this model yearOf 46 owner complaints for this model year, around 9% describe 4 injuries. These are unverified owner accounts, but the pattern is worth reading before buying.
this model year3 further recall campaigns cover this model year. Ask a dealer which remain outstanding on this car.
Almost all of this describes the model year, not the individual car. Nothing here can tell you about this vehicle’s mileage, accidents or ownership — no identifier encodes those.
Recalls for this model year
3 recalls on record
04V257000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE LENS OF THE SIDE MARKER LAMP AND SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR IN THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY WERE MANUFACTURED WITH INCORRECT DYE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL AFFECTED TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
00V316000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CAN DEFORM AND CAUSE COMPLETE OR FREQUENT LOCKING OF THE RETRACTOR. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT BELTS CANNOT BE PULLED OUT OF THE RETRACTOR AND CANNOT BE USED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY.
00V016000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CONVERTIBLE PASSENGER VEHICLES. WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS DOWN AND THE SEAT IS PUSHED ALL THE WAY BACK, THE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RETRACT PROPERLY RESULTING IN SLACK IN THE SEAT BELTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP COVER TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE WITH THE SEAT BELT.
Published by model year, not by VIN — may not apply to this vehicle, or may already have been done. Confirm with a dealer.
Owner complaints for this model year
46Complaints
3Involved a crash
4Injuries
Most reported components
exterior lighting8
visibility8
structure7
engine and engine cooling6
power train4
seat belts4
Read 15 of the most serious reports
steering,suspension,structure2 injuriescrash
NHTSA #11338343
WHILE DRIVING MY S2000 AND TURNING ON CURVY ROADS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN CORRECTLY AND ENDED UP IN A FIELD TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE NOTICED THE UPPER CONTROL ARM SPOT WELD BROKE FREE MEANING THE UPPER SUSPENSION MOUNT WAS NOT CONNECTED AND CAUSED THE INCIDENT. HONDA KNOWS IT'S AN ISSUE WITH 2000-2003 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES AND HAS ISSUED A TSB SN040903 "09/01/2004 POPPING FROM FRONT WHEEL UPPER CONTROL ARM MOUNT" MULTIPLE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE ISSUE OVER THE YEARS SO MUCH THAT MANY COMPANIES DEVELOPED REINFORCEMENT PLATES SUCH AS THESE: HTTPS://ORIGINFABRICATION.COM/PRODUCTS/UPPER-CONTROLL-ARM-MOUNTING-POINT-GUSSET-KIT-HONDA-S2000 IF THIS ISSUE HAD OCCURED JUST 500 FEET BEFORE I WOULD HAVE ENDED UP STEERING INTO AN ONCOMING SEMI-TRUCK.
air bags1 injurycrash
NHTSA #750295
DELAYED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT (INFLATED AFTER 2 SECONDS), UPON HITTING A TREE.*AK
air bags1 injurycrash
NHTSA #859726
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHER THAN PRESCRIBED HIGHWAY SPEED ANOTHER CAR CUT IN FRONT. HONDA EITHER SWERVED TO MISS THE CAR, OR THE OTHER VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD, AND THEN CAME BACK AND HIT THE HONDA. HONDA WAS AIRBOURNE AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER WAS SEVERELY INJURED WITH CONTRITION TO THE LEFT LUNGS/ RUPTURED SPLEEN, AND BROKE TOP COLLAR BONE AND TWO RIBS. *AK
air bags
NHTSA #11298166
YOUR WEB SITE DOES NOT SEARCH THE VIN. VIN IS CORRECT. WEB SITE IS UNRESPONSIVE
exterior lighting
NHTSA #10264487
