2003 Honda Accord Complaint Log

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT TWO PARKED VEHICLES. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN, AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX-V6 ON A HIGHWAY WHEN A PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AND SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, NO HIT, NO POTHOLE. INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATED AND FOUND NO DAMAGES TO THE CAR THAT COULD TRIGGER AIRBAGS; HONDA TECHNICIANS AFTER THREE DAYS SAY THEY FOUND A DAMAGE (DENT?) ON UNDERCARRIAGE THAT MAY HAVE TRIGGERED THE SENSOR. THE CAR HAS 45500 MILE ON IT. POLICE WAS CALLED ON A SCENE BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. *JB

ILLUMINATION IN RADIO FAILS. NOT READILY REPLACEABLE, NOT EVEN BY DEALER. THIS FAILURE ALSO CAUSES LOSS OF ILLUMINATION FOR THERMOSTAT AND FAN CONTROL ON DASH WHICH CREATES A MAJOR DISTRACTION AT NIGHT WHEN TRYING TO ADJUST THESE CONTROLS. THIS DISTRACTION COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL, A CRASH, AND/OR SERIOUS INJURY. *NM

2003 HONDA ACCORD TRANSMISSION FAILED. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER WAS CHARGED 647 DOLLARS FOR THE LABOR FOR THE REPAIR. *KB THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. ACCORDING TO THE HONDA PRESS RELEASE THE REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN FREE OF CHARGE. THE REAR MOTOR MOUNT WAS BROKEN AND THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. *JB

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN THE LIGHTS FOR THE RADIO AND CLIMATE CONTROLS WENT OUT. THE RADIO AND HEAT/AC STILL WORK. I CAN USE THE CD PLAYER, THE RADIO AND THE HEAT/AC I JUST CANNOT SEE WHAT CHANNEL, TEMPERATURE, ETC. THE LIGHTS ON THE KNOBS FOR THESE CONTROLS ALSO WENT OUT. CHECKED EVERY FUSE AND ALL OF THEM ARE FINE. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF. THIS HAPPENED ALL THE TIME, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BE FUNCTIONING, AND THEN THE LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF AUTOMATICALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF AS WELL. HONDA HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOR 2003 ACCORDS WITH CAMPAIGN # 06E02300, FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTING, HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ELECTRONIC LOAD DETECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WOULD COST $676.38. THE CONTACT FELT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL. *AK UPDATED 02/27/07.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG SRS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V320000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DIAMOND VALLEY HONDA (300 CARRIAGE CIR, HEMET, CA 92545, (888) 794-1620) WHERE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. TWO DAYS AFTER THE RECALL REMEDY, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,411.

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD IS SLIPPING. THE CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AFTER FIRST GEAR. I HAVE TO REV IT SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WILL SHIFT INTO SECOND. I'M AFRAID THAT I WILL BE LEFT STRANDED OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. I ONLY HAVE 85,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WHEN I TOOK IT TO AAMOCO TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST 3,594+TAX TO FIX. IF THIS IS A GENERAL PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL, THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF COMPENSATION MADE BY HONDA. I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, SO IT MUST BE A DEFAULT IN THE CAR AND NOT THE DRIVERS. *TR

HONDA ACCORD EX-V6, 2003, PURCHASED NEW. DEVELOPED ENGINE NOISE AT JUST OVER 60,000 KILOMETERS THAT HAS INCREASED IN VOLUME OVER THE WINTER. HONDA DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED PISTON SLAP. HONDA CANADA STATES THAT PISTON SLAP IS ACCEPTABLE IN A COLD HONDA ENGINE FOR UP TO 5 MINUTES AND "...THAT ALTHOUGH PISTON SLAP IS PRESENT, THERE ARE NO OPERATIONAL ISSUES WITH YOUR VEHICLE....". THE DESK MAN AT THE HONDA DEALER STATES THAT HIS HONDA ALSO HAS PISTON SLAP. *JB

2003 HONDA ACCORD. CONSUMER STATES THAT HER VEHICLE ROLLED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE KEY WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE IGNITION. SHE HAD TO PAY TO FIX THE OTHER VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED SINCE THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. *KB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE NEXT TO THE GARAGE. THE BRAKES HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER.*AK UPDATED 11/07/06. *JB

