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.
7.8
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$470
Average Mileage:
73,350 miles
Total Complaints:
21 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (8 reports)
this problems needs to be added to honda's recall list! (6 reports)
replace the window motor (4 reports)
replace the wiper motor (2 reports)
roll down passenger window to release the vacuum (1 reports)
I have had window motor or regulator problems for years but only in the winter. In the summer it winds up just fine. But in the winter when it is snowing and cold, I freeze. Sometimes I forget and roll down my window and then it becomes very annoying. I have to pull over, grab the window if I can and help it up. Sometimes I am successful and other times I'm not.
Both window regulators broke. It started with the windows clunking and getting stuck. Then finally the windows completely broke. They wouldn't roll down. It was as if the motor had died. I'd push the window button and nothing would happen. I took it to a mechanic who charged me a few hundred dollars to change the motors. That didn't work. So the mechanic changed the motor again, and that didn't work. (And no, I did not get refunded). I then took it to the dealer who gave me a proper diagnosis (broken window regulator (not motor)) and the dealer tried to charge me a fee for this diagnosis. I threw a fit w/ the manager, and convinced them not to charge me this diagnostic fee. They wanted to charge me something outrageous to replace the regulators. I said NO WAY. So I am still driving around w/ windows that won't roll down. It's been since 2006 that my drivers window hasn't rolled down, and a little less than that since the passenger window has rolled down. I called Honda headquarters and tried to get help. I took it as far as I could, but they said NO WAY. It was past the warranty, past 36k miles, past 3 years. She was rude too (at Honda headquarters). She told me I could complain to my attorney general. How stupid is that. Shouldn't our attorney general be busy fighting crime and fraud? Honda should recall these regulators!! I'm selling my Honda Accord ASAP, before the transmission goes out.
My window motor went down and did not go back up. The dealer quoted me $400.00 and I found someone nearby to do it for around $300.00. Unfortunatley, a year later, the motor has gone back out.
Passenger side window motored down just fine...but WILL NOT COME BACK UP without grabbing the edge of the glass and 'helping' it.
I dropped the window to get the attention of the driver that pulled out ahead of me at the gas station and tell him that his gas cap cover was hanging open.
Since it was freezing outside and raining, it was the biggest pain you can imagine to suddenly realize that pulling back 'up' on the window switch was having no effect.
The window was NOT going to go back up.
Honda window motor apparently has become too weak over time, or something in their window design is subject to getting too difficult for the motor to overcome.
Once home, freezing, with a wet interior, I put on gloves and a better rain coat and went back outside to get the key on, hold the button up, while simultaneously trying to grab, pry, and pull the edge of the glass barely reachable in the door.
After several fractions of an inch budges, I was finally able to grasp enough glass and pull hard enough that I could 'help' the motor get the window up and closed.
Honda will not fix this, they say it is not a recall issue and the warranty expired for this kind of 'routine mechanical failure' long ago, and the dealer wants waaaaay too much to 'diagnose and repair' than I have available to spend on it.
In fact, the 'diagnose' process will apparently cost more than my trip to the local junkyard for a used one once the weather warms up. Till then, I just have to remember NOT to allow anyone to use it.
New ones are now fairly cheap as well, so I may just shop here :
http://www.nextag.com/2003-honda-accord-passenger-window-motor/shop-html
And pick one up as a garage-project that way.
Contact Honda American Motors. The numbers will be in your owners manuel. Get the fax number from the person you talk to then write a letter to Honda. They will not give you any telephone numbers or email addresses. Everything is done by fax.
They may be willing to help.Ii am now on my 4th motor(s) in each window. then the main "something, blah blah blah" went out. It sent smoke pouring into my car. That cost another $480.00...Honda needs to add a recall on this as well as theirr transmission problems. Oh, did I mention I had my transmission replaced to? They paid 90% and I paid 10% on that replacement.
There was a recall on the windshield motor and i had it done but obviously Honda didn't fix it correctly and would not fix it a second time, and of course it quit working when i was driving on interstate and it started raining, very interesting trip.
It all started one day when it was raining I noticed that after I had let my window down at a drive thru window, it would not come back up. After having pressing the button several times it finally did come back up. After then, it just stopped working. If I tried to let it down it smelled like (wires) were burning. Now the passenger window is doing the same thing!! After speaking to a coworker, (who owns the exact same year & model as I) I learned that she is having the same problem. I believe that Honda needs to add this problem to their recall list!! I am pretty sure there are several other people who have experienced the same problem & Honda needs to be the one who fixes this!!!!
I purchased this car in 2003 from Rick Case in Weston, FL and have had nothing but problems with this car. (See all my additional problems with this vehicle)
When I first purchased my Honda Accord I had problems with a leak emanating from the passenger side dash board area. I took the vehicle to the worst "Sloane" Honda dealer where I had purchased the vehicle. I was told that some big person sat on the passenger side and pinched the hose with their big feet. I laughed and at the same time was annoyed because I was a female they thought I was a dumb ass. They allegedly fixed the problem. I then had problems with my sun roof which was not operating correctly; again I was told they was no problem. Somehow it fixed itself. I am now having problems with the left side window which does not roll down. Is this a common problem?
So I am driving home the other day and went to roll down my window. I hear this click and my window goes flying down. I try to roll it back up and the switch has no restraint or tension, it is just there. Now if I touch it in the slightest it rolls all the way down or all the way up...nothing in between. UGH!! What else can go wrong.
unless you have the window visor on the car doors...........Whenever there is frost or it just finishes raining the mildew or rain just runs up the crack of the door then drips directly down into the power window control button! you cant roll down the window unless you release the vacuum pressure built up after closing the door!
my wiper blades just quit, it is raining now and i have been without my car for 2 1/2 days. the mechanic called the Honda dealership for the motor that needed replacing and was told they had to order it. they also said they had sold 12 this year, when he called local salvage yards, he found three 2003 Honda accords, all of them had already had the wiper motors removed. this seems to be a reoccurring problem with this car. am wondering if a recall is necessary since so many happened in just my little town. believe me, losing your windshield wipers during a storm can cause an accident.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I have had window motor or regulator problems for years but only in the winter. In the summer it winds up just fine. But in the winter when it is snowing and cold, I freeze. Sometimes I forget and roll down my window and then it becomes very annoying. I have to pull over, grab the window if I can and help it up. Sometimes I am successful and other times I'm not.
- Jim T., Burton, New Brunswick, Canada