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.

2003 Honda Accord seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2003 Honda Accord Owner Comments (Page 2 of 13)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #226

Aug 012019

Accord 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2003 Honda Accord ex. Consumer writes in regard to safety recall notice NHTSA 19V-501 passenger frontal airbag inflator. The consumer was informed that the recall was unable to be completed due to the vehicle having had a salvage title. The dealer could not be sure the parts on the vehicle were original; therefore, the consumer had to pay for parts before the repair could be completed.

- Marshfield, MO, USA

problem #225

Sep 272019

Accord

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While the vehicle was at a stop light, both front driver and passenger side air bags deployed independently and without warning. The contact and front passenger sustained right and left arm injuries, which did not require medical attention. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

problem #224

Sep 012015

Accord

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owned a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving at an unknown speed, the contact had to swerve to avoid another vehicle and crashed into a concrete divider on the highway. The contact was taken to the emergency room where his face was swollen and his nose bone was cracked. The contact believed his face was wounded by the shrapnel that came out of the driver's side air bag. The police were present, but a report was not filed. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the contact's insurance company and was towed to a scrap yard. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #223

Aug 102019

Accord

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Taskata recall I M having problem with my airbag light on in my car and I don't know what to do. Also my horn stopped working for no reason. I think because the airbag situation that why.

- St.Albans, NY, USA

problem #222

Aug 122019

Accord

  • 260,000 miles
Takata recall: My son was driving on the interstate at over 60 mph when the side airbag (driver side) spontaneously deployed. It slammed into his left arm with extreme force, knocking him toward the passenger door making him swerve in front of an 18 wheeler. The passenger side airbag then deployed and as he was trying to pull off the interstate the passenger front air bag deployed. He was able to stop in the area between the on ramp and the interstate, as he exited the vehicle the driver front airbag deployed. May 2016 the airbags and ignition recall repairs were done. After incident dealership ran diagnostics and said all he could see was that there was a problem with the SRS unit. He asked us if we had made any electrical modifications (which we haven't) I asked him if that part had been checked or replaced during the recall and he said that wasn't part of the recall. He said we should call Honda customer service. Upon further investigation I learned there have been recalls on the replacements because of moisture being introduced during manufacturing.also there have been problems with corrosion and malfunction of the SRS units due to extreme temperatures and high humidity. At the time of the incident the heat index was 110 and the humidity was extremely high. Arkansas is located in the second of three priority regions for the SRS recall.also while researching spontaneous airbag deployment causes, I learned that the SRS unit moisture problem and the degradation of accelerant from moisture can not only cause the airbags to not deploy on impact, but also cause them to deploy with no impact. This information should be included in the recall information and Honda should expand the SRS recall. We are lucky lives were not lost in this incident, but that may not be the case the next time this happens.

- Sheridan, AR, USA

problem #221

Aug 132019

Accord

  • miles
Airbags were replaced per recall. But there is a warranty extension on the replacements. Honda won't explain why. Internet says they were packed wrong but again I can't get answers from Honda unless I pay them $125. I'm worried that I'm driving with unsafe airbags.

- Prospect, KY, USA

problem #220

Jul 042019

Accord

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Error code identified 54-5X from defective seat belts or air bags, internal failure of SRS unit. Lifetime warranty for seat belts is being denied as applicable by Honda filed manager and Honda dealer. Subsequent to such confirmed dx, right signal marks began to fail.

- Brookfield, WI, USA

problem #219

Jun 292019

Accord 6-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
Takata recall my 2003 Honda Accord sedan is on the list of cars with takata airbags to be recalled but Honda is not recalling my car. I feel that it should be recalled but Honda is refusing to replace my airbags. How can Honda refuse to replace my airbags if it is on the list of cars being recalled for airbags. When they ask for my VIN they claim that my car is not being recalled. I believe that Honda is unlawfully shorting the recall list. Please look into this matter. Sincerely, [xxx] redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #218

May 112019

Accord

  • 126,000 miles
On 5/11/2019 I was in a serious auto accident to where my airbags did not deploy at all. My car was completely totaled and I'm lucky to be alive today. I'm concerned way the air bags did not deploy when there was impact on every side and trigger points of my car. I want to know did I even have airbags because I everyone that has inspected the car said they should have deployed with all the impact to the car. I would greatly appreciate if you can look into this due to my life could have been taken that night and my cars air bags never deployed and now I have to live with the pain and damages it has done to me. I was driving and got into the middle lane and then I was hit from behind from a Ford F-150 from what I was told due to I lost concussion while my car spun out of control and then I woke up slammed up against trees, in a deep ditch. Since I don't remember all of what happen this is the Florida highway patrol case number ( 88109030 ), so you can look more into the case. I will attach a few pictures of the vehicle that was taken when I had to get my stuff out of it.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #217

Apr 182019

Accord

  • miles
2003 Honda Accord. Consumer writes in regards to drivers side airbag safety recall.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #216

Mar 152019

Accord

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The airbag light turned on when I was driving the highway, no reason as to why it would turn on because I didn't get into a wreck or crash at all. I've had this car for about a year, bought it from a previous owner they had said it was in perfect condition. So irritated because I use this car every single day to drive to work and from and I also take my daughter to her doctors appointments in this vehicle. II don't want the airbags going off while I'm driving and possibly crash because I will sue. The engine light is always on since like a week into buying the car and I took it to a mechanic but it still turns on.

