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.
Here is complaint number 4 for our 2003 Honda Accord that we have owned less than 12 months. The fender liners have fallen in. Husband had to pull over and call someone to bring some tools to cut it out. Couldn't drive down the road with the fender up under the wheel. Honda robs you for the part like $75 and then $12 for plastic clips to hold it in. Why would the liner and the clips fall out anyway?? This Honda has been a nightmare. The tranny is slipping, downshifting, lunging when upshifting, and delaying going from reverse to drive. The trunk leaked and was full of water. The trunk won't close all the time and I have to slam it several times before it latches and now the fenders are falling in. I left separate complaints for each of these problems but wanted to reference them here. Good luck if you own one of these 03 Honda's they are a headache! My husband said I am banned from car shopping...I thought "Honda" meant quality that would last. Turns out it means "Junk" you will regret buying. We have an 04 Mitsubishi Endeavor that has given us less problems in the last 7 years that we have owned it than the Honda has in the last 6 months. WOW!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Here is complaint number 4 for our 2003 Honda Accord that we have owned less than 12 months. The fender liners have fallen in. Husband had to pull over and call someone to bring some tools to cut it out. Couldn't drive down the road with the fender up under the wheel. Honda robs you for the part like $75 and then $12 for plastic clips to hold it in. Why would the liner and the clips fall out anyway?? This Honda has been a nightmare. The tranny is slipping, downshifting, lunging when upshifting, and delaying going from reverse to drive. The trunk leaked and was full of water. The trunk won't close all the time and I have to slam it several times before it latches and now the fenders are falling in. I left separate complaints for each of these problems but wanted to reference them here. Good luck if you own one of these 03 Honda's they are a headache! My husband said I am banned from car shopping...I thought "Honda" meant quality that would last. Turns out it means "Junk" you will regret buying. We have an 04 Mitsubishi Endeavor that has given us less problems in the last 7 years that we have owned it than the Honda has in the last 6 months. WOW!
- thegreens05, Huntsville, AL, US