2003 Honda Accord complaints

OUR ACCORD HAS ~74,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS STARTING TO SLIP. I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT, AND THE TACHOMETER WOULD GO HIGH (HIGH RPMS). I WOULD HAVE TO EASE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO LET THE RPMS DECREASE AND THE TRANSMISSION TO KICK IN. THIS WENT ON FOR A FEW WEEKS BEFORE I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER THAT DOES MY SERVICING, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST: - $5,400 FOR THE TRANSMISSION - $500 FOR BRAKES - $400 TO REPLACE A HEAT SHIELD THAT IS LOOSE THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE A CAR WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN ITS CURRENT STATE I PURCHASED A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR (IT EXPIRED IN JANUARY). THIS IS A TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW. I HAVE BEEN DILIGENT WITH SERVICING THE CAR, AND NOW I'M HIT UP FOR $6,300 DOLLARS IN REPAIR FOR A CAR WHOSE BLUE BOOK VALUE IS ~$9K. I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW THAT THERE ARE AN UNUSUALLY LARGE NUMBER CASES OF WHERE THE 2003 ACCORD V6 TRANSMISSION FAILS EARLY. PER THE ADVICE ON THESE SITES; I CALLED HONDA AND ASKED FOR A GOODWILL REPAIR. THEY OFFERED TO REDUCE THE TRANSMISSION WORK TO $2,900, AND WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE BRAKES OR HEAT SHIELD. I HAVE NOT YET HAD THIS REPAIRED. HONDA SAID THEY DO NOT REPAIR THEIR TRANSMISSIONS; THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO INSTALL A NEW ONE ($5,400). *TR

2003 HONDA ACCORD. TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REBUILT. TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS AN AUTOMATIC, WOULD SHIFT FROM A HIGHER GEAR TO A LOWER GEAR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. AT TIMES THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT FUNCTION AT ALL AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTART IT. THANKFULLY, I WAS IN A VERY RURAL AREA AND WAS ABLE TO DO THIS. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. *TR

THIS IS THE 2ND COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE 2ND TRANSMISSION IN MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE. THE TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP, WON'T SHIFT, LOSES POWER AND IS A HAZARD TO THE ROAD. I WON'T DRIVE BEHIND ONE AND I OWN ONE. I WON'T DRIVE MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR. I WON'T GET IN THE CAR UNLESS I HAVE MY CELL PHONE WITH ME BECAUSE I RUN THE CHANCE OF NEEDING A TOW. YOU NEED TO START AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ENGINE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. PLEASE INITIATE ACTION ON THE SIDE OF THE CONSUMER, NOT BIG BUSINESS, AND PUBLICIZE AND ACT TOWARDS A RECALL OF THIS MODEL/YEAR. IT'S YOUR CIVIC DUTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE ENGINE EXHIBITED AN INCREASE IN RPMS YET THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE RESPONDED WITHIN SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND ACCELERATED UP TO 45 MPH BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED IN A CYCLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,708.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON 2003 HONDA ACCORD V6. THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO INDICATE THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT CHOKED LIKE A BAD STICK SHIFT DRIVER. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. *TR

THE WEEK PRIOR TO MY TRANSMISSIONS TOTALLY FAILING I BEGIN TO NOTICE HOW ROUGH IT WAS CHANGING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THE CAR BEGINS TO HESITATE BEFORE IT CHANGED GEARS AS IF IT WAS SLIPPING, I COULDN'T ACCEPT THE POSSIBILITY. IT WAS A 2003 HONDA (SUPPOSE TO BE A RELIABLE VEHICLE). TODAY I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY TAKING MY YOUNGEST SON TO SCHOOL AND THE CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY WHICH FRIGHTENED ME EXTREMELY BUT I MANAGED TO PULL IT TOGETHER AND TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND CUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS. DROVE THE CAR AT A VERY LOW SPEED SAFELY OFF THE HIGHWAY AND DROPPED MY SON OFF AT DAYCARE. I PUT THE CAR IN LOW GEAR AND CHANGED GEARS MANUALLY AND DROVE IT TO AAMCO. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY TRANSMISSIONS AND IT WOULD COST $2800 - $3200 TO REPAIR. I JUST KNEW IT WAS A SENSOR OR COMPUTER ISSUE NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS I THOUGHT OR BELIEVED IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION. PREVIOUSLY OWNING TWO OTHER OLDER MODEL HONDA'S BEFORE AND PROVIDING PROPER MAINTENANCE TO THOSE VEHICLES AS WELL AS THIS ONE. HAVING DRIVEN BOTH OVER 200,000 AND NEVER NEEDING A MAJOR REPAIR LIKE A TRANSMISSIONS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. MY BELIEFS LEAD TO DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH TO SEE IF HONDA ALREADY HAD A RECALL. TO MY DISBELIEF THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE AND THEIR VEHICLE HAVING EVEN LESS MILES. THE SERIES OF EVENTS ARE TOO COMMON FOR THIS TO BE A COINCIDENCE. MY VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO A HONDA DEALER IN THE MORNING. I WILL BE S

