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.
While driving with around 35 mph the vehicle start shifting gears violently random which made me pull over and turn off the car. Luckily I was very close to home and I decided to start the car and drive it to my parking lot. The transmission would not shift up from 1st gear and I was going with 20 mph for more than a mile. On the next day I tow the car ($130) to a shop and the mechanic there told me that my transmission is done and I either need to rebuilt it or get a new one!!!! so far $200, $130+$70( diagnostics). The estimated price for rebuilding the transmission that I got was $2700 after the accident I searched and realized that I am not the only one with the exact same problem, not even close to be the only one, but nothing has been done regarding that particular issue so far and basically everybody who has 2003-2007 Honda Accord is suffering from the same problem. It is unbelievable how no recall procedure was initiated, yet! this is a serious problem which can cause the car to get into an multiple car accident! I am writing this complaint hoping to change something in that forever postponed problem! I also would like to ask is there is a way to get some kind of compensation for the repair cost? one more time I really hope someone reads this complaints and they are not left in the general pile of paperwork on some forgotten desk in the corner covered with dust! ps: I am E-mailing to the manufacturer's headquarters and I am calling everyone who is reading this to do the same!
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 75 mph, the transmission locked and there was a sudden increase in engine rpms without any warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 190,000 and the current mileage was 195,000.
2003 Honda Accord V6. Going approximately 70mph on a major highway and the car violently downshifted as if I had slammed on the brakes. Almost hit by other cars on multiple occasions as the problem persisted. Also heard a whining noise/rattling under the hood while driving in 2nd gear. Once I smelled burning I knew it was time to give up. Had to get car towed an hour away.
NHTSA recall #04V!76000 car was evaluated oil jet kit installed. No proof that the gears were actually discolored; which would have required a replacement tranny. Quite a money saver.for Honda. Transmissions are expensive. Honda replaced the tranny cost to me 2,100. I still have car; running fine at 88,000 oil jet kit was installed 4/2004. The failure at 62,000 miles, with the fix is still pre-mature tranny failure.
This is a 2003 Accord exl 6 cylinder with automatic transmission. Under normal driving conditions we noticed in the later months of 2013 that the transmission seemed to slip when it shifted from 2nd to 3rd gear. As of February 23rd it has gotten worse. We have taken it to the Honda dealer who told us that it was indeed a transmission problem. This was confirmed by a 3rd party mechanic who also told us that the transmission fluid was turning brown and showing signs of turning black. As we live in the country, this automobile has been driven on the highway for well over 50% of the time. We have always come to a complete stop before shifting the transmission from or to another gear. The car has not been abused. This is a known problem! there are many complaints about this on the internet (same year and same engine). Even consumer reports lists this 2003 6 cylinder vehicle as one to avoid due to transmission problems.
- Black Earth, WI, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Driving along and transmission would not shift up. Stayed in a low gear, slowed down to see if it would shift into higher gear and wouldn't. pulled over and put shifter into park. Waited a couple of minutes and put it back into drive. It took a minute for it to engage. Pulled onto road, and again, it stayed in low gear, refusing to shift higher. Pulled over again, tried the same thing and even turned the car off. Pulled onto road and began to drive, still would not shift, then it began to stop moving intermittently. It would move slightly, then stop moving while in drive. All I would hear is the engine revving, but car not moving. Acted like I was going from drive to neutral but car was still in drive. It finally quite altogether on a very narrow, dangerous steep uphill road. Had to have it towed.
Driving car at 35 mph on feeder road, went to enter freeway so accelerate, car did not accelerate and a big thunk like a brick fell into engine, car stalled, rpms accelerated, car did not. Now drives fine up to 35 mph but that's it.
The car transmission has engagement issue and had to be towed home it barely made it into garage 2003 Honda Accord I thought it will last a bit more than 108000 miles.
We driving on 35W -South at around 60 miles an hour and the vehicle turned itself to 1st gear. Had to pull over to shoulder and called aaa. Was told that solenoid to be replaced. After the replacement, car was ok and again, after few miles, has a similar incident on 494, where the gear shifted back to a lower gear at 60 miles an hour and missed a fully loaded walmart truck by inches! I had to spend 1800$ to get the transmission fixed.
I was driving my 2003 Honda Accord ex, V6, on the freeway at 70 mph when my car went into a front wheel locked skid. The duration of the unsuspected skid was less than one second, but I almost lost control of my car. Several seconds later, at 50 mph, my vehicle again went into a unsuspected front wheel skid, with a duration of less than a second. There was no warning light notification. The cause of the front wheel locked skid was the transmission clutch was burned out on gears #5 and #3. my vehicle transmission fluid and filter was changed every 30,000. This notification is for public safety. American Honda corporation was notified and they felt I should investigate this incident at my own expense.
Transmission was slipping. Then suddenly car felt like someone slammed on the brakes. Took car to dealership and was told transmission was failing. The transmissions on these cars were recalled in 2004 when an oil jet kit was installed per the recall to provide extra lubrication to the transmission. Talked to Honda and they refuse to provide any help with these multiple transmission failures. Cost to fix this is $4100 at the dealership.
Traveling at 55 mph car jerked back and forth, loud noise from under car. Car slipped between gears, and continued to jerk. The car will now not move can move gear shift through gears but will not move.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the transmission independently shifted out of gear and into second gear. The contact mentioned that the failure was recurring. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for a diagnostic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000 and the current mileage was 200,000.
My daughter was driving the car at highway speeds when the transmission downshifted into first throwing them violently forward and nearly causing impact with another vehicle, when she told me I did a web search and found that this is a common problem with this model and year. What has been done about this serious safety defect?
I purchased a used 2003 Honda Accord in April 2011. It now has 132, 000 miles on it. This week I was driving on the interstate when my "D" drive on my hear start flashing in my car RPM started revving up & my check engine light came on. So I put my emergency flashes on to get the shoulder of the expressway my car. My car wouldn't drive anymore in the D drive shift to make it home safely I had to drive my car in D3 all the way home. My mechanic is now saying I need a new transmission which will cost me $2500 I don't have. I've driven Honda Accord's all my life this is the first Honda that I've had a major issue with.
I bought my car used and granted it has almost 200,000 miles on it but I trusted in Honda that it was a good car now my transmission has gone out and I haven't had my car a year yet granted I'm disappointed in Honda bc I have read several forums about 2003 Accord have transmission issues with way less mileage than mine Honda really needs to investigate this issue. It's christmas time and I'm out a car I would fix the transmission on this vehicle but it's no point in doing 3000 dollars worth of work on a car when I owe more than that on it and I have already had to replace engine mounts, thermostat, crank shaft pulley.
Vehicle transmission has been hesitating for over a year. Dealership insisted that there was nothing wrong. Two months ago I was told the rear main seal may need to be replaced soon. Three days ago the car violently shifted into a lower gear and nearly caused the vehicle to be rear ended. I'm told that the transmission now needs to be rebuilt or replaced. When I contacted american Honda I spoke to a customer services representative by the name of sopana. He first told me that because my car was over 120K mile Honda would not provide any goodwill assistance, I reminded him my car was at 115K mile, he was then flustered and said well I mean 100K mile or whatever.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the transmission independently shifted out of gear and into third gear. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic, who advised that the transmission needed to be rebuilt. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was serviced in 2004 under NHTSA campaign number 04V176000 (power train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 110,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Alexandria, VA, USA