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.
This is my third complaint for our 03 Honda Accord. Our trunk won't latch and it just slams and re-opens. Imagine black friday shopping until 5am and then loading up the trunk only to find it won't shut. Here I am outside the mall slamming the trunk down again and again as it just comes back up each time I slam it down. I did this about 10 times before it decided to latch. I would have stood there all morning slamming that sucker until it obeyed. Husband tells me after my trip to the mall that you just have to move it over a bit but how annoying!! Won't buy another Honda!! This goes along with our tranny issues, our trunk leak, and our fender liners falling in and we haven't even owned the car for 12 months! What a piece of junk. Got a 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor we have had for 7 years and have had less problems over the 7 years than we have had with the Honda in 6 months. All I have to say is junk junk junk.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
This is my third complaint for our 03 Honda Accord. Our trunk won't latch and it just slams and re-opens. Imagine black friday shopping until 5am and then loading up the trunk only to find it won't shut. Here I am outside the mall slamming the trunk down again and again as it just comes back up each time I slam it down. I did this about 10 times before it decided to latch. I would have stood there all morning slamming that sucker until it obeyed. Husband tells me after my trip to the mall that you just have to move it over a bit but how annoying!! Won't buy another Honda!! This goes along with our tranny issues, our trunk leak, and our fender liners falling in and we haven't even owned the car for 12 months! What a piece of junk. Got a 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor we have had for 7 years and have had less problems over the 7 years than we have had with the Honda in 6 months. All I have to say is junk junk junk.
- thegreens05, Huntsville, AL, US