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE REPAIR FOR RECALL 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) PERFORMED BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT INSPECT IT BUT THEY COULD REPLACE IT AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION CENTER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ONE OF THE GEARS WERE MISSING WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOLD HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 152,650.

I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2003 HONDA ACCORD LX V6. SINCE OWNING THE ACCORD, I HAVE FOLLOWED THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALWAYS TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DUE TO THE SUGGESTION OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AFTER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED LAST YEAR, I EXPERIENCED SOME PROBLEMS WHEN I WAS DRIVING. THE CAR WOULD JERK SUDDENLY WHILE CRUISING NORMALLY. I BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR $4000. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS ISN'T JUST A RARE PROBLEM. IN FACT, THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT MORE, PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 2003 HONDA ACCORDS. ONLY MORE THAN 40,000 MILES AND LESS THAN 10 YEARS, THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS KEPT IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND MAINTAINED ACCORDINGLY. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS CURRENTLY BEING REBUILT. *TR

'TOOK 2003 ACCORD EX TO SOUTH BAY HONDA IN MILPITAS ON FEB 24, 2010 FOR APPLICABLE RECALL SERVICE' 1.THEY PERFORMED RECALL 08-043 WIPER MOTOR INOPERABLE. 2.UP SHIFT FLARING IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR DIAGNOSED 'SAID TRANSMISSION. RECALL ALREADY PERFORMED BY ANDERSON HONDA 3.PROBLEM 'TRACED TO INTERNAL TRANSMISSION CONCERNS.' 4.FLUID LEVEL OK, BUT LEAK NOTED 5.RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION REPLACE $3,596.00 6. ESCALATED TO MGR WHO DECLINED TO FIX 'CONTACTED HONDA AMERICA SAME DAY EXPLAINED SITUATION TO REP. IN RECALL DEPT 1.SAID RECALL ALREADY PERFORMED-TRANSMISSION; TRANSFERRED TO POST-WARRANTY SVC DEPT. 2.REP. IN THAT DEPT SAID ANDERSON HONDA DID RECALL AND ADDED 'JET KIT' ON SEPT 28, 2004 AT 20,491 MILES, (FAR EXCEEDING RECOMMENDED PERIOD BY HONDA W/O REMOVING SECOND GEAR AND INSPECTING AND REBUILDING TRANSMISSION IF GEAR DAMAGED) 3.ASKED WHETHER THEY TOOK PICTURES OF GEAR AND COULD PROVIDE RECORDS OF THAT SERVICE' REP TOLD ME 'THAT'S INTERNAL INFORMATION. WE DON'T GIVE OUT THAT INFORMATION.' 4.REP. SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. WAS NOT GEAR LOCK, WAS FLARING ' NOT COVERED BY RECALL 5.REP SAID TO FOLLOW UP QUICKLY ' DID SO BUT NO RESPONSE. 'CAR DROVE OK, SO CONTINUED TO DRIVE WHILE WAITING FOR RESPONSE. 'JULY 13, 2010 AT APPROX.9:45AM WHILE IN ROUTE TO BUSINESS MEETING - CAR LOCKED IN GEAR ON FREEWAY, LOUD CLUNK, TIRES CHIRPED A TAD, AND CAR DOWNSHIFTED TO LOWER GEAR' EA 'DROVE CAR SLOWLY IN 2ND GEAR POSITION TO DEALERSHIP ON FREEWAY WITH HAZARDS' NEAREST DEALERSHIP IN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT RECALL 04V176000 POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DID NOT APPLY TO HER VIN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 106000.