I TOOK MY HONDA ACCORD IN TO GET FIXED. THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAS GONE BAD AND WAS REPLACED WITH TRANSMISSION. CONSULTED WITH A HONDA DEALER ON THIS MATTER. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD NEED DIAGNOSED AT MY CHARGE AND COULD NOT BE SEEN FOR 3 DAYS. THEY TOLD ME THERE ISN'T A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE AND SINCE MY WARRANTY RAN OUT, THERE IS NOTHING THAT I CAN DO TO FIX THIS AND IT WILL ALL COME OUT OF MY POCKET. I COULD NOT WAIT TO GET THIS FIXED. I THEN GOT 2ND AND 3RD OPINIONS ON MY VEHICLE. I GOT THE THIRD OPINION WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AND HAD NO CHOICE DUE TO THE VEHICLE DYING WHILE IT WAS DRIVEN. I TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST TRANSMISSION REPRESENTATIVE THAT I COULD FIND. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER AFTER A FREE INSPECTION. I WAS ADVISED BY THIS PLACE THAT IT WOULD NOT BE A GOOD IDEA TO DRIVE ANY FURTHER TO AVOID MORE DAMAGE. FIXED AT A TOTAL PRICE OF $2716. I AM UPSET THAT A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE HAS THIS PROBLEM. I DID NOT PURCHASE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS VEHICLES NAME SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. I CONTACTED HONDA CORPORATE DIRECTLY TO TELL THEM OF THIS PROBLEM AND SUBMITTED A CLAIM FOR THEM TO CHECK INTO THIS. I CONSULTED WITH ANOTHER HONDA DEALERSHIP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN TO GET THEIR OPINION. I TOLD THEM I HAD THIS WORK DONE AND IT WASN'T COMPLETED THROUGH HONDA. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE OTHER DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME THAT WAY ON THIS ISSUE. HE SAID HE THAT HE COULD HAVE CONTACTED HONDA DIRECTLY AND SOMETHING ELSE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE EVEN IF THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I WAS TOLD THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE BEEN PLACED INTO MY VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY $500 MINUS LABOR. HAD I HAD KNOWN THIS, I WOULD HAVE TAKEN MY HONDA TO THIS DEALERSHIP IN A HEARTBEAT. I HOPE THAT THERE MAY BE A RECALL ON THIS SO THAT OTHER HONDA OWNERS WILL NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PAST WEEK. *NM

DRIVER SIDE LOCK DID NOT WORK WITH KEYLESS ENTRY. HAD TO USE KEY TO UNLOCK DOOR. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND PAID TO GET ACTUATOR FIXED. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK DOES NOT OPEN AND I HAVE TO REACH OVER TO UNLOCK. CANNOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. *NM

I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AT RED LIGHT, IN MY SAFETY BELT AS NOTED IN POLICE REPORT. SUBSEQUENT DETAILS ARE NOTED POLICE REPORT. MY VEHICLE AIR BAG BURNED ME VERY SEVERELY, AND CAUSED SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE TO MY LEFT ELBOW TO WHICH I SUSTAINED A FRACTURE AND CALCIUM DEPOSIT AND ARTHRITIS AT AGE 30. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND WAS PUT IN A CAST DUE TO THE AIR BAG BURN. I STILL HAVE THE SCAR FROM THE AIR BAG BURN, AND THE EMOTIONAL REMINDER FROM THE BURN OF THAT AIR BAG KNOWING THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING DONE IS A JUST HORRIBLE!

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A CROSSROAD AT 3 MPH, THE ON COMING VEHICLE DID NOT YIELD CRASHING INTO THE CONTACTS VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BECAUSE NEITHER HAD A STOP SIGN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION ONTO A CITY STREET, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING A 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX V6 COUPE AND ITS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AFTER A YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION AND THERE COULD BE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE 2ND GEAR AND THAT'S WHY A RECALL WAS INSTATED. MY HONDA DEALERSHIP CHANGED A PART IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT WOULD ENSURE THE 2ND GEAR WAS WELL LUBRICATED TO PREVENT CHIPPING AND DESTRUCTION OF THE 2ND GEAR. HOWEVER, TWO YEARS LATER, IN SEPTEMBER 2006 THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT OCCURRED. MY SECOND GEAR WAS FAULTY AND CHIPPED/CRACKED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR AND ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND PAY OUT OF MY POCKET BECAUSE MY WARRANTY WAS UP. *JB

