2003 Honda Accord Complaint Log

AFTER EXITING THE INTERSTATE AFTER A 3-HOUR DRIVE THE CAR VIOLENTLY DOWN SHIFTED TO THE POINT THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR ENDED ME. IT THEN HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEAR AND FINALLY LOCKING INTO SECOND GEAR. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO WHERE I WAS GOING THROUGH BUSY CITY STREETS. IT WAS NERVE WRACKING. IF THIS HAPPENS ON THE INTERSTATE... ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE GREEN LIGHT ON THE D INDICATOR OF THE SHIFTER STARTED TO BLINK ON AND OFF. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION COOLING DESIGN. *KB

PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, HEARD A LOUD "THUNK" AND THEN SOUNDS LIKE I AM DRAGGING SOMETHING. NOT ABLE TO ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION IN ANY DRIVE GEARS, REVERSE OR PARK. *TR

THIS STARTED AS A SLIGHT SLIP ON THE 2-3 SHIFT IN MY CAR. I HAVE NOW LOST 3RD GEAR. MY CAR HAS OBSERVED ALL RECALLS ON THE TRANSMISSION TO DATE, AND I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX DISPLAY LIGHT FOR THE AUDIO/HVAC WENT OUT. THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO SELECT THE DEFROST/AIR CONDITIONER/RADIO SETTINGS THAT YOU NEED, AND CAN CAUSE A REAL SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. HONDA REALIZES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEIR PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AS THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO 7 YRS/100,000 MILES. HOWEVER, IT IS OBVIOUSLY STILL A PROBLEM AFTER 100,000 MILES AS MINE HAS RECENTLY WENT OUT. THEY REFUSE TO PICK UP ANY OF THE BILL FOR THEIR FAULTY ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT BECAUSE MY CAR IS OVER THE ARBITRARY 100,000 MILES WHICH THEY CHOSE, EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PART. I FEEL THAT THIS IS UNFAIR AND THAT THEY SHOULD SHOW SOME RESPONSIBILTY AND STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *KB

2003 HONDA ACCORD V6, 95934 MILES; WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST AND THE FRONT TIRES LOCKED UP, TWICE!; DANGEROUS - THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE KILLED ME; CURRENTLY THE TRANSMISSION HAS NO REVERSE AND THE CAR IS UN-DRIVABLE; HONDA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE DUE TO ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THE SAME INCIDENT; LOOKS AS IF IT WILL COST $3500.00 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

TRANSMISSION ISSUE BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. BURNT ATF 1 WEEK AFTER REPLACEMENT. SERVICED AT 40K, 65K AND 92K MILES. *TR

MY RADIO/HVAC AREA THE LIGHTS TO DISPLAY THEM ARE OUT APPARENTLY IT WAS RECALLED BUT NOT FOR ALL VEHICLES THIS IS A SAFETYHAZARD FOR SURE BEING I CAN'T FIND MY DEFROST... THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE RECALL EXPIRED THIS YEAR AND IT EXPIRED JUST AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND A FEW MONTHS LATER THE MIDDLE CONSOLE WENT OUT!!! *TR

MY TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK THE MORNING OF NOV. 16TH WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. LUCKILY I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR BECAUSE THE RPM'S WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY REV BUT NOT GO ANY FURTHER. THEREFORE I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO PULL OVER IN FEAR OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PAST FEW DAYS HOW MANY OTHER 2003 HONDA ACCORD OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS AND THERE SHOULD REALLY BE A RECALL DONE BY HONDA. THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE GOING OUT AT 76,000 MILES. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF AROUND $3400. I HOPE TO RECOVER SOME OF THAT COST FROM HONDA BUT FURTHER ACTION NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO ENSURE MORE PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR YEAR VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS AS WELL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS FUEL SMELL IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE O-RINGS, FUEL INJECTOR AND VAPOR CANISTER BUT THE INTERIOR CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT THE FUEL SMELL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A SECOND MECHANIC FOR AN ANOTHER OPINION. THEY OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