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2000 HONDA S2000...THIS PAST MONTH I REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES FOR BOTH HEADLIGHTS BECAUSE THE PLASTIC SHIELDS WHICH PROTECT THE LIGHTS HAD DETERIORATED SO MUCH THAT VIRTUALLY NO LIGHT WAS EMITTING FROM THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE PART WHICH WAS THE PROBLEM (THE PLASTIC LENS COVER OR SHIELD)CANNOT BE REPLACED AS A SEPARATE PART..YOU MUST PURCHASE THE COMPLETE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FROM HONDA...AS THERE ARE NO AFTER MARKET ALTERNATIVE PARTS...THE COST FOR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WAS $1,100 PLUS TAXES...AGAIN NOTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THE ENCASEMENTS WERE REPLACED..STILL USING THE ORIGINAL BULBS, MOTORS, TRANSFORMERS, ETC.....IT'S OUTRAGEOUS THAT A PART WOULD DETERIORATE TO THE POINT OF IT BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT I AM STUCK WITH AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE OF CLOSE TO $1,200 TO CORRECT THE SITUATION... THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN OFFER IN THIS MATTER. *TR
engine and engine cooling
NHTSA #10233734
DIP STICK SHOWED GOOD OIL LEVEL. HOWEVER, UPON DRIVING IT ONE DAY THE ENGINE BLEW AND THE LOW OIL WARNING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. ENGINE CONSUMED OIL ENOUGH THAT IT THREW A ROD BEARING. REPLACED THE BEARINGS AND IT RAN ABOUT 24 MILES AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT DESTROYED THE CRANK IN NUMBER 2 CYLINDER. HONDA CORP. WASN'T VERY FRIENDLY ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH OIL DISTRIBUTION IN THIS CAR. *TR
electrical system
NHTSA #10172619
THE HONDA S2000 IS A MANUAL SHIFT CAR. THE MAP SENSOR ON THIS PARTICULAR CAR ADJUSTS WHEN NEEDED TO CONTROL AIR INTAKE OF THIS CAR. DURING SHIFTING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY STALL AND SHUT OFF, DUE TO SOME TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THIS SENSOR. ON DOZENS OF OCCASIONS, I WAS IN ATLANTA RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND THE CAR STALLED. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND I AM LUCKY THAT I OR NOBODY ELSE WAS HURT. LUCKILY I AM GOOD WITH A STICK SHIFT AND NEW TO PRESS THE SHIFT PEDAL AND COAST TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE I COULD RESTART THE CAR. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IF THEY HAD A WARRANTY ON ALL PARTS OF THE CAR THEY WOULD GO OUT OF BUSINESS. BECAUSE OF THE APPROXIMATELY $900 REPAIR FEE, I SOUGHT HELP ON THE FORUMS OF THE LARGEST S2000 FANSITE. ON THE FORUMS SECTION OF THIS SITE, THERE ARE LITERALLY DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. IN FACT, THERE IS A SECTION ON THE FORUM CALLED THE "MAP WACK", A PROCEDURE WHERE YOU TAKE A HAMMER AND WACK THE MAP SENSOR TO GET IT TO WORK PROPERLY. I AM OUTRAGED THAT THEY HAVE RECALLED MY BACK TAIL LIGHTS BECAUSE THE PAINT COLOR FADES, YET NO SUCH RECALL EXISTS FOR A DEVICE THAT CAN STALL AN S2000 AT ANY SPEED. I ENDED UP GETTING A NEW THROTTLE BODY AND SENSOR AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RESURFACED IN 2 YEARS. HOWEVER, I AM OUTRAGED THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I ONLY LABEL THIS AS A DEFECT BECAUSE THERE ARE LITERALLY DOZENS AND EVEN HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AS MINE ON THE S2000 FANSITE. *JB
fuel system, gasoline
NHTSA #10171502
THE HONDA S2000 IS A MANUAL SHIFT CAR. THE MAP SENSOR ON THIS PARTICULAR CAR ADJUSTS WHEN NEEDED TO CONTROL AIR INTAKE OF THIS CAR. DURING SHIFTING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY STALL AND SHUT OFF, DUE TO SOME TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THIS SENSOR. ON DOZENS OF OCCASIONS, I WAS IN ATLANTA RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND THE CAR STALLED. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND I AM LUCKY THAT I OR NOBODY ELSE WAS HURT. LUCKILY I AM GOOD WITH A STICK SHIFT AND NEW TO PRESS THE SHIFT PEDAL AND COAST TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE I COULD RESTART THE CAR. