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.
Driving family of 4 home from church, stopped at an intersection stop sign. Came off brake and onto accelerator to cross the intersection and transmission immediately and unexpectedly broke apart, leaving our car stuck in the intersection. Extremely dangerous as traffic was continuous where we were crossing. More importantly, the transmission failure was without symptoms, with maintenance kept.... the transmission was a 4 year old Honda dealership replacement for another transmission which failed in May 2010. Total mileage on replacement transmission = 86K miles, with transmission fluid replaced 2 years ago by Honda. In May 2010, I was driving the same 2003 Honda V6 Accord vehicle on the highway at night, when the transmission (@ 122K miles) slammed down from 4th gear to 1st gear slamming me forward (thankful I wear a seatbelt)....extremely dangerous situation, near miss incident. Honda had a recall on the original 2003 Accord V6 transmission, which they "fixed" with an add on kit in 2004, not a replacement of the transmission. Honda refused to pay for or contribute towards the replacement transmission in 2004 or in 2010! Honda never reported back to me what was the cause of failure to the original transmission which they took upon installation of replacement in 2010. I also owned a 2003 Honda Odyssey which Honda recalled though that transmission and replaced by Honda versus the "kit". I believe that near miss incidents are as actionable as fatalities, fires and physical injuries. I feel fortunate that my family was spared injury or death yesterday, however I am deeply concerned that these Honda transmissions are time bombs and lives are constantly at risk wherever these cars and minivans are on the road. Please encourage Honda Motors to take 100% remedial action to protect the public from these poorly engineered and manufactured transmissions.
1st incident was transmission failure was in August of 2009 when car had 77,000 miles on it. Was trying to turn right and after starting the turn lost all power to the power train. Couldn't make a turn was able to make it off to the side of the road. Cost of 1st transmission replacement $2500 (Honda actually paid half (how gracious, when they knew that they have a flaw should have been 100%. (replaced with factory Honda transmission) 3 year, 360000 warranty 2nd incident 8/1012014 was driving on freeway at 65 mph and car slammed into 1st gear (and reduced speed by at least 15 --20 mph. Luckily I wasn't rear-ended as it jerked the whole car and reduced the speed in seconds. Issue transmission failure. Cost to replace $4500.
As I was driving to work the car started slipping, then as I arrived to my destination the car wouldn't go into gear at all. The car was overheating, as I called for service after work I tried starting the car again and it did go into gear. I drove it to the place for service but having to stop and let car cool down a couple times on the way there. They told me it's the transmission and will need a new one, or have it repaired. Now I'm aware of many 2003 Accord with the same problem, there should be a recall on this! I've owned 4 Honda cars and all from brand new vehicles and never a problem like this before. I have had this problem one other time of not going into gear, but it came out of it after it was cooled and sitting for a few hours, so never had that problem again until now. We don't drive this car very much as I work from my home, so it didn't go out until now. I'm told we must drive it little, which is true, and not hard on our vehicles at all, because this would have happened much earlier if we had. Also the air bag lights come on randomly with no reason, we had it tested and they said it was fine, humidity? that's another one to be recalled! Honda, you need to help us and recall the faults that you know are an issue if you want us to continue buying your vehicles! a used to be loyal Honda owner for all my life.
Transmission slipped then violently down shifted into 1st gear. Could not shift out of first gear until getting into neutral. I was almost rear-ended going 45 mph because of this!
Traveling North on I-83 from baltimore to Pennsylvania, the car started jerking violently, and came to a complete stop, front wheels quit rotating (locked?). we were thrown forward against our seatbelts, the rear of the car jumping slightly to the right. Gratefully, traffic was light. We shifted gears on the console back and forth and got the car moving again, taking the middletown rd. Exit, pulled off the road, checked transmission fluid, read the car manual. Half-hour later, we continued slowly, but after a few miles, the car began jerking again, slowing, sometimes stopping. We were able to get home with hazard lights flashing, letting cars pass by pulling to the side. This was early afternoon, very little traffic, and we were not far from home. Had car towed to dealer who said transmission failure, needed to be replaced. We bought this car new in 2003, maintained it per manufacture suggestions, and had no prior problems or indication the transmission was failing as the car was running as smoothly as it has since it was new.