I HAVE A 2003 ACCORD 4 DOOR EX WITH A V6 AND AUTOMATIC. I WAS DRIVING ALONG ON THE FREEWAY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO HAVE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND THEN RE-ENGAGED BACK INTO GEAR VIOLENTLY. THANKFULLY, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO LIMP OFF THE FREEWAY AND ONTO A PARKING LOT SAFELY. AFTER I CAME TO A STOP AT THE PARKING LOT, I NOTICED THE ENGINE SYMBOL ALONG WITH THE TCS AND ABS LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. AFTER THE STOP I HAD PUT THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL AND FOUND I HAD NO FORWARD OR REVERSE IN ANY SELECTOR POSITIONS AFTERWARD. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE CAR WAS OPERATING FINE WITH NO PRE- INDICATION OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR BACK INTO GEAR AND PROCEEDED SLOWLY ALONG CITY STREETS RETURNING HOME. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT ERRATICALLY IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND THEN FINALLY I WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR WITH NO UP SHIFTS. DTC P0747 WAS STORED. I REPLACED 9 QUARTS OF ATF-DW-1) AND A FILTER (FK399) BY MYSELF. HONDA SHOP SERVICE MANUAL GAVE PROCEDURE FOR AN OIL STRAINER (HONDA 25420-P7W-003), WHICH IS NOT ACCESSIBLE. A SMALL FILTER ELEMENT THAT CAN BE REPLACED WITHOUT DISASSEMBLY OF THE TRANSMISSION FOR ACCESS LISTED IN THE HONDA ILLUSTRATED PARTS BREAKDOWN AS ( 25450-RAY-003) AND IS AVAILABLE THROUGH HONDA OR AN AUTO PARTS STORE SUCH AS O'REILLY (FK399). I BELIEVE THAT THE CLEAN ATF HELPED FREE UP A STICKING CLUTCH PRESSURE SOLENOID VALVE WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE AND THE PCM ACTIVATES THE SOLENOID. *TR

SINCE JULY 2011 , MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD LX V6 EXPERIENCED SLUGGISH IN THE TRANSMISSION. SOMETIME, SUDDENLY, MY CAR FELT LIKE SOMEONE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES CAUSING ME TO JERKING FORWARD. IT HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES, THEN IN SEPTEMBER 2011, I BROUGHT THE CAR IN THE DEALER FOR THE TRANSMISSION SERVICE. I TOLD THE DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR ABOUT THE SYMPTOM, AFTER THE DEALER FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, THEN TOLD ME THAT THE CAR SOMETIME SLUGGISH, REPLACED THE FLUID WILL FIXED THIS.THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE, MORE NOISE, JERKING WHEN THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTING, IN NOVEMBER , THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ENGAGED, AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED.THE CAR WAS SLOW TO MOVE. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AGAIN ON 11/14/2011, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE CAR "NEEDS LINEAR SHIFT SOLENOID AND BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED, AND THE CAR CAN BE DRIVE !!! I DROVE THE CAR HOME, IT WAS SO BAD THAT I HAD TO LET THE CAR SIT WAITING FOR PARTS. ON 11/29/2011, THE DEALER REPLACED THE LINEAR SHIFT SOLENOID AND THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, THEN TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. GOT THE CAR HOME, THE NEXT DAY , I ONLY DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES, THE NOISE AND ALL THE SYMPTOMS CAME BACK. I HAD TO BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THIS TIME, THEY CONSULTED WITH THE HONDA COMPANY TECHNICAL SERVICE. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT HONDA TECHNICAL SERVICE DETERMINE THAT THE POWER TRAIN (TRANSMISSION) IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM; I NEED A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, AND IT COST $3900.00. CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO REGISTER A COMPLAIN ABOUT HONDA SERVICE. THIS DEFINITELY NEED A RECALL. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION PERIODICALLY FAILS TO SHIFT PROPERLY AND FAILED TO PROPEL THE CAR SUDDENLY ON THE INTERSTATE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT HIGH SPEED. WAS FORCED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A VERY UNSAFE MANNER. THIS TRANSMISSION IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND OF FAULTY MANUFACTURE AS A TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE 300K OR BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *KB

THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR A 2003 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN, V6 ENGINE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN PASSING A CAR ON A TWO LANE ROAD, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PASS THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AS IF IT HAD SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE RPMS SHOT UP TO REDLINE AND I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SPACE TO BACK OFF AND NARROWLY AVOIDED A HEAD-ON COLLISION. THE CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE REQUIRING TOWING. END RESULT WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT DUE TO FAILED OR DEFECTIVE PARTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS FAILURE WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY OR DEATH AND I BELIEVE WARRANTS A SAFETY INVESTIGATION. I HAVE SINCE READ OF NUMEROUS FAILURES JUST LIKE MINE. MY FAILURE WAS NOT FOR LACK OF MAINTENANCE. *TR

TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY, FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING IN GEARS HIGHER THAN 2, NEED TO LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO ASSIST CAR IN SHIFTING. *TR

MY CAR SEEMED TO DRIVE FINE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS COLD, BUT WHEN IT WARMED UP AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN-SHIFT VIOLENTLY INTO FIRST GEAR, REGARDLESS OF THE CURRENT SPEED.I COULD SMELL OF BURNT RUBBER IN THE CAR AFTER SUCH A FORCED DOWN-SHIFT. THIS SEEMED TO BE QUITE DANGEROUS. ONCE THIS HAPPENED, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL TO SHIFT INTO ANYTHING BUT FIRST GEAR. IT WOULDN'T GO PAST 20MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I TRIED CALLING THE HONDA CORPORATE AND DEALERSHIP THAT SAID THEY HAD THE OIL JET KIT LOOKED AT DURING THE RECALL OF 2004 BUT SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT SHOULDN'T DIE THIS QUICKLY. I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE HAD PROBLEMS, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING. I GUESS IT'S OK TO ALLOW HONDA COME INTO THIS COUNTRY, CHARGE WHAT THEY WANT AND KILL INNOCENT LIVES. IF THEY HAVE MADE A MISTAKE, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO COVER THEIR TRACKS, THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. IF YOU LOOK ONLINE, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MAKE (2003 HONDA ACCORD V6) BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. *TR

MY HONDA ACCORD 2003 HAS THE CLEAR COAT OF THE PAINT COMING OFF. THE LOCATIONS RIGHT NOW ARE THE HOOD AND THE ROOF OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN KEPT OUT OF THE SUN UNDER A CARPORT. I'VE READ WHERE SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE DEFECTIVE CLEAR COAT. I BELIEVE THAT HONDA SHOULD REPAINT MY CAR FOR FREE. *TR

CAR DOWN SHIFTED ABRUPTLY. PULLED OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD. WON'T GO INTO REVERSE. CAR GOES IN DRIVE BUT REVERSE WILL NOT ENGAGE. *TR

POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE HOSE FAILURE AND LEAK. *TT

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE RPM'S SHOT UP AND THEN IMMEDIATELY DROPPED AND THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED AND I HAD NO POWER TO THE WHEELS. I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR VERY SLOWLY BACK TO MY HOUSE AND I COULD NOT GET THE CAR UP TO THE SPEED LIMIT. I HAVE VERY LIMITED POWER TO THE WHEELS. VERY DANGEROUS IF I WAS ON DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AS IT FELT LIKE THE CAR ALSO DROPPED INTO LOW GEAR BY ITSELF. *TR

