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:
108,851 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.
The first incident happened when I was slowing down for a stop sign. At about 45 mph the car suddenly downshifted. The rpms registered approx. 5000 then returned to around 2000. I turned and while accelerating to highway speed, the car downshifted then corrected 3 times. I parked on the shoulder, shut the car off, then on again. I proceeded with no further issues. The next day, Feb 26, 2015, the car downshifted at approx. 45 mph then corrected. Each time the rpms jumped to approx. 5000 before settling back to approx. 2000. This happened a couple more times. Later the same day, I was on the freeway driving on cruise control at approx. 65 mph when the car downshifted then corrected. This happened again a couple minutes later. I parked on the shoulder, shut the car off, then turned it back on. I did not have another incident driving to my destination. Feb 27th, I headed to my final destination. About 150 miles into my trip, I was slowing down on the freeway for a slower car in front, when my car downshifted then corrected. This same situation happened three more times before getting to my home. At no time did any diagnostic lights illuminate. I have not contacted the dealer yet, as they are closed today. After reading multiple reports about this incident I do not have confidence that Honda will work to resolve this potentially dangerous issue.
I was getting off the off ramp at about 35mph taking a right turn when the transmission made a jerking motion and slipped. I let off the accel and applied the accel a couple times before it engaged again got to my destination went shopping. Went to leave and I had no reverse. Shifted threw the gears nothing. I turned the car off and on to find the I could now back up. I put the car into drive to find out the car would only drive in first gear on drive. It would not shift gears. I have my car parked till I figure out what to do and how this issue can be resolved. I called Honda but they where no help and want me to spend money that I don't have to figure it out and fix the issue.
I'm the original owner of the vehicle, and have always used Honda for service and maintenance of my vehicle. The transmission failed without warning. Thankfully, I wasn't driving in the highway because this could have caused a major accident. My car basically came to a stop when the transmission failed.
I started to use the Honda around 2008 for work. It's mileage was about 25000 miles due to the use of a second family car at the time. I have an extensive record of maintaining my Honda with a local Honda dealership since I purchased an extended warranty that expired in April 2014. On Aug 26, 2014 I left my work and entered the freeway ramp at about 30 mph ready to accelerate and merge with traffic. The car started hesitating and the rpms would race without the car picking up speed. Concerned about the cars behind me and making a very fast decision to move right as fast as I could without getting rear ended, I managed to exit the freeway to a right off ramp. I experienced the same RPM acceleration a week or two prior to this incident, but I thought I had just hit the gas peddle in a strange way while driving. I exited the freeway and drove home. When I arrived by my home 10 minutes later, the car stopped accelerating and I drifted into a parking space on the side of my house. A family member helped me straighten out the car in two moves after I placed it in neutral. I ended up towing the car to my local dealership who diagnosed it as aa broke transmission. The Honda was purchased brand new, I'm the only owner and it was bought because of it's reliability, reputation and quality in general..
- Kapolei, HI, USA
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I recently purchased the 2003 Honda Accord for travel. After purchasing the vehicle I noticed that the check engine light was on. The mechanic told me that there was a torque converter that needed to be replaced. After doing additional research I found that other Honda owners had this same issue. My car rumbles when driving through residential areas. When I try to enter my VIN number in to see if my car is eligible it won't come up, but I'm definitely experiencing the transmission slipping in specific gears.
Informed kolbe Honda that my transmission was slipping back on 9/2/2004 and again on 11/9/2010. The service department claims there is nothing wrong with my transmission. I have paperwork stating the dates and complaints about my transmission. The Honda dealerships claimed there was nothing wrong with my transmission. At this time, my car was still under warranty. On 3/7/2013. Is when I almost died on the freeway when my car just slowed down to a crawl in the middle lane while cars were driving 60-65 miles per hour. I thought my life was over at this time. I was able to get onto the right shoulder and was in shock. I telephoned my husband to come to my rescue, then we crawled the car into Honda. After bringing my car back two different times to see why the car was still not running, the second time Honda told me that I need a transmission. I purchased a rebuilt transmission for $3051, as Honda did nothing to help me out. My car has been impeccably maintained. I almost lost my life for Honda not paying attention to me complaining about my transmission slipping from 2004. I often have my grandchildren in my car and was thankful that I was the only one in the car this day. I believe that Honda totally ignored me and probably a lot more people with the same problem. As of today, I still fear driving my car on the freeways and I stay in the right lane only in the event this happens again. I am a senior citizen and feel that I was taken advantage of. There is no reason why I had to spend $3051 to put a transmission that should have been replaced by Honda. I would appreciate some information back. I am still using my car as I cannot afford to purchase another car.
