CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2003 Honda Accord suffers from widespread transmission failure & problems with the stereo backlight failing. We recommend avoiding this model year like the plague.
The transmission begins slipping & eventually has to be replaced, typically soon after 90,000 miles & with a repair cost of over $2,000. Transmission failure has been a huge problem for the Accord & several other Honda models all through the early 2000s model years. Honda extended the transmission warranty to 93 months/109k miles for the 2000-2001 Accord as a class action lawsuit settlement, but owners of other Accord model years with transmission problems are out of luck.
The stereo backlight problem has been an issue since these Accords were only a few years old. Honda eventually issued a recall which covered the repair for 7 years/100k miles, which was nice while it lasted but now that period is over. Honda initially was replacing the entire radio ($800) but eventually began replacing just the PCB which at ~$300 is much cheaper. That sounds like a deal, but keep in mind we're talking about a backlight bulb that costs $2 to fix in most other cars.
7.4
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$520
Average Mileage:
39,550 miles
Total Complaints:
47 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (11 reports)
replaced all rotors and brake pads (7 reports)
replace Honda with any other car! (6 reports)
replace front brakes (5 reports)
dealer resurfaced the rotors (4 reports)
replace brake pads with aftermarket replacements (4 reports)
I hope this gets to those that are looking for this information. The 2003 Accords have a severe brake problem due to the use of front brake pads that damage the rotors. Honda has known about this for some time, as early as January 2003. They issued a Technical bulletin in October 2003 that applies to the front brakes of the models I will list below. If you have gone to the dealer and they denied the problem, such as Poway Honda in California did, do not take no for an answer. My car had less than 70% of the pad left at 14,000 miles and was 100% worn by 26,000 ( I saw them at the independent dealer). I had complained 5 times to Honda with complete denial of a problem. Then I went to a independent brake dealer (a friendly Meineke owner) ... He looked up the model for me and confirmed that the brakes were a known problem and printed out the Technical Bulletin stating the repair was to be done under warranty. Here is the information he gave me. Having this bulletin information changed the dealers view immediately. He replaced the brakes and had to refinish the rotors all for free. He did not blink at making the repair, once I gave him the paper, though he to had said "I've seen brakes go at 10,000. That is normal." All of the service advisors denied the problem even to the last moment, so I let them see the paper as well. If the service advisors don't know about this, go to another dealer and ask them if there is ANY technical bulletins, not just recalls, on your model. FYI, my car was out of warranty based on time and the manager wrote this was a one time "good will warranty" repair since I had documented that I had complained about this while under warranty. This should have been a mandatory recall!! I was going to the desert this weekend with my family and would have had NO BRAKES!! going down the steep mountains in San Diego.
Be careful, you may have no front brakes!!! My back brakes were still 90-100%, as we have a infant and don't drive erraditically. I hope this helps someone who is looking for information on this problem. I also filed a complaint on-line with the NHTSA. The Honda dealer had or should of had this information prior to my repeated visits complaining about the brakes. The noise had started at 4,000 and the cashier told me a LOT of people have had this problem (Of course, they paid for the work).
Information to know, directly from the Honda bulletin obtained via ALLDATA retrieval service:
Applies to 2003 Accord _ See Vechicles Affected
Symptom- front brake noise or judder while braking
Probable cause - the front brake pads have caused a variation in the brake disc thickness
Corrective action
Refinish front brake discs, and install new front brake pads.
Vehicles Affected:
2003 Accord 2-door L-4 From VIN 1HGCM7...3A000001 thru 1HGMC7...3A027433
2003 Accord 2-door V6 (A?T only) - From VIN 1HGMC8...3A000001 thru 1HGCM8...3A036251
2003 Accord 4-door L4 Ohio built from VIN 1HGCM5...3A000001 thru 1HGCM5...3A101162
2003 Accord 4-door L4 Japan built from VIN JHGCM5...3A000001 thru JHGCM5...3A081070
2003 Accord 4-door L4 Mexico built from VIN begins with 3HG --all
2003 Accord 4-door V6 from VIN 1HGCM6...3A000001 thru 1HGCM6...3A101604
Warranty Claim information:
IN warranty: the normal warranty applies (E. g. they should be paying for this!!)
Operation #: 410103
Out of Warranty: may be eligible for good will warranty service, but must get district approval before doing work (THIS IS NOT TRUE, I got the work done the day I walked in with this bulletin without the approval of anyone but the dealer's service manager)
About 3 months after I purhcased my new Accord in Nov 03 my brakes began over pulsating when I applied them as if the ABS is hyper active and they vibrated in the pedal when they were applied. I took the car several times to my local dealer, Tameron Honda, who could never find a problem. After the problem became so obvious by May 04 that passengers noticed, I took it back . They identified the problem as warped rotors and 're-lathed' them. This problem reappeared August 04 and again December 04 with the same resolution by Tameron Honda in Birnimgham.
As of June 14th 12:20 pm 2005. My Traction Control System has gone out and I will have to take it in again . 84 miles past my warranty. Once I get rid of this I will never buy another HONDA.
I have had my brakes checked three times because I swear that there is something wrong with them. Each time, they say no there is no problem. Well, why do they pulsate going down a hill 25 mph, and why do they do that going 75mph on the highway? There is a problem and they need to fix it, but they won't because I guess they are just too busy. How can I get them fixed if they keep telling me that there is no problem? I am beginning to rethink my decision on Honda.
The brakes on my 2003 Accord were pulsating and grabbing so badly at speeds over 50MPH that it almost caused a highway accident. The Honda Dealership said Honda was aware of the problem and was turning the rotors and replacing the original brake pads with an upgraded version. No charge. Covered under warranty.
