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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
109,175 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Verbatim the same transmission problems as everyone else. Honda was unwilling to compromise on this faulty part that's well documented, hence the involuntary recall by the NHTSA. We offered to work with them by trading this model in for a newer one, talk about us willing to forget and forgive for brand loyalty. Apparently Honda doesn't care not willing to do even this. This is my fourth Honda and will be my last. Average cost of ownership has been 1000/month, at this point I could have gotten the Tesla I really wanted.
My 2003 Honda Accord ex V-6 has 229000 miles and is need of its fourth set of engine/motor mounts. I have owned several Accord and have never had this problem. The car jerks upon take off and makes grinding sounds when decelerating. Also, the car squeaks, moans, and groans when slowing down to make left and right turns. My mechanic told me it is rare for a car to need motor mounts so often for a vehicle. Due to the broken motor mounts, the car's oil pan has begun to leak due to movement of the engine and transmission and power steering fluids are leaking due to the movement. Also, my airbag warning light turns on intermittently. I have checked several times and my car is not included in the takata airbag recall, but it does concern me. I don't know if there is a problem or if it is an electrical problem.
While driving on the 210 freeway transmission downshifted suddenly without a warning and RPM shot up to 6,000 revs bringing the car to almost a standstill with cars behind me going at 70 mph almost rearending my car.
The car is shifting while in motion. Transmission jumps when shifting into gear. Car is dangerous to drive. Certified techician advised us not to drive the car.
- Silver Spring, MD, USA
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June 2015: Torque converter: Car when accelerating slammed out of gear and felt like we had been rear-ended. Car wouldn't shift from 2nd to 3rd gear. Radio: Radio system back light broke at 60,000 miles current issue: Gear shift knob fell off while driving. Daughter was driving car and bumped gear shift and was able to shifted from drive to neutral while the car was moving. Called Honda complaint line to complain and there was no action or concern regarding the current issue of the gear shift knob.
I was driving on the main road and I heard a noise, my vehicle suddenly stopped, I tried to apply brakes, but the brakes did not work, the hand brakes did not work either, was very scary. The vehicle was in motion when it suddenly stopped on me. This vehicle has always been serviced at Honda dealership and I have taken very good care of this vehicle. I am scared for my safety driving this vehicle because I could have ended up in a big accident like the one that recently happened in seattle to the "duck tourist bus" because of a broken axle. I contacted Honda about this issue, mentioned about my concerns regarding the safety of this vehicle, but they did not care.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at 50 mph, the vehicle started shaking and jerking before moving forward and the tsc warning light illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,967.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving at 45 mph, the vehicle jerked and hesitated before moving forward. The tsc warning light illuminated. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 103,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving at approximately 45 mph, the vehicle accelerated without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V176000 (power train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 79,000.
My transmission and torque converter failed on brownsville road. I called Honda who refused any type of assistance. They said it was out of warranty. I have had numerous cars in my life and never heard of the transmission dying. It seems, as I check the internet, that the Honda Accord V-6 has a history of transmission failures. To date, Honda refuses to acknowledge that issue.
I was driving on the highway at 60 mph, all the sudden, it violently down shifted, felt like I was rear ended. As I let up the gas, the engine would rev but not engage the transmission. Luckily no other cars were behind me at the time. When I got to the office, the car would not go into reverse.
I was driving southbound in peabody, Massachusetts on 128 almost on to 95 when at centennial drive exit when my vehicle, without warning, slowed from 60 mph to 30 mph, I put on hazards as car went from 30 mph to 10 mph to dead all in a matter of 45 seconds tops. It was around 12pm and traffic was moderate to heavy. Cars behind me were forced to slow at a significant rate, luckily a pile up did not occur as the likelihood of such a accident was extremely possible with one driver not fully present I don't want to imagine the possibilities. I was able to semi slide car into breakdown lane safely enough and aaa came 1 hour latter as they listed my call a priority call.. I had car towed to home town and mechanic went through car in its entirety to discover that transmission needed to be replaced. Honda is well aware of this issue as there are thousands of testimonies from Honda owners regarding their transmission problems occurring around 126,213 miles. The models with faulty transmissions are 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009.
I have piece of crap people calls Honda I call today 04/07/2015 visibility problem windshield wiper and headlamps low I can't see night time during drive and transmission is skip but piece of crap(Honda) customer said you no have recall or warranty that's really mess I got mistake to buy piece of crap(Honda) please please please I suggest don't buy that like piece of crap( Honda) thanks
2003 Honda Accord. Consumer writes in regards to transmission issues. The consumer stated the vehicle would not go in reverse and the RPM would only run at 3,000.
I came to a stop at a busy intersection. When the light turned green, I started up, taking a right turn, and the engine went into high rpms and loud clinking noises started. I stopped immediately and was almost rear-ended in the intersection. Put the car in park, but new noises started, tried L1, same thing. Had to turn the car off and leave it at the intersection with hazard lights on, but cars still were almost rear-ending me. Tow truck came 1.25 hours later. Harrowing experience being stuck out there in that intersection! auto repair shop called and said the entire transmission has failed and I need a new one. Now I can't get to/from school! I've read the 2003 Accord has a huge problem with transmissions, so I guess I'm unfortunately in that group as well. Another dead Honda.
The first incident happened when I was slowing down for a stop sign. At about 45 mph the car suddenly downshifted. The rpms registered approx. 5000 then returned to around 2000. I turned and while accelerating to highway speed, the car downshifted then corrected 3 times. I parked on the shoulder, shut the car off, then on again. I proceeded with no further issues. The next day, Feb 26, 2015, the car downshifted at approx. 45 mph then corrected. Each time the rpms jumped to approx. 5000 before settling back to approx. 2000. This happened a couple more times. Later the same day, I was on the freeway driving on cruise control at approx. 65 mph when the car downshifted then corrected. This happened again a couple minutes later. I parked on the shoulder, shut the car off, then turned it back on. I did not have another incident driving to my destination. Feb 27th, I headed to my final destination. About 150 miles into my trip, I was slowing down on the freeway for a slower car in front, when my car downshifted then corrected. This same situation happened three more times before getting to my home. At no time did any diagnostic lights illuminate. I have not contacted the dealer yet, as they are closed today. After reading multiple reports about this incident I do not have confidence that Honda will work to resolve this potentially dangerous issue.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Marina Del Rey, CA, USA