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 driving 55 mph, the contact stated that the radio, cruise control, and horn failed to function. The air bag fault warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that while trying to shift into park, the shifter knob fractured. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician stated that the shifter knob plate needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V700000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Updated 03/30/15 updated 6/24/2015
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that after the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 14V351000 (air bags), the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V700000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact received notification of NHTSA recall 14V351000 (air bags) however, the parts were not available. The contact believed the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure.
When I was sitting perfectly still parked in a parking lot, my driver side airbag and my passenger-side side airbag inflated. Nothing had hit me, and I hadn't hit anything. I have contacted Honda, and they will not return my calls, and are not being cooperative about fixing my car. There are multiple recalls for this exact thing happening.
2003 Honda Accord air bag safety recall. The consumer believed his vehicle was excluded from the recall, because of where the vehicle was purchased. Even though he no longer lives there.
I purchased my 2003 Accord brand new from a Honda dealership. In 2004 there was a recall to fix a defect with second gear in the transmission. My car was fixed under the recall (or so I thought). I have been having continuous problems with second gear slipping. In other words when the car is in second gear it feels like its in neutral because you step on the gas and the car does not move. You have to wait for the car to shift again. You never know when or where it will happen. On 11/17/14 I was trying to get on the highway. I made a left turn to enter the highway when the second gear slipped. My car was stuck under a traffic light when the traffic light changed from green to red. Oncoming traffic was approaching my vehicle at 65-70mph. I was almost broad sided. Honda knows about this defect and will not replace the transmission in my car. There have been several class action lawsuits against Honda for this problem. I believe this is a serious safety issue not just for me because I own the car, but for anyone who is operating a vehicle on the roadways. Honda should be held accountable for this defect. I also have a takata airbag which is not subject to the recall. So I have 2 problems, the defect with the transmission puts me at a higher risk for getting into and accident. If I am in an accident and the airbag goes off, I could be injured and/or killed by the airbag. How can Honda get away with this?
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact received NHTSA campaign number: 14V351000 (air bags). The contact stated that the part needed to remedy the vehicle was unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the driver's side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was made aware of recall NHTSA campaign id number: 14V351000 (air bags). However, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the air bag light illuminated. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V351000 (air bags). However, the parts needed for the repairs were unavailable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
I submitted a complaint over the phone already #[xxx] with NHTSA rep "[xxx]." [xxx] refused to specifically detail what I explained to him, which was very disconcerting and a huge waste of time, so I am submitting a separate complaint in writing. I am concerned that the takata airbag recall notice is not being properly communicated to the public. The media reporting based on NHTSA's recall notices strongly suggest that the recall only affected vehicles in 13 southern states with high heat and humidity. I bought the vehicle in Colorado and currently reside and drive in California. Neither of those states is on the list of 13. I contacted Honda, because NHTSA's notice was not clear, and the vehicle is subject to the recall. I am concerned that the NHTSA recall information has resulted in a cycle of news reporting that misleads the public into believing that their vehicle is fine and not subject to the recall unless their vehicle is in one of the 13 states. This needs to be clarified to a much greater degree. Thank you. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Honda wrote you a letter, which I have a copy of from your website, on June 14, 2014 confirming discussion with you about looking into problems with the 2003 Honda Accord driver's airbag. They have only recalled the passenger side airbag. I do not feel safe in driving my Honda with the current driver airbag. What is the status of the recall for the driver's airbag for the 2003 Honda Accord?
There is a recall of the passenger side airbag inflator but Honda has not sent letters to owners to inform us. Honda has told me that these letters will not be sent out until parts are available. Clearly, owners need to be informed as soon as possible to decide if they want to continue to drive their vehicles. And, secondly, parts are now available and we are still not being notified. Is it legal for them to withhold notification letters?
Called american Honda today on a different matter. My concern was if the air bags in my car were manufactured by the company that is presently in the news. The case manager, [xxx], assured me that the air bags in my Accord were not subject to recall. However he was unable to advise the manufacturer of the air bag. Furthermore he did advise that media reports and information from nhtsb were not totally accurate and erroneous. I did ask him to send me a written correspondence that my air bags were not subject to recall and would not explode by accident. He declined to do so.I guess Honda does not want to place itself in a product liability issue with me. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the part was not available to service the vehicle under NHTSA campaign number: 14V349000 (air bags). The manufacturer was notified of the delay. The contact had not experienced a failure.
In 2008 I was driving my 2003 Honda Accord. I had a terrible front in crash with another car. My front end was crushed and my front passenger head cracked the windshield. My passenger airbag did not deploy. Every one I called gave me the run around. I didn't know who to contact. My repairs cost me $3800. We didn't have medical insurance so we declined to go to the doctor. The body shop that repaired my car said the airbag should have deployed.
My daughter had just left the house, she was maybe 1/4 mile from the house and she said it felt like her steering wheel locked up so she started hitting the brakes. She was headed into a curve but the car would not turn so she crashed into an embankment which slung the passenger side of the car into a tree. Both airbags deployed. She had 5 staples in her head, a concussion, a bruised lung, and some pelvic bleeding. She is still recovering from the concussion. I believe it was the air bag that caused the most physical damage to her head. But I can not understand what cut the gash in her head.
I owned a 2003 Honda Accord LX. I was stopped when another vehicle rear ended me doing approximately 50 mph. There were no skid marks & I was pushed more than a car length past were I was stopped. No air bag deployed, not one. I suffered hand, wrist, neck, head & face injuries from being slammed into the steering wheel. I also have back, knee, hip & foot injuries. I was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Police were on scene & a report was filed. My car sustained heavy damage & was totaled out by their insurance co. My car had 204,635 miles on it. I am still out of work due to the head injury.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Irvington, AL, USA