Honda S2000 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Honda S2000 options? We analyzed 10 model years (2000–2009) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Found a Honda S2000? Check that exact car.
Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Honda S2000 has 162 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls across model years 2000–2009. The most reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. 2000 drew the most complaints; 2008 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Honda
- Model
- S2000
- Model years analyzed
- 2000–2009 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 162
- Safety recall campaigns
- 6
- Crash-related complaints
- 25
- Fire-related complaints
- 5
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2000 (46 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2008 (3 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- POWER TRAIN
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Honda S2000: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe HONDA S2000 has 162 NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls on record. 25 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 162 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 6 federal recall campaigns
- 25 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
6 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2000–2009. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 162 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
162 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
airbag light on , no accident .will take to Honda dealer soon wondered if this is related to tatka airbag problems.
A SLIT, ABOUT 1" LONG, APPEARED IN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP REAR QUARTERPANEL. YESTERDAY, I NOTICED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR, IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT, AN INDENTATION, ABOUT TO BECOME ANOTHER SLIT. HONDA DEALER AND CUSTOMER COMPLAINT BOTH NOTIFIED. THEY HAVE NOTHING ON FILE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND OFFERED NO SOLUTIONS. THERE OBVIOUSLY IS AN ISSUE WITH THE RETRACTION MECHANISM DESIGN OR FUNCTION. WEAR ON A RETRACTED CONVERTIBLE TOP , TO THE POINT OF PENETRATION, IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
THE CONVERTIBLE TOP ON MY HONDA S2000 HAS RIPPED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME THE TOP WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. UNDER INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION THE TOP WAS FOUND TO HAVE AN ENGINEERING DEFECT WHERE THE FABRIC TOP RUBS AGAINST A SHARP METAL COMPONENT OF THE TOP FRAME CAUSING A TEAR. *TR
MY 2006 HONDA S-2000 HAS HAD AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH HIGH COLD START IDLE THAT CAN EXCEED 2500 RPM MAKING THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO OPERATE UNTIL SUFFICIENT TIME HAS ELAPSED FOR THE ENGINE TO WARM UP. AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO HONDA OF NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE, HONDA ARRANGED FOR ME TO DROP THE VEHICLE OFF AT A LOCAL HONDA DEALER TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. AFTER THREE DAYS WITH THE VEHICLE IN THEIR POSSESSION, HONDA NOW STATES THAT; THE IDLE SPEED FOR THE VEHICLE IS NORMAL AND NO DEFECTS COULD BE FOUND IN THE CAR. THEY FURTHER STATE THAT THE VEHICLE IS ONLY SAFE TO OPERATE IF GIVEN SUFFICIENT TIME TO WARM UP. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA S2000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METAL LINK ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS PLACED DIRECTLY OVER HIS SKULL. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, HIS HEAD WOULD STRIKE THE METAL LINK AND CAUSE INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO CHECK IF THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND WANTS THE MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE A HARD TOP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,000. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAS A PROTRUDING METAL JOINT AND OTHER UNSHIELDED METAL PIECES. UPDATED 07/21/09.*JB
REAR SHOCK ABSORBER LEAK RESULTING IN COMPONENT FAILURE AND UNSAFE HANDLING AND BRAKING. *TR
Read 14 more owner reports
DEER RAN OUT I SWERVED HIT A TREE HEAD ON. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA S2000. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MUST BE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH FOR THE FRONT AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS NECK AND BACK. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,764.
