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.
Loved our car when we bought it.. Then the clear coat started to peel, Car has white spots all over and paint peeling off everywhere, we changed the hood because it was also rusting, we painted the roof and the trunk prior to the rest of the car losing its clear coat, it was costing too much money to complete. We now have a great car that has a terrible paint job..So much for the Honda Quality..you see them on the road and know right away it must be a Honda. Accord !! So embarrassing.. Honda needs to repair our car to make it look like it should look...
BOUGHT VEHICLE 1 YR AFTER MY ACURA MDX. WAS HEAD OVER HEELS FOR HONDA VEHICLES. NO NEED FOR PICTURES FOR THIS VEHICLE. FAMILY CHOOSE NOT RIDE WITH ME, DAUGHTER HAS NO CHOICE ONLY WHEN ITS DARK SHE WILL. WENT TO PAINT SHOP. WILL DO JOB FOR $1,000 IF SAME COLOR. WISH IT HAILS. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, WHEN LOOKING FOR A PARKING SPOT WOULD CHOOSE TO PARK SIDE BY SIDE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT LOOKS AS BAD TO LESSEN THE SORENESS. HONDA NEVER AGAIN.
You have to get it stripped of the original paint, that's still left. Which can cost you between 600-700 dollars and then get it repainted which can run you another $500-600. Not worth it.
I'm very disappointed. I would think Honda would want to fix this problem. I have always had Honda's, but because of this issue I may never buy another one. It makes Honda look bad and they should fix this problem. It should be covered for free. I personally love my car but I'm embarrassed about how it looks!!!!!!!!!!
I AM ON THE THIRD HONDA. THE FIRST ONE HAS NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE PAINT. MY 2003 LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BEEN IN THE JUNK YARD FOR A MILLION YRS. IT HAS BEEN GARAGED AND WAXED ALL THE TIME. HONDA NEEDS TO PICK UP REPAINT BILL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. MY NEIGHBOR SAID THAT HONDA PAID FOR HER CAR TO BE PAINTED, NOT ONLY ONCE BUT TWICE AND IT IS A 2005 ACCORD. I JUST PURCHASED ANOTHER HONDA ACCORD 2017 AND I HOPE... I MEAN ,HOPE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AS MY 2003.. MY PURCHASE WAS NOT MY BETTER JUDGMENT DUE TO THE PAINT ON THE 2003.. I WILL NOT BE PURCHASING ANOTHER IF THIS ON THE 2003 IS NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF.. I WILL NEED AN ANSWER TO THIS.. LIKE YESTERDAY..
- phyllisbenz,
Euless, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Paint started fading lightly. Fast forward 9 months and the paint has gotten much worse. Went from having a respectable looking car to car that looks like it came from a destruction derby. Toss in the transmission problem, door lock problems, and the sliding drivers seat and you have yourself a POS.
The clear coat began to come off last year, first in small areas. By now around 30% of the surface is affected. I really like he car, and has less than 100,000 miles on it. It's an embarrassment to drive in it.Since every Honda of that vintage that I see has the same thing happening on it, it looks to me like a Honda exterior paint process/materials issue.
I believe Honda should implement a volunteer progan to reimburse owners for their cost of re-painting.
The clear coat continues to come off. It first started in one spot and then continued to other spots. Now the car is peeling everywhere. This is definitely a manufacturer defect. I take good care of my car. Honda needs to recall this car. This is very unfair. I have 75k miles on this car and it looks like it is 20 years older with 300k miles on it.
I've had my car since 2003, and have been the only owner. I've never had any major bodywork, but a recent accident did occur and had part of the vehicle painted. However, the major paint issue is to the roof, hood, front fender, and trunk. The damage that was recently repaired was the driver back panel and part of the driver door.
the fact that honda has done nothing about this is absolutely disgusting, what does it matter that your honda is reliable if the paint is going to make it look like a piece of sh*t clunker! I will keep harassing Honda Canada until they agree to fix this.
