Transmission started slipping. Mechanic tried to fix a solenoid that was stuck open but didn't help. Had the entire transmission rebuilt. 3 visits later and a week and a half with no car -my car is drivable again. My mechanic didn't do a fabulous job as my car is now louder than it was but that may just be the mechanic. After hearing this is a consistent problem with 2003 Honda Accords I'm pretty upset and will think twice before purchasing another Honda which I had always planned to do since I love the car.

Transmission failed just after 100k miles.... would slip out of gear, and then violently downshift to 1st gear while driving 65+ on the highway. Not safe!! So....I called Honda of America and they were totally unhelpful - "You should expect to have to pay for some routine maintenance at that number of miles." So..... a transmission failing is routine?? "No, we didn't say that." And that was that. Their resolution included "we made note of your issues." Thanks..... great help, especially considering how many problems there have been. The dealer where I bought the Honda (Fairfax Honda) won't even return my calls/emails about the problem, since they don't want to deal with it. Honda of America sucks, and so do the dealerships. This was my 3rd Honda I've owned, and my last. Thanks for the crap customer service!

Transmission began acting up a few days ago. Had transmission service done right away, which we thought solved the problem, then a couple days later my girlfriend is driving the car and it starts jerking violently while she's on the freeway. Luckily she was able to pull over but things could have ended up much worse.

Will likely have to replace the transmission, and car doesn't even have 80K miles on it yet. It's a true safety hazard that Honda needs to address. You don't become the #2 worst car on this site for no reason...

Same story as everyone else here. The transmission failed in my 2003 V6 Accord with 109,000 miles, the Honda dealer wants $4,400 to repair it; they also say it needs two engine mounts which is another $900.

I've spent time on the phone with Honda customer service in hopes of a goodwill repair but without any success so far. This is frustrating, the reason I'm willing to pay more for a Honda is because I expect it to last forever.

My family and I have been loyal Honda owners for many years, every other Honda we've owned has lasted to at least 200,000 miles without any major problems. After this experience my next car will be a Toyota product...

less than 10,000 miles had accrued on this 32,000 + dollar auto received a auto trans recall took it to Honda of asheboro n.c. For recall they said recall was performed that the trans was just fine and did not exhibit any bluing of trans 2nd to 3rd gear cluster due to lack of proper lubrication! Honda assured my wife and I that the recall would completely and safely repair any problems with the autotrans .Appears that is not the case at all! We purchased this car in completely good faith and took their word that everything was just was normal.Since then the pcb radio, display had to be replace,also the brakes front and rear plus all 4 rotors had to be replace due to defected pads/ rotor noises, the windshield wiper motor had to have a recall performed on it, the power steering hose has had to have another recall performed, that to prevent possible fire, the key start assembly has had recall performed to prevent vehicle rollaway and or ignition key fall out during driving! When is enough Considered To more than enough? Do people's lives have to be wastefully lost before something is done ? HONDA OF AMERICA PLEASE RESPOND ASAP Sincerely Dana M. Everhart

Update from Nov 3, 2012: Transmission violently downshifted from 66 mph to low gear, almost wrecked car. Took to vann York Honda ,which they kept car for two weeks first claimed they could not duplicate failure,then service manager called me back said fluid was dirty and needed to change it, i granted this then he drove the vehicle for a couple of days and got the trans to slip, but could not determine what caused the trans to downshift, I made him sign the invoice and initial that his technicians and him could not verify complaint, he just recommended that the trans needed to be replaced at the cost of $4200+. Took vehicle to trans shop in high point nc completely, rebuilt trans and repaired all issues, which incuded re-bushing the case due to IMPROPER LUBRICATION which was first recall @ less than 8000 miles. THIS really pisses me Off!!!!!

Just 4,000 miles outside of the extended warranty the transmission fails. I called Honda dealer and they said they would not repair the vehicle. I called American Honda and explained the issues I had and they asked me to take the car to the dealership to have it repaired. Once I took the car to the dealer they asked me to pay $500.00 and they would put me a re-manufactured transmission into the vehicle and give me a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty with the vehicle. I was impressed and thought this was not a bad deal because they really didn't have to offer any type of repairs. I was okay with this decision and thought that Honda was willing to help repair their damaged reputation.

This is the second issue I have had with the transmission on my Accord. When I purchased this car, I thought I am purchasing a Honda so that I can get a vehicle that will last for 200,000 plus miles. I have 164,000 miles on this car only 60,000 miles on this transmission. I am at a point where I am not sure if I want to spend the money transmission number 3? Honda assisted with the first replacement and is not willing to offer any assistance with this replacement. You would think that with all the issues surrounding this model year accord, someone would have a better solution than just keep replacing or repairing the transmission. I informed Honda today that I have purchased my last Honda vehicle.

