2003 Honda Accord Complaint Log

TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. ODOMETER AT 113,730. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A HONDA DEALER. DEALER ADVISED A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. HONDA PROVIDED A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION, I WAS CHARGED FOR LABOR ($749). *TR

TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, ENGINE WOULD REV OVER 5 RPMS. HONDA REPLACED WITH REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 12 MONTH/12,000 MILE WARRANTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AND TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WITH CHEST PAIN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 96,000. UPDATED 09/23/08 *BF UPDATED 09/25/08. *JB

THE IGNITION SWITCH HEATS UP UNUSUALLY AFTER IT IS TAKEN OUT OF THE CAR DRIVEN FOR 15 MILES OR SO. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK HONDA FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS TO NOTIFY HIM OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V169000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER: MOTOR). IN THE INTERIM, HIS DAUGHTER WAS CAUGHT IN A RAINSTORM WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,500. UPDATED 10/20/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/20/08. *JB

YESTERDAY, I HAD NOTICED A COUPLE OF ROUGH SHIFT CHANGES EARLIER IN THE DAY. LATER, THAT AFTERNOON, THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND BACK AGAIN, BUT FINALLY IT SLIPPED INTO GEAR. I CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, WHICH WAS FINE. THAT EVENING, I GOT BACK ON THE ROAD AND ENTERED THE FREEWAY, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ENOUGH TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC. THE RPMS WERE HIGH, BUT COULD NOT GET MUCH ABOVE 40MPH WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO 65MPH. VERY DANGEROUS, AS FREEWAY TRAFFIC WAS BARRELING DOWN ON ME -- I USED THE HAZARD LIGHT TO GET TO THE FIRST AVAILABLE EXIT. AS THE CAR SLOWED DOWN FURTHER, IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED MOVING ALTOGETHER AS I ENTERED A PARKING LOT NEXT TO THE FREEWAY. I WAS NEVER ABLE TO GET IT BACK INTO GEAR AT THAT POINT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. RECEIVED A QUOTE OF $3500 MY REGULAR DEALERSHIP, WHICH HONDA REQUIRES FOR ANY POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION OF LIABILITY, AND WILL TAKE 5 DAYS. OPENED CASE #N012009-08-0500964 WITH HONDA OF AMERICA. WAITING FOR A RETURN CALL, WHICH CAN TAKE 2 DAYS. ON STANDBY TO SEE IF A DIFFERENT DEALER CAN OFFER A BETTER PRICE. MY REGULAR DEALER IS OUTSIDE MY TOW MILEAGE RANGE, SO TRYING TO MITIGATE EXPENSES. *TR

2003 HONDA ACCORD V6 WITH 83,000 MILES .TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MANY CASES OF THE SAME PROBLEM IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL. HONDA USA NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND RECALL THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT AFTER REPAIRS THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THERE WAS A FIFTEEN SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESPOND. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH AN OLDER TRANSMISSION. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT HEARD LOUD NOISES COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). FOUR YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN AT THE COST OF $2,376. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,999 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,010.

