2008 Honda S2000 Reliability Report
NHTSA data as of Oct 15, 2026Published Oct 23, 2026
scored
Not enough data to score. Too few were made for a fair score.
- Owner complaints
- 3
- Per 10,000 cars
- 11.6
- 2,591 made for the U.S.
- Vs the average car
- –
- Serious outcomes
- 1
- crash, fire, injury, stall or tow
- Recalls
- 0
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
- no overall rating before 2011
Should You Buy the 2008 Honda S2000?
We do not score the 2008 Honda S2000. Honda made 2,591 of them for the U.S. If they were average cars, they would have about 8.9 complaints by now, and we need at least 10 to compare with before we give a score. The 2008 S2000 has 3 so far, about 12 per 10,000 cars, where an average car has about 34. So instead of a score, we show the facts.
The 2007 S2000, from the same generation, scored 85 and rated Excellent.
It has no recalls.
Before you buy, get an independent inspection. The full checklist is at the end of this page.
Pros
- No recalls
Cons
None stand out.
What Owners Report
We read all 3 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Honda S2000, one by one, and grouped them by the problem they describe. The most reported problems come first.
No problem shows up in more than one of the complaints we read.
Reported Once (3)
Show the 3 problems reported once
- Engine failure: locking up
- Seat belts: does not retract properly
- Steering: works on and off
How the 2008 Honda S2000 Compares With Other Years
Every S2000 year is here: the S2000 was made in one generation, 2000 to 2009.
| Year | Rating | Score | Vs average | Per 10k cars | Recalls | Most reported problem |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Not scored | – | – | 0.0 | 0 | – |
| 2008 This year | Not scored | – | – | 11.6 | 0 | – |
| 2007 | Excellent | 85 | 0.31× | 6.1 | 1 | – |
| 2006 | Good | 76 | 0.62× | 17.7 | 2 | Convertible top: damage |
| 2005 | Good | 77 | 0.67× | 16.8 | 0 | Manual transmission or clutch: jumps out of gear |
| 2004 | Excellent | 90 | 0.22× | 6.7 | 0 | Manual transmission or clutch: jumps out of gear |
| 2003 | Excellent | 80 | 0.50× | 10.2 | 0 | Engine failure |
| 2002 | Excellent | 82 | 0.43× | 10.0 | 0 | Engine failure: parts breaking or coming apart |
| 2001 | Excellent | 82 | 0.44× | 13.1 | 0 | Manual transmission or clutch failure |
| 2000 | Caution | 69 | 1.1× | 35.0 | 3 | Convertible top: rear window clouded or yellowed |
NHTSA Crash Test Ratings
NHTSA gave the 2008 S2000 no overall, frontal or side rating. It did rate each seat in those tests and lists the seat ratings under Rating Breakdown on its page. We show them the same way below. These tests are from before 2011, so the stars are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and newer models. See the 2008 S2000 ratings on NHTSA.gov.
Convertible
Check Before You Buy
Checks to make on any used 2008 S2000 before you buy.
Ask the Seller
- Ask for the service records, especially oil changes.
Before You Pay
- Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
- Decode the VIN to confirm the model year, engine and trim.
- Check the title for salvage, flood or rebuilt branding.
What to do next