I am quite upset that a manufacturer like Honda isn't stepping up to take care of this problem. I have always admired the Japanese for building customer trust and reliability. I can't understand why after taking 20yrs to build a solid reputation, (that's what got me), would let the bottom fall out like this. It's common knowledge that Honda has had a problem with this particular vehicle, and reputation for not building a great automatic transmission. However, they make a great standard trans, snickety snick. The deal is this - I have to look at this car and drive it and wonder when it will strand me as with all the other complaints. The solution was to keep fresh fluid in this car way before the recall in 2004. The Acura that I had before this car was also a 3.0 V6 but only 200HP and a four speed auto instead of the five. Was quite shocked when less than 12,000 miles on my Acura, the transmission shuddered and slipped in and out of gear. Brought it to Acura dealer and was told by service manager that he wouldn't look at it unless I purchased the $149 Bilstein flush. I was so mad that I took the car home and changed it myself. This trans has no filter/drier, only a small magnet on drain bolt, which was loaded with metal (lint). After throwing some BG atf conditioner and 2qts. of Mercon3, I realized that this thing is doomed for failure. My Acura shifted perfect after that but I took note that this car only has about 2 and a half qts. of fluid, (big design flaw, as the fluid drives the car). When I bought my Accord, I made it a priority to change ATF every oil change, this 5speed is a much better transmission than the Acura's, when it comes to performance, shifting and mileage. While most people wouldn't realize how an ATF works, it's common sense to keep the fluid clean because the torque converter which uses the minute amount of fluid to drive the car, also degrades this fluid enough destroy the rest of the trans -valve body, seals and sensors. This is common knowledge, as Honda has just recently changed it's fluid for the newer models, going with a new synthetic, (more costly). Bottom line, change fluid at least every other oil change -30,000mi. Every time I change the ATF the fluid looks great (nice and red). No odor of burning, the car sh*ts beautifully for 70,000mi. There is no whine, (thickened contaminated fluid being squirted through the converter). The big question that I have and have been losing sleep over is this -Did all of the people that have had trans failure at 90,000mi. change the ATF as I have???

Out of the blue (no pun intended), the vehicle began to unpredictably shift abnormally into lower gear with not-normal loud clunking sound. Then vehicle would not shift higher past 2nd gear. Vehicle would behave as a bucking bull. First transmission was replaced at Amaco. It survived to the end of that warranty and quit again. 2nd transmission was replaced by a local service shop. It has passed it's warranty period with this one and is again, showing signs and symptoms of another potential failing transmission. Most of the signs and symptoms as others have posted have also transpired with my vehicle including the shifter knob falling off after the 2nd replacement. My family have owned other Honda makes and models with none having the mechanical problems as this one.

This was my 4th Honda. The transmission began to fail late last year. It started with rough shifting (up and down) and has gotten progressively worse. I had it checked out by a Honda technician, who did identify it as a transmission problem and suggested I would need a new transmission ($3000+ dollars). I spoke with a Honda dealer, who acknowledged that Honda knows it has a problem with this make/model/year (transmissions start to give out at around 85,000 miles), but said that Honda couldn't offer any assistance. I spoke with a Honda North America representative, and nothing was offered other than to suggest I have the car checked out by Honda, and I could deduct the cost of the diagnosis from the cost of whatever I had to have done. I am still able to drive the car, but I make sure I don't go too far from home. I feel luckier than two other people I know of with the same car - they had their transmissions completely fail all at once. Hondas have always had the reputation of being able to run for 200,000+ without any problem. My transmission should not have started to fail at 95,000 miles. I understand that sometimes, in some years, a car maker will release a car that ends up having a certain problem. I'm more disappointed in how Honda decided not to handle it. I'm shopping for another car now, and it definitely won't be a Honda.

MY COMPLAINT IS SIMPLY, ONE DAY THE CAR WAS WORKING FINE AND THE NEXT DAY WE HAD MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ( OUT OF THE BLUE). WITH NO INDICATION THAT THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. OF COURSE HONDA DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME BEING LAID OFF FROM MY JOB AND BEING OUT OF WORK FOR OVER 2 YEARS. I NEED AS MUCH HELP AS I CAN POSSIBLY RECEIVE FROM HONDA. PLEASE HELP. I ALSO NEED A NEW JOB BUT HONDA PROBABLY CAN'T HELP ME THERE. MY HONDA DEALERSHIP (HARDIN HONDA ANAHEIM,CA) TELLS ME THAT IT IS PAST THE WARRANTY AND THAT THEY CAN NOT HELP. HONDA AMERICA TELLS ME THE SAME THING. I HAVE KEPT UP TO DATE WITH THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE VEHICLE ONLY TO BE BLINDSIDED WITH THIS $2866 BOMB. PLEASE HELP.

THANK YOU

FRANK DEQUARDO