2002 Honda S2000 recalls & problems
The 2002 Honda S2000 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 10 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (7 complaints).
Recalls0safety recalls
Complaints10filed by owners
Crashes · fires2 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2002 Honda S2000.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2002 Honda S2000 Convertible
| Overall | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
S2000
20mpg combined
| City / highway | 18 / 24 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline | 7 | 16,000 mi |
| Suspension Rear | 1 | — |
| Tires Tread/belt | 1 | — |
| Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal | 1 | — |
| Air bags | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- May 17, 2010 · 97,000 miles · crash · 2 injuriesAir bags
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. - Oct 31, 2005 · 39,000 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine
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 - Sep 1, 2004 · 16,000 milesEngine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Crankcase (pcv)
(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.… - Sep 29, 2003 · 28,948 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine
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… - Sep 6, 2004 · crash · 1 injuryVehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
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 - Jul 14, 2003 · 15,460 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
#4 CONECTING ROD BROKE. *PH - May 23, 2003Tires › Tread/belt
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… - Feb 28, 2002 · 26,051 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine
I HAVE A ONE-YEAR-OLD HONDA S2000. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A DEALER FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND FACTORY RECALL OF SPARK PLUGS. THE REPLACEMENT WAS PERFORMED AND I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK. THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER. I WAS INFORMED THERE NOW WAS 80% LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN ONE OF THE CYLINDERS. I WAS INFORMED THAT I CREATED THIS PROBLEM AND THE WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. I ASKED THE COST AND WAS TOLD I DON'T KNOW. PROBABLY $10,000.00 DOLLARS. I ASKED HOW THAT WAS DETERMINED AND WAS TOLD WE DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT. I COMPLAINED AND WAS INFORMED THAT A DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER DETERMINED OVER THE PHONE THAT I CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I ASKED IF A RENTAL WOULD…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.