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.
(Please check the attached full complaint letter) I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to bring to your attention a concerning matter regarding my experience with the American Honda Motor Company. As a loyal consumer and a law-abiding citizen, I believe it is crucial to address issues that impact consumers and the general public. Since 2013, I have been trying to resolve a critical issue with my brand-new Honda Accord car I bought from Honda. Unfortunately, American Honda company didn-??t resolve the issue that affected my car and hundreds of thousands of the same cars-?? owners that they sold in NJ and in 22 salt belt states. My argument with the American Honda company is that they have a major design issue with their front left and right axles for Honda Accord cars that have been manufactured since 2003.
After car had leaking valve cover gaskets replaced the TCS and BRAKE indicator lights illuminated. Couldn-€™t reset. All fuses and light bulbs were good. E-brake limit switch OK, brake pedal switch ok but had small crack so REPLACED. TCS, BRAKE light went off then returned within 3 mins now with ( ! ) indicator light illuminated. Made appt with Honda Dealer however 2 days before appt vehicle lost traction at 50 mph brakes went to floor vehicle began to fishtail and driver was unable to correct steering or brake. This lead to a solo vehicle accident off the side of road.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the transmission erroneously downshifted into 3rd gear causing the vehicle to abruptly reduce speed to approximately 25 mph. The contact indicated that the transmission remained stuck in 3rd gear. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 287,000.
- Rush City, MN, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
I am original owner of this car and it has been serviced regularly. At about 118,000 miles the transmission failed. Was driving on the highway at about 55 mph and it was like someone slammed on the brakes, hard enough that the tires screeched. It was very terrifying as well as having the potential to be very dangerous. There was no prior indication of any problems. At this time, the car is in the shop having the transmission replaced. From what I understand, the transmission in the 2003 Honda Accord has been plagued by problems from the onset. I am just very fortunate that nothing serious happened to me when the transmission failed, or I would not be here making this post.
Took my vehicle to a Honda dealership for a maintenance repair to get a brake line job done. After they completed the job I told Honda to put my vehicle on the diagnostic system, to check for any other issues which they did. Said everything was fine with it no issues. Drove home fine next day comes, engine light comes on, this time I went and got the diagnostic done on my vehicle myself. Come to find out it's a transmission/torque converter problem, which Honda didn't check or tell me about, look up reviews about the my vehicle, and a lot of other Honda owners of my exact model says the same how bad the transmission is in this vehicle.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving various speeds, the transmission would not shift gears as needed without warning. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty. The contact attempted to speak with a dealer, but was unsuccessful. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 04V176000(power train). The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 132,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning and lost power. Additionally, the vehicle failed to respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, but a fault code was not retrieved. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Entered highway at 50 55 when rpms went up and lost acceleration quickly about got rear ended and once I got to the shoulder I turned off car and started it back up and only thing I couldn't engage in car..park worked but the rest was in neatral lucky noone was hurt..transmission failed without warning I find this a major issue since so many other 03 Accord have had the same problem and I'm asking for Honda to replace my trandmission..number of miles 138,000.
I just bought my Honda Accord 2003 from a used car dealer and it had 120xxx miles literally drove it two months and it broke down mechanic said it was the teansmission so I did some research online and I seen that these Accord have bad transmissions everywhere I seen someone had a problem with trans I checked if there was a recall but they said there wasn't this is really disappointed knowing I I lynch had it two months and having the same issue other people are having
Transmission was bad and had to be replaced. New transmission was bad also. Wasted money for the same thing multiple times and Honda will not help. This year make and model is only compatible with the same exact make model and year. It is hard to find a transmission, and after seeing the recall and it matching both transmissions I don't see why we should have to keep spending money on faulty parts. All the transmissions for this vehicle had recalls and were faulty. We want Honda's help to fix it for good since no other mechanic can figure it out and we have spent money back to back on the same thing. This year make and model was terrible for transmission failures. I feel it is wrong to have your customers buy transmissions that have to be the same that came out of the vehicle, and we are wasting all of our time and money to do so, because any transmission we buy is already messed up.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While the vehicle was in second and third gear, the transmission would malfunction and the vehicle would not accelerate properly. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired in December of 2014 per NHTSA campaign number: 04V176000 (power train), but the failure recurred. The local dealer was not notified. The failure mileage was 207,000.
While driving on the highway at around 65 mph, all of a sudden the car seemed like it was braking by itself without me pressing the brakes. I took it to the shop and after spending hundreds of dollars, found out that the transmission is damaged and beyond the second gear, it is slipping. This is what caused that dangerous behavior on the highway. This could have easily led to an accident by being rear ended or worse. Honda should replace the transmission.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and had it towed to her residence. A local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 184,449.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift gears properly and the vehicle was unable to be driven over 20 mph each time the failure happened. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who inspected and diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
Torque converter stuck off, P0741, code given. Transmission rebuild/ replacement required for continued use of vehicle. Service records show 2nd gear oil jet addition at 25,500 miles, and all subsequent servicing done at manufacturer suggested intervals, as indicated by printed shop receipts from Honda dealership. After drain and fill done after first code thrown at 106,000 miles, 50 miles later the same P0741 code thrown. Local transmission shop did teardown and said that torque converter shows signs of overheating, metal shavings in fluid, and severely worn and broken clutch materials ( I have pictures of said damage).
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Murphy, TX, USA