2003 HONDA ACCORD EX-V6, 76,000 MILES: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS, CAUSING VIOLENT DOWNSHIFTS, ERRATIC SHIFTING, AND AN UNDRIVEABLE CONDITION. CONDITION OCCURS AFTER CAR IS DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES. NON-HONDA SHOPS HAVE REPLACED FLUIDS, SENSORS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. HONDA DEALER HAD PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED A JET KIT IN 2008, AND THEIR EVAL TODAY SAYS THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST IN EXCESS OF $3,200. *TR

CONTROL PANEL DISPLAY (AUDIO-HVAC DISPLAY) FAILURE. I HAVE A 2003 HONDA 4 DOOR (W/O NAVIGATION)ACCORD EX. ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AGO WHILE DRIVING THE DISPLAY PANEL FOR THE VEHICLE OPERATING SYSTEMS-RADIO, HEAT/AC, TIME BLACKED OUT. AT-NEAR THE TIME OF THIS OCCURRENCE I WAS ON THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY. A FLASHING (EMERGENCY) SIGN -FLASHING 'EMERGENCY' 'CHECK RADIO CHANNEL 530 OR 1610 FOR DETAILS'- NOTIFYING AN EMERGENCY. AS I WAS DRIVING AND COULD NOT SEE THE RADIO DISPLAY. IT WAS DARK. I WAS UNABLE TO ACCESS THE EMERGENCY NOTICE. MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HONDA AND WAS TOLD THIS REPAIR WAS A DEFECT. THIS REPAIR WAS PART OF A CAMPAIGN TO FIX THIS DISPLAY, PER HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 04-027 BUT THE PROGRAM FOR MY VEHICLE HAD EXPIRED. THEY MENTIONED THE CAMPAIGN WAS PART OF A CAMPAIGN NOT A RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE SAFETY WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES IN THE PROGRAM. I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THE ROADS ARE EQUIPPED WITH EMERGENCY MESSAGE SIGNAGE' ARE FREQUENT AND COMMONPLACE. NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THESE MESSAGES DUE TO A CAMPAIGN PROGRAM WHERE NO NOTICE WAS RECEIVED BY ME (I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE). THIS PROBLEM, WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY IMPLICATIONS SEEMS TO RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A DEFECT. AS I WRITE, THE DISPLAY IS DARK AND HAS NOT EVEN FLICKERED SINCE THE INITIAL OCCURRENCE. *TR

MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD V6 WAS DEALER KEPT FROM INITIAL PURCHASE TILL TODAY. RECENTLY AS OF 9/13/2010 MY TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR IS 111,000. THE HONDA DEALER AFTER INVESTIGATING HAS QUOTED ME APPROXIMATELY $4,640 FOR A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. I AM OUT OF WARRANTY PERIOD ACCORDING TO HONDA AMERICAS IN CA AND THEREFORE NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *TR

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE ENGINE'S RPMS INCREASE BUT THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE. HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALER, EACH TIME THE TECH'S ARE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ON OCCASIONS I HAVE COME VERY CLOSE TO CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY AS THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE TO THE PREVAILING SPEED OF THE OTHER VEHICLES. I'M CONCERNED FOR MY AND OTHER PEOPLE'S SAFETY. *TR

TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT TWICE IN A YEAR. THE TORQUE CONVERTER KEEPS FAILING. THE MORE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE HAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT THE CONSISTENCY OF THIS PROBLEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BOTH TIMES I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR BEGAN SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE REAR ENDED BY SEMIS. HOW THIS IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN IS BEYOND ME. LUCKILY MY GODDAUGHTERS WERE NOT IN THE CAR TO BE INJURED. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE AWAY FROM DANGER AND "SAFELY" PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, AND SOON. BELOW IS THE DATE FOR THE SECOND INCIDENT. THE FIRST OCCURRED LAST JULY 2009. *TR