We bought a black 2003 Honda Accord EX for my son in 2014. It had only one owner before we bought the car in about May 2014. It has the characteristic fading paint on the roof and hood. I was hoping that Honda would do the right thing and pay for the car to be painted, but when I spoke to them tonight, there was nothing they could offer. Since we bought this car, I now notice countless older Hondas that have these paint problems. It is so widespread and is obviously a Honda problem. It's all over Google. Honda should take responsibility and rectify this. If anyone knows of any current class action suits, or any other information to help us, please let me know. This is just wrong..
When I reported to service managers at both Honda service center and auto body shop they referred me to that repainting is required. However, service manager failed to reply back to me what he claimed he had to wait for corporate office of Honda to reply whether to cover painting job. I asked him for paperwork to prove that he had contacted the corporate office. He said he will email me but he never did since last June. Only thing I emerge red he took pictures of peeling on the top back area and claimed he will send it to corporate office for review . I never get any paperwork to prove that his claim he made the report. Last August, I asked him again to pls fix it for free and he said no we have not hear from corporate office. It made me mad. My car is less than 100,000 miles! What can I do now? Where to file complaint to federal govt?
The clear coat on these cars is junk. Has started to come off all over the car. The complete car is pealing from top to bottom. The clear coat just flakes away. Was suggested to me that only fix was to sand car down and redo the paint over again, because it will just keep getting worse. The manager of the auto body at my local Honda dealership suggested that I buy paint pens and go around the body of the car and try to fix as much as possible before it peals. He also suggested not to buy a Honda! Will remember that next time I'm looking for a new vehicle!
2003 Honda Accord Nighthawk Black Pearl. Owned this car for many years, regular Honda service, always kept clean, garaged, waxed, ect.....NOW the paint looks horrid! Started on trunk lid, now it's starting on rear quarters, sun roof area. Checked the WWW and see many complaints, I hope Honda steps up.
I have red Honda accord 2003 and I see that my car clear coat painting peels off drastically. The car looks very bad .I asked the quote from one the body shop and they told it cost to paint 3500 bucks. Spending these much money for painting that too 10 year old car is not good and they told that it is a Honda factory painting problem and they used bad quality of clear coat.Ideally paint shouldn't be fade or clear coat peeling should not occur for ever.If not alreast 15 to 20 years .I called the Honda warranty customer care for this issue and they don't have answer to justify the issue and ignoring the call from customer for this kind of issue.
It is Honda paining issue which should be fixed from manufacturer or they need to arrange partial expanse coverage would be good to maintain the customer loyalty and satisfaction.I see othat other top brand car manufacturer like toyota nissan and hyundai fixing this kind of issue where they stand top on customer satisfaction.
I would like my Honda to be able to pull up next a Korean car and not get laughed at. My Accord is wonderful running and handling, but the paint is so embarrassing. I don't understand how Honda can afford that kind of bad PR. At this time I would NOT buy another one..its such a shame Honda cares so little. If Honda would make effort to help the owners they have now all would work out great for everyone....if NOT I'M GOING KOREAN!!!
I see so many Hondas with the same paint problem and I feel their pain!!!!! I LOVE my car but I HATE the way it looks and it's just getting worst!! I actually look forward to it raining or snowing so I'm not as embarrassed about how bad my car looks! It would be great it Honda took care of this problem and helped the people who picked a Honda to purchase over anything else! It's not a good look for Honda to have so many people with bad paint jobs...does not look good for business! My aunt recently purchased a new Accord in black... After I said auntie, do you see how horrible my car looks? She brought it back and got white!!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Loved our car when we bought it.. Then the clear coat started to peel, Car has white spots all over and paint peeling off everywhere, we changed the hood because it was also rusting, we painted the roof and the trunk prior to the rest of the car losing its clear coat, it was costing too much money to complete. We now have a great car that has a terrible paint job..So much for the Honda Quality..you see them on the road and know right away it must be a Honda. Accord !! So embarrassing.. Honda needs to repair our car to make it look like it should look...
- Dorothy L., Corunna, ON, Canada