2003 Honda Accord. Consumer states car stopped while driving due to transmission failure. The consumer stated the vehicle just stopped. It would not go forward, made noises and at times hesitated. The problem was diagnosed as a faulty torque converter solenoid. The consumer drove the vehicle for one week, when the problem returned. The dealer informed the consumer, the transmission needed to be replaced at a cost of $5400. The consumer took the vehicle to a repair shop, where the transmission was replaced for $3,000.
As driving along normally, the car started to downshift and rev up very high, sudden drop of speed came and the car behind me almost rear ended me. When checked online, it was the transmission that has failed and it has happened to everyone who owned this year model.
I purchased my 2003 Accord brand new from a Honda dealership. In 2004 there was a recall to fix a defect with second gear in the transmission. My car was fixed under the recall (or so I thought). I have been having continuous problems with second gear slipping. In other words when the car is in second gear it feels like its in neutral because you step on the gas and the car does not move. You have to wait for the car to shift again. You never know when or where it will happen. On 11/17/14 I was trying to get on the highway. I made a left turn to enter the highway when the second gear slipped. My car was stuck under a traffic light when the traffic light changed from green to red. Oncoming traffic was approaching my vehicle at 65-70mph. I was almost broad sided. Honda knows about this defect and will not replace the transmission in my car. There have been several class action lawsuits against Honda for this problem. I believe this is a serious safety issue not just for me because I own the car, but for anyone who is operating a vehicle on the roadways. Honda should be held accountable for this defect. I also have a takata airbag which is not subject to the recall. So I have 2 problems, the defect with the transmission puts me at a higher risk for getting into and accident. If I am in an accident and the airbag goes off, I could be injured and/or killed by the airbag. How can Honda get away with this?
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds, the vehicle hesitated and jerked without warning. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000. The VIN was not available.
When I drive on the road at around 45mph, I experienced a sudden shift to low gear and then the gear is neutralized. I pressed the pedal, but no speed increased while the RPM got very high. I must have pulled over and restarted the car. I have struggled much to get home dangerously. I brought the car the Honda dealer. They offered to replace the transmission at the price $4300. This is ridiculous! I bought the car last year for $8500. I have replaced many parts including the timing belt. It cost me more than $3000 already. I could have bought a new car with all the money I already spent and will spend on it. I have called Honda America and also asked the dealer to call them for a good will repair. No good will is got. Honda do not respect their customers' life. They suck my money and leave me stranded. I have checked on line and found this is a wide-spread and well-known transmission problem of Honda Accord 2003. Honda become murderers because they leave these cars with defective transmission run on the road. A recall definitely is in need to prevent fatal accidents.
Transmission locks in second gear when driving violently downshifts to second gear and over revs and no reverse after it cools same result seems to be overheating and starving for fluid.
The total transmission had to be replaced in my Accord due to it not shifting into gear properly. I've owned multiple Honda's over the years, so I am greatly disappointed in the quality I've grown to expect from Honda. Needless to say, this was dangerous as well as a costly repair. Honda was obviously aware of the problem just due to the number of complaints, yet did nothing for their buyers/car owners.
I have experienced the same problems that over 800 people on this site alone have had with the 2003 Honda Accord transmission. I am the original owner of this Honda, when purchased had 30 miles on it. Received the recall notice and immediately took the car to the closet dealership for repair. Was told by the service guy that they only inspected my car but did not do anything to it.they did not feel it was necessary. I felt this was odd because Honda knew there was a problem. On October 30th, 2014, now at approximately 150,000 miles I was on my lunch hour, when suddenly my vehicle downshifted and began losing all power on a very busy 4 lane highway.before coming to a complete stop, I managed to slowly get off to the side of the road before causing any kind of major accident.had my local trusted mechanic take a look at it and he called me back today to let me know that I needed a new transmission.he contacted several "transmission specialist" and they have refused to even try to fix my vehicle because they are fully aware of the transmission problems with the 2003 Honda Accord.I have contacted Honda's customer service department as well as the Honda product concern department and was told the only thing that I can do now is to have a new transmission put into my car, at my cost.I am not asking for a handout, but Honda has known for a long time that the 2003 Honda Accord had major transmission problems and they refuse to accept any kind of responsibility.fortunately, no one was injured when my defective transmission decided to blow but what if that had not been the case"does it actually take someone being seriously injured or losing their life for Honda to step up to the plate and seriously take responsibility for their mistake"have always been a loyal Honda owner up until now always trusted that they would stand by their product. Boy was I wrong!!!!!!!!!
Key fell apart in hand when placed into ignition and made vehicle unable to start engine. Gear shift button which needed to be depressed to shift fell out and made vehicle unable to be shifted into gear.
2004 safety recall for defective transmissions. Vehicle was with dealer for one hour and returned to me with statement that transmission was fine. I asked about paperwork and the answer was "none needed. It's fine." Transmission gears recently locked up, almost causing rear-end collision.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Sutherlin, OR, USA