- Spring Grove, PA, USA
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This has happened 3 times in just a couple of weeks and probably would have occurred more but I'm scared to drive it and only do so when necessary now. I live off a one lane highway on the mountains and should this happen with someone right behind me, I fear my life being in jeopardy.
I am the only and original owner of my 2003 Honda Accord ex V6. While it was still under warranty I started having problems with the transmission. I would be driving picking up speed to merge with highway traffic or street traffic and the transmission will get stuck not allowing me to go more than 20mph or 25 mph I then have to pull over and put the car in park wait a few minutes and pray that I can get to my destination without further incidence. However, everytime I took it the Honda dealer they said there was nothing wrong and they couldn't duplicate the problem. I was told transmission problems are not covered with my warranty and I would have to pay out of pocket. Thankfully I have not gotten into an accident since this problem is still on going with my car. I am upset and disturbed to see that there are so many complaints with the same issue and Honda being aware of these complaints has not been held accountable.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the gear shifter separated from the handle while attempting to change gears. The contact placed her finger into the left side of the gear shifter in order to shift the gear handle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the gear shifter plastic holder had melted in the gear shaft. As a result, the gear shifter knob and cover needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacture was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 96,928. Updated 08/21/14 updated 09/5/2014
This is the second occurrence of the transmission failing in this car. Originally Honda recalled the vehicle for a gear failure issue. In Oct. 2004 I took the vehicle to a dealership where I lived at the time and they replaced a cooling line that supposedly would resolve the issue. Five years later the transmission failed and would not shift out of 2nd gear and I do not drive many miles per year. I took the car to aamco because Honda was talking about charging me over $3000 for the repair but at no time did the representative at Honda state that this could be due to the recall and that Honda may in fact replace the transmission at no cost to me if it was determined that the failure was due to the previous recall. So I negotiated with them (Honda) and they refunded me approximately 40% of the $2150 I paid to aamco in lawrenceville ga. Here I am 4 years later and the same issue has resurfaced. The transmission has locked up again and luckily I was not traveling at any significant speed. Thecar now sits in my garage with everything on it working except the transmission, same scenario as in 2010. I have received three or four recall notices on this vehicle and have complied with Honda to take the vehicle to the dealership to resolve any issues. I am the original owner and would have expected much more reliability and dependability from this vehicle that after financing with Honda motor Corp I paid in excess of $30,000 in 2002. There seems tobe a pattern that after about 80,000 miles the transmissions in these vehicles are subject to fail when all warranty coverage has passed and leaving the consumer with little or no recourse. If I am correct this should surely fall under lemon law provisioning.
Driving down the road at 65 mph, my 2003 Honda Accord V6 suddenly decelerated. It was like the car downshifted by itself. I let off of the gas and turned my hazard blinkers on. I accelerated to 65 mph again and after about half a mile, the car suddenly decelerated again. I pull over to the shoulder and drove slowly to the nearest Honda dealer (only half mile away). The dealer told me that this issue was a problem with the transmission and I would need a new one. I asked if any work was done when I brought in the car (a couple of years ago) for the 2nd gear work. The service manager said that the car was inspected at that time and nothing abnormal was found, so no work was performed on the transmission.
Driving down the road at 65 mph, my 2003 Honda Accord V6 suddenly decelerated. It was like the car downshifted by itself. I let off of the gas and turned my hazard blinkers on. I accelerated to 65 mph again and after about half a mile, the car suddenly decelerated again. I pull over to the shoulder and drove slowly to the nearest Honda dealer (only half mile away). The dealer told me that this issue was a problem with the transmission and I would need a new one. I asked if any work was done when I brought in the car (a couple of years ago) for the 2nd gear work. The service manager said that the car was inspected at that time and nothing abnormal was found, so no work was performed on the transmission.
2003 Honda Accord with under 80,000 miles. V6 with automatic transmission. Transmission started slipping while making turn in neighborhood. While turning, pressing the gas only raised the rpms, but the car was not moving. I thought I was going to get hit by oncoming traffic. After trying to re-create trouble, it appears if the car tries to downshift into a low gear and gas is applied heavily, the car red lines and does not shift gears. This was a bad moment for this to happen. Very dangerous to think pressing the gas pedal has the potential not to move. Slow acceleration and the transmission shifts fine, but if you need to get out of the way, you can't accelerate hard.
