2008 Honda S2000 (AP2) — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $30,000–$48,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
A future-classic roadster that's already appreciating — the S2000's high-revving F22 (AP2) engine, slick 6-speed, and pure rear-drive balance make it an all-time enthusiast favorite, and Honda reliability means it lasts. The concern is abuse (these get tracked and modified) and rising prices attracting flippers. A stock, un-tracked, documented S2000 is a joy and a genuine investment; verify service, clutch, and check for crash/track damage and a healthy top.
What we checked
Reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11
NHTSA holds 3 owner complaints for the 2008 Honda S2000 (AP2), and no recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 33% of them are about one thing — seat belts. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.
Looked at and set aside: seat belts (1) — 1 seat-belt complaint on file, typically recall-driven with a free remedy; check the VIN for open campaigns.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2008 Honda S2000 (AP2)
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
S2000s are tracked and driven hard; inspect for track prep, crash/curb damage, and heavy wear.
Repair cost: Not yet priced — a safety matter first, a repair bill second
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under steering (1).
Hard driving wears the clutch; test for slip and notchy shifting.
Repair cost (estimate): $800-$1,800
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Many are modified; verify quality of any mods and originality (matters for value).
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: not yet checked against public records.
The soft top and (on early cars) plastic rear window wear; check condition.
Repair cost (estimate): $300-$1,500
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Track/crash damage
- ✗Clutch slip / notchy gearbox
- ✗Sketchy mods
- ✗Rising-price flipper car
Good Signs
- ✓Stock, un-tracked, documented
- ✓Healthy clutch and gearbox
- ✓Good top, honest history
Found a specific Honda S2000 (AP2)?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2008 Honda S2000 (AP2) in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.
Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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