2003 HONDA ACCORD LX 3.0 V6 TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION FLUID BURNED, LOCKED UP CAUSING INABILITY TO STOP ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT 80,000 MILES. VERY HIGH COST OF REPAIR ESTIMATED AT 50% OF BLUE BOOK USED VEHICLE PRICE. HIGH NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ARE BEING FILED ALL OVER THE WEB AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED WITH CUSTOMERS BEING REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS. *TR

VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKS AS THOUGH YOU'RE HITTING THE BRAKES AND THEN ACCELERATES, THEN THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO FAIL. INCIDENT OCCURRED AS I WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH. SUDDEN JERKING OF THE VEHICLE AS IF I HAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THEN ACCELERATED AS IF I HAD SLAMMED ON THE ACCELERATOR. THEN BACK TO THE JERKING SENSATION UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE CURB AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I STRONGLY BELIEVE I WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT WITH MAJOR INJURIES IF ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD BEEN DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. *TR

2003 HONDA ACCORD EX 4 DOOR SEDAN . I HAVE HAD A SOFT,TOUCHY BRAKE PEDAL SINCE THE CAR REACHED 55,000 MILES. BEFORE THAT IT WAS PERFECT,ROCK SOLID. I TOOK IT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE ABS ELECTRONIC MODULATOR UNDER MY WARRANTY. AFTER FEW DAYS THE PROBLEM DID NOT IMPROVE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT 1/2 WAY DOWN EASILY AND THEN THE DISC BRAKES JUST LOCKED UP ALL OF A SUDDEN. THE DRIVER HAD NO REAL CONTROL OVER THE BRAKING ACTIION. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY CALLED HONDA REPAIR AND TALKED TO A TECH. HE SAID THAT A SOFT,TOUCHY PEDAL WAS NORMAL ON THESE CARS. I TOLD THEM THAT UP TO 55,000 MILES THE BRAKES WERE PERFECT. WHAT HAD HAPPENED? THEY DID NOT KNOW. SO I HAD THEM REPLACE ALL MY PADS AND TURNED ALL ROTORS.I THEN HAD THEM BLEED THE BRAKES. THE STOPPING POWER DID INCREASE BUT THE SOFT,TOUCHY BRAKE PEDAL REMAINED. AFTER GOING BACK TO THE DEALER THE 3RD TIME TO COMPLAIN,THEY FINALLY JUST TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY BRAKES AND THEREFORE COULD NOT HELP ME. SO I WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND HAD THEM REBLEED MY BRAKES JUST TO BE SURE THAT THERE WAS NO AIR IN THE SYSTEM. AFTER THEY DID THAT MY BRAKE PEDAL FIRMED UP A LITTLE BIT. BUT AFTER 2-3 DAYS THE SOFT,TOUCHY PEDAL RETURNED. NO ONE AT HONDA COULD GIVE ME ANY EXPLANATION. NOW I AM READING ABOUT DEFECTS ALLOWING AIR INTO THE BRAKING SYSTEM FROM THE ABS MODULATOR AND I AM THINKING N

MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. FIRST NOTICED GETTING ON FREEWAY IN BAD TRAFFIC. IF I HAD KEPT FOOT ON GAS IT COULD HAVE CAUSED WREAK WITH HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC ON BUSY FREEWAY. I TOOK FOOT OFF GAS FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND IT SHIFTED. AVOIDING HIGH SPEED AREAS I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT BY BACKING OFF THE GAS BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD. TOOK 2003 HONDA ACCORD TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH UP AN INCLINE IN RAINY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT GEARS ABRUPTLY AND ABNORMALLY HARD. THE CONTACT HAD A TUNE-UP PERFORMED AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. WHENEVER THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS A LENGTHY HESITATION BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD ENGAGE FROM 40-60 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL FOR HER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) THE DEALER ADVISED HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 113,000.