SINCE BUYING MY CAR 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX V6 COUPE IN 03. I HAD EXHAUST PROBLEMS, RADIO REPLACEMENT, PARK AND BRAKE SENSOR REPLACEMENT, POWER OUTLET WIRING PROBLEMS AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FREEZE UP DURING HEAVY RAINSTORMS. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED A FEW ACCIDENTS, BUT THE DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NO PROBLEM. LAST THURSDAY MY CAR SEEMED TO BE HESITATING BEFORE SHIFTING INTO EITHER 2ND OR 3RD. I COULDN'T TELL FOR SURE. LATER THAT NIGHT, THE CAR BEGAN TO JUMP INTO & OUT OF THE LOW GEARS WHILE STARTING & STOPPING AT LIGHTS. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE (ONLY REV UP). AFTER SOME TIME, THE CAR JUMPED INTO REVERSE AND BACK INTO A DITCH. AFTER GETTING BACK ON THE ROAD, TRAVELING APPROX 60 MILES PER HR, I EASED OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR POWERFULLY DOWNSHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE SEAT BELT, I BELIEVE I WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. MY DOG WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME & THROWN INTO THE DASH, THEN THE FLOOR. THE TIRES BARKED. THE CAR THEN SUDDENLY UP SHIFTED TO A HIGHER GEAR. I MADE IT HOME THAT NIGHT AND DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING. THE CAR SEEMED TO BE DOING OK. I ARRIVED AND WAS TOLD TO MAKE AN APT FOR NEXT WEEK. LESS THEN 10 MILES AWAY THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT OUT OF 3RD GEAR AND THEN WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. I DROVE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT MY EXPENSE, AND I WAS PRETTY MUCH AT FAULT BECAUSE I HAD NOT COMPLETED ALL MY SERVICE AT HONDA. I EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO MAKE IT TO THEM DURING THEIR BUSINESS HOURS. SO, SOME OF MY NORMAL OIL CHANGES WERE DONE AT OTHER LUBE CENTERS. I THEN ASKED HIM ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION RECALL AND HE SAID THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MY PROBLEM. AFTER WAITING MORE THAN HR WHILE HE CUT UP WITH EMPLOYEES, I SPOKE TO THE LOCATION MANAGER AND ASKED ABOUT TEMPORARY TRANSPORTATION UNTIL I COULD CONTACT AMERICAN HONDA, AND HE SUGGESTED I BUY A NEW CAR. *JB

2003 HONDA ACCORD EX V6 - RADIO CONTROL, AC CONTROL AND CLOCK CONTROL BACKLIGHT STOPPED WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER AND TOLD THAT RADIO WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND SENT TO CALIFORNIA FOR REPAIRS. COST ESTIMATED IN EXCESS OF $500. *NM

2003 ACCORD HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SECOND GEAR OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TS ***NAR*** THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE FAILURE WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER RECALL. THE RADIO SCREEN WAS BLANK. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 HONDA ACCORD WITH APPROXIMATELY 52,000 MILES AND YESTERDAY THE RADIO LIGHTS AND THE CENTER POD LIGHTS WHICH CONTROL THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING LIGHTING STOP WORKING AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED, I HAVE CHECKED ANY AND ALL FUSES UNDER THE DASH AND ALSO IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THERE ARE BLOWN FUSES. NOTHING ELSE SO FAR IS OUT OF THE NORM, I AM JUST NO SURE WHERE TO LOOK OR WHAT TO DO SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2003 HONDA ACCORD UNDER SUNNY SKIES AND GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS. AS SHE SLOWED AND MADE A SLIGHT RIGHT HAND TURN TO ENTER AN EXIT RAMP OFF OF I-26 OUTSIDE OF CHARLESTON SC, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP PULLING HER TOWARDS THE CONCRETE BARRIER ON HER RIGHT HAND SIDE. SHE INSTICTIVELY PULLED THE CAR BACK TO THE LEFT. AT THIS TIME THE BRAKES RELEASED AND SHE WENT INTO THE LEFT CONCRETE BARRIER. BOTH HER AND A FRIEND WHO WAS RIDING WITH HER WERE NOT SERIOUSLY HURT. THE CAR SUSTAINED APPROXIMATELY $4,900 IN DAMAGES. SHE ESTIMATED THAT SHE WAS GOING 40 MPH AT THE TIME WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE BRAKES HAVE NOT BEEN LOOKED AT IN DETAIL YET. AFTER REPAIRS WE WILL HAVE THEM INSPECTED. LOOKING INTO THE HISTORY OF THE 2003 ACCORD SHOWED ME THAT THIS MODEL HAS A LONG HISTORY OF BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING. WHEN I DISCUSSED THIS WITH MY LOCAL DEALER, HENDRICK HONDA, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS NOT A HISTORY OF BAD BRAKES ON THIS CAR. I FEEL OTHERWISE. BECAUSE THE CAR WAS IN THE WAY OF TRAFFIC AND COULD STILL BE DRIVEN, MY DAUGHTERS FRIEND DROVE IT OUT OF THE WAY AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. ONE LAST THING. THESE BRAKES HAVE LOCKED UP ON ME A IDLE SPEEDS AND HAD BEEN CHECKED PREVIOUSLY BY HENDRICK HONDA. WHEN CHECKED, THEY SAID THEY WERE SERVICEABLE.

