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:
61 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
79 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,082 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.
Purchased 2003 Honda Accord from a local car dealer for $5,000 on 4/8/15. Picked up tags, title and registration on 4/20 and was planning on taking vehicle to inspection on 5/2. on 5/1/15 as I was pulling out of a wawa parking lot at 20mph and the passenger air bag deployed without any type of impact to the vehicle. I had the car towed home and took it to the dealer the next day. The dealer pulled up Honda recalls for 2003 Honda Accord and advised us to take the car to a Honda dealer. We then had the car towed to Honda of turnersville. They informed us that Honda did have a recall but it did not pertain to this VIN#. seriously"??? I got an estimate from them to repair which was $3890 but they said they would not fix it due the liability. We contacted Honda corporate and they sent an inspector out 8 days later. The inspector sent his report to corporate and they informed us that the air bag was not defective. Really" since the date of purchase we have travelled a total 0F 429 miles and now it appears that we are out the $5,000.oo that we spent for this vehicle and have no car. We asked for a copy of the report from the Honda inspector but were told that we could not have one because they came out as a courtesy.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact was made aware of NHTSA campaign number: 14V351000 (air bags) through social media. The contact reached out to the dealer and was informed that the VIN was not included. A few months later, the contact took the vehicle back to the dealer for routine maintenance and was informed that the vehicle was associated with the recall; however, the parts were not available for repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was specifically associated with the recall since June 19, 2014. The manufacturer was not made aware. The contact had not experienced a failure. Updated 7/21/15 the dealer informed the consumer, the part had to be ordered. Updated 07/28/15
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V351000 (air bags); however, the vehicle was not permanently registered in the state of Florida as mentioned in the recall. The manufacturer was notified and refused to honor the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V700000 (air bags) and 14V351000 (air bags); however, the part needed to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
- Amarillo , TX, USA
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The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V700000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving at a low speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V351000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 55,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V349000 (air bags) and 14V351000 (air bags); however, the parts needed to repair the vehicle were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
I received a notification that my vehicle was among those included in a recall for the passenger side air bag. As instructed, I called a local Honda dealership to set up a time to have the part replaced. That was on February 11, 2015. I was told the part had to be ordered and that I would be contacted when I could bring my car in for the repair. It has been more than 60 days and I have not received any further information. I don't have time to chase Honda to replace a faulty part on my vehicle and I certainly don't feel comfortable having anyone sit in the passenger side of my car. It has become an inconvenience.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving at approximately 15 mph, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the diagnostic results were unknown. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V351000 (air bags) and 14V700000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 137,832.
I have a recall on both driver and passenger air bag. I have called the Honda dealership in grand island Nebraska 7 times and tried scheduling online 2 times to have the recall fixed it has been almost 90 days now, and I have yet to have them call back with a appointment. I drive this car 45 miles on the highway daily and do not feel safe. The letter I was sent in January 2015 said to give the dealership 60 days to remedy the problem. I'm very concerned about the complete disregard for the safety of not only myself but other drivers and passengers in these vehicles.
Submission from constituent re 2003 Honda Accord safety recalls. The consumer stated he was unable to get in contact with the dealer, in order to correct the air bag issue.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V700000 (air bags). The contact stated that the part needed to remedy the vehicle was unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Updated 04/13/15 updated 6/29/2015
Letter from senator nelson on behalf of constituent re 2003 Honda Accord ex defective airbags. 2003 Honda Accord. The consumer stated the air bag light illuminated on an intermittent basis.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V531000 (air bags) and 14V349000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to repair the vehicle. The dealer was unable to inform when the part would become available. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V35100 (air bags) and 14V34900 (air bags); however, the parts needed to repair the vehicle were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
No accident \ I am reporting inaccurate information on this website and corresponding Honda website regarding airbag recall on this vehicle. There are no options 2 or 4 from the Honda website setup for recall. There is no way to register this vehicle for airbag replacement (and we recently purchased it used so it may not be properly registered at Honda corporate - though we have had it serviced at our local Honda dealer). This process of registering for airbag replacement should be available 24/7. no excuses. Honda is not being proactive.
I received a letter from Honda stating that the passenger and driver airbag was defective and could deploy abnormally causing metal fragments to pass through the airbag cushion material causing serious injury or fatality to vehicle occupants. I called the Honda dealer to make an appointment to have it repaired at no cost as indicated in their letter. However they cannot have it repaired because they do not have the parts. It has been two weeks since I first called them and every time I follow up their answer is that parts have been ordered and they have no indication when it will arrive. Driving this vehicle puts my family and others on the road in great danger. Is there a way Honda can have this repaired sooner" or are they trying to avoid incurring the cost"
The contact owned a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving at approximately 5 mph, the vehicle independently accelerated causing the vehicle to crash into a house. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the head and right eye which required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000... updated 02/19/15 updated 02/20/15
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Birmingham, AL, USA