MECHANICAL CLIP THAT HOLDS FLOOR MAT IN PLACE ON FLOOR BENDS AND DOES NOT HOLD THE FLOOR MAT IN PLACE. THIS CAUSES THE FLOOR MAT TO BECOME LODGED UNDERNEATH THE CLUTCH, BRAKE AND ACCELERATION PEDAL. CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER FIXED THIS WITH NO QUESTION. HOWEVER, THE DESIGN OF THE PART TENDS TO BE WEAK AND WILL MOST LIKELY BEND AGAIN. *JB
WHEN CAR WAS 8 MONTHS OLD WITH ABOUT 25,000 MILES ON IT, IT BEGAN STALLING. ONLY PREMIUM SHELL GASOLINE WAS EVER PUT IN THIS CAR. INJECTOR CLEANER WAS PUT IN A FEW TIMES WITH NO RESULTS. CAR WAS TAKEN INTO ONE DEALERSHIP TO BE TOLD FIRST THAT "SHE MUST NOT BE PUSHING THE CLUTCH IN ALL THE WAY" AT WHICH TIME THEY DID AN EXTENSIVE TESTING OF THE CLUTCH. WE HAD BOTH TOLD THEM THIS WAS NOT CLUTCH RELATED AS THE CAR WOULD ALSO DIE IN NEUTRAL. SO THEN THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN BAD GAS, AT WHICH TIME THEY GAVE IT BACK. THE SECOND TIME THEY DECIDED IT WAS BENT VALVES, WHICH "COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY DRIVER DOWNSHIFTING". THIS IS NOT THE CASE, BUT WAS STILL TOLD IT WOULD COST $2600.00 TO FIX, BECAUSE HONDA WOULD NOT WARRANTY IT. SO, I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO AFTER WAITING (NOT ON PEOPLE IN FRONT OF ME, JUST WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO HELP ME)15 MINUTES, AND HAVING DRIVEN 15 MILES ON MY LUNCH HOUR, I WAS RUDELY APPROACHED AND HATEFULLY ASKED "WHAT I WAS THERE FOR". AFTER EXPLAINING THE SITUATION WITH THE CAR, HE SAID "OH, OKAY SO WE'RE TEST THE VALVES AGAIN?" AND "THERE WILL BE AN $85.00 DIAGNOSIS FEE". AT WHICH TIME I SAID FORGET IT AND WALKED OUT. I CALLED HONDA CORPORATION THIS MORNING JUST TO EXPLAIN IT ALL OVER TO THEM AND THEN ASKED WHAT THEY COULD DO TO HELP, I WAS TOLD THEY CANNOT MAKE A DEALERSHIP DO ANYTHING. THERE IS A RECALL FOR HONDA ENGINES BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE IN THE S2000 DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM SO IT DOESN'T APPLY, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS. IT STALLS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
The seat belts have never retracted properly. Over the years they have become much worse. This is a huge safety concern.
THIS 2008 HONDA S2000 HAD 65,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE ENGINE FROZE AND WOULD NOT START. THE OWNER WAS SHOPPING AND WHEN SHE RETURNED THE CAR WOULD NOT START. SHE WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOPS THAT THE ENGINE WAS SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM IS BEGINNING TO SHOW UP ACCORDING TO HONDA REPAIR SHOPS.
INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING AT START UP AND WHILE DRIVING
THE DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT. I KNOW THIS MAY SOUND LIKE A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM, BUT THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THE HONDA S2000 COMMUNITY. THE METAL (GEARS) IN THE HOUSING BEGIN TO BREAK APART. ALL IT TAKES IS A CHUNK OF THAT METAL TO LODGE IN TO THE WRONG GEAR AND YOUR WHEELS COULD LOCK UP AND IT DOESN'T CARE IF YOU ARE DOING 30 MPH OR 90 MPH. THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS OR EVEN DEADLY. MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 130K MILES ON IT. I WAS TAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM A DEAD STOP/STOP SIGN WHEN MINE FAILED, FORTUNATELY. AGAIN. THIS IS VERY COMMON FOR THESE (DIFFERENTIALS) TO FAIL. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF OF THE BUSY ROAD AND ON TO A RESIDENTIAL ROAD. IT HASN'T DROVE SINCE. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THE RIGT TURN I WAS MAKING WAS AT THE END OF A CURVE MAKING VISIBILITY OF MY BEING THERE VERY LOW. AGAIN. GOOD THING I WAS ABLE TO LIMP IT IN TO A U-TURN AND BACK TO THE RESIDENTIAL ROAD WHERE TRAFFIC WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER.