HELLO, I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO FORMALLY LODGE A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY HONDA ACCORD. I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED HONDA ACCORD FROM A HONDA DEALER (MCGRATH CITY HONDA, 6720 W. GRAND AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60707) IN 2007. LAST WEEK, ON THURSDAY EVENING (AUGUST 26, 2010), MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR BACK FROM HER WORK ALONE AND WHILE TAKING A LEFT TURN SUDDENLY THE STEERING GOT STUCK. SHE COULDN'T MOVE THE CAR AT ALL AND BARELY ESCAPED AN ACCIDENT WITH THE ON-COMING TRAFFIC WHICH WAS COMING AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. SHE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. WE TOWED THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND IT WAS FOUND OUT THAT THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WAS BROKEN. THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE WAS REPLACED TO FIX THIS AND IT TOOK 3 DAYS FOR THE PART TO REACH THE MECHANIC AFTER THE ORDER WAS PLACED AS THIS IS SUCH A RARE INCIDENT. I HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND. NOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED AT A HIGHER SPEED AND THE CONSEQUENCE COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO A CERTIFIED HONDA. IN FACT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO ANY CAR AT ANY TIME. I AM MAKING A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE AMERICAN HONDA AND WOULD LIKE YOU TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS MATTER WITH THE DEALER. [XXX] DATE: AUGUST 31, 2010 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 EX. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE WITH AN INTENSE VIBRATION. THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, HE RESET THE TRANSMISSION CODE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED TWICE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF CONVINCING HONDA TO RECALL THEIR 2003 ACCORDS DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHEN THEIR TRANSMISSION DECIDES TO FAIL, IT VIOLENTLY FORCES THE GEAR INTO FIRST. I WAS DELIVERING PIZZA IN 2003 HONDA ACCORD WITH LITTLE OVER 70,000 MILES ON IT WHEN MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AND FORCE ME INTO FIRST GEAR. I WAS ON A 50 MPH HIGHWAY AND INSTANTLY LOST TRACTION. I WAS ABLE TO COUNTERSTEER AND REGAIN CONTROL. I BELIEVE IF I WAS ON ONE OF THE 60 OR 70 MPH HIGHWAYS THAT I FREQUENTLY DELIVER ON, I WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN REGAINING CONTROL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE DOWNSHIFT IS SO RAPID AND WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE PAID 2 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR AND NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO WEASEL THEIR WAY OUT OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. HONDA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS CAR JUST LIKE THE OTHER ACCORDS THEY HAVE RECALLED. A COMPANY SHOULDN'T IGNORE THIS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM FOR THE SAKE OF MONEY. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE'S PHYSICAL LIFE IS TAKEN INSTEAD OF JUST THEIR MONEY. *TR

1. AFTER DRIVING 20+ MILES ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR BEGAN "BUCKING" VIOLENTLY. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, BUT THE BUCKING CONTINUED. THEN IT SUBSIDED. AS I WAS COASTING (NEITHER GAS NOR BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED), IT BEGAN BUCKING AGAIN, WITH SOME TIRE SQUEALS THAT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS BRAKING HARD. 2. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT OVERNIGHT (ENGINE OFF), I DROVE IT AGAIN DOWN THE HIGHWAY 20+ MILES WHERE THE SAME THING HAPPENED. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH IT WAS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. AS I APPROACHED FASTER SPEEDS, THE CAR DID NOT CHANGE GEARS, AND THE RPMS CONTINUED TO CLIMB TO 4-5-6-7000. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH IF IT TRIED TO CHANGE INTO 4TH GEAR, THAT MAY TRIGGER THE VIOLENT BUCKING, BUT WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD CHANGE INTO 4TH GEAR WAS RANDOM (NO RTHYM TO IT). THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD NEXT TO THE "D" STARTED BLINKING, ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. I AM LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS FOLLOWING CLOSE TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED HARM TO ANOTHER DRIVER AND IT'S PASSENGERS, AS WELL AS ME. 3. TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *TR

PURCHASED THE CAR ABOUT 7 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DID NOTICE THAT SHIFTING WAS KIND OF ROUGH BUT DID NOT THINK MUCH OF IT. ONE DAY DRIVING UP A HILL WHILE ON THE THROTTLE THE CAR WAS REVVING BUT THE CAR WAS GOING BACK DOWN THE HILL. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE DAY THEN FINALLY THE REVERSE GEAR AND 3RD GEAR GAVE OUT. HONDA SAYS THAT THE PROBLEM WILL COST $3600+ TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY $1000 TO FIX SO I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR $2600 WHICH IS STILL RIDICULOUS. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A HONDA AGAIN. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE LOOKING AT THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS. *TR

