8.0
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$4,600.00
Average Mileage:
84,760 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace transmission (5 reports)
- not sure (3 reports)
transmission problem
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2011Jan 07
Accord EX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 108,000 miles
- Purchased car (2003 Accord coupe EX V6) from Honda dealership in Jan 2010 - approx. 98,000 miles
- Fast forward to Nov. 2011 - winter in Minnesota - transmission starts sticking and (eventually) clunking/dropping hard when engine is cold/not warmed up.
..Car would run fine IF first allowed to run, in garage, for 8-10 mins (to warm the car up)
..When transmission clunked/dropped the engine light would turn on
- Have inspected by transmission specialist - he says: it's a common problem with Accords from the early 2000's; can replace a few solenoids as a temporary fix; only permanent fix is to rebuild/replace entire transmission (for around $3000).
- I start researching - come across sites, such as this one, which tell me that my car's transmission problem is most definitely NOT an anomaly.
- I return to the Honda dealership from (which I'd purchased the car) and explain my situation
- Fast forward two weeks, and I had to work my way up to the general manager (top dog), adamant throughout that Honda ought to pay AT LEAST 50% of the cost of a new transmission -- I either wanted to trade it in (all around great car except for the lemon transmission) or have the repair (at least) 50% paid for, by Honda (not the dealership itself, necessarily, but Honda the int'l company).
- General Manager listens to me, empathizes, does his research, and, in the end, offers to purchase the car back from me for the Blue Book value of the car SANS transmission problem [in other words, he bought the car back from me as though the car had no transmission problem]
-- To add: the transmission problem is a result of the torque converter being sized for a V4 engine, but being placed in a V6 engine. The 2003 EX V6 Accords have torque converters that were meant for V4's, so over time the transmission basic ally starts slipping
Summary:
1. I experienced the 2003 Honda Accord transmission failure. The only car I owned before this one was also a Honda Accord ('94 EX manual - may she R.I.P.). I was over 100,000 miles (and 3 years) when the problems started. Honda itself offered no support or assistance (customer service was friendly though, nevertheless)
2. I experienced EXCELLENT customer service from the dealership, Walser Honda in Burnsville, Minnesota, particularly from the general manager, Greg Davis. They (the dealership) weren't responsible for the problems and they were under no obligation to me, but they went above and beyond in making certain that I was more than satisfied with both the dealership and Honda.
Conclusion: 2003 Honda Accord EX V6's do experience sever transmission problems; the problem results from Honda using a (incorrectly sized) V4 torque converter in a V6 engine. This is NOT something that can be avoided, i.e. is no way the result of the actions of the owner. It's Honda's F-up, it's Honda's responsibility. The only long term solution is a complete replacement of the transmission.
I've always held Honda in the highest regard, especially in terms of reliability. Honda's response to this problem put that regard in serious question - the dealership (Walser Honda, Burnsville, MN) exemplified the high regard to which I'd held Honda, and it gained a customer for life.
2011Sep 02
Accord
- Automatic transmission
- 78,000 miles
Second owner of the 2003 Honda Accord V6, bought it on 2009
First found out this issue after taking my brother to JFK airport and on my way back home, some weirdo sounds clunking while car stopped on traffic and accelerate onward. Taken the car to auto repair and they told me it's transmission failure, time for a rebuilt.
PROBLEMS:
transmission slips out of gear
shifts roughly
won't go into gear
drive indicator light flashing on dash
high pitched whining noise from transmission
clunking into gear
shifts violently at low speed after highway driving.
not shifting properly
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2011Aug 01
Accord SDN
- Automatic transmission
- 75,000 miles
Honda 2003
Transmission went bad in 2008 got repaired by Sloane Honda Bustleton Ave,Went bad again in 2011.
SLOANE HONDA is the worst place to get repairs-They are liars.
2011Apr 22
Accord
- Automatic transmission
- 33,000 miles
When cold my Honda drives fine but after a few minutes the engine revs up, but the car won't shift into gear or move. Also at speed of about 30-50 mph, it suddenly down gears to one with a violent jerk.
I took it to Sports Honda in Silver Spring. I knew it was the transmission that was causing the problem, because When trying to park at the Service Center, it wouldn't even go into reverse. They took my contact information, and said they would call me later in the day, but they didn't. I called them myself, and they told me that they think there is some pieces of metal in the transmission. They said they'll run further tests. Again no calls until I called them a few days later, and they said that they can't reproduce the same issues and therefore there isn't anything wrong with it. I should take it home and monitor it.
I have read that it could be a defective torque converter. I also heard that fixing torque converter can cost a lot of money. I called Honda at 800-999-1009 on Tuesday, April 26, and someone by the name of Robert took my VIN number and my complaint and said all this information is now embedded in the VIN.
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2011Mar 09
Accord LX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 88,000 miles
The transmission has slipped a few times, and now it 'clunks' into gear. This happens about 3x/wk, so more frequent then before (1x/wk). The check engine light does not come on. Two different mechanics have said that the light needs to come on before they can diagnose the problem. Honda, what is up with this?
2010Jun 01
Accord EX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 142,000 miles
very disappointed, car is touted as running forever...Called Honda as per your recommendation said NO compensation would be considered for car with over 100,000 miles.
2010Apr 02
Accord EX 2.4L V4
- Automatic transmission
- 82,000 miles
It clunks when you put it in reverse and reverse for a little bit , and when you press the breaks it's a loud annoying clunk, same way when you put it back in drive. you can feel it too, pretty rough. It's sounds like your axles are about to fall off.
(MARTIN DEALERSHIPS) IN NEWARK DELAWARE.. DON'T EVER GO THERE. THEY WILL TAKE YOUR MONEY AND RUN
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2012Jan 02
Accord LX V6
Pick a previous post & I've experienced the symptoms. Up until now, no major problems just regular maintenance. Out of the blue, transmission started to act up. I tried a soft reboot of computer by unplugging the negative battery cable. It reset the check engine light and the car ran fine for about a day, but the problem came back. Looked up the symptoms online & was horrified expect that I was going to have to spent up to and maybe over $4000 to fix. Took it to Honda & they confirmed transmission problem and recommend replacement. As it is no longer under warranty, they accept no responsibility even though they are very aware of the problem. Big fan of Honda but have a very bad taste in my mouth. I'm switching to another import.
Co R.
Canada
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