RECENTLY THE BACK LIGHT ON THE RADIO/HVAC/CLOCK PANEL WENT OUT. AFTER CHECKING ALL FUSES IT WAS DETERMINED NOT TO BE A BLOWN FUSE. SERVICE ADVISOR/MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $200-$400 TO FIX AND THAT THE RADIO UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS LED ME TO CONDUCT MY OWN RESEARCH AND WAS SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED TO FIND THAT THIS HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON NEWER MODELS OF HONDA ACCORDS ('03 AND NEWER). I ALSO LEARNED FROM NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS THAT THEY'D RECEIVED THE RUNAROUND FROM THE CAR DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. HOWEVER, SEVERAL INDICATED THAT AFTER MAKING NUMEROUS CALLS TO HONDA OF AMERICA THE COMPANY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. IT APPEARS TO BE A WIRING PROBLEM, WHICH COULD, IN MY OPINION, LEAD TO MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. AS A SINGLE PARENT I PURCHASED THE HONDA FOR MY DAUGHTER, WHO ATTENDS COLLEGE SOME 700 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND REQUIRES A SAFE AND RELIABLE VEHICLE. SINCE HONDA OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THEY REALLY SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO OWNERS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONER LIGHTED CONSOLE DID NOT ILLUMINATE. A SERVICE DEALER WAS CONSULTED, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RADIO UNIT NEEDED TO BE REMOVED, AND DURING THE TIME OF THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE WOULD BE CONSIDERED UNSAFE TO OPERATE.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO COOL THE CAR. COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH COILS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BACKLIGHTING ON THE CENTER CONSOLE CLIMATE CONTROLS DARKENED, MAKING THE CONTROLS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

CENTER LIGHT FOR STEREO AND CONSOLE IS BURNT OUT. THIS MEANS THAT A DRIVER CAN NOT CHOOSE CRITICAL CONTROLS WHY DRIVING UNLESS THEY TURN AN INTERIOR LIGHT ON. *NM

IN THE SUMMER OF 2003 I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SERVICED SINCE THEN AT THE DEALER AND ALL RECORDS ARE COMPLETE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT WAS AN ICON OF RELIABILITY. THIS PAST WEEKEND, 7/9/06 THIS CAR COULD HAVE TAKEN MY LIFE! WHILE ON VACATION IN LOS ANGELES, I WAS DRIVING ALONG SUNSET BLVD. JUST AS I WAS APPROACHING THE ENTRANCE TO THE 405 FREEWAY, (PROBABLY ONE OF THE BUSIEST FREEWAYS IN THE WORLD) MY CAR DID A COUPLE OF JERKS AS IF THE ENGINE HESITATED. I DECIDED I HAD BETTER GET TO MY DESTINATION AND I GOT ON THE FREEWAY. ABOUT A MILE LATER, WHILE TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH IN THE CENTER LANE, WITHOUT WARNING, BOTH FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP AND I SKIDDED TO A STOP AS CARS BEHIND ME ARE PERFORMING EVASIVE MANEUVERS TO KEEP FROM REAR-ENDING ME. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! THE CAR RESTARTED AND JERKED ITS WAY TO THE NEXT EXIT. (THERE WAS NO SHOULDER, ONLY A CONCRETE WALL). WHEN THE CAR STOPPED IT WAS COMPLETELY EXPIRED. MY LIFE FLASHED BEFORE MY EYES. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WERE NOT INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST HONDA DEALER. AFTER TWO DAY, THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A "TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE". SINCE I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THE REPAIR WAS COVERED. AFTER QUESTIONING THE SERVICE REP. I DISCOVERED THAT I WOULD NOT BE GETTING A "NEW" TRANSMISSION, I WOULD BE GETTING A "REMANUFACTURED" TRANSMISSION. IS THIS FOR REAL??? NOW I AM GETTING ANOTHER PERSON'S PROBLEM TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN FIXED? HONDA HAS TO DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION AS IT IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. *JB