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IF THEY HAD A WARRANTY ON ALL PARTS OF THE CAR THEY WOULD GO OUT OF BUSINESS. BECAUSE OF THE APPROXIMATELY $900 REPAIR FEE, I SOUGHT HELP ON THE FORUMS OF THE LARGEST S2000 FANSITE. ON THE FORUMS SECTION OF THIS SITE, THERE ARE LITERALLY DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. IN FACT, THERE IS A SECTION ON THE FORUM CALLED THE "MAP WACK", A PROCEDURE WHERE YOU TAKE A HAMMER AND WACK THE MAP SENSOR TO GET IT TO WORK PROPERLY. I AM OUTRAGED THAT THEY HAVE RECALLED MY BACK TAIL LIGHTS BECAUSE THE PAINT COLOR FADES, YET NO SUCH RECALL EXISTS FOR A DEVICE THAT CAN STALL AN S2000 AT ANY SPEED. I ENDED UP GETTING A NEW THROTTLE BODY AND SENSOR AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RESURFACED IN 2 YEARS. HOWEVER, I AM OUTRAGED THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I ONLY LABEL THIS AS A DEFECT BECAUSE THERE ARE LITERALLY DOZENS AND EVEN HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AS MINE ON THE S2000 FANSITE. *NM
visibility
NHTSA #10104096
THE REAR PLASTIC WINDOW BECAME OPAQUE AND YELLOW, TO THE POINT WHERE 3 YEARS AFTER BUYING THE CAR, YOU COULD NOT SEE THROUGH IT AT ALL. THIS MADE THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS NOT DOWN, BECAUSE REAR VISIBILITY WAS ONLY THROUGH THE SIDE MIRRORS. WHILE I WOULD CONSIDER A FUNCTIONAL REAR WINDOW TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, HONDA REFUSED TO REPLACE IT, SAYING MY WARRANTY DID NOT APPLY TO "UPHOLSTERY". I ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN IT WITH VARIOUS WINDOW CLEANERS, AND WHILE THEY HELPED RESTORE OPACITY, THEY DID NOT RESTORE TRANSPARENCY OR VISIBILITY. *JB
structure
NHTSA #10090218
DEALER TRIED TO REMOVE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DUE TO RECALL 004V160000 INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE COVER AS THE RECALL STATED. CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS GLUED TOGETHER WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK IT UP. DEALER STATED THAT THE TOP IS GETTING OLD. *AK
power train
NHTSA #10089393
CONSUMER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM DOES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY YET NOTHING WAS BEING DONE BY THE DEALER TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ALSO, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WILL NOT EVEN TALK TO CONSUMER TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
exterior lighting
NHTSA #10089384
PROBLEMS RECEIVING REIMBURSEMENT FOR TAILLIGHT SIDE MARKERS.*MR THE CONSUMER OPTED TO ORDER THE PARTS FROM HONDA AND REPLACE THE MARKER'S HIMSELF DUE TO THE COST OF LABOR. ONCE THE RECALL WAS RECEIVED HE RETURNED THE PROPER FORMS FOR REIMBURSEMENT. HE WAS LATER TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER REQUIRED PROOF FROM THE DEALER THE THE TAIL LIGHT WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE FADING PROBLEM. *NM
visibility
NHTSA #10086840
I OWN A 2000 HONDA S2000 CONVERTIBLE. SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE REAR WINDOW HAS STEADILY CLOUDED TO THE POINT THAT I CAN NO LONGER SEE THROUGH IT. MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER (JONES HONDA, 1335 MANHEIM PIKE, LANCASTER, PA 17603 717-394-0711) TELLS ME THE ENTIRE ROOF WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE WINDOW. THE COST IS IN EXCESS OF $2,000.00. I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER S2000 OWNERS AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO THEIR REAR WINDOWS.*AK
engine and engine cooling
NHTSA #10082525
PREMATURE FAILURE OF CONNECTING RODS. *AK
seat belts
NHTSA #10075643
THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT MADE A NOISE WHILE BEING RETRACTED. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. *AK *JB
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.