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 owned a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that her vehicle had previously been repaired under unknown recalls for her driver's and passenger's airbags. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and violently pulled to the right, causing her to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a wall. The driver's side air bag did not deploy; however, the passenger air bag did deploy. The contact sustained injuries to her face and back. The contact received medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The insurance company deemed the vehicle totaled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH both the driver-side and passenger-side air bags were erroneously deployed. Moments later both the driver-side and passenger-side curtain air bags erroneously deployed. The contact indicated that during the incident the vehicle was not crashed and did not make contact with any object or structure to cause the air bags to deploy. The driver sustained a small laceration to the left arm during the air bag deployment which did not require medical treatment. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure and a service appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was not contacted regarding the incident. The failure mileage was 170,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the contact opened the trunk to the vehicle; the contact exited the vehicle and the front driver-??s side air bag deployed without warning or impact. There was no injury from the erroneous deployment. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 253,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the passenger-??s side air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the instrument panel had been replaced, and that the warning light appeared soon after the replacement. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the contact was given an estimate for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V182000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.
According to what I read in the news, Honda Accords 2001-2003 should be recalled for airbag repair. I think Honda may have neglected to recall my car when it should have. I have attempted to ask Honda about this and they are non-responsive.
- Berkeley, CA, USA
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The contact owned a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 19V182000 (Air Bags) and 19V501000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list as the vehicle was totaled. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
My son is an approved seatbelt claimant in the Takata Bankruptcy class action suit. (#4842) He became a paraplegic when his 2003 Honda Accord rolled once after encountering a road surface change from asphalt to gravel. His seatbelt pre-tensor failed as did his airbags. His T-13 L-1 spinal cord injury is conducive to seat belt failure.. A bone spur from his vertebre broke off and went into his spinal cord. By the time our head cleared from the whole ordeal, we were one month out of the statue of limitations. (which is 2 years in the state of Colorado) Shortly thereafter we received a card in the mail informing us of the Takata class action suit. We were glad we still had an avenue for an injury claim. Fast forward 4+ years and we have recently found out that the 33 approved Takata seatbelt claimants have $1,140,000 to share amongst themselves. Some claimants lost loved ones from the faulty seatbelt sensors and seatbelt malfunctions. Based on this current fund amount, Lee will likely only receive between 20,000 to 40,000 for his injury. Very little for the inability to walk, go to the bathroom, loss of sexual function and having to deal with consistent nerve pain. I recently became aware of the ZF-TRW Class action complaint and realize the parameters of the nonfunctioning airbag and seatbelt pre-tensor fit the parameters of my sons accident. The Honda Accord 2014-2015 vehicles are listed as having problematic ZF-TRW parts. My sons 2003 Honda Accords ACU was replaced in January/February of 2015. I suspect that the part was replaced with the same ACU used in the new 2014-2015 Honda Accords. Takata seat belt class action suit settlement does not preclude anyone from collecting compensation for injury from another source. My son should have walked away from this accident.
The airbag light is on and has been over on since last year. The electrical system has issues and if the vehicle is left sitting for 2 days without any movement the car will die and you will be forced to jump the vehicle the battery has been replaced and so has the alternator. When In motion the vehicle will stall and the gears won-??t switch, the car is an automatic.
2003 Honda Accord. Consumer writes in regards to airbag inflator safety recall. The consumer stated there have been an excessive amount of recall repairs pertaining to the airbag.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the front passenger's side air bag erroneously deployed after driving over a pothole. During the failure, there was no occupant seated in the front passenger's seat. The contact indicated that the vehicle was recently repaired under an air bag recall. No further information was available. The local dealer cannon Honda located at 2057 N frontage rd, vicksburg, ms 39180 and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.
SRS warning light is on continuously. Independ shop says error code is for driver front seat belt latch sensor. Honda dealers says sensor is not part of lifetime warranty for seat belts, even though sensor is fully integrate with seat belt latch, and part of the vital safety system. Independent shop is reluctant to repair for liability and Honda dealer want huge payment for simple repair. It is unfair and unethical for dealer and manufacturer to not honor there printed warranty.
Car won't start even with the key in it. Didn't have this problem before, along with the airbag light is now on. Prior to bringing the car to Honda Accord dealer for the other recalls none of this was a problem. Now my car makes a sound while I'm driving like a rattle sound along with the airbag light being on. The other day I started the car and only the lights and everything else turns on but the car engine won't start. It's problem after problem now that I brought it to them for recall. The vehicle was only driven to work and back from the time I took it to them. Then I hen I tried to drive it again the car wouldn't start, and airbag light is on. I took it to them and they worked on 4 things according to the recall however more things seems to be the problem and they didn't do all that.
After taking car into crown southpoint Honda in durham, nc on Sept. 30 2019 for a recall on airbag and coupe pab inspection, now the air bag light is on. 17024. Now I'm being told I will be charged for the diagnostic and repair. This car was purchased in Sept. 2019 with 68,000 original miles, inspected at wasp automotive and has no mechanical or electric issues. So whatever the dealer did contributed to this problem.
My airbags were recalled twice, then the sensor. Now my transmission wen at 82,000 miles. When Honda disagnosed the car before fixing the passenger airbag sensor, the code $61.10 came up - my airbag light continually goes on and off. Honday refuses to fix the seatblet issue that is affecting the airbag light on driver's side. I already had five neck surgeries form my 1990 Lexus 250 ES the most dangerous of all airbags. Honda refuses to repair the seat beat that is affecting the airbag and airbag lights. Help
Have a faulty airbag inflator that was originally recalled by Honda, and Honda el cerrito ca, put the new remedy airbag inflator my Honda on 3/18/2016, Honda has again recalled my airbag inflator that was remedied to replace my precious manufactured inflator, I shared today that my airbag sensor dash indicator is turning on and off, my airbag system has been operated on by Honda el cerrito twice by recall on the same inflators, today will be the 3rd, Honda el cerrito was charging me to check my airbag system even though they are operating on a recall on my remdied inflator placed on 3/19/2019, my airbag system is not safe, Honda el cerrito didn't want to check my airbag system sensor to make sure it's not the recalled inflators affecting the airbag system
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving 25 mph during time on a road with no street lights, the contact collided with another vehicle that she did not view was on the roadway. The front passenger side of the vehicle was damaged. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. During the impact, the contact hit her head during the impact but did not receive any medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home and then towed away for inspection by the insurance company. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19V182000 (air bags) and called richfield bloomington Honda (501 w 77th St, richfield, mn 55423, 612-866-8832). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because the dealer was too busy. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 131,016.
While parking car at <2 mph driver front wheel hit curb. Drivers side seat ripped open but airbag did not deploy. Took vehicle to dealer and they claim car was in an accident and that deployment was normal, and not covered under any warranty. Suggested I contact american Honda and lodge a complaint, which I did and they claim this was not an airbag malfunction. If the seat ripped open but the airbag never deployed, how is this not a malfunction? (it is still neatly folded within the seat). Why did it go off when hitting a curb while parking at extremely low speed? this seems like an "airbag malfunction". I am concerned that this should be looked into and that it should be repaired by Honda not at my cost.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Syracuse, NY, USA