AIR CONDITIONING HOSE FAILURE. I MANAGE A COMMERCIAL HVACR OPERATION. I HAVE ACCESS TO SUITABLE LEAK DETECTION REPAIR TOOLS, ETC. I OWN A 2003 HONDA ACCORD THAT HAS LOST ITS R134A CHARGE THROUGH WHAT I BELIEVE IS DEFECTIVE / IMPROPER HOSE CRIMPING, THAT IS WHERE THE LEAK IS. IS THIS A COMPLAINT THAT OCCURS WITH ANY FREQUENCY OR DO I OWN THE ONE BAD HOSE SET PRODUCED? *JB

THE AIRBAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS ON MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IF IT IS NOT CAUSED BY A SEAT BELT DEFECT, THE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED BY HONDA. THE SAME DEFECT WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL FOR THE 2004 ACCORD BUT NOT THE 2003. I BELIEVE IT IS THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 03 HONDA ACCORD. THE RADIO UNIT IS ONE PIECE WHICH HAS THE CLIMATE CONTROL AND RADIO FUNCTION. RECENTLY THE BACKLIGHT WENT OUT ON THE UNIT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANY OF CONTROL INCLUDING REAR DEFROSTER IN THE NIGHT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO HONDA AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE UNIT SAYING THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 03-05 HONDA ACCORD'S. WITH OUT THE BACKLIGHT ALL CLIMATE FUNCTION ARE NOT VISIBLE AT NIGHT. HONDA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS: HTTP://WWW.DRIVEACCORD.NET/FORUMS/ATTACHMENT.PHP?ATTACHMENTID=673 THE REPAIR SHOULD BE DONE AS RECALL CAMPAIGN AS IT CAUSES A PROBLEM IS IT IMPAIR VISIBILITY OF CLIMATE FUNCTION BUT TO-DATE HONDA CONSIDER THIS TO BE WARRANTY ONLY REPAIR. *NM

TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE. HOURS LATER I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE SERVICE ADVISOR ASKING ME, IF I HAD TIME SO HE COULD TALK TO ME REGARDING MY CAR. I SAID, YES AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR FROM HONDA DEALERSHIP WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT I NEEDED MY TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED, BRAKE FLUID CHANGED, AND MY ENGINE COOLANT CHANGED. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF COST CAME TO $500.29 WHICH I THOUGHT I WAS BEING RIPPED OFF. THE HONDA SERVICE ADVISOR ALSO WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE MY FRONT STRUTS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY ARE BAD. I NOTICED WHEN I WOULD MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN I WOULD HEAR A SQUEAKY NOISE. HE CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS MY FRONT STRUTS. I ASK THE SERVICE ADVISOR HOW LONG DOES IT NORMALLY TAKE FOR STRUTS TO WEAR OUT HE TOLD ME AROUND 80,000-100,000 MILES WELL MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX ONLY HAVE 48,000 MILES ON IT. I'M ASSUMING THAT I PROBABLY STARTED OFF WITH BAD STRUTS IN THE BEGINNING SINCE I HAD MY HONDA ACCORD EX, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. NOW, THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY I'M HIT WITH A HUGE FEE TO GET STRUTS REPLACED ON A CAR WHICH I THINK WAS BAD IN THE FIRST PLACE. MY HONDA ACCORD EX WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED BY ME IN DECEMBER OF 2002. I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY DRIVER OF THE CAR. AT THIS TIME I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER HONDA ACCORD. I USED TO HAVE AN 2000 HONDA ACCORD EX NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON MY CAR. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR LATCHES, INSIDE PANEL ON PASSENGER SIDE COMING OFF. SUNROOF RUBBER COMING UNGLUED. I HAD TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED BAD WIPERS WHICH SCRATCHED THE WINDSHIELD UP. NEW RADIO SYSTEM. TROUBLE WITH THE LIGHTS FOR THE HEATED SEATS, DASH BOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT. RADIO LIGHTS WENT OUT. I WAS SOLD A COMPLETE LEMON. I BELIEVE HONDA SHOULD LOOK INTO MY MAINTENANCE RECORD AND SEE ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR AND REALLY CONSIDER REPLACING THE STRUTS FOR ME. I DO NOT HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IT'S GOING TO COST ME $700. *JB