I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS SHIFTING GEARS AND IT SEEMED MY CAR COULDN'T SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. IT'S AN AUTOMATIC AND WHEN IT WOULD REACH 3RD GEAR, THE ENGINE WOULD JUST REV. IT WOULD DRIVE FINE AT FIRST BUT AS SOON AS THE CAR WARMED UP, IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. I HAD TO HAVE MY BATTERY REPLACED PREMATURELY (AFTER 3 YEARS) LAST WEEK AND I MENTIONED THE GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEM TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP. THE GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEM HAPPENED RIGHT AROUND THE SAME TIME MY BATTERY DIED SO I THOUGHT IT MAY BE RELATED. THEY TOLD ME THE GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEM WOULD BE FIXED WHEN I REPLACED MY BATTERY. THEY PAID FOR 60% OF THE COST OF THE BATTERY. OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE TO WHERE I COULDN'T EVEN DRIVE AND I HAD TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND THE CAR WOULD JERK. IT SEEMED TO BE DANGEROUS. I THEN SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. I WASN'T EVEN ABLE TO REVERSE AT ALL - LIKE IT HAD NO REVERSE, JUST REV. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE A 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX V6 WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES - RIGHT AROUND 97K - AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR MOUNT. A REBUILT TRANSMISSION IS $4500 AND A NEW TRANSMISSION IS $6400. I BOUGHT A HONDA BECAUSE IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A RELIABLE CAR THAT WOULD LAST YEARS WITHOUT EXPENSIVE MAINTENANCE REPAIRS. AND NOW IT'S LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD AND 100K MILES ON IT AND I HAVE A HUGE REPAIR. IT SEEMS MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE 2003 HONDA ACCORD. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON THE HONDA ACCORD V-6 WENT OUT AT 115,000 MILES. THE CAR HAD BEEN SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR AND WAS CAUSING PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING THAT MADE IT VERY UNSAFE. WE WERE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT FOR FEAR OF IT NOT RUNNING AS WE ACCELERATED. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD V6 VIOLENTLY DOWNSHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT AND ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. I HAD MY 18 MONTH OLD SON IN THE BACK SEAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND ANOTHER VEHICLE NARROWLY MISSED COLLIDING WITH THE REAR OF MY CAR. LUCKILY I WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY YET OR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TRULY CATASTROPHIC. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP BEFORE SOME IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE. *TR

MY TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING TODAY. DRIVING ACROSS THE HWY THE CAR SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED VIOLENTLY. AFTER THAT, THE CAR WOULD SKIP GEARS AND DOWNSHIFT AT WILL. I DROVE HOME WITH THE CAR STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. THE CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC. *TR

SAME PROBLEM AS EVERYONE ELSE VIBRATION AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MILES AN HOUR. CAR ROUGHLY CHANGES GEARS AT WEIRD TIMES HAS ALMOST CAUSED A FEW ACCIDENTS. I BOUGHT CAR THIS YEAR FROM HONDA DEALER WHEN WE NOTICED IT WE TOOK IT BACK DEALER COULDN'T FEEL ANYTHING. THE LONGER I WAIT THE WORSE IT'S GETTING I'M SCARED I'M GONNA GET HIT. *TR

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

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED DOWN TO FIRST GEAR, RESULTING IN MY CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATING TO A SPEED OF 20 MPH. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO NOT BE REAR ENDED AND HAVE SINCE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I KNOW THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR HONDA, HOWEVER I DID GO THROUGH THE ORIGINAL PROCESS OF THE MANUFACTURER RECALL. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS MODEL AND IT SEEMS IT IS A PREVALENT PROBLEM. HONDA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPPED IN CENTER RIGHT LANE OF FOUR LANE TRAFFIC ON I-80 JUST SOUTH OF CHICAGO. AFTER IT SLIPPED, IT DOWN SHIFTED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE SUDDENLY. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A TRACTOR TRAILER. THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL 5 DAYS LATER WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AS SHE ACCELERATED ONTO I-265 IN CLARK COUNTY INDIANA. IT THEN QUIT COMPLETELY STRANDING HER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN HEAVY EVENING TRAFFIC MOVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS FAILURE AND IS HAPPENING TOO OFTEN. *TT

TRANSMISSION FAILED GOING OVER BAY BRIDGE INTO SAN FRANCISCO. NO WARNING AND NO WAY TO ENGAGE ANY GEAR. NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE FOR ENTIRE FAMILY. *TR

TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. THIS IS SIMILAR TO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS MAKE AND YEAR VEHICLE. HONDA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF MAKING SUCH GARBAGE AND NOT STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER HONDA VEHICLE EVER AGAIN. I URGE OTHERS TO TAKE THE SAME STANCE SO HONDA LEARNS THEIR LESSON. *TR

AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES,TRANSMISSION FAILED. HONDA USA WAS CALLED AND THEY PAID FOR REPAIR. NOW AT 116627 MILES TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. *TR

IN 2008 THE TRANSMISSION FROZE UP ON THE FREEWAY WHILE GOING 65MPH. 3 YEARS AFTER HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION GOES OUT AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. SEEMS TO BE A BAD DESIGN WITH THE HONDA ACCORD 03 V6 TRANSMISSIONS. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN '04, BUT NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I EXPERIENCED A SLUGGISH JOLT. THE RPM'S REVED UP AND THE CAR WAS HAVING TROUBLE SWITCHING FROM 2ND-3RD GEAR. MY MECHANIC AND A TRANSMISSION EXPERT STATED THE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND NOT WORTH REPAIRING BASED ON SEVERAL SAME YEAR MAKE/MODELS HE HAS ENCOUNTERED. THIS ALONG WITH THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED WILL COST ME APPROXIMATELY $5000.00 MY COMPLAINT IS AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON-LINE I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF HONDA 2003 ACCORD OWNERS WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE, SOME OF THEM MOVE SEVERE. HONDA DID A PATCH JOB RECALL THE SUMMER OF 2004, BUT CLEARLY THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AS I NOW HAVE THE SAME ISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL. WHY ISN'T HONDA TAKING RESPONSIBILTY? *TR

TRANSMISSION CLUNKS LOUDLY INTO GEAR, THEN SLIPS WHEN IT WARMS UP. FLUID HAS A BURNT SMELL DESPITE BEING FLUSHED AT REGULAR INTERVALS SINCE NEW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD V6. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH AN ABNORMAL FLUCTUATION IN ENGINE RPMS. THE CONTACT SLOWLY DROVE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 95,000. UPDATED 11/23/11 *BF

INTERMITTENTLY THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON WHEN STARTING CAR AND REMAINS ON. MAY STAY OFF FOR A MONTH OR JUST A FEW DAYS AND THEN IT GOES ON AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE SEAT BELT LATCH WHICH IS THE ONLY PART COVERED UNDER LIFETIME WARRANTY. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS HAPPENED TO A CLOSE ACQUAINTANCE WITH SAME MAKE, MODEL, & YEAR VEHICLE (PURCHASED IN SAME STATE BUT DIFFERENT DEALER). TOO COINCIDENTAL THAT IT IS NOT A LARGER PROBLEM. *TR

2003 HONDA ACCORD V6 TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT FORTUNATELY THIS WAS ON A ROAD WITH A SLOWER SPEED LIMIT. 3 OUT OF 4 ENGINE MOUNTS ARE BROKEN. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR 8 MONTHS AND THE ESTIMATED REPAIR IS $6000. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL WEBSITES AND FORUMS WHERE THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR 2003 AND 2004 TRANSMISSIONS ON THE ACCORD. MOST DRIVERS JUST STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY/ROAD THEY WERE TRAVELING ON AND THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. HOW CAN THESE CARS CONTINUE TO BE SOLD WHERE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED BUT TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V169000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

