2003 Honda Accord complaints

MY 2003 ACCORD EX V6 COMPLETELY FAILED. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH NO PRIOR WARNING AND NO WARNING LIGHTS. I WAS LUCKY AND SAFELY COASTED OFF THE FREEWAY TO THE SHOULDER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD SLAMMED INTO A LOWER GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO ALMOST COME TO A STOP INSTANTLY. THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS AND SWERVE ONTO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID HITTING ME. THE CAR WILL NO LONGER SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR ANY GEAR HIGHER THAN 2ND. *TR

IN EARLY OCTOBER OF 2010 OUR 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX V6 WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH, SUDDENLY, IT DOWNSHIFTED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, ALMOST COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND THE CAR WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED. WHEN LOOKED AT BYTHE LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP THE TECH SAID THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE CAR DID IT AGAIN ONLY AT HIGHER SPEED THIS TIME. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR OVER A YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER TO INVEST THE MONEY TO FIX IT, OR IF IT IS DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY. I FOUND THE INFORMATION FOR THIS WEBSITE ON THE FOLLOWING THREAD: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/HONDA/ACCORD/2003/TRANSMISSION/UNINTENDED_DOWNSHIFT.SHTML. *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

I HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY HONDA ACCORD. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE CAR JUST STARTED SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL DURING ACCELERATION AFTER EVERY STOP. I WAS ALMOST HIT IN THE REAR AT ONE POINT. TERRIFYING!!!! I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2004 FROM POHANKA HONDA IN TEMPLE HILLS, MD. THE SAME DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR SERVICING MY VEHICLE SINCE THE PURCHASE. I PURCHASED A HONDA FOR THE DEPENDABILITY, MY CAR HAS NOT REACHED IT'S 10TH BIRTHDAY AND I'M FACED WITH A HUGE COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *KB

THE CAR WONT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. MECHANIC SAYS TORQUE CONVERTER IS BROKEN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. *KB

THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING ON AND OFF FOR 2 WEEKS UNTIL LAST NIGHT, WHEN IT FAILED COMPLETELY. I NOTICED IT SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR WHEN I LET MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, AND THEN IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE ANY GEARS. I HAD IT TOWED TO A NEARBY TRANSMISSION SHOP WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. FAILURE HAPPENED AT 8 YEARS AND 114,000 MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH AND HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED TO THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED AND AN OIL CHANGE WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIRS, ACCOMPANIED BY AN ABNORMAL JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,176.

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

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IT WOULD REV UP BUT NOT GO ANYWHERE. HONDA DEALER SAID IT NEEDED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

AUDIO-HVAC DISPLAY MODULE IS DIM OR DARK: THE AUDIO DISPLAY AND CONTROLS (KNOBS, BUTTONS, BARS) OF THE AUDIO-HVAC DISPLAY MODULE ARE DIM OR ARE DARK. THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE HONDA ACCORDS 2003-2007 WHERE ONE OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD ( PCB) WHICH CONTROLS THE CENTER AUDIO CONSOLE FAILS AND THEN THE WHOLE AUDIO CONSOLE GOES DARK. SO WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE CAR, YOU CANNOT SEE ANY BUTTON OR KNOB ON THE CENTER CONSOLE. IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE HEAT / COOL , THE FAN SPEED OR ANY FUNCTION THAT IS CONTROLLED BY THE COUNTER CONSOLE. HONDA INITIALLY SENT OUT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE AUDIO CONSOLE TO 7 YEARS /100, 000 MILES. BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS IN A LARGE NUMBER OF CARS. THIS IS NOT LIKE A TRANSMISSION OR A BRAKE ISSUE WHICH CAN WEAR DOWN OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONICS ON THE CAR AND SHOULD BE ESCALATED TO A RECALL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS THE CONSOLE LIGHTING DOES COMPLETELY DARK AND THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE OR LOCATE ANY CONTROLS WITHIN THE CAR. THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. HONDA HAS ISSUES A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 04-027. THIS BULLETIN IN THE PROOF THAT HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT HONDA HAS OFFERED IS OF NO USE BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ARE OUT OF THE WARRANTY TERMS ( 7 YEARS // 100,000 MILES) THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AND THE NATIONA

