Honda Accord 7th generation (2002–2008)
Generation-specific owner insights from 24+ substantive owner discussions, with US complaint and recall records.
Should I buy a 2002–2008 Accord?
8,899
US owner complaints (NHTSA), 2002–2008
122
recall campaigns
air bags
most-complained area
What owners say about this generation
Our take, from owner reports
Owners generally view this generation as a solid, dependable car with bulletproof engines and strong longevity, with multiple reports of examples exceeding 200k, 290k, 350k, and even 400k miles.
8 problems reported (1 very frequent, 3 recurrent, 4 isolated) · high confidence
Problems owners report
- Very frequentAutomatic transmission failure, especially V6 models
- RecurrentTransmission shifting problems, including stuttering out of first gear when cold
- RecurrentV6 timing belt overdue by time if not replaced
+ 5 more issuesShow fewer
- RecurrentOil consumption, requiring regular checks
- IsolatedVTEC system failure code (P1259), often linked to overdue oil changes
- IsolatedBrake issues including fluid loss, boiled fluid, and caliper overheating from parking brake use
- IsolatedTraction control light activation due to poor-quality tires
- IsolatedCheck engine light from loose fuel cap
The version owners recommend
The 4-cylinder models are consistently recommended over V6 automatics. Owners specifically praise the 4-cylinder engine as "bulletproof" and note that 4-cylinder Accords have reached 302k miles with the original clutch lasting until 270k. The manual transmission is preferred when available. For V6 models, owners suggest later years (2005-2007) had better automatic transmissions than the 2002-2004 models.
Competitors to consider
Owners compare it most often with the Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, Ford Focus, Volkswagen Passat and Nissan Maxima.
Is a 2002–2008 Accord right for you?
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Overall sentiment
Owners generally view this generation as a solid, dependable car with bulletproof engines and strong longevity, with multiple reports of examples exceeding 200k, 290k, 350k, and even 400k miles. The dominant criticism centers on the automatic transmissions, particularly in V6 models, which owners describe as problematic and prone to failure, though many note that maintenance practices like drain-and-refill services rather than flushes can extend transmission life. Owners also mention that 4-cylinder models are more reliable than V6 automatics, and that later model years (2005-2007) had fewer transmission issues than earlier ones (2002-2004).
Positioning vs competitors
Owners describe the Accord as a better driving car than the Ford Fusion, with one owner noting the Fusion has transmission failures at around 85,000 miles. The Toyota Camry is mentioned as a comparable alternative at similar prices, with one owner suggesting a Camry could be found with fewer miles for the same money. The Corolla is positioned as competing with the Civic and Focus rather than the Accord. One owner preferred their Ford Fusion for ride comfort and highway mileage, but this was a minority view.
Recommended configurations
Owners recommend the 4-cylinder engine over the V6, and manual transmissions over automatics. For V6 buyers, later model years (2005-2007) are considered safer choices than 2002-2004 models. One owner notes the 4-cylinder does not have a timing belt while the V6 does, making the V6's timing belt a required maintenance item.
General recommendations
This generation is recommended for buyers seeking an affordable, long-lasting vehicle, with multiple owners reporting high mileage without major repairs. Buyers should have a mechanic inspect any prospective purchase, particularly checking for transmission health, timing belt condition (V6 models), and overall maintenance history. Owners advise being cautious with high-mileage examples (200k+) and suggest that any major repair at this age will likely total the car. For transmission concerns, owners recommend saving money for a potential replacement, checking whether it has already been addressed, and avoiding transmission flushes in favor of drain-and-refill services.
Remarks
Owners frequently note that transmission problems are a matter of "when, not if" for V6 automatics of this generation, though some report factory transmissions lasting well beyond 200k miles with proper maintenance. The 2002-2004 model years are considered the worst for automatic transmission reliability, with 2005-2007 being improved. Owners emphasize that drain-and-refill transmission service is preferable to flushing. One owner reports a 2002 EX with a transmission replaced at 60k miles under warranty. Analysis based on approximately 24 substantive owner discussions about this generation.
Complaints and recalls by model year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1,520 | 9 | service brakes |
| 2007 | 1,049 | 10 | air bags |
| 2006 | 862 | 17 | air bags |
| 2005 | 1,372 | 24 | air bags |
| 2004 | 1,017 | 22 | power train |
| 2003 | 2,013 | 24 | power train |
| 2002 | 1,066 | 16 | power train |
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Higher-selling years naturally accumulate more complaints.
Recall notices for this generation
2008 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 18V268000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
2008 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 19V502000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
2008 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 19V378000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
2008 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 17V545000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 Accord, 2010-2012 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2012 Fit and Pilot, 2010-2012 Insight, and 2009-2012 Acura TSX vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.
2008 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 17V030000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda FCX Clarity and 2006-2011 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid, Civic NGV vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Fit and Pilot, 2008-2009 Honda Accord, 2006-2009 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, and 2007-2009 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV and 2007-2008 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
2008 · air bagscampaign 16V056000
American Honda Motor Company, Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Accord vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.
2008 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 16V346000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Acura TSX, 2011 TSX Wagon, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, and Civic GX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2010-2011 FCX Clarity and Insight, and 2009-2011 Fit, and Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless already included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic GX, and 2007-2008 CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
2008 · power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)campaign 11V395000
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 ACCORD, 2007-2010 CR-V, AND 2005-2008 ELEMENT PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2004, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3, 2010. THE OUTER RACE OF THE SECONDARY SHAFT BEARING MAY BE BROKEN DURING CERTAIN DRIVING STYLES. A BROKEN OUTER RACE MAY CAUSE ABNORMAL NOISE, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT TO TURN ON, AND ALLOW CONTACT BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION IDLE GEAR AND AN ELECTRONIC SENSOR HOUSING WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION.
2008 · equipmentcampaign 09E063000
HONDA IS RECALLING AFTERMARKET FULL NOSE MASKS, PART NUMBER 08P35-TA0-100 AND 08P35-TA6-100 MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 9, 2007 THROUGH DECEMBER 11, 2007. THE ACCESSORY WAS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 HONDA ACCORD 4-DOOR VEHICLES. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE NOSE MASK MATERIAL TO INTERFERE WITH PART OF THE HOOD LATCH. IF THE HOOD HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETELY CLOSED AND THE NOSE MASK INTERFERES WITH THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MECHANISM THE HOOD MAY POP OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE BEING DRIVEN.
2007 · air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator modulecampaign 19V182000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.
2007 · vehicle speed control:accelerator pedalcampaign 19E068000
Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain Accelerator Pedal Assemblies part numbers 699-114 and 825-5029-1, sold as replacement parts for 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2004-2008 Acura TL and TSX, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2007-2011 Honda Element, 2005-2008 Honda Pilot and 2006-2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The rotating portion of the accelerator pedal assembly may bind. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 124, "Accelerator Control Systems."
2007 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 19V501000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
33 more recalls not shown. Check nhtsa.gov with your VIN for the full history.
Owner insights summarize real ownership discussions for this generation only. Complaint and recall data is public NHTSA (US) information. Always verify recalls against your VIN at nhtsa.gov.