THE INTERIOR LIGHTING OF MY HONDA ACCORD COUPE 2003 WENT OUT. FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE CARS. EVERYTHING WORKS PROPERLY BUT THE LIGHTING IS OUT AND NOTHING IS VISIBLE ON THE LCD SCREEN. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77000. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AND REAR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING INDICATION AND NO CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN LOOKED AT BY A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SIDE SENSOR WAS BAD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62000.

PROBLEM STATEMENT: 2003 HONDA ACCORD CONSOLE CONTROL LIGHTING AND STEREO BACKGROUND LIGHTING HAS FAILED. WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM: DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING YOU CANNOT SEE THE CONTROLS TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND THEREFORE HAVE TO TURN ON THE OVERHEAD LIGHTING TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FAN, TEMPERATURE, CHANGE AIR FLOW POSITION ETC, OR ADJUST THE STEREO. THIS IS AN ERROR PRECURSOR TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT AS IT DISTRACTS YOU FROM DRIVING. THIS IS A GENERIC PROBLEM: A QUICK RESEARCH OF THE WEB INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AMONG HONDA ACCORDS RANGING FROM YEARS 2003 TO 2005. IN THESE HONDA ACCORDS ALL OF THE CONSOLE CONTROL LIGHTING IS POWERED BY CIRCUITS IN THE STEREO AND THEREFORE THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE STEREO AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $300 TO $500 DOLLARS. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. IN JUNE OF 2006 (THE EXACT DATE WAS UNKNOWN), WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH UPHILL THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND RIPPED OPEN THE SEAT ALL INCLUDING THE BACK. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HIT SOMETHING AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT NOTHING HAD BEEN HIT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN.

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX-V-6 BUCKED REAL HARD. DROPPING FROM 65-70 TO ABOUT 35-40. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I PULLED THE VEHICLE INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. I CHECKED ALL BELTS AND FLUIDS AND RE-STARTED THE VEHICLE. SOUNDED LIKE IT ALWAYS DOES WHEN IT STARTS. I PULLED INTO THE RIGHT TRAVEL LANE AND CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 10 MILES WHEN THE VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING. THIS TIME I COULDN'T CONTROL THE STEERING AND UNFORTUNATE FOR ME I WAS BEARING TO THE LEFT THROUGH A TURN AND WENT OFF THE ROAD. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS INJURED. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED (130 MILES) TO MY HOUSE, AS IT WAS A HOLIDAY WEEKEND AND HAD NO OTHER WAY HOME. SO 600 BUCKS LATER I CONTACTED HONDA THE FOLLOWING MORNING. BROUGHT THE CAR AROUND THE CORNER AND SEVERAL HOURS LATER IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT MY WARRANTY I WAS TOLD IT EXPIRED. MY NEXT QUESTION WAS WHAT IT WOULD COST TO INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION. I WAS PUT ON HOLD FOR ABOUT 7-10 MINUTES. THE SERVICE MANAGER CAME BACK AND SAID HONDA WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND FLUIDS IF I AGREED TO PAY FOR LABOR. AT THAT POINT I NEEDED A THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD SO I WENT THROUGH WITH IT. LABOR WAS $1000.00. I HAVE TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK TO HONDA TOMORROW FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE TRANSMISSION AND AN ADJUSTMENT AT NO COST TO ME. NOW.......ISN'T IT ODD THAT IN A 5-10 MINUTE PERIOD HONDA WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION BUT NOT THE LABOR. YES $1000.00 IS BETTER THAN 3-4,000. BUT WHY SHOULD I PAY ANYTHING. I THINK HONDA SHOULD PAY FOR THE TOW TOO. *JB

FOR NO KNOWN REASON THE RADIO DASH DISPLAY ON THE 2003 HONDA ACCORD HAS GONE BLACK MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANY OF THE INFORMATION RELATED TO THE HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING OPERATION, RADIO/CD OPERATION AND TIME. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BUT HONDA DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK IT IS A BIG PROBLEM IN THAT THEY SEEM TO BE UNWILLING TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AND PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO AFFECTED OWNERS. *NM

MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD HAS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT IN THE MAIN FUSE BOX WHICH CAUSES A FAULTY CONNECTION AND THE HEADLIGHTS DIM DURING DRIVING. HONDA HAS THIS LISTED AS A SERVICE BULLETIN AND NOT A RECALL. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE SINCE ONE CAN NOT SAFELY DRIVE THEIR CAR AT NIGHT IF THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT STAY LIGHT? *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70MPH, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND THE SPEED REDUCED TO 20MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM. THE SUDDEN REDUCTION IN SPEED NEARLY CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THE SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED, BUT DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE.