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

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 AC

I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE WHEN SUDDENLY THE GEARS DOWNSHIFT ON ME. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE A LITTLE BUT IT INCREASES THE RPM IN THE CURRENT GEAR BUT DOES NOT SHIFT. I TRY AGAIN AND IT SHIFTS UP. A FEW SECONDS LATER IT REPEATS - THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS SUDDENLY WITH A JERKING MOTION AND I HAVE DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING. I AM ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY BUT NOW THAT THIS HAPPENED I WOULD NOT TRUST THIS CAR WITH THE LIFE OF MY PRECIOUS LITTLE ONE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A COMPLETE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN MADE YET! A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY AND FOR THOSE ON THE ROAD. I TRUSTED HONDA BUT NOW I CANNOT. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN AND TAKE ACTION AS THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR MANY AMERICANS. *TR

MY 2003 ACCORD EX V6 COMPLETELY FAILED THIS WEEK AT 90,490 MILES. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH NO PRIOR INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM AND NO WARNING LIGHTS. I WAS LUCKY AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST OFF THE FREEWAY TO A PARKING LOT. THERE WAS A HONDA TRANSMISSION OIL JET KIT RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. I HAD THAT TAKEN CARE OF ON 10/18/04 AT 15,555 MILES. I HAD MY TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AGAIN AT 30,570 MILES ON 2/20/06. HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT HONDA DEALER ON 12/17/11 AFTER THIS INCIDENT. THEY WANTED $4,000 BUT THEY GAVE ME $1,400 OFF AS A "GOOD WILL" GESTURE, SO I PAID $2,600. THE DEALER SAID THERE HAS BEEN NO HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, SOUNDS LIKE HONDA HAD MAJOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES THAT YEAR. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS POSTED ONLINE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK TODAY AND MY CAR SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR WHEN I WAS RUNNING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. IT BEGAN JERKING AND AFTER PULLING OVER IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS IS A MAJOR COMPLAINT WITH 2003 HONDA ACCORD OWNERS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK TODAY AND MY CAR BEGAN TO DOWNSHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR WHEN I WAS RUNNING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. IT BEGAN JERKING AND AFTER PULLING OVER IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS IS A MAJOR COMPLAINT WITH 2003 HONDA ACCORD OWNERS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *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.

WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED ACCELERATING AND THEN DECELERATING IN QUICK SUCCESSION CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK BACK AND FORTH UNCONTROLLABLY. AS I ATTEMPTED TO COME TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE/DECELERATE. HONDA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS IS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. COST OF REPAIR IS $3800. THE CAR WAS JUST AT THE DEALERSHIP IN OCTOBER FOR SERVICE AND THERE WERE NO ISSUES THEN. *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

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

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 $390

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. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS FOR THE HVAC UNIT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

I PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA ACCORD NEW ALONG WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 72 MONTHS 75,000 MILES. IN 2004 WITH 19,000 MILES MY VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THE "REQUIRED" FIX WAS MADE AND I WAS TOLD THIS SHOULD SOLVE ANY PROBLEMS. TWO WEEKS AGO WITH 75,300 MILES, MY TRANSMISSION WENT. THE DEALER CHARGED $3600 (NOT INCLUDING PORT CHARGES) TO HAVE THIS REPAIR MADE. I WAS TOLD THAT "THIRD" GEAR FAILED. THE REPAIR ORIGINALLY MADE WAS FOR "SECOND" GEAR. SINCE THIS WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOT PART OF THE RECALL, I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETE PAYMENT. AFTER CONTACTING HONDA OF AMERICA, I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD PICK UP HALF THE COST. IT APPEARS I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS SITUATION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED (WITH NO PRIOR NOTICE), I WAS DRIVING IN LIGHT TRAFFIC, AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER VEHICLES. HAD THIS FAILED EARLIER IN THE DAY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SHIFT OUT OF GEARS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED FOLLOWED BY AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN RPMS. IN APRIL 2005, THE DEALER REPLACED THE JET FUEL KIT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BUT HAD SINCE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