BEGINNING AT 16,999 MILES IN 2004, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEARS OF THE 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.. THE AUTO WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL HONDA DEALER, SINCE THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION RECALL INVOLVING THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM (NHTSA 04V176000). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE CONDITION, SAID THERE WAS NO DAMAGE, AND INSTALLED A TRANSMISSION OIL KIT. OVER THE YEARS, THE CONDITION WORSENED BUT THE HONDA NETWORK MERELY SAID THEY HAD TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM DURING THE RECALL VISIT. LESS THAN 4 YEARS LATER, AT 61,010 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS DONE BY AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, SINCE HONDA WOULDN'T ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR A NO-CHARGE REPLACEMENT. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH HONDA AMERICA BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. HONDA REFUSED TO PAY ANY PART OF THE COST OF THE TRANSMISSION REBUILD (HONDA AMERICA CASE #N012008-07-0900349 7/9/08). THE CASE WAS APPEALED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, AND IT WAS ALSO TURNED DOWN, HONDA CONTINUING TO ALLEGE THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS DUE TO MY USE OF "UNAPPROVED SERVICES", E.G., 2 TRANSMISSION FLUSHES DONE AT 37,000 AND 60,000 MILES, RESPECTIVELY, USING BG SYSTEMS, INC. PROCESSES AND APPROVED HONDA TRANSMISSION FLUIDS. HONDA CLAIMED THESE SERVICES "DAMAGED" THE TRANSMISSION, A STATEMENT THAT AUTO TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS HAVE SAID WAS "INSULTING" AND "COMPLETELY FALSE". HONDA RECOMMENDS THE FIRST TRANSMISSION FLUSH BE DONE AT 60,000. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT AN INTERNET SEARCH ON " 2003 HONDA ACCORD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS" TURNS UP HUNDREDS OF ITEMS, INCLUDING A VIDEO OF THE SLIPPING TRANSMISSION FOR THIS VERY MAKE AND MODEL. I BELIEVE HONDA ALLOWED AN ORIGINALLY DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO STAY IN THIS VEHICLE, ALLOWING IT TO BE DRIVEN FOR 44,000 MILES IN A BASICALLY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS CONDITION. HAD THE ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE NOT BEEN DONE BY ME, THE FAILURE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE OCCURRED YEARS EARLIER. HONDA MUST PAY $1376 TO MAKE THIS MATTER RIGHT. *TR

THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED SINCE 2008, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID. THE ISSUE PERIODICALLY OCCURS, BUT DOES CAUSE ME TO STARTLE WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING AND PRESSING THE ON AND BUTTON ON THE CONTROL PANEL DID NOT WORK AS USUAL. I HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF TO STOP THE ISSUE. I SURFED THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT WAS THERE ANYONE ELSE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND BEHOLD IT HAPPENED EXACTLY AS THE PERSON MENTIONED. SO, READ BELOW: RADIO STATIC NOISE ON 2003 ACCORD FORUMSTODAY'S POSTSLOG INREGISTER HOME/AUDIO/VISUAL ELECTRONICS RADIO STATIC NOISE ON 2003 ACCORD #1 12-19-2011 12:46 PM BY[XXX] C HELLO, I GOT HEADACHE PROBLEM WITH RADIO ON MY 2003 ACCORD. ACTUALLY SINCE 2008, SOMETIMES RADIO DISPLAY IS BLANK IN THE BEGINNING WHEN CAR STARTS UP. IT USUALLY RESUMES NORMAL IN 1 - 2 MINS. SOMETIMES RADIO STATION INFO SHOW UP BUT NO SOUND. IF TRYING TO TURN OFF/ON A COUPLE OF TIME, IT CAN GET IT WORKING. RECENTLY I AM GETTING STATIC NOISE OCCASIONAL COMING OUT FROM SPEAKERS IN THE BEGINNING WHEN CAR STARTS UP. IT LASTS 10 - 20 SECONDS THEN COMPLETELY GONE. YESTERDAY IT SCARED ME AS THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE A BIG LIGHTNING STRIKES AFTER I STARTS UP CAR. IT LASTS 20 - 30 SECONDS, THEN RADIO GETS NORMAL IN MINUTES AS USUAL. THE SUDDEN NOISE TAKES YOU BY SURPRISE WHEN DRIVING AND CAUSES PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL RESPONSES. SO, IT APPEARS THERE WAS SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE RADIO WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO ANY GEAR. THE GEAR DID NOT NEED TO BE PLACED INTO PARK. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000. UPDATED 09/25/08 *BF UPDATED 09/26/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-35 MPH, THE RPM'S INCREASED AND THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AT A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE FIRST AND SECOND SHIFTS, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE CHECKED FOR THAT RECALL, BUT THERE NO DEFECTS AT THAT TIME. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR LEFT DOOR HANDLE CHROME PLATING IS PEELING OFF. PLATING IS VERY SHARP AND CAUSED A DEEP GASH ON FINGER OF PASSENGER WHILE OPENING DOOR. WAS INFORMED WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION OF SLIP AND DOWN SHIFT WHILE DRIVING. RADICALLY CHANGING SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THE DOWNSHIFT OR SLIPPAGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE SRS INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DOES NOT SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT HAS NOT NOTIFIED A DEALER OR REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,700.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH THE CONTROL CIRCUIT. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE WARRANTY DUE TO EXCESSIVE MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

