Honda · S2000 · 2003
0
Recalls
8
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2003 Honda S2000 has no recalls and 8 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: engine and engine cooling (4 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
WHILE TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND DROVE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. AN INSPECTION SHOWED THE TIRE WAS SLIGHTLY INFLATED. (THE RIM WAS NOT CRUSHED INTO THE RUBBER.) I DETERMINED THAT THE SAFEST THING TO DO WAS TO DRIVE THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER AND TAKE THE FIRST EXIT TO GET AWAY FROM THE HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC WHERE I CHANGED THE TIRE. THE TIRE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO RIDING ON AN UNDER INFLATED TIRE. THIS IS NOT SO. BEFORE THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED, I WALKED TO MY CAR FROM THE RIGHT REAR AND I WOULD HAVE NOTICED AN UNDER INFLATED TIRE. ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER LEAVING THAT PARKING PLACE THE TIRE FAILED. MY CAR IS A HONDA S2000 AND I FUSS OVER IT ALL THE TIME. THE TIRES ARE WELL INSPECTED WHEN THE CAR IS WASHED AND THEN TIRE SHINE IS APPLIED. THE TIRE WAS NOT UNDER INFLATED. THE TIRE DEALER COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE OF A PUNCTURE THAT WOULD CAUSE UNDER INFLATION. *TR
SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE VEHICLE THOROUGHLY MAINTAINED LOST VALVE IN CYLINDER 3.I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT VEHICLE WAS OVER REVVED. I WAS AT A CONSTANT SPEED ON THE HIGH WAY WITH A STATE TROOPER IN FRONT OF ME SO THERE WENT THE OVER REVVED THEORY THAT THEY SEEM TO LIKE PRESENTING EVERYONE. SO IF SOME ONE COULD TELL ME WHY HONDA IS SCREWING EVERYBODY OVER WITH THEIR WARRANTY CLAIM I WOULD APPRECIATE IT,SINCE THE DEALER WANTS TO PUT A MOTOR IN THE CAR FOR 11K.P.S. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 7,000 MILES AND OWE CLOSE TO 200O0 ON THE CAR SO WHAT DO I DO FROM HERE?IM SPEAKING WITH A LAWYER ABOUT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS BEING TOLD THE SAME THING LIES. *AK
THE CONVERTIBLE SOFT TOP SEEMS TO HAVE LITTLE HOLES APPEARING THROUGHOUT THE TOP. ALSO CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP ARE ALSO RIPPED DUE TO MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED TWICE FOR ABOUT THREE SECONDS EACH TIME. THREE MINUTES LATER, WHILE ENTERING A CURVE, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT HIT A CONCRETE BARRICADE ON THE LEFT SIDE , CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BOUNCE BACK ONTO THE ROAD AND HITTING THE CONCRETE BARRICADE A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE QUARTER PANEL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND FOUND PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN LYING ON THE ROAD ABOUT 25 FEET BEFORE THE CRASH SITE. THE PART WAS NOT RETRIEVED DUE TO THE TRAFFIC. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER BOTH WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS AND SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK
ENGINE SIEZED, HONDA REFUSES TO HONOR WARRANTY. ALTERNATELY CLAIMS LOW OIL WHICH IS INCORRECT, AND NO OIL LIGHT WAS INDICATED, OR AFTERMARKET AIR INTAKE SYSTEM IN CLEAR VIOLATION OF MAGUNUSSON - MOSS. ESCALATION TO HONDA HQ HAS RESULTED IN NO RESPONSE.*AK SAFETY ISSUE: IF THIS HAD OCCURED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE REAR WHEELS WOULD HAVE IMEDIATELY LOCKED UP CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND ASSOCIATED ACCIDENT/INJURY.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CASE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER SINCE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID IT WAS A COMPUTER GLICH AND THEY RESET THE COMPUTER. A WEEK LATER ON A TRIP TO TEXAS THE LIGHT RETURNED. WE TOOK THE CAR AGAIN TO THE CLOSEST HONDA DEALER IN TEXAS. THEY CHECKED CAR AND REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES. THE LIGHT STAYED! THEY THEN SAID THAT CYLINDER 2 FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL DAYS! THEY TOLD US TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME TO OKLAHOMA AND THEN TAKE IT TO OUR HONDA DEALER. WE DID AND NOW THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER SAYS THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS CYLINDER 2 REPLACED! THEY SAY IT ISN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE WE REVIVED THE RMPS TO HIGH. WE DID NO SUCH THING AND THEY WANT $1700 TO FIX THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF FAILURE. WE WILL SOON BE FILING SUIT AND CONTACTING THE BBB SINCE THEY WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THE WARRANTY! I HAVE READ AND SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT A GUARD RAIL. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP , BUT DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
ENGINE BEGAN KNOCKING WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY. 14741 MILES ON CAR.OIL LEVEL WAS FULL AND HAD ~1600 MILES ON OIL AND FILTER CHANGE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. WARRANTY DENIED BY HONDA. ENGINE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE.*AK
The 2003 Honda S2000 has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 8 owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Honda S2000.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2003 Honda S2000.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2003 Honda S2000 are engine and engine cooling (4 reports), service brakes, hydraulic (1 reports), structure (1 reports).
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2003 Honda S2000. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.