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:
60 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
77 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,540 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 contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While the contact was driving 25 mph, an opposing vehicle crashed into the front driver side. The significant impact caused the front driver side axle to fracture and the tire to position in an inward direction. During the crash, the air bags failed to deploy. The contact and front seat passenger sustained severe injuries to the head and suffered bruises. The vehicle was completely destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 36,300.
The contact 2003 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 55 mph the vehicle was involved in a crash in which only the passenger side air bag deployed. The contact was not sure if a police report was filed. The driver suffered injuries during the crash. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an insurance lot. The vehicle did not have the failure diagnosed. The failure and current mileages were 87,000.
The contact owned a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact was driving 3 mph from a traffic stop when her vehicle was struck from the driver side by a police vehicle. The left side and front of the contacts vehicle was severely damaged. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was available. A passenger sustained injuries to the head, elbow, knee, back, and neck. Another passenger sustained a small cut to her forearm. The contact stated that the air bag did not deploy. The failure mileage was 105,008.
SRS light turns on and off on the dash. I took my 2003 Honda Accord ex- V6 to the dealer and the diagnostics codes were 53-31, 61-10, F1-11, F3-11. After the dealer calling Honda, Honda recommended to replace the control unit. However, reviews indicate that the airbag warning light may come on due to a defective occupant position detection sensor requiring its replacement. Honda decided to recall the 2004 models for the same airbag issue, but left out the 2003 models.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact was driving approximately 30-35 mph when the air bag inadvertently deployed and knocked the contact unconscious, causing the vehicle to crash into a mailbox and tree. The contact sustained body bruises and injury to the nose. The contact was transported to the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle sustained severe damages and was towed to a collision center. The contact's insurance company was notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
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The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact was driving approximately 25 mph when the air bag deployed independently, resulting in the contact crashing into a tree. A police report was filed and the driver was reported injured. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a salvage lot. The vehicle was not examined for the cause of failure and was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileage was 25,000.
I own a 2003 Honda Accord ex. Starting few months ago, the airbag warning light comes on at random times. I restart the car, the warning light goes off most times. I am concerned that the airbag may not deploy in an accident.
2003 Honda Accord (VIN [xxx] ) has an airbag warning light coming on after 30 minutes of driving. A Honda dealer says the car needs new airbag control module for $525. There is a campaign # 07V001000 for 2004 & 2005 models airbags recall. This recall should include 2003 Honda Accord. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
I have a 2003 Honda Accord ex with an erratic SRS light. I've had it to the dealership three times for repair. 1st time: Couldn't find a problem because the light went out. 2nd time: They had the car 2 days and replaced the driver's side seat belt tensioner. Thought it was fixed but then the light came on again. This time they said it showed SRS codes 22-8 (a short) and 51-2. they ruled out the short and are saying by the process of elimination the SRS unit has to be replaced for $411. I don't think I should have to pay for this based on what I've read about this issue. What can I do now?
My airbag light came on in my 2003 Honda Accord. The dealership told me that this was due to an open circuit in the driver's side airbag inflater as well as a the drivers side seat belt buckle switch. I had these fixed and the light came on again on my way home. The dealership checked again and could not find out what was wrong and sent me home after resetting the light. The light came on the next day that I drove my car and when I called the dealership wants to charge me for another diagnostic fee. American Honda said that there is no recall on my model, although there are recalls on other years for the same problem. P.S. the model number for the equipment is not in the dropdown menu, but on my paperwork it has 06788-sda-A82. Once I started writing 0 in the field it automatically picked something else beginning with a 0.
We own a 2003 Honda Accord in good condition. Four times since Jan., 2010, our air bag indicator light on dashboard has come on and remained on until engine is shut off. Apparently it re-set itself each time. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for this sporadic occurrence. We have discussed the problem with our Honda dealer who claimed to know nothing about the problem, except to tell us that when the light is on, the air bag system will not work. The manual instructs the owner to take the car to the dealer to determine the cause of the problem. The dealer said to bring the car in for diagnosis which will cost $95. Is this a safety issue" have there been any other complaints on this matter? shouldn't a Honda dealer be responsible for a factory installed air bag system"
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The air bag light came on upon starting the ignition, the light stays on consistently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, no repairs have been made. The failure mileage was 49000. The current mileage was 49500.
I have a 2003 Honda Accord LX that was recently involved in a head on accident, where the car was traveling between 45 and 55mph when it slid on ice and went head on into a snow bank/ditch. There was only the driver inthe vehicle and approximately 90% of the front bumper was shattered due to the collision. The passenger airbag deployed with no passenger in the seat, and the driver's airbag failed to deploy. The seat belt on the driver's side locked, but the seat belt on the passenger's side (with the deployed airbag) did not. The car was not disabled from the airbag deployment and is still able to be driven at this time. I contacted price Honda in dover, Delaware where I purchased the car and they informed me that they were unable to explain why the air bag did not deploy on the driver's side, nor were they able to explain why the car's safety features did not work properly following the accident. I was also told that if I do get the vehicle repaired, there was no way to ensure the air bag system's efficiency and they could not guarantee that if in another accident that the air bag would deploy or not.
SRS light comes on intermittently while driving. Talked with the dealer he told me to get the SRS module replaced. I think this is a manufacturers fault not installing proper SRS sensor module into Honda Accord ex model cars. I truly believe this is a safety issue.
The airbag warning light on my 2003 Honda Accord ex comes on at random times. I will turn off the car and restart and the warning light will go off. It may be a few days or a few weeks before the airbag warning light comes on again. I am concerned that the airbag may not deploy in an accident.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 25 mph, the contact noticed that the SRS light had illuminated on the dashboard. The dealer stated that the air bag needed to be replaced. There were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 51612. Updated 10/13/09. Updated 10/15/09.
The SRS warning indicator comes on when the vehicle is started and is occasionally staying on. Research online shows that this is a common problem with older Honda Accord, and an extended warranty was issued by Honda to warranty the opds system which controls the airbags and seat belt tensioning system. My Accord, 2003, is not covered by this extended warranty. This is a safety issue, as the airbags are disabled when the SRS warning light is on, and I am astonished at the treatment Honda has given me. They are unwilling to cover this, even though there is a history of complaints.
The air bag light in my 2003 Honda Accord sometimes stays on during the time the car is on and if I turn the engine off and on again sometimes is off I took the car to a dealer and I was inform that I need to pay so they can look a the problem im concern if a accident happens I'm not sure if the airbags will deploy.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Norfolk, VA, USA