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 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

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

I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JUNE 2003 WITH 2 MILES ON IT FROM JIM COLEMAN HONDA IN CLARKSVILLE, MD. I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN THE CAR 88,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS DEAD. ACCORDING TO CHRYSWEL DEALERSHIP IN GERMANTOWN MD, THE ISSUE WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE CLUTCH PRESSURE CONTROL WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIFTING GEARS. THAT IS WHAT WENT BAD WHICH THEN CAUSED DEBRIS IN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING IT TO FAIL AS WELL. THE CAR RUNS FINE WHEN IT IS COLD BUT ONCE YOU DIVE IT FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFT TO THE 1ST OR 2ND GEAR AND DROP YOUR SPEED FOR 60 TO 20 OR LESS WITH A BIG JOLT ON THE PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO GETTING INTO A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME $5000 TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION AND ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER 03 HONDA'S WITH THE SAME SITUATION. I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN OFFICIAL CASE AGAINST HONDA TO FIX THE ISSUE OR PROVIDE A RECALL. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE SERVICE AND SUPPORT FOR HONDA. THIS IS ONE OF THE 4 HONDA'S I OWN BUT IT WILL DEF BE THE LAST HONDA I EVER OWN. I HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT TO HONDA WITH THE ISSUE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY FOLLOW UP ON THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU *TR

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

WHEN I'M DRIVING BETWEEN 20-40 MPH MY ENGINE STALLS, ALL IT DOES IS REVS THE RPM HIGH AND THE CAR DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE. THE STALL USUALLY OCCURS BETWEEN 20-40MPH BUT IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY BETWEEN 50-60 MPH WHILE ON AN ON-RAMP. THIS BEGAN IN THE EARLY MONTHS OF 2011 AND HAS CONTINUED TO WORSEN. HOWEVER, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE IN AUGUST OF 2007 I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP CONCERNING A SIMILAR ISSUE AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. *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

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

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

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

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

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 20

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

THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE IS FAULTY. *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

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

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

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX (V6) ON THE FREEWAY AT 65-70MPH. AS I WAS DRIVING, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR RAPIDLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE AT SPORADIC INTERVALS. I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED A FEW TIMES, WITH CARS HAVING TO DODGE ME ON BOTH SIDES. THIS HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF 3-4X WITHIN 5-10 MINUTES AS I TRIED TO EXIT THE FREEWAY. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION AND THERE WAS NO CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT ON OR ANYTHING VISIBLY WRONG WITH THE CAR, SUCH AS TIRES ETC. ON MY WAY HOME, I HAD TO STOMP ON THE GAS IN ORDER TO GET IT TO DRIVE AT 60+ MPH. THE CAR MADE LOUD BUZZING SOUNDS THE ENTIRE PERIOD, AS I STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN 60+ MPH. WHEN I GOT HOME AND PARKED THE CAR, IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT I WAS UNABLE TO REVERSE THE CAR. I LEARNED THAT THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE WAS NOT ADDRESSED BY HONDA AS REQUIRING A RECALL. DESPITE MY PROBLEMS AND THE REPORTS OF COUNTLESS OTHERS, HONDA WILL NOT PAY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS WILL COST ME OVER $2500 FOR REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT. I AM ABSOLUTELY FURIOUS, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2003 MODEL. I SPOKE WITH A LOCAL HONDA DEALER AND THEY WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THE CHARGES. CONSIDERING THIS CAR HAS ONLY 76K MILES ON IT AND IS 8 YEARS OLD, THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE SINCE I FACED A GOD-AWFUL COMMUTE HOME WITH MY CAR BREAKING DOWN AND SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY OF WHETHER IT WOULD EVEN MAKE IT HOME. *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