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.
The Honda Accord 2014-2015 vehicles are listed as having problematic ZF-TRW parts. My sons 2003 Honda Accord ACU was replaced in January/February of 2015. I suspect that the part was replaced with the same ACU used in the 2014-2015 Honda Accords.
My son became an instant paraplegic when his 2003 Honda Accord rolled once after encountering a road surface change. His seatbelt pre-tensor failed as did his airbags.
My nephew was in an accident where his car was hit on the front and on the front driver side. The air bags did not deploy at all. When we checked there was no recall on his airbags but there obviously is a defect somewhere. His car is totaled but no airbags where activated. He has a 2003 Honda Accord.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The Honda Accord 2014-2015 vehicles are listed as having problematic ZF-TRW parts. My sons 2003 Honda Accord ACU was replaced in January/February of 2015. I suspect that the part was replaced with the same ACU used in the 2014-2015 Honda Accords.
My son became an instant paraplegic when his 2003 Honda Accord rolled once after encountering a road surface change. His seatbelt pre-tensor failed as did his airbags.
- Wanda C., Englewood, US