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 $3800.00. 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. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE RUST SPOTS ON THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX COMES ON AT RANDOM TIMES. I WILL TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART AND THE WARNING LIGHT WILL GO OFF. IT MAY BE A FEW DAYS OR A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TRANSMISSION IS NOT CATCHING GOING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. WHEN IT DOES FINALLY SHIFT IT JERKS HARD. DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME THOUGH. DEALER CANT GET IT TO DO IT. 2 WEEKS AFTER MY PASSENGER SEAT HEATER LIGHT WENT OUT, I ONLY DROVE MY CAR 6 MILES; I TOOK MY KEY OUT, AND IT WAS BURNING HOT. I TOUCHED THE IGNITION AND IT TOO WAS BURNING HOT. IT DID IT 2 OTHER TIMES. I WENT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT DAY AND COULDN'T GET IT TO GET AS HOT AS IT WAS WITH ME. THEY SAID IT WAS "NORMAL."I ONLY HAVE 58,000MILES. *TR

THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AT LEAST 6 DIFFERENT TIMES REQUIRING A VISIT TO THE DEALER EACH TIME. IN EACH CASE THE PROBLEM RECURRED WITHIN A FEW WEEKS TO A FEW MONTHS FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. NO COLLISIONS WERE EVER INVOLVED. NO BAGS EVER DEPLOYED PREMATURELY. EACH TIME WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE HONDA DEALER. THE FIRST TIME THEY CLEARED THE DTC CODE AND TEST DROVE IT. THAT WAS $90.00 PLUS TAX. THE LIGHT DID NOT COME BACK ON AGAIN FOR SOME WEEKS LATER. WE TOOK THE CAR BACK AGAIN ON 11/14/2008 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE DRIVER SEAT BELT AT NO CHARGE UNDER WARRANTY. A MONTH LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND WE TOOK THE CAR BACK IN ON 12/12/2008. THEY CLEARED THE CODE FOR ANOTHER $90.00 PLUS TAX. BACK AGAIN ON 12/03/2009; SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME THE BLAMED IT ON A SEAT BELT TENSIONER AND REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. BACK AGAIN ON 5/31/2010. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BUCKLE AGAIN UNDER WARRANTY. AND FINALLY BACK AGAIN ON 6/20/2011, THIS TIME NOT ONLY HAVING THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAY THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF OVER $4000 PLUS TAX. I'VE FILED A SEPARATE COMPLAINT FOR THAT. I SEE ONLINE THAT THERE ARE A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SRS LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS. I SEE THAT THE SRS AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE. WE ARE NO LONGER DRIVING IT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE ASAP.

I OWN A 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX AND JUST LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE INTERSTATE IN TAMPA WHEN IT BEGAN RAINING HEAVILY. I TURNED ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BUT THEY DID NOT WORK AND I ALMOST REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND WAIT UNTIL IT STOPPED RAINING AND BASICALLY CRAWL HOME AS WATER SPRAY FROM THE ROAD STILL HAMPERED MY VISION. I LATER LEARNED THAT BACK ON APRIL 16, 2008 HONDA HAD ISSUED A RECALL ON THE 2003 ACCORD EX DUE TO CORROSION OF THE WIPER MOTOR. THIS STATEMENT MADE BY HONDA WAS ON ALL THE NEWS WIRES. WHEN I CALLED HONDA'S HOTLINE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY BASICALLY RECANTED THE STATEMENT AND CLAIMED THAT THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH A FAILURE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ON THE NEWS WIRES 2 MONTHS EARLIER AND THE FACT THAT I WAS NOW REPORTING ANOTHER SUCH INCIDENT. *TR