- Hollister, CA, USA

problem #215

Mar 132019

Accord

  • 10 miles
Takata recall. I have a Honda Accord and I feel as if my car has a airbag problem for some reason when I plug my seat belt in the air bag light comes on and if I leave my seat belt off the air bag lights flashes here and there not sure if theres a recall for that I checked says there isn't but I want to know if I should be worried.

- Reading, PA, USA

problem #214

Jun 212018

Accord

  • 140,000 miles
Takata recall (possibly?). I was in a car accident on June 21, 2018, in my 2003 Honda Accord coupe driver side airbag did not deploy. I was driving on a city street, the road was wet, and I was going around a curve in the road (going about 40 mph). My car lost traction and fish tailed, then ended up slamming into a telephone pole with the passenger side being impacted first. The passenger side door airbag went off, but my driver side airbag did not deploy, and because I was not wearing my seatbelt my face smacked into the steering wheell. I had to get stitches on my chin, lip, and nose. I also had to get my front left tooth extracted, and suffered a deviated septum and road rash from the impact.

- Brentwood, TN, USA

problem #213

Mar 112019

Accord

  • 95,970 miles
2003 Accord ex sedan, 4 cyl, 95,970 miles. The side airbag (drivers seat) deployed for no reason while my 17 year old son was driving on a straight, 35 mph roadway. The seatbelt did not lock-up. I contacted the dealer service manager by phone, he told me that this was impossible and that my son was at fault. He told me that the airbags can deploy just from sliding sideways. He also stated that if I brought the car to him and paid $135 he would check the car (computer) and show that there was an "incident" that deployed the airbag. As a retired state trooper (ret. 2015) I have investigated in excess of 4,000 crashes. There is no damage to the car, no indication of a collision with anything. I also know my son. I have also never seen airbag deployment without some sort of collision. A simple internet query shows that this is a problem, not just with front airbags. I did take photographs of the car, but can't upload them now.

- Corvallis, MT, USA

problem #212

Nov 012017

Accord

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the sensor needed to be repaired. The contact called Honda city Chicago (4950 S pulaski rd, Chicago, il, (773) 582-5000) and was informed that the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 17V220000 (air bags) twice; therefore, they would not repair the vehicle again. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #211

Nov 102018

Accord

  • 179,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While the vehicle was stationary, the passenger and driver frontal and side door air bags deployed without an impact or crash. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 179,000.

- Cary, NC, USA

problem #210

Sep 252018

Accord

  • 133,000 miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact received recall letters for both the front driver and passenger air bags. The recall repairs were completed in 2014 and 2015 by an unknown dealer; however, the air bag indicator illuminated after the repair. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who stated that the air bag repair was not covered and the contact would have to pay. The manufacturer was not contacted. The NHTSA campaign numbers were unknown. The failure mileage was 133,000.

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

problem #209

Sep 012018

Accord

  • 85,000 miles
My son was driving his 2003 Honda Accord 2dr ex V-6, with his 110 lb girlfriend. The car was very hot inside, as it was a 90 degree day. He slowly pulled out of his apartment entrance. As soon as he turned onto a small neighood road, the side passenger side airbags both activated with absolutely no collision or contact with anything. Luckily his girlfriend was not insured, she does still have a ringing or white noise sound in her right ear. I can't imagine what would have happened if they were on a major highway. She does still have a ringing

- Highland Mills, NY, USA

problem #208

Aug 182018

Accord

  • 156,361 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving 60 mph, the passenger side curtain air bags and seat air bags deployed without warning or impact. There were no injuries. Fiesta Honda (91000 san pedro avenue, san antonio, tx 78216, (210) 546-0250) was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 156,361.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #207

Aug 092018

Accord

  • 153,000 miles
My daughter was in an accident the other night and her airbag did not go off. She was driving 50 mph on rt. 152 when someone pulled out in front of her attempting to cross the street. My daughter applied the brakes to avoid hitting the other vehicle. Upon impact the passenger airbag went off but the driver side did not!

- New Park, Pa, PA, USA

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