2003 HONDA ACCORD EX V-6 HAD FAILED TRANSMISSION AFTER ONLY 61,000 MILES, SUDDENLY SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY, THROWING MY HEAD FORWARD AND SLOWING THE CAR DRASTICALLY, AS IF THE BRAKES HAD BEEN SLAMMED. THIS WOULD HAPPEN SUDDENLY, WITH NO WARNING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, WITH ME BEING REAR ENDED. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. THIS IS TOO SOON FOR A TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT, WHICH COST ME $4,000.00. THIS IS NOT THE TYPICAL QUALITY THAT I'VE COME TO EXPECT FROM A HONDA VEHICLE, AND AM VERY UNHAPPY TO HAVE HAD TO SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY ON WHAT I CONSIDER A PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

2003 HONDA ACCORD EXL V6. CAR DRIVEN BY ORIGINAL ADULT OWNERS SINCE BOUGHT NEW. CAR WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED, AND GENERALLY GARAGE KEPT. AT 94,300 MILES, STARTED TO SHIFT HARD FROM 2ND GEAR TO THIRD, THEN INTO 4TH. THIS HARD SHIFTING WAS NOT DEPENDENT UPON WEATHER OR TEMPERATURE CONDITION. ON THE DAY OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, CAR WAS DRIVEN IN TOWN TO RUN A NEARBY ERRAND. WAS DRIVING IN MODERATE TRAFFIC WHEN CAR STARTED TO REV UP TO 6-7000 RPMS BEFORE SHIFTING INTO NEXT GEAR. WHENTHE TRANSMISSION WOULD FINALLY SHIFT, IT DID SO WITH AN AUDIBLE THUMP. THEN PARKED CAR, DID ERRAND, RETURNED TO CAR. IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP, SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THEN INTO DRIVE WITHOUT ISSUE. ONCE DRIVING BACK FROM ERRAND, CAR WAS NOTICEABLY LOUD WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND INTO THIRD. EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP LIGHT. WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO LEAVE THE STOPLIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED, AND CAR WAS TOWED FOR REPAIR. WE FEEL FORTUNATE THAT OUR YOUNG SON WAS NOT IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, NOR WAS MY HUSBAND ON THE TOLLROAD. WE FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE FOUND A LOCAL, REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER FOR $1500. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A TERRIFIC PRICE ON A REPAIR I WOULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED NEEDING TO DO PRIOR TO 100,000 MILES. SO MUCH FOR HONDA'S REPUTATION FOR QUALITY AND LONG-LASTING RELIABILITY. *TR

MY HONDA ACCORD 03 TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING GEAR AND IT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN. WHEN I AM AT A STOP LIGHT AND START DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION REVS UP AND DO NOT SHIFT GEARS FOR ABOUT 5 MIN. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR A BIT AND THEN START DRIVING AGAIN AND EVENTUALLY IT WILL SHIFT TO THE 2ND GEAR AND THEN DRIVE PROPERLY. IT HAS HAPPENED PRETTY OFTEN AND HAS HAPPENED ON A RAINY DAY AND I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

2003 HONDA ACCORD EX V6. CURRENT MILEAGE 78,500. PURCHASED NEW, SINGLE OWNER/DRIVER. RECENTLY I PULLED OUT ONTO A ROADWAY AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR, EN ROUTE TRAFFIC CAUGHT UP TO ME AND MY ABRUPT FAILURE TO ACCELERATE IN WITH TRAFFIC (ON A 3 LANE CONGESTED ROAD WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC), COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH THE CARS APPROACHING WITH MY VEHICLE THAT WAS ABRUPTLY STRANDED AND NON-MOBILE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAD SEVERAL CARS WHICH ALMOST REAR ENDED AS I WAS TRYING TO GET MY CAR OFF THE ROAD AND THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS FAILURE IS GOING TO OCCUR. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND AM VERY CONCERNED. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP. WHEN WE CALLED AROUND TO OTHER MECHANICS, WE WERE TOLD HE WAS SEEING "AN EPIDEMIC" OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IN THIS 2003 YEAR / MODEL OF HONDA. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, TOTAL COST AROUND $3,900 TO $4,200, OF WHICH I PAID $1,900 AND HONDA SHARED THE REST, EVEN THOUGH I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE BORNE THE WHOLE COST. I JUST WENT OVER MY 7 YEAR WARRANTY BY 2 MONTHS AND ONLY HAD 78,500 MILES ON MY CAR. *TR

