a typical city/highway mix. Honda never recognized this one though, sadly.

However, I did read in a recent GM press release that the life expectancy of the transmissions in their cars are 150-200k miles. They are ok with that and will not be helping anyone out of warranty.

Automatics are very complex, Honda isn't even close to being the only automaker with big issues in that department. What's got everyone spoiled is the rather solid reliability of Honda products. We've all come to expect better, as we should! :yes:

At least Honda recognizes the issues. Nobody forced them to extend that warranty or goodwill when out of warranty. It is not a recall. Honda voluntarily decided to help out with that they knew is a problem.

V6's have the 'known' issue. But we have seen 4 cyl's on this forum with transmissions making loud metallic noises and refusing to shift. The V6 issue carries onto early production 04's. I would be ok buying a 03 I4 with an AT, but I still think several 03's will have issues. 2005 is the year I fully trust since 1996 models. 1997 is when Honda screwed up, they redesigned the transmission in the 5th gen Accord for that year to improve shift quality. Quality as in smoothness. It's a rare sight to see a 97 go a day past 150-175k miles if it was driven a typical city/highway mix. Honda never recognized this one though, sadly.

However, I did read in a recent GM press release that the life expectancy of the transmissions in their cars are 150-200k miles. They are ok with that and will not be helping anyone out of warranty.

Automatics are very complex, Honda isn't even close to being the only automaker with big issues in that department. What's got everyone spoiled is the rather solid reliability of Honda products. We've all come to expect better, as we should! :yes:

At least Honda recognizes the issues. Nobody forced them to extend that warranty or goodwill when out of warranty. It is not a recall. Honda voluntarily decided to help out with that they knew is a problem.

Thanks.....I am hoping to get many more miles out of my 2003 AT, religiously draining and filling the AT fluid every 25,000 miles.............:thmsup:

At least Honda recognizes the issues. Nobody forced them to extend that warranty or goodwill when out of warranty. It is not a recall. Honda voluntarily decided to help out with that they knew is a problem.

I'd still like to know why the 02's were excluded from the AT extended warranty...

I'd still like to know why the 02's were excluded from the AT extended warranty...

Dunno, but Honda has been taking care of people either way it seems.

I sure hope they are. My 02 V6 is shifting very rough when I first start it in the morning. Not good, 83K.

I'd say stay far away from these cars. Sure you may have a chance of Honda covering it, but you're still rolling the dice, not to mention dealing with a big headache. The engines are stupid reliable, but unfortunetly automatic transaxles are not cheap to repair.