HONDA SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WAS "ALMOST KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY" DRIVING MY CAR: FIRST INCIDENT: 9/19/2011 (MON EVENING) CAR LURCHING IRREGULARLY AT HIGHWAY AND TOWN SPEEDS; DIFFICULTY GETTING INTO GEAR AND TROUBLE REVERSING. TOOK IT TO DEALER THAT NIGHT. 9/20/2011 (TUES): DEALER REPORTED NOT BEING ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM. NOTHING CAME UP ON DIAGNOSTICS. NO SERVICE LIGHT WAS ON. DEALER ASKED TO KEEP IT ONE MORE DAY. 9/21/2011 (WED): DEALER STILL UNABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM, THEY DROVE IT AROUND BUT CLAIMED NOTHING UNUSUAL. SERVICE MANAGER ASKED IF HE COULD DRIVE IT HOME. I OK'D. EMPLOYER ANNOYED. SECOND INCIDENT: THAT NIGHT THE SERVICE MANAGER, DROVE IT HOME, BECAUSE IT WASN'T ACTING UP AT THE GARAGE, AND DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED NOTHING. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. HE, [XXX], SAID HE "ALMOST WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD ON THE HIGHWAY" ON HIS WAY HOME. HE SAID REPEATEDLY THAT HE WAS ALMOST KILLED. THAT'S RIGHT THE HONDA SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE ALMOST WAS KILLED!!! WHICH IS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME OR ANY OTHER HONDA ACCORD OWNER. IF THIS HAPPENED IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, I'D BE DEAD IN A DITCH (IT'S NEW ENGLAND SO THOSE DAYS ARE COMING). THE CAR LURCHED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND AT LOW SPEEDS. IT LURCHED SPEEDING UP AND SLOWING DOWN. IF I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND JUST APPLIED SOME GAS TO THE PEDAL, THE TACHOMETER (RPM) NEEDLE JUMPED AROUND ALL OVER THE PLACE. ONLY UNTIL THE SERVICE MANAGER GOT IT BACK TO THE SERVICE GARAGE (9/22) DID ANY SERVICE LIGHTS COME ON. HOW CONVENIENT. THEIR PROPOSED SOLUTION: STEP ONE: REPLACE TRANSMISSION FLUID (MATERIAL, PARTS, LABOR) = $120 STEP TWO: REPLACE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID (PARTS LABOR, ETC) = $500 FAILING THAT: STEP THREE: REPLACE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. EST. COST: $4300 TOTAL POTENTIAL COST: APPROX $5.000.... OR MY LIFE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL IS IN ORDER AND ASAP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WE NOTICED HESITATION IN SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. IT SEEMED AS IF IT WOULD SLIP INTO NEUTRAL. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5-10 SECONDS IT WOULD SHIFT INTO THIRD. THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHECKED AND FLUSHED IN EARLY 2011. THIS CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO INDUSTRY STANDARDS. AFTER DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM WITH VARIOUS MECHANICS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIRD GEAR WAS GOING OUT. DRIVING TO REPAIR LOCATION THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CAR WENT FROM 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY TO STUCK IN SECOND GEAR AFTER THE ENGINE WARMED UP. THIS CAR WAS PART OF THE RECALL IN THE SUMMER OF 2004 AND THE REPAIR WAS MADE. HOWEVER, AFTER RESEARCHING THE HONDA 2003, IT APPEARS AS IF THIS IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM AND HONDA IS AWARE OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION YET DOES NOT ASSIST IN THE COST OF REPAIR. *TT

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2003 HONDA ACCORD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. . SHE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND A FEW MINUTES LATER TURNED IT BACK ON. IT WENT FOR A SHORT DISTANCE AND DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. IT TOOK HER THREE HRS. TO GET HOME FROM WORK. WHEN THE CAR VIOLENTLY STOPPED SHE WAS ALMOST HIT BY A TRUCK WHO WAS BEHIND HER. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. I FEEL HONDA IS RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AFTER READING THE THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION. RECALLS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AND THE TRANNY FIXED BEFORE THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. HONDA NEW THE PROBLEM AND FAILED TO RECALL THESE CARS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 V6 HONDA ACCORD COUPE (AUTOMATIC) THE TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY JERKED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE FORWARD AND DOWNSHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR. THIS OCCURRED DURING RUSH HOUR AND ALMOST CAUSED THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO REAR-END MY VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED ON MY FLASHERS AND MADE MY WAY TO A PARKING LOT. I LEFT THE VEHICLE THERE OVERNIGHT AND HAD IT TOWED TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PROPERLY DURING THEIR TESTS AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

