2002 Honda Accord Electrical System Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Nov 8, 2025 · 69 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2002 Honda Accord, 7% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 97,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (26% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Ignition switch: mentioned in 18 of 69 complaints (26%)
  • Able remove: mentioned in 8 of 69 complaints (12%)
  • Key removed: mentioned in 7 of 69 complaints (10%)

At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?

Based on 54 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles2 · 4%
10k–25k miles2 · 4%
25k–50k miles3 · 6%
50k–75k miles12 · 22%
75k–100k miles8 · 15%
100k–150k miles17 · 31%
150k+ miles10 · 19%

How serious are the reports?

Of 69 complaints, 9 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 2 an injury.

Honda Accord electrical system complaints by model year

Peak: 2013, with 416 complaints
1995: 4319951996: 401997: 961998: 30819981999: 3882000: 1712001: 7820012002: 692003: 1422004: 14620042005: 962006: 422007: 6020072008: 1042009: 442010: 3420102011: 182012: 322013: 41620134162014: 3782015: 2372016: 19920162017: 1552018: 2962019: 10920192020: 532021: 662022: 10520222023: 232024: 262025: 920252026: 1

n = 3,984 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearElectrical System complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2026 Accord19%—
2025 Accord910%—
2024 Accord2617%22,863
2023 Accord2327%25,100
2022 Accord10541%22,000
2021 Accord6627%100,000
2020 Accord5315%14,500
2019 Accord10916%14,000
2018 Accord29616%11,075
2017 Accord15529%29,048
2016 Accord19933%46,000
2015 Accord23739%50,500
2014 Accord37839%52,000
2013 Accord41629%50,000
2012 Accord329%50,000
2011 Accord186%66,000
2010 Accord346%60,500
2009 Accord446%62,500
2008 Accord1047%32,000
2007 Accord6011%89,000
2006 Accord4210%81,000
2005 Accord9615%70,961
2004 Accord14614%85,000
2003 Accord1427%71,000
2002 Accord697%97,000
2001 Accord788%102,500
2000 Accord17114%107,000
1999 Accord38834%130,000
1998 Accord30826%126,037
1997 Accord9621%135,500
1996 Accord408%120,000
1995 Accord438%132,000

When owners reported it

Peak: 2012, with 8 complaints
2001: 220012002: 22004: 220042005: 22007: 520072008: 22009: 520092010: 62011: 620112012: 882013: 220132014: 32015: 520152016: 62017: 120172018: 12019: 220192020: 32022: 220222023: 32024: 12024

n = 69 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (1)

Electrical system:ignition:switchJan 28, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V025000 · 486,659 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the interlock operation of the ignition switch may not function properly, making it possible to turn the ignition key to the "off" position and remove the key without shifting the transmission to park.

Risk: If the driver does not shift to park before removing the key and fails to engage the parking brake, the vehicle could roll and a crash could occur.

Fix: Dealers will perform an inspection procedure that confirms interlock function. Vehicles will be updated with a redesigned interlock lever free of charge. The recall began on march 7, 2005. Owners may contact honda at 1-800-999-1009 or acura at 1-800-382-2238.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

Car exploded spontaneously. Fire department thinks it started in the steering wheel/ignition area. Vehicle is still parked on the street and is available for inspection. No one was in or around the vehicle, but it seems if someone had been in the car they would certainly have been incinerated…

Received Feb 1, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11569213

The contact owns a 2002 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle went over a concrete island with the engine revving and the vehicle accelerating. The contact turned the vehicle to the…

Received Jul 7, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11530813

The ignition system of the vehicle is faulty. The engine keeps stalling intermittently and the vehicle shuts down. The issue has been observed at both low and high speeds. The issue occurs on average once in two weeks. This issue has put our family's safety in jeopardy. We filed a complaint with…

Received Jun 24, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11528676
Honda Accord
Urban Gray Pearl Honda Accord Hybrid Touring CY2 sedan at Honda Ilsan Dealership.. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Damian B Oh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2002 Honda Accords have electrical system problems?

No. NHTSA has 69 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2002 Honda Accord (7% of the 1,050 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2002 Honda Accord electrical system?

Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do electrical system problems start?

The median reported mileage is 97,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2002 Honda Accord?

The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 18 of 69 complaints, followed by “able remove” (8).

Other 2002 Honda Accord problems

See all 2002 Honda Accord problems or electrical system problems across all Accord years.