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.
I called my mechanic to schedule regular maintenance and asked him if it made sense to fix the rusting on the hood (near the release lever) and he asked is it a 2003 Honda Accord having this problem? And I'm like "yes," uh how did you know? He said he's seen this issue in other 2003 Honda Accords that due to design, water collects under the hood and after time will start causing rust. If you fix the rust, it will still come back. I've had to sand down and paint it with touch up paint. Looks bubbled and terrible, just terrible!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I called my mechanic to schedule regular maintenance and asked him if it made sense to fix the rusting on the hood (near the release lever) and he asked is it a 2003 Honda Accord having this problem? And I'm like "yes," uh how did you know? He said he's seen this issue in other 2003 Honda Accords that due to design, water collects under the hood and after time will start causing rust. If you fix the rust, it will still come back. I've had to sand down and paint it with touch up paint. Looks bubbled and terrible, just terrible!
- Elizabeth D., Lake In The Hills, IL, US