NO MALFUNCTION KEY GETS EXTREMELY HOT IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER. SO HOT IT IS TOO HOT TO HOLD HONDA DEALER SAYS IT'S NORMAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V169000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR), EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 47,800.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE WINDOW MOTORS, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS, AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS REPAIRED. THE OTHER TWO DOORS AND WINDOW MOTORS WERE NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED ONTO THE SIDEWALK AND CRASHED INTO THREE NEARBY POLES. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED FOR THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER AND THE CAUSE ON FAILURE HAD NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IN HIS VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO A RECALL. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS OR ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $4,500. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH HIS SAFETY AND HAVING THE VEHICLE SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 94,000.

WHEN MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD LX IS IDLE OR AT VERY LOW SPEED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY TURNS OFF. I AM AFRAID THE CAR'S ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WHEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS SUCH AS ON A FREEWAY/HIGHWAY. *TR

2003 HONDA ACCORD WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE AFTER THE REPAIRS WAS PERFORMED AND WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. *JB

THE BACK LIGHT THAT LIGHTS ALL OF MY INSTRUMENTS IN MY DASH WENT OUT. I OWN A 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF A PROBLEM AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT...THERE IS NOT A FUSE OR ANYTHING THAT CONTROLS THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A WIRING ISSUE IN THE STEREO THAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM AND IT CAN BE IN UPWARDS OF $1000 TO FIX A LIGHT ISSUE ACCORDING TO THE FORUMS ONLINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE SHOT BACKWARDS INTO THE STREET AT 45 MPH. SHE THEN ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE ONCE AGAIN, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE SPED FORWARD. SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE, BUT DID NOT KNOW THE ORIGIN. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HOME, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED AGAIN ON A MAIN ROAD WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC. SHE AIMED THE VEHICLE TOWARD THE NEAREST CURB AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. POINTED IN THE DIRECTION OF A CURB, SHE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE TOWARDS THE CURB WITH ONE JERK. THE PREVIOUS WEEK, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION BANGING INTO GEAR WHEN SHIFTING. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE SIMILAR. OTHER FAILURES INCLUDE THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT, CD PLAYER, AIR COMPRESSOR LEAKAGE, TRUNK RELEASE NOT FUNCTIONING, AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AS INSTRUCTED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND A LOCAL MECHANIC ALSO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,446. UPDATED 07/29/08. *LJ UPDATED 08/05/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AGAIN, IT LUNGED FORWARD AND STOPPED SEVERAL TIMES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

BOUGHT 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX V6-MT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, WITH WELL-DOCUMENTED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES (NO PROBLEMS). WHILE NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING, TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY 17 IN LEXINGTON, MS. I HAD JUST HAD MY CAR SERVICED 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO INCLUDE THE TRANSMISSION AND WAS TOLD THE COMPUTER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WELL, WHY 70 MILES AWAY FROM HOME IN A CURVE DOING ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR, THE RPM WENT UP BUT THE SPEED WENT DOWN WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I THANK GOD I WAS NOT REARENDED DUE TO THE QUICK DECREASE IN SPEED. I MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, I COASTED TO A PARKING LOT AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO PATTY PECK HONDA IN RIDGELAND, MS. I HAD 94,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION FOR YEARS. MY CAR HAD THE 2ND GEAR RECALL IN 2004, WHICH I HAD REPAIRED. I HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED. HONDA PAID 75% AND I PAID 25%. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED MAY 11, 2008 AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP AGAIN. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE SOON. *TR