ABOUT A YEAR AGO I PUT MY SOFT TOP DOWN ON MY 2004 HONDA S2000 WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD POP. I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AT THE TIME UNTIL I STARTED DRIVING WITH MY TOP UP AND HEARD A LOT OF WHISPERING SOUNDS. THERE WAS A FINE CUT RIGHT ABOVE THE RELEASE LATCH/HINGE ON MY SOFT TOP. I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE HONDA DEALERSHIP OF WHOM I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM. THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MY EXACT PROBLEM FROM THE YEAR FROM 2005 TO 2008 FOR THE HONDA S2000. SEEING THAT I BOUGHT MY CAR USED (FROM THEIR LOT), OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NOT WITHIN THE YEARS THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS FOR, THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME OVER $2500 TO REPLACE THE TOP FOR A DEFECT THAT WAS ON THE CAR. I AM PROVIDING THE HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER FOR YOUR RECORDS: 09-033. HONDA CAN PULL UP THAT SERVICE BULLETIN AND THERE IT WILL EXPLAIN THE ISSUES AND WHAT ACTIONS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN PLACE. I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND THERE ARE A LOT OF CAR OWNERS WITH HIS CAR THAT HAVE BEEN HAVING THESE ISSUES AND WAS FORCE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED! *TR
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
I HAVE AN 04 HONDA S2000. THE TRANSMISSION WILL SOMETIMES POP OUT OF 1ST OR 2ND GEAR WHEN YOU LET OUT THE CLUTCH. ALMOST LIKE IT WAS NOT IN GEAR TO BEGIN WITH. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON THE 04 S2000. THE SERVICE ENGINEER THAT WORKS FOR HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT HONDA REFUSES TO MAKE THE REPAIRS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA BECAUSE YOU COULD TRY TO ACCELERETE THROUGH A SMALL BREAK IN TRAFFIC, MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND DRIFT RIGHT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH THE ENGINE REVVING AND NO ACCELERATION AND GET KILLED.*AK
TRANSMISSION IS ROUGH AND SOMETIMES "POPS" OUT OF 1ST GEAR. DURING HIGHER ACCELERATION SHIFTING GEARS OCCASIONALLY BECOME HARD TO DO. AS IF THEY ARE NOT LINED UP CORRECTLY. ALSO THE CLAMPS THAT HOLD THE CONVERTIBLE TOP UP BECOME DETERIORATED RATHER QUICKLY. THIS WEAKER LOCK BEGINS TO RATTLE AND MAKE ALL KINDS OF SOUNDS DURING DRIVING. *AK
THIS 2005 HONDA S2K LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE AND THEN BENT THE TIE ROD AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND WHICH SENT THE TIRE UNDER THE UNIBODY OF THE CAR. WHICH FOR A REAR WHEEL DRIVE CAR IS VERY BAD. YOU WILL HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE CAR IN THIS SCENARIO.
THE LEFT SEAT ADJUSTMENT RAIL FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE BOLT HOLDING THE FORWARD END OF THE RAIL TO THE FLOOR. THIS ALLOWED THE DRIVERS SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. I HAD ADJUSTED THE SEAT FORWARD TO MY USUAL DRIVING POSITION, AND PUSHED BACKWARD ON THE SEAT TO CHECK THAT THE ADJUSTER WAS LOCKED. WHEN I DID THAT, THE SEAT BRACKET BROKE LOOSE AND THE SEAT TILTED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE REPLACED THE BROKEN RAIL, HONDA PART NUMBER 81660-S2A-A02. I PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE RIGHT SIDE DRIVER'S SEAT RAIL (81670-S2A-A02) WHEN THE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM JAMMED, IN JANUARY2011. THAT PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE NEW FROM HONDA. ALL BOLTS WERE REINSTALLED ACCORDING TO TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS IN THE HONDA S2000 FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL.
Showing 20 of 162 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Honda S2000
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Honda S2000, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Honda S2000 has 162 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Honda S2000 has 6 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 25 of the Honda S2000's 162 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Honda S2000 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Honda S2000 vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Honda S2000 has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Check a Honda S2000 by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Honda S2000.
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Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Honda S2000 reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Honda S2000 reliable?
Poor. The Honda S2000 has 162 NHTSA owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Honda S2000 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2000 (46 complaints), 2003 (34 complaints), 2001 (24 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Honda S2000 problems?
Top reported issues: POWER TRAIN (26 complaints); ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (22 complaints); AIR BAGS (20 complaints).
Does the Honda S2000 have recalls?
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Honda S2000. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.