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

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Honda Accord:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2003 Honda Accord Owner Comments (Page 3 of 13)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #206

Jul 172018

Accord

  • 108,000 miles

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

Takata recall----I can't find out when my '03 Accord will be recalled or whether it's considered among the most at risk. Have heard nothing and NHTSA VIN search indicates no recall so far. This is very worrisome as I have only one eye and a crash with this defective air bag could lead to total blindness or worse.

- Edmond, OK, USA

problem #205

Oct 202006

Accord

  • 133,411 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving 55 mph, the air bag SRS warning indicator illuminated, which was a safety concern. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V320000 (air bags). The vehicle was taken to diamond valley Honda (300 carriage cir, hemet, ca 92545, (888) 794-1620) where the driver side air bag was replaced, but the failure was not diagnosed. Two days after the recall remedy, the air bag warning indicator illuminated again. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,411.

- Perres, CA, USA

problem #204

Jul 032018

Accord

  • 205,952 miles
Was driving about 2 minutes on city street. Airbags exploded first on passenger side and then on driver's side.

- Newton, MS, USA

problem #203

May 012018

Accord

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. When the vehicle was started, the air bag warning indicator illuminated and remained lit while driving. The failure was a safety concern. The dealer was not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Thomson, GA, USA

problem #202

May 152018

Accord

  • miles
My airbag light S come on from time to time and I am aware that some vehicles are under recall. Although my vehicle is not listed I am concerned about the airbag lights coming on when they should not. Also I met someone who said there was a recall on the power steering high pressure hose and I would like to know if this is true also because mine is leaking and I would like to know what steps to take next.

- Enterprise, AL, USA

problem #201

Jun 052018

Accord

  • 196,412 miles
Takata recall. I have contacted Honda multiple times, my passenger airbag is not a takata airbag, it was replaced with another airbag years ago, does not need recalled. I have asked for them to stop sending me notices, worked directly with my local dealership, who faxed the required paperwork and the issue is not resolved.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #200

May 292018

Accord

  • 125,000 miles

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

The contact owned a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 45 mph on a curved mountain road, the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle skidded across two lanes of traffic and crashed into two large mountain rocks. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained injuries to the head, a broken ankle, compound fractures, and bruises that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for a determination of the air bag failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.

- Rohnert Park, CA, USA

problem #199

May 312017

Accord 4-cyl

  • 256,000 miles
I was going back home from work at 5:50 am in the morning in my Honda Accord. I lost control over my car and hit side walk and a mail box on the right side of the road my car toppled on the left side. The driver side window was under my feet as the car toppled and the passenger side door window was on the top of my head as I was standing in the a toppled car. To come out of the car I removed the head rest from the drivers seat and started hitting the window glass to break it with metal part of the head rest. I hit it as hard possible, I brought the head rest down to my knees to gather force, distance and speed so that the window glass can be broken and I can come out. I tried for few minutes but the window glass did not break. I want bring it to the attention of you all that if a window glass cannot be broken with metal in case of emergency in the car. The trapped people will burn to death. If you have further questions/query to clarify please feel free to call me or write to me at the following address: [xxx] thank you, [xxx] ps: Take the above matter seriously to save the lives of trapped people in the car information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Germantown, TN, USA

problem #198

Mar 132018

Accord 4-cyl

  • miles
2003 Honda Accord. Consumer writes in regards to takata airbag safety recall. The consumer stated both the airbags inadvertently deployed while driving injuring the driver's eye.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #197

Apr 152015

Accord

  • 56,111 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the air bag indicator was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (carbone Honda of yorkville, 5009 commercial dr, yorkville, NY 13495, 315-790-6106) where it was determined that the vehicle was irreparable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 56,111.

- Illion, NY, USA

problem #196

Feb 022018

Accord

  • 143,000 miles

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

The contact owned a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while at a stop, another vehicle driving at 40 mph crashed into the front drivers side of the vehicle. The driver's side air bag failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the back and neck that required medical attention. The contact was unsure if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact was aware of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V370000 (air bags) and 15V320000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,000.

- Joplin, MO, USA

problem #195

Feb 282018

Accord

  • miles
Takatarecall

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

problem #194

Oct 122017

Accord

  • miles
Warning light came on and stays on.

- Hendersonville, NC, USA

problem #193

Dec 152017

Accord

  • 180,000 miles
Takata recall my car won't accelerate when I hit the gas pedal

- Pittsburg, CA, USA

problem #192

Dec 152015

Accord

  • 79,000 miles
Takata recall - car not on recall list but dash airbag warning light is on constantly. Have been waiting for airbag recall notice for over 2 years with light on.

- Parsippany, NJ, USA

problem #191

Nov 012017

Accord

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving at an unknown speed, the passenger side curtain and seat air bags deployed without warning or impact. The front passenger sustained bruising to the stomach, which did not require medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The contact received a notice from tk holdings, alerting her that the air bag manufacturer filed for bankruptcy. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #190

Oct 142015

Accord

  • 100,000 miles
Takata recall. I got into an accident back in 2015, airbags did not deploy.

- Hampton, VA, USA

problem #189

Sep 052017

Accord

  • miles
'takata recall' the airbag is not working which make it always display on my dashboard when am driving.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #188

Oct 102015

Accord

  • 179,000 miles
My son was involved in a single car roll over accident on 10/10/2015. He was traveling about 40 miles per hour when the road surface changed from asphalt to gravel. He lost control of the car and the vehicle did one complete rotation landing back on its tires. The seat belt did not hold causing his head to hit the inside roof of vehicle and throwing him from side to side as the vehicle rolled over. My son suffered a L1 burst fracture, damaging his spinal cord, which left him a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair. Airbag did not deploy, which due to the fact that it was a side rollover, sensors may not have been trigged. The car did however, have damage to the front, left front, left rear and right front of the vehicle. My son was 25 at the time of the accident.

- Greenwood Village, CO, USA

problem #187

Sep 032015

Accord

  • 49,000 miles
Takata recall: I want to know why the takata airbag in my car is not being recalled "at this time." As I was told by Honda in torrence. "at this time" is a lousy answer and I hardly drive this vehicle out of fear. It is 2003 and I have 51,000 miles on it. I like this car but I am being treated like my life is not worth anything. I want an answer as to why my takata airbag is not being replaced. Perhaps the media can help me.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?