2001 Honda Accord EX from North America - Comments

The transmission blew and had to be replaced at roughly 30,000 miles, and the new one is already starting to show signs of going out.

Build quality suffers from Honda's corner-cutting and cheap, low-grade steel.

The interior is starting to show signs of severe wear with light use.

The throttle sticks, making it very hard to operate smoothly.

The brake rotors are warped for the second time within 10,000 miles with normal driving.

Console lid is loose.

Nothing seems to hold together on this car. Just like the other three Hondas we have had, the interior is falling apart. The transmission is typical Honda: flimsy. This car, at 50,000 miles, is starting to blow its second transmission. I gently leaned on the left front fender and it left a dent the size of my hand. I have jumped on my 1990 Volkswagen and it suffered no damage. Recently the Accord went through a light hail storm, which caused severe body damage, even though my VW weathered it with no trouble whatsoever. The chassis shimmies over the slightest imperfection in the road, and causes plenty of annoying rattles and squeaks. Outside, the body panels are poorly aligned. The slightest pressure causes the bumpers to deform. Not bend, but completely deform! Of course, this Accord also lags behind competitors in the technological areas as well. I'll keep my Volkswagen, thank you.

I think we have a VW sales person. I have an Accord (2002 manual) and there is no way you are getting the problems you state with your car.

I definitely agree. I also know I would not ever buy a Jetta based on the mechanically problems 2 people I know who have had them and I recently chose an Acura over a Passat. I spent a little more and got an outstanding car. I also looked at BMW and didn't care for the blandness and lack of amenities as well. I review and test drive other makes and ask lots of questions with family and friends not car salespeople. I have owned 3 Accords, a Legend and a now a TL. The reason I have been able to progress upward is that I have saved lots of money on car downtime and repairs. When is the last time you have seen a new VW and a new Honda in the same driveway? I do not sit on any new cars I quit that when I was in high school in the 70's. I owned VW bugs and bought my last one (Rabbit} and went to Hondas in the eighties and have not looked back. I remember trading in each Accord and they were running great when I sold them. The Legend was the best car I ever had long term. The Acura also Honda family is a total blast to drive and yet a great family car. VW has their homework cut out to get me to switch.

I agree with his comments after owning 3 Accords. Overall, the car is under-engineered and somewhat fragile. The sheet metal is too thin and the interior plastic easily breaks. However, if you baby this vehicle, you should be able to get several hundred thousand miles out it.

I would not say under engineered. That would make the American cars look like they were designed by children.

The person is right. The sheet metal is much too thin - like a tin can, but as someone else stated, if you baby the car, it will last virtually forever. As for the transmission, all the 6 cylinder Accords have this problem; that's why I bought the 4 cylinder model, plus, it is better on gas. Honda's other problem is that they don't fix defects. They know the transmission is defective and will replace it free in most cases, but you get the same transmission design - not one that has been re-engineered to correct the problem. So it will probably fail again.

I have a 1999 Honda Accord V6.

Mileage is soon to hit 160,000 miles, and probably 190,000 miles by next year at this time.

The transmission has never been replaced or overhauled, and it has been driven all across the board.

The dents we get are no different than any other car, so I am confused by the tinny metal. I do know that the doors are lighter than say my friends 1994 Olds Cutlass, but seriously that cars last redesign was like 1982.

The new GMs have metal kind of like my Honda... you know they are trying to be more Japanese these days... Ford too in my opinion.

Just now has the check engine light come on for the EGR port, but if you go through Honda they will take all your money. 630 bucks.

Other things that gripe me are things like the alternator. This year range they put in a Delphi model, which you would probably find in many Fords or GMs. It is not as long lasting as the Denso I had in my old Honda that was still kicking at 260,000 miles.

The last thing that gripes me is maybe due to the alternator putting out too high of voltage. I have had random bulbs burn out all over, such as the odometer, gas gauge, clock, speedometer, cruise, and a/c panel. It costs only 99 cents per bulb for me to replace, except for the cruise bulb which is 4 dollars. Not bad for 160,000 miles. The car looks new still.

I agree with your review! I have a 2001 Accord and the tranny is going out at 60,000 miles??? How can it have such a good reputation?

I bought it because I wanted a reliable car for my daughter...What a nightmare. I paid 12,000 for it and now I have to pay 3500 for a transmission. Stay away from the 2001 Accord!

I bought a 2001 Honda Accord EX coupe in November, with 47900 miles on it. My Chevy 1500 truck died in a tragic fire in October, 2007.

So far I have not had any problems. It has taken some adjusting to, from a full size pickup to this car. I would not trade this car for the world. I now get 26 miles to the gallon vs 11. I bought it from a very reputable Honda dealer here in San Antonio. I looked at over 100 cars before deciding on this one, based on research, and others who have Honda's.

People who are having a lot of trouble with Honda's, maybe should examine how they are driving them and maintaining them. This is not my last Honda, I am HOOKED.

I purchased a 2001 Honda Accord EX with 67,000 miles on it in February of 05. Almost immediately the transmission began "binding up" in reverse and jerking into 3rd gear sometimes when going forward. (For those who don't know it, 3rd gear is the same gear for forward and reverse with these automatic transmissions.) I took the car to multiple mechanics who couldn't figure out the problem. Of course, after I was over 100,000 miles everyone suddenly knew exactly what to do to fix my car.

We ended going to Cottman Transmission. (Avoid that train wreck.) They charged $700 over the quoted price, and never could fix the vehicle. They won't refund the money or replace the torque converter WHICH I found out is the typical problem with this transmission. (Torque converter failure.)

At any rate, $2000 down the drain for the tranny...$14,000 for the car that's sitting locked up at Cottman's recently shut down facility. I think I'm meant to ride a bike. All I know is I'll never own another Honda. And people can tell me all day long that Honda and Acura are the same thing since Honda manufactures them. And to that I say bullsh*t. I have a '96 Acura Integra. My parents bought it used for me when I was 16. It had $40,000 miles on it then. Now it has 375,000 miles... original engine...original tranny... never had a problem besides typical maintenance.

As soon as I recover from my $16,000 hit at the ripe old age of 22, Acura TSX here I come. -Calla.

Honda's are the best cars that I have ever owned. I always buy used, usually over 10 yrs old, and for less than $1000.oo. I like old near dead cars (of any make) and I drive them hard. I have never had to "give up" on a honda.

Recently I began traveling upwards of 500 miles a weekend and decided it was time to spend some real money on a car. I test drove and purchased a 2001 accord ex 2.3 ulev-vtec with a 5 speed, I didn't even look under the hood. (I do always stay away from automatics in small cars for the reasons discussed in the previous comments) Then at 44k and now at 91K miles the car performs like it was new. It still has the original battery and clutch. I have never had issues with brakes, dash lights or interior panels cracking. The leather seats do show excessive wear.

As far as performance with this car is concerned it's not a sports car but it does give good feedback.

Other than the seats this car has no issues and I intend to keep it for a long time. My '86 prelude had 300,800 miles when I sold it.

My first Honda was an 87 Accord 4spd automatic, I was amazed at how peppy it was and I drove the snot out of it... until I blew the tranny. It was my own fault!! I drove it for a year like a 5.0L. An expensive repair and I learn from my mistakes.

My 1991 Accord was an automatic and I drove it a little softer, the tranny was perfect but I still had that fear of breaking it in the back of my head.

My current accord is a 2001 2.3L 5spd, I've had for 3 years now and with no problems. And I also drive the snot out of this one!

My advice, always get the 5spd, and always get a Honda (or Acura).

Sure, they might get a little rusty after years on the road, but at least they are still on the road!