2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE SEAT HEATER SHORTED AND BURNED A HOLE IN MY LEATHER SEAT AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES. I FELT BURNING ON MY LEG AND STOPPED THE CAR TO DISCOVER WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN IT BUT THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE IT EVEN THOUGH HE DID NOT BELIEVE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD COVER IT. HE ORDERED A NEW SEAT BOTTOM BUT DID NOT ORDER THE SEAT HEATING ELEMENT. NOW THEY ARE ORDERING THAT AND I HAVE TO MAKE YET ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WHEN THAT PART COMES IN. IF I HAD NOT FELT THE BURN AND CONTINUED DRIVING, MY SEAT COULD HAVE BURST INTO FLAMES!!! I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FAULTY UNIT - I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT MY LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AT ALL SPEEDS THE BRAKES GRAB AND JERK AS IF THEY WERE BEING APPLIED TO HARD CAUSING THE OCCUPANTS TO GO FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES.

I WAS ON I-285 GOING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN A TRUCK CARRYING TREE LIMBS AND BRANCHES PULLED OFF THE MEDIAN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX COUPE REAR ENDED THE TRUCK. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE HOOD, BUMPER AND SEVERAL COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD (COMPRESSOR, RADIATOR, ETC). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER WHO IS MAKING ALL THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT HONDA RECOMMENDS THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BE REPLACED WHEN THE SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ORDERED THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BUT NOTICED IT WAS THE WRONG PART WHEN THEY WENT TO INSTALL IT. THEY CONTACTED HONDA NORTH AMERICA ON MAY 4 AND AGAIN ON MAY 12 REGARDING THIS AND AS OF MAY 13 THE DEALER STILL HAS HAD NO RESPONSE FROM HONDA NORTH AMERICA. THE CAR WAS SCHEDULED TO BE READY ON MAY 12 AND NOW THE DEALER CAN'T GIVE ME A COMPLETION DATE BECAUSE OF HONDA NORTH AMERICA'S REFUSAL TO CONTACT THE DEALER REGARDING THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. IN THE MEANTIME, I AM STILL HAVING TO PAY A PORTION OF MY RENTAL CAR AND THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL MAX OUT THIS COMING WEEK. *NM

THE RADIO AND CD AND HEAT AND AIR CONSOLE LIGHTING WENT OUT ON MY HONDA ACCORD. TWO HONDA SERVICE PLACES AND THE MAIN HONDA HEADQUARTERS SAY THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE $800 RADIO BEFORE MY LEASE RUNS OUT. I DIDN'T BREAK THE RADIO LIGHTING. ONE SERVICE PLACE SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HONDA ACCORDS. BE AWARE! *JB

2003 HONDA ACCORD COUPE - RADIO DASH DISPLAY WENT OUT FAILURE OF RADIO/CLIMATE DISPLAYS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ TIME/TEMP/WARNING DISPLAYS. HONDA HAS THUS FAR FAILED TO ADMIT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM DESPITE MULTIPLE HONDA ACCORD OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED FOR OVER A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED A VALVE IN THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ALMOST TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE PLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL NORMAL.

THE BACK LIGHTING ON MY RADIO CLOCK HAS STOPPED WORKING. *JB

NOTICED HONDA FACTORY SERVICE BULLETIN #05-034 EXPLAINS WHY HEADLAMPS DIM AT NIGHT, FAULTY CIRCUIT IN FUSE BOX OF 2003, 2004 AND SOME 2005 HONDAS, WHY IS THIS NOT A RECAL? *JB

THE POWER DRIVER SEAT MOVES WHEN BRAKING OR MAKING TURNS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I FEEL VERY UNSAFE AND AM AFRAID THE SEAT MIGHT COME-OFF LOOSE.*JB