HONDA 2003 ACCORD I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM DETROIT ONE DAY WHEN MY CAR STARTED "JERKING". AT FIRST IT WAS VERY MILD AND I THOUGHT IT WAS MY IMAGINATION. IT PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN MY CAR STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND LUNGED ME FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL HITTING MY HEAD. IT WAS AS IF SOMEONE HAD HIT ME FROM BEHIND. I WAS ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. I AM NOT SURE HOW I WASN'T INJURED MORE. HONDA SAID THE REPAIR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOT COVERED. THE CAR HAD AN EARLIER RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION AROUND 20,000 MILES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY TRIED TO SAY THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT. THE CORPORATE OFFICE WANTED TO KNOW IF I PLANNED ON BUYING A HONDA AGAIN. WHEN I SAID NO, THEY SAID "WE MIGHT WAS WELL STOP RIGHT HERE AS THIS PROGRAM IS ONLY FOR LOYAL HONDA CUSTOMERS" (I HAD BOUGHT 3 HONDA'S PREVIOUSLY, AMAZING WHAT THEY CALLED "LOYAL") TWO DAYS LATER HONDA CALLED BACK AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION AND PART OF THE CAR RENTAL WOULD BE COVERED. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS MODEL YEAR HONDA FOR THE TRANSMISSION, BUT YET IT SEEMS HONDA IS NOT GOING TO RECALL THE TRANSMISSION. I AM CONCERNED THERE COULD BE AND MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUS IF NOT DEADLY ACCIDENTS RELATED TO THIS MALFUNCTION, THAT MAY NOT BE RECOGNIZED AS SUCH. I AM WONDERING IF YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND ALREADY INVESTIGATING CRASHES INVOLVING THE HONDA 2003 ACCORD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE LAST YEAR RELATED TO A TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER REPLACED SOMETHING RELATED TO THE COOLANT; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END HIT THE GROUND. HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AND RESTART IT. WHILE IN ROUTE, THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SECOND GEAR CHIPPED AND HE WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75000.

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WERE NO DEATHS, INJURIES OR POLICE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE IS 102000. JP

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON FREEWAY LED TO DISABLED VEHICLE. CAR PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED BY DEALER UNDER TRANSMISSION RECALL AND DEEMED OK. TRANSMISSION REBUILT BY THIRD PARTY FOR $2500 WITH LINGERING PROBLEMS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ITS 70,000 MILE SERVICE. WHEN SHE LEFT THE DEALER, THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE PARKED, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND SPREAD TO SOME TREE SHRUBS. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND FILED A REPORT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 05/13/08. *LJ UPDATED 05/13/08

ON APRIL 3, 2008 I TOOK MY CAR TO KUHN HONDA AT 3900 WEST KENNEDY BLVD, TAMPA, FLORIDA 33609. THEY DID A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, TIRE ROTATION, REGULAR MAINTENANCE SERVICE. FOUR DAYS LATER MY TRANSMISSION FELL OUT OF THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. I HAD THE 105,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. AS DRIVING OFF THE LOT I NOTICE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM SECOND GEAR. NEXT DAY I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ORDERED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AND PUT THE NEW ONE IN. THAT WAS WEDNESDAY APRIL 16TH, 2008. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP AROUND 3:00PM AND THE TRAFFIC WAS HORRIBLE SO I DROVE LESS THAN 3 MILES TO THE MALL TO SHOP. PARKED THE CAR AT THE MALL, WHEN INSIDE AND WAS THERE LESS THAN 10 MINUTES WHEN I WAS CALLED BY THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT TELLING ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT AND BURNT THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO A CRISP. THE CAR WAS MELTED LIKE A PIECE OF PLASTIC NOTHING UP TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED OR WHY! THEY CLAIM THESE THINGS HAPPEN AND THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. THEY DID NOT EVEN APOLOGIZE! *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR TO HONDA MECHANIC. COMPUTER CODE INDICATED IMMINENT FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. CALLED HONDA AND THEY TOLD ME MY 2003 ACCORD WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED IN 2004. *TR