The transmission is well on its way out slipping only use official Honda dw-1 fluid still no help Honda needs to fix this problem they have a defective transmission and they know it.
2003 Honda Accord. Consumer writes in regards to transmission problems. The consumer stated prior to purchasing the vehicle, the transmission was replaced. The transmission was replaced in March 2014. The consumer wondered if the transmission was properly replaced by Honda. The consumer stated this will be the third transmission.
Car has dark transmission fluid and is not shifting into 3rd gear. Car has 124,062 miles on it and won't shift into 3rd gear transmission ports are made too narrow not allowing fluid to cool transmission causing fluid too burn over time clearly a recall is in order Honda knows this year has issues with V6 automatic transmission and won't stand behind their product.
Transmission problems have happened ever since purchasing the car. At 144000 miles the transmission was replaced. At time of purchase, fluid was changed, January came, and once again needed another fluid change. I changed the fluid after purchase out of fear and transmission went from hard shifts to normal, even shifts. Problems raised again in January, I have two cases of Honda transmission fluid at hand right now. Now, it's maybe two weeks before it shifts hard again. I deal with it knowing the cost to fix the transmission, but yesterday was the point where it starts to affect my safety. Going 30-45, shifting from second to third, there is delay in shifting when at 3000 RPM, at 4000 RPM or higher shifting is very violent from second to third as of yesterday, April 23, 2014. Also at 55 mph on my way home, the car jolted during shifting while accelerating causing me to almost lose control. If this happened just three seconds before as I was turning a corner on this road it could have caused me to crash. Transmission feels distant at times, as if power is not being properly applied to the wheels during slow medium and hard acceleration from first to second gear. The transmission deteriorates with time and mileage. Car is 100% different than when we acquired it. Complaint after complaint and not one thing being done by Honda nor NHTSA. The oil jet kit was a cheap and limited fix to this problem and only delayed transmission failure. Why is there no recall for this" several people are on the highway when these transmissions fail and are lucky to avoid accidents and death. Does it have to take someone traveling 70 mph with violent down shifting, being rear ended and killed for this to reach headlines for someone to acknowledge the danger" it's a real problem that affects safety, people's lives including my own.
After driving at highway speed for just over an hour, the car's transmission suddenly and unexpectedly down shifted. Both my wife and I found ourselves flying forward, thank goodness for the seat belts. I am not sure which gear it down shifted to, but it might have been 1st or maybe 2nd gear, but it was a huge lurch forward on our part. The car was running hotter than normal, but less than 1/2 way on temperature gauge. No indicator lights on the dash. Took the car to our mechanic who said that the transmission requires replacement (~$6,000). The current blue-book is in the $6,000 range and we expected it to last for several more years an a whole lot more than 121,000 miles... the car now has the orange triangle with the explanation point inside and the tcs light is on and the tcs switch has no effect. The car has been well maintained, is excellent mechanical and physical condition, except for this transmission issue and I believe that we followed the recall id 62639.
I pulled out from a gas station accelerating to mix into the traffic flow. I only got to 20 mph and then, even though the engine was turning at 3000+ RPM and the car was in drive, I started to just coast. Traffic approaching at 40+ mph had to hit their brakes and swerve to avoid me as I coasted ever more slowly to the side of the road. It is truly amazing that someone was not injured or killed. The transmission had totally failed in the blink of an eye with no warning whatever. I have looked this up online and there are hundreds of complaints about this problem. "why have you not made Honda recall these models?" seems to be the general question people have. 2003 Honda Accord V6 transmission
Sudden and violent RPM shifting, from ~2500 to 5000, no warning, severe lurching for several miles until we could exit highway. Subsequent failure to shift into correct forward gear, as well as failure to shift into reverse. A dangerous situation on a 65-mph road, which could have resulted in a fatal accident, involving either multi-vehicle or single. We are in touch this morning with the dealership service dept, who so far are feigning surprise at the story, even though it is a known issue.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Woodstock, CT, USA