ACCORDING TO NEW YORK TIMES RECENT REPORT, THE NEWER HONDA ACCORD OR ACURA TL HAS THE PROBLEM WITH EBD (ELECTRONIC BRAKE DISTRIBUTION) WHEN WORKING WITH ITS ABS, THE PROBLEM IS EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD WEAR. THEY WERE RECALLED. BUT I BELIEVE THE OLDER HONDA ACCORD LIKE MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD LX V6 ALSO SUFFERED FROM THE SIMILAR PROBLEM, MY MODEL ACCORD HAS THE EBD AND ABS, IT FIRST WAS FOUND THE REAR BRAKE PAD COMPLETELY GONE AT 52K MILES ON JUNE OF 2008 WHILE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE STILL IN THE GOOD CONDITION. IT FURTHER SUFFERED FROM THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER (DRIVER-SIDE) FAILURE AT AROUND 80K MILES. SO MY VINTAGE OF HONDA ACCORD SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO INVESTIGATE AND POSSIBLE RECALL AS WELL. *TR

HEADLIGHT LENSES FOGGING UP AND DIMINISHED LIGHTING DUE TO POOR QUALITY MATERIAL OF LENS CHOSEN BY MANUFACTURER AND APPROVEDBY WHOMEVER. THERE ARE MANY BRAND AUTOS EFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION AND NOW THERE ARE KITS AND SHOPS TO POLISH OUT THE LENSES AT OWNER EXPENSE. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL MAINTENANCE TYPE ITEM AND SHOULD BE BENEFITED A RECALL . AUTO MANUFACTURERS SHOULD ALSO BE ADVISED THAT THEIR CHOICE OF A CHEAPER MATERIAL HAS PLACED NUMEROUS AUTOS ON THE ROAD WITH A LITETIME SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVER VISUAL IMPAIRMENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD, ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OF SHIFT FROM SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SECOND GEAR HAD BURNED AND AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT LOCKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR WITHOUT INTENT AND BEGAN TO LOCK WHICH RESULTED IN NO POWER DURING ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESUMED NORMALLY AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED FOR NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REMEDY REPAIR AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TR

COMING BACK FROM THE AIRPORT, GOING HOME ON BELT PARKWAY, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY OUT OF A SUDDEN, WITHOUT GIVING ANY HINTS BEFORE, TOTALLY UNEXPECTED. IT DIDN'T GO TO THE 2ND GEAR, STUCK IN 30MPH. AFTER ANXIOUSLY DROVE BACK HOME TREMBLING, FOUND THE REVERSE DID NOT WORK EITHER. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AGAIN TO GAIN BACK THE FUNCTION OF REVERSE. AFTER RESEARCH THE ON THE WEB, AND READ THROUGH SO MANY COMMENTS OF HONDA ACCORD 2003 OWNER, THIS SEEMS VERY MUCH RELATED TO THE HONDA ACCORD RECALL INCIDENT IN 2004. IT IS BELIEVED HONDA DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY BACK IN 2004. IT WAS A TEMPORARY FIX TRICK, AND RIGHT NOW MANY OF THE HONDA ACCORD 2003 OWNERS ARE SUFFERING FROM HONDA'S FAILURE TO FIX ITS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TR

SECOND OWNER OF THE 2003 HONDA ACCORD V6, BOUGHT IT ON 2009 FIRST FOUND OUT THIS ISSUE AFTER TAKING MY BROTHER TO JFK AIRPORT AND ON MY WAY BACK HOME, SOME WEIRDO SOUNDS CLUNKING WHILE CAR STOPPED ON TRAFFIC AND ACCELERATE ONWARD.(LUCKY DIDN'T GET SELF AND MY WIFE KILLED/CRASHED) TOOK THE CAR TO AUTO REPAIR AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S TRANSMISSION FAILURE, DASHBOARD IS BLINKING AS WELL. TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR. SHIFTS ROUGHLY. WON'T GO INTO GEAR. DRIVE INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHING ON DASH. HIGH PITCHED WHINING NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION. CLUNKING INTO GEAR. SHIFTS VIOLENTLY AT LOW SPEED AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING. NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTING WAS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,500. UPDATED 11/07/11 *BF UPDATED 05/10/12

AT AROUND 107,000 MILES, I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION LEAKING FLUID VERY RAPIDLY. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT END OF THE CAR STARTED VIBRATING VIOLENTLY BETWEEN 50MPH AND 60MPH. *KB