BEGAN FEELING A SHUTTER WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THEIR WAS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

DURING DAYLIGHT, CONTROL PANEL/NAVIGATOR IS DARK. CANNOT READ CONTROLS RESULTING IN FAILURE TO OBSERVE INSTRUMENT SETTINGS. DURING NIGHT, NAVIGATION SYSTEM WILL NOT DIM, RESULTING IN VISUAL HAZARD TO DRIVING. *TR

MAKE : ACURA; MODEL : 3.2CL; NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V176000 COMPONENT: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BOUGHT A HONDA CERTIFIED USED 2003 ACCORD V6 EXL AND IT IS THE BIGGEST LEMON EVER. BASED ON THE FORUMS AND MY CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED TRANSMISSION, FOLLOWING THE RECALL - HONDA NEEDS TO HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON THEIR PROBLEMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. MY CHILDREN AND I WERE NEARLY REAR-ENDED ON AND OFF THE HIGHWAY TRYING TO GET THE (CLOSED) SERVICE CENTER D/T TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND NOT ENGAGING. UNFORTUNATELY, AS WELL, HONDA NEEDS TO GET THE DEALERSHIPS TO ON TRACK AND PROVIDE SERVICE AND SALES THAT SUPPORT HONDA'S REPUTATION. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER HONDA AND THAT IS A SHAME. I WANTED TO TRADE UP FOR THE DIESEL 2010 MODEL BUT I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR LIFETIME OF REPAIRS WITH THE EXORBITANT PURCHASE PRICE OF THE HONDA "NAME"!! *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON I95 GOING APP. 30MPH, THE SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO SIDE IMPACT INCURRED. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. NO DAMAGE TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR SINCE THERE WASN'T ANY TYPE OF CRASH OR SIDE IMPACT. AIRBAG WAS REPLACED, DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SEAT AND INTERIOR ROOF OF THE CAR REPAIRED. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 ACCORD STARTED SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND THIRD GEARS. I ALMOST GOT HIT FROM BEHIND WITH MY ONE YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS CASES OF SUCH FAILURE. HONDA SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN 2004. THE COMPANY HAD A SAFETY RECALL TO ADDRESS AN ISSUE WITH THE SAME AND TO INSTALL NEW OIL PUMPS. IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT THE RECALL WAS ONLY TO PROLONG THE TRANSMISSION TO BEYOND THE WARRANTY LIMIT. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE OF SUBSTANDARD QUALITY. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DON'T ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL. HOW COME THE PROBLEM WAS A SAFETY ISSUE IN 2004 BUT NOT SO IN LATER YEARS. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT LOWER SPEEDS THE DAMAGES MAY NOT INCLUDE INJURIES AND DEATHS RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT IS NO POSSIBLE. I GUESS THE GOV.'T AND HONDA WONT ISSUE A RECALL AS LONG AS THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR DEATHS. IT IS AMAZING THAT A CAR COMPANY WITH SUCH LOW QUALITY PARTS IS TOUTED AS A 'QUALITY' CAR. JUST A SAD STATE OF THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY. *TR

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. TOTAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. NO WARNING. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. THE OLD TRANSMISSION WAS RETURNED TO HONDA. THIS HAPPENED WHILE IN THIRD GEAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE PAPER AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL;THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THE MOTOR AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE WIPERS WERE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 30MPH TO 40 MPH THERE IS A POWER LOSS AND THE TACHOMETER REVS TO 6.5 RPM AND BEYOND. THE ONLY WAY TO GET CAR TO MOVE FORWARD IS TO TAKE FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND LET RPM FALL BELOW 1 RPM. THIS WILL USUALLY WORK IN MOST CASES. USUALLY HAPPENS WITHIN 3 TO 7 MILES OF FIRST DRIVING THE CAR AND WHEN IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AT LEAST 3 TO 4 HOURS OR OVERNIGHT. *TR