I have had 3 sets of brakes so far for my Accord. I think that is a bit much and they have no explaination to give at the Honda dealership where I purchased the car or where I get it serviced.
This is my first Honda and I expected a little more from this. There are other problems with this car also.
- Stephanie S.,
Baltimore, MD, US
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My 1992 Honda had brake problems too. You would think 11 years later Honda would have fixed the problem, being 100 miles away from nearest dealer makes it very difficult to get warranty service!
AFTER JUST 4 WEEKS THE BRAKES STARTED PULSATING LIKE A WASHING MACHING. IT WILL SPILL YOUR DRINK OUT OF YOUR HAND. DEALER SAID THEY WOULD SEE IF THEY CAN PAY HALF. HALF WON'T CUT IT. THIS IS THE BIGGEST LEMON ON THE ROAD PERIOD! LIGHTS ALSO DIM FOR NO REASON. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A TOTAL OF 37 BUSINESS DAYS SINCE FEB/03. MY BIGGEST MISTAKE TO DATE. BOTH WINDOW MOTOR BROKE, INTERIOR DOOR PANEL CAME LOOSE, EXTERIOR WINDOW MOLDING PEELED OFF, POWER SEAT BROKE, PASSENGER SEAT SQUEEKS LIKE AN OLD MAN AT A DELI. I HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS AT HONDA, BOTTOM LINE TOO BAD FOR ME. WASTED TOO MUCH TIME THERE WITH NO EXPLANATION. RADIO NEVER HAS CLEAR RECEPTION. THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF SH*T PERIOD! WILL NEVER EVER BUY A HONDA AGAIN. SHOULD OF BOUGHT DOMESTIC AND SAVED A COUPLE THOUSAND, KEEP ECONOMY SOMEWHAT LOCAL AND THEN TRADE IT IN LIKE I HAVE TO ANYWAY. IT'S GOING STRAIGHT TO THE DUMP. THERE IS NO WAY I WILL SELL THIS TO ANYONE I CAN SEE IN PERSON. THANKS HONDA FOR THE WASTE OF MONEY, TIME AND JUST TOTAL WASTE OF MY TRUST IN THE DEALERSHIP SYSTEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I hope this gets to those that are looking for this information. The 2003 Accords have a severe brake problem due to the use of front brake pads that damage the rotors. Honda has known about this for some time, as early as January 2003. They issued a Technical bulletin in October 2003 that applies to the front brakes of the models I will list below. If you have gone to the dealer and they denied the problem, such as Poway Honda in California did, do not take no for an answer. My car had less than 70% of the pad left at 14,000 miles and was 100% worn by 26,000 ( I saw them at the independent dealer). I had complained 5 times to Honda with complete denial of a problem. Then I went to a independent brake dealer (a friendly Meineke owner) ... He looked up the model for me and confirmed that the brakes were a known problem and printed out the Technical Bulletin stating the repair was to be done under warranty. Here is the information he gave me. Having this bulletin information changed the dealers view immediately. He replaced the brakes and had to refinish the rotors all for free. He did not blink at making the repair, once I gave him the paper, though he to had said "I've seen brakes go at 10,000. That is normal." All of the service advisors denied the problem even to the last moment, so I let them see the paper as well. If the service advisors don't know about this, go to another dealer and ask them if there is ANY technical bulletins, not just recalls, on your model. FYI, my car was out of warranty based on time and the manager wrote this was a one time "good will warranty" repair since I had documented that I had complained about this while under warranty. This should have been a mandatory recall!! I was going to the desert this weekend with my family and would have had NO BRAKES!! going down the steep mountains in San Diego.
Be careful, you may have no front brakes!!! My back brakes were still 90-100%, as we have a infant and don't drive erraditically. I hope this helps someone who is looking for information on this problem. I also filed a complaint on-line with the NHTSA. The Honda dealer had or should of had this information prior to my repeated visits complaining about the brakes. The noise had started at 4,000 and the cashier told me a LOT of people have had this problem (Of course, they paid for the work).
Information to know, directly from the Honda bulletin obtained via ALLDATA retrieval service: Applies to 2003 Accord _ See Vechicles Affected Symptom- front brake noise or judder while braking Probable cause - the front brake pads have caused a variation in the brake disc thickness Corrective action Refinish front brake discs, and install new front brake pads.
Vehicles Affected: 2003 Accord 2-door L-4 From VIN 1HGCM7...3A000001 thru 1HGMC7...3A027433 2003 Accord 2-door V6 (A?T only) - From VIN 1HGMC8...3A000001 thru 1HGCM8...3A036251 2003 Accord 4-door L4 Ohio built from VIN 1HGCM5...3A000001 thru 1HGCM5...3A101162 2003 Accord 4-door L4 Japan built from VIN JHGCM5...3A000001 thru JHGCM5...3A081070 2003 Accord 4-door L4 Mexico built from VIN begins with 3HG --all 2003 Accord 4-door V6 from VIN 1HGCM6...3A000001 thru 1HGCM6...3A101604
Warranty Claim information: IN warranty: the normal warranty applies (E. g. they should be paying for this!!) Operation #: 410103
Failed part: P/N 45022-SDA-A00 H/C 7138035 Defect Code: 07701 Symptom Code: 04213
Out of Warranty: may be eligible for good will warranty service, but must get district approval before doing work (THIS IS NOT TRUE, I got the work done the day I walked in with this bulletin without the approval of anyone but the dealer's service manager)
- Timothy W., San Diego, CA, US