CAR - 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX 4 CYLINDER-DRIVING FROM WORK AUGUST 24-2010, CAR JUST QUIT GOING FORWARD, NO POWER. NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WITH CAR. CAR HAS 101,131 MILES. NO WARNING LIGHTS. NOTHING. STOPPED CAR, PUT IT IN PARK, TURNED ENGINE OFF, RESTARTED CAR, PUT INTO DRIVE, WENT FORWARD LESS THAN 10 FT., CAR STOPPED GOING FORWARD. REPEATED SEQUENCE, CAR RAN IN 1ST GEAR OR 2ND GEAR. DROVE VERY SLOWLY TO HONDA DEALER, HONDA REPRESENTATIVE TOOK IT OUT AND CAME BACK AND TOLD ME THE 3RD AND 4TH GEAR WERE GONE, I ASKED IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE HONDAS, HE REPLIED ANY TRANSMISSION CAN GO AT ANY TIME. LOOKED UP HONDA RECALLS AND DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2004 ON 2003 HONDA ACCORDS, I DO NOT RECALL RECEIVING THIS RECALL ON MY CAR, IF I HAD RECEIVED IT, I WOULD HAVE ACTED ON IT AND HAD THE PROBLEM CORRECTED THEN. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE I WAS NOT ON THE INTERSTATE OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *TR

I BOUGHT THIS CAR LESS THEN A MONTH AGO. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR ONLY 7 DAYS IT STARTED DOWNSHIFTING ON THE FREEWAY AT 75MPH AND BUCKING ALMOST OUT OF MY CONTROL. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM AND THE TOLD ME TO CALL THE PEOPLE I PURCHASED THE WARRANTY FROM. I CALLED THEM THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE TO A SHP OF MY CHOICE. I DID AND THE SAID IT WAS THE SOLENOID A THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (A ELECTRONIC PART) WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY AND TO TOP THAT OF THEY CAN NOT GUARANTY ME THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHICH AFTER HAVING IT BACK FOR A WEEK THE CAR STARTED BUCKING AGAIN ON THE FREEWAY WHILE I WAS DOING 50MPH.... THE REPAIR COST ME $524. AND NOW I HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET AGAIN ANOTHER $2500. THIS COULD BE A VERY BAD SITUATION WHEN THE CAR STARTS DOWNSHIFTING ON IT'S OWN ON FREEWAYS. I SEE THEIR ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE. WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR TO MAKE THIS A RECALL FOR SOME TO DIE. *TR

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN A REGULARLY SERVICED 2003 HONDA ACCORD. I SLOWED DOWN AND THEN TRIED TO SPEED UP BUT TRANSMISSION KEPT SLIPPING BACK INTO 1 GEAR AND WOULDN'T ADVANCE TO THE NEXT GEAR. YOU COULDN'T GO OVER 20 MILES PER HOUR WITHOUT JERKING AND DOWN SHIFTING AND IT KEPT DOING THE SAME ALL THE WAY TO HONDA AUTO REPAIR PARKING LOT. WAS TOLD THE NEXT DAY THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. COULDN'T AFFORD A NEW ONE SO WAS REPLACED BY REBUILT TRANSMISSION ($3747.51). TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER BEEN WORKED ON OR HAVE I BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL MYSELF WHEN CHECKING TO SEE IF MY CAR WAS ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THE WIPER MOTOR I HEARD ON TV THIS WEEK. WITH ALL THE NEWS ABOUT RECALLS I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST CHECK TO SEE WHAT RECALLS HONDA ACCORDS HAD. TO MY SURPRISE AND JOY A TRANSMISSION RECALL WAS ISSUED SEVