The 2002 Honda Accord has 6 recalls, the most serious being the Takata airbag inflators on both the driver and passenger sides, which can rupture in a crash and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
The airbag issue spans multiple filings but describes the same defect: the frontal airbag inflators can explode with excessive force, and prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the problem for all affected vehicles. On V6-equipped models, there is also a timing belt concern where a misaligned tensioner pulley can cause the belt to contact a bolt on the cylinder head, wear through, and eventually snap, stalling the engine without warning. Rounding out the list, the ignition switch interlock can fail to require the transmission to be in Park before the key is removed, which means a driver who forgets to set the parking brake could find the vehicle rolling away.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
Driver air bag inflators installed during previous recalls or as service parts may explode during a crash when the air bag deploys due to a manufacturing defect.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator with a different inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver air bag inflator may rupture due to moisture and manufacturing variations that develop over time.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger side front air bag inflator may build up excessive pressure and rupture when the air bag deploys in vehicles registered in high-humidity areas.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The ignition switch interlock may not work correctly, allowing you to turn the key to off and remove it even when the transmission is not in park.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the interlock function and replace the interlock lever with an updated design at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On V6-equipped vehicles, a timing belt tensioner pulley on the water pump is misaligned, causing the timing belt to contact a bolt on the cylinder head. This contact can damage and eventually fail the belt.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the water pump. If defective, they will replace both the water pump and timing belt.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
