2004 S2000
1st generation
Excellent
Most reported problems
- Manual transmission or clutch: jumps out of gear60%
- Convertible top: early wear40%
- Per 10k cars
- 6.7
- Complaints
- 5
- Recalls
- 0
Honda S2000 Reliability Rankings: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
NHTSA data as of Oct 15, 2026Published Oct 23, 2026
According to our reliability score system, the best Honda S2000 years to buy are the 2001 to 2004 and 2007. All 5 come from the 1st generation, model years 2000 to 2009.
No S2000 year rates Avoid, but the 2000 needs a careful look. Owners of the 2000 most often report the convertible top, mostly rear window clouded or yellowed.
Looking at every S2000 year, the 2001 to 2007 rate Good or Excellent. Be careful with the 2000. The 2008 and 2009 have too little data to score.
82
Excellent
Model score, all years
10
Model years tracked
107
Owner complaints
5
Recalls, all years
Caution1 year
Avoid0 years
No S2000 year is rated Avoid.
Not enough data to score: 2008, 2009. Honda made too few of each of these years for a fair score. If they were average cars, they would have fewer than 10 complaints by now, and we need at least 10 to compare with. How we decide
Excellent 80+Good 70–79Caution 60–69Avoid under 60 Provisional, with 80% range 70 = average for a car of the same age
Best Years to Buy a Honda S2000
Five S2000 years rate Excellent, scoring 80 or higher. The 2004 leads with 90.
90
2007 S2000
1st generation
Excellent
No problem comes up twice in the 3 complaints about the 2007.
- Per 10k cars
- 6.1
- Complaints
- 3
- Recalls
- 1
2001 S2000
1st generation
Excellent
Most reported problems
- Manual transmission or clutch failure23%
- Brakes: loss of braking15%
- Convertible top: rear window fogs up in bad weather15%
- Steering: works on and off15%
- Tires: early wear15%
- Per 10k cars
- 13.1
- Complaints
- 13
- Recalls
- 0
2002 S2000
1st generation
Excellent
Most reported problems
- Engine failure: parts breaking or coming apart40%
- Tires: early wear20%
- Per 10k cars
- 10.0
- Complaints
- 10
- Recalls
- 0
2003 S2000
1st generation
Excellent
Most reported problems
- Engine failure25%
- Per 10k cars
- 10.2
- Complaints
- 8
- Recalls
- 0
Also rated Good: 2005–2006.
Honda S2000 Years to Avoid
No S2000 year rates Avoid. The 2000 is the only S2000 year rated Caution, with a score of 69.
2000 S2000
1st generation
Caution
Most reported problems
- Convertible top: rear window clouded or yellowed30%
- Taillights or brake lights: lens fading13%
- Engine failure8%
- Engine sensors or computer: stalling5%
- Frontal airbags: delayed deployment5%
- Headlights: lens deteriorated5%
- Per 10k cars
- 35.0
- Complaints
- 40
- Recalls
- 3
Honda S2000 Reliability by Year
All model years, newest first. Tap a year for its full report, with the problems owners report, recalls, Honda programs and crash ratings.
| Year | Generation | Rating | Score | Vs average | Complaints | Per 10k cars | Recalls | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1st generation | Not enough data | – | – | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | Report |
| 2008 | 1st generation | Not enough data | – | – | 3 | 11.6 | 0 | Report |
| 2007 | 1st generation | Excellent | 85 | 0.31× | 3 | 6.1 | 1 | Report |
| 2006 | 1st generation | Good | 76 | 0.62× | 10 | 17.7 | 2 | Report |
| 2005 | 1st generation | Good | 77 | 0.67× | 15 | 16.8 | 0 | Report |
| 2004 | 1st generation | Excellent | 90 | 0.22× | 5 | 6.7 | 0 | Report |
| 2003 | 1st generation | Excellent | 80 | 0.50× | 8 | 10.2 | 0 | Report |
| 2002 | 1st generation | Excellent | 82 | 0.43× | 10 | 10.0 | 0 | Report |
| 2001 | 1st generation | Excellent | 82 | 0.44× | 13 | 13.1 | 0 | Report |
| 2000 | 1st generation | Caution | 69 | 1.1× | 40 | 35.0 | 3 | Report |
Vs average: how this year's complaint rate compares with the average car of the same age. 1× is average, 2× is twice as many. Per 10k cars: complaints so far for every 10,000 cars Honda made for the U.S. that model year. The complaint count also includes owners who wrote in only about a recall notice, with no problem to report. The score leaves those out. Generations follow Honda's own model history.
How We Score Each Model Year
1
Count What Owners Report
Every complaint filed with NHTSA for the model year, plus its recalls. Recall-notice filings with no fault are left out.
2
Adjust for How Many Were Made
A popular car gets more complaints just because there are more of them. We divide by the number Honda made for that model year and compare with the average car of the same age.
3
Turn It Into a Score
70 is average. Twice the average rate of complaints costs 10 points, half the rate adds 10. Serious problems count more than everyday ones.
What to Do Next
Check a Model Year →Open the full report for one year: score, the problems owners report, recalls, coverage and crash ratings.Compare S2000 Years →Put up to four model years side by side and see which one is more reliable.Find Warranty Extensions →Repairs the automaker may still pay for after the factory warranty ends, with its own documents.Look Up a VIN →Confirm the exact model year, engine and trim of the car you are looking at.