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.
I would have thought that my 03 Honda Accord was affected by the recall, but the searches say there is no outstanding recall. They kept changing the years, states w vs wo humidity, etc, but all Accord before and after my year were affected, and I am certain the airbag fix was never done by my Honda dealership. I can't get to the bottom of this. Is there not a danger with these original takata airbags? VIN [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
My car has an open recall for airbags. I went to local Honda dealer and they refused to fix because my passenger airbag has deployed. I'm not sure whether that's reason that they will not fix this airbag for the recall? thanks.
The contact owned a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving 60 mph, the contact's vehicle was rear ended and struck on the driver's side by two separate vehicles. The contact crashed into the guardrail due to the impact. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact was transported to the hospital for back and neck injuries. The contact also sustained sprains and whiplash to the neck and upper back. The vehicle was towed to a local lot. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owned a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle suddenly swerved without warning. The contact was unable to regain control of the vehicle and it flipped over several times. The air bags did not deploy. The contact received injuries to the back, shoulder, and head, which required medical treatment. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While the vehicle was idling at a parking lot, the air bag warning indicator illuminated and remained lit. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (lucas Honda in jacksonville, fl, 904-269-2277) where it was diagnosed that the front passenger side air bags needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The failure was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000. Updated 7/23/18
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
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Takata recall while I was driving home (vehicle in motion) on paseo padre boulevard in fremont California, my airbags on the right side of the vehicle deployed unexpectedly and for no apparent reason. I was not involved in any accident that would trigger airbags to deploy. I believe the airbags deployed because they have some defective parts. I continue trying to resolve the issue with Honda and they ignore me.
Driving to work on 8/5/17 at around 4 am and the passenger side roof and seat air bags went off for no reason. Turned the car around and took it home to where it has set every since. The road was smooth and I was approaching a set of railroad tracks on route 3.
The contact owned a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving 50 mph, the steering locked and failed to respond. As a result, the contact crashed the vehicle into a guardrail. The air bag indicator illuminated and the driver and passenger side air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who deemed the vehicle destroyed. The contact sustained injuries to the head, chest, and shoulder, which required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 167,000. Updated 09/01/17
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 10 mph, the passenger seat air bag deployed without warning or impact. There were no injuries. The dealer was contacted at 866-483-4579 and informed the contact to bring the vehicle to the shop. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The manufacturer also advised the contact not to take the vehicle to the dealer until an investigation was done. The manufacturer promised to call the contact back within 48 hours. The insurance company referred the contact to NHTSA. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 04V176000 (power train). The failure mileage was approximately 88,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated prior to being repaired for NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V370000 (air bags) and 15V320000 (air bags). The vehicle was repaired, but the failure was not remedied. The russel smith Honda dealer was contacted and diagnosed the issue as a seat belt failure. The dealer offered to perform a diagnostic test, but the contact declined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and also stated that the failure was due to the seat belts and not the air bags. The failure mileage was approximately 89,900.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 40 mph, the air bag indicator illuminated and blinked. The failure recurred whenever the vehicle was started and the indicator would remain illuminated. The failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Takata recall I was driving down the road when I lost control of my car. This resulted in my air bag being deployed as I came into collision with a guard rail on a city street. Luckily, only the passenger side airbag deployed. This resulted in my windshield being cracked.
"takata recall". passenger side airbag light comes on intermittently, with or without anyone sitting in the seat. Afraid to have any one sit in passenger seat for fear that the airbag will not properly deploy and inflate when necessary.
I had a car accident in a parking lot on September 8, 2016. I was turning and hit a pole on the front fender of the drivers side of my car. I was going approximately 15 miles an hour. The airbag deployed and broke both bones in my right arm. It fractures my radius & ulna. Minutes late the passenger side airbag went off and broke the windshield. I was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where I had surgery. They had to put two metal plates & screws in my arm. I was in the hospital for 3 days and out of work on medical until November 28, 2016 I still have pain in my arm and fingers. Arthritis has set in my fore finger. I really feel that these airbags were defective. I'd appreciate it if you would investigate my claim. Thank you, updated 03/15/17
Takata recall airbags dysfunctional but not replaced by Honda, front and rear brake calipers seized up resulting in excessive brake pad wear and damage to rotors. ~$3000 brake job quoted for a Honda with only ~150K miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving 70 mph on the interstate, the contact was cut off by another vehicle. The contact lost control and crashed into the concrete median. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was driven home where an independent mechanic repaired the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.
First, when I started typing in this field, the page reset and I had to re-enter the VIN. So, please fix your webpage, so that it does not clear unless a submit button is deliberately pressed. The airbag malfunction light on my Honda Accord comes on, at the start of some engine runs, before the vehicle is set in motion, and stays on for the duration of the run. At other times, when the light does not come on at the onset of a run, it comes on when the seatbelt is unbuckled, and remains on for the remainder of the run. Though I would rather that the airbag system be permanently disarmed, I am concerned that the light will come on during the annual safety inspection and cause my vehicle to fail the inspection.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While approaching a stop light, another vehicle crashed into the driver's side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained back and neck injuries that required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the body damage was repaired. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V320000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Highland Park, IL, USA