The AP1 S2000 is a high-revving 9,000-rpm roadster with a bulletproof F20C engine, but it demands religious maintenance and suffers from worn synchros, failing window regulators, and soft-top wear. Most mechanical issues stem from deferred maintenance or track abuse rather than design flaws.
2nd Gear Synchro Wear (Manual Transmission)
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Grinding or crunching when shifting into 2nd gear, especially when cold, Difficulty engaging 2nd gear during aggressive driving or hard downshifts, Notchy feel or gear rejection under quick 1-2 shifts
Fix: Requires transmission removal and internal rebuild with new synchro rings, often 2nd and 3rd together. Expect 8-12 hours labor for drop, disassembly, parts replacement, and reinstall. Common on cars driven hard or with missed shifts.
Estimated cost: $2,000-3,500
Window Regulator Failure
Common · low severityTypical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Window drops into door or won't roll up completely, Clicking or grinding noise from door when operating window, Window moves slowly or unevenly, gets stuck halfway
Fix: Plastic window regulator guides crack and fail. Requires door panel removal and regulator replacement. 2-3 hours per side. Affects both driver and passenger sides, often one fails then the other follows within a year.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Soft Top Wear and Rear Window Delamination
Common · low severitySymptoms: Rear plastic window turns cloudy, yellowed, or separates from fabric, Tears along seams or at frame contact points, Water leaks at A-pillar or top corners during car washes, Top won't latch properly or pops up at highway speeds
Fix: Soft tops last 8-12 years depending on climate and care. OEM Honda replacement requires 6-8 hours to remove old top, prep frame, and install new assembly with proper tension. Aftermarket tops slightly cheaper but fit varies.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Valve Retainer Wear (High-Mileage or Track Cars)
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 120,000+ mi
Symptoms: Ticking or tapping noise at high RPM (7,000+ rpm) that worsens over time, Metal shavings in oil filter during changes, Loss of power in VTEC range or rough idle if retainer fails completely
Fix: F20C valve retainers can wear and allow valve float or catastrophic failure if revved aggressively on worn parts. Requires cylinder head removal, full valve train inspection, new retainers, seals, and springs. 16-20 hours labor. More common on track-driven cars that see constant 8,500+ rpm use.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500
Rear Subframe Bushing Deterioration
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from rear end, Loose or wandering feel in rear under hard cornering, Excessive rear tire wear on inside edges, Visible cracking or separation of rubber bushings during inspection
Fix: OEM rubber bushings crack and allow subframe movement, killing handling precision. Replacement requires subframe drop or partial drop with special tools. 4-6 hours labor. Many owners upgrade to polyurethane bushings at this time.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Clutch Master and Slave Cylinder Leaks
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 100,000+ mi
Symptoms: Clutch pedal feels spongy or sinks to floor, Difficulty shifting gears or grinding despite normal synchro function, Visible fluid leak at firewall or near transmission bellhousing, Pedal won't return fully after depression
Fix: Master cylinder fails internally or slave cylinder starts weeping. Often both are replaced together as preventive measure. Master is 2-3 hours with dash work, slave adds 1-2 hours. System bleed required afterward.
Estimated cost: $600-1,100
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Occasional · medium severitySymptoms: Small puddle of gear oil under front of car after sitting, Low transmission fluid level on dipstick checks, Smell of burning gear oil if dripping onto exhaust, Visible wetness on transmission cooler lines near radiator
Fix: Hard lines or fittings corrode and seep over time, especially in rust-belt climates. Requires line replacement and system refill with Honda MTF. 2-3 hours labor. Critical to catch early before transmission runs low on oil.
Estimated cost: $400-800
Absolutely buy one if maintenance records are solid and it hasn't been drifted or autocrossed to death — the drivetrain is nearly indestructible with proper care, and even high-mileage examples respond well to synchro and bushing refreshes.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.