2004 Honda S2000: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2004 Honda S2000? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 5 complaints, with Transmission / Drivetrain as the top reported area.
2004 Honda S2000 Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA official fuel economy rating for the 2004 Honda S2000.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions.
2004 Honda S2000 Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star ProgramOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
Not RatedFrontal Crash
Not RatedSide Crash
Not RatedRollover
Not RatedSource: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2004 Honda S2000 has 5 owner complaints, 0 crash-related complaints, and 0 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Transmission / Drivetrain. NHTSA reliability signal: Good Record.
- Make
- Honda
- Model
- S2000
- Model year
- 2004
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 5
- Crash-related complaints
- 0
- Safety recall campaigns
- 0
- Top reported component
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Reliability signal
- Good Record
- EPA MPG combined
- 20
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 17 / 23
- Fuel type
- Premium Gasoline
- Electronic stability control
- No
Most Common 2004 Honda S2000 Problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Structural Problems
Visibility
Complaint patterns center on Transmission / Drivetrain, Structural Problems, Visibility. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Should You Buy a Used 2004 Honda S2000?
The 2004 Honda S2000 looks comparatively lower-risk based on complaint volume, but model-year averages do not confirm the condition of any specific used car.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
What to Check Before Buying a Used 2004 Honda S2000
Inspection Focus
- Inspect transmission and drivetrain components thoroughly during a test drive.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for transmission and drivetrain repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.
Before You Close the Deal
- Inspect transmission and drivetrain components thoroughly during a test drive.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for transmission and drivetrain repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2004 Honda S2000, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Based on limited NHTSA data for the 2004 Honda S2000, complaints are concentrated in the transmission/drivetrain area. No crashes or recalls were reported, but the low complaint count and single model year analyzed reduce confidence in these findings.
- Transmission/drivetrain accounts for the majority of complaints among the 5 total.
- No crash-related complaints were reported.
- No recalls were issued for the 2004 model year.
- Transmission / Drivetrain
- Structural Problems
- Visibility
All 2004 Honda S2000 Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Honda S2000. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Real Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Honda S2000. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
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…
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/…
2004 HONDA S2000 MANUAL TRANSMISSION WILL POP OUT OF GEAR FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR. UNABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR UNTIL THE CAR SLOWS ALMOST TO COMPLETE STOP. THIS IS DANGEROUS. REQUESTED DEALER TO SERVICE PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THEIR REPEATED RESPONSE I…
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 REFUS…
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 BE…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2004 Honda S2000.
2004 Honda S2000 Recalls
0 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2004 Honda S2000. No recall campaigns are currently listed for this model year in the dataset, but VIN-level recall checks are still essential. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
No recall campaigns found for this model year in the current data. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls directly for the latest information.
2004 Honda S2000 Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2004 Honda S2000 reliable?▾
Good Record. NHTSA currently shows 5 owner complaints, 0 crash-related complaints, and 0 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2004 Honda S2000 looks comparatively lower-risk based on complaint volume, but model-year averages do not confirm the condition of any specific used car. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Honda S2000?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (4 complaints). #2: Structural Problems (1 complaints). #3: Visibility (1 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Honda S2000?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2004 Honda S2000?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2004 Honda S2000, NHTSA complaints include 0 crash-related reports and 0 fire reports out of 5 total complaints. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2004 Honda S2000 have any recalls?▾
No NHTSA recall campaigns were found for the 2004 Honda S2000 in the current data. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.
Should I buy a 2004 Honda S2000?▾
The 2004 Honda S2000 looks comparatively lower-risk based on complaint volume, but model-year averages do not confirm the condition of any specific used car. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Transmission / Drivetrain during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Honda S2000 reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2004 Honda S2000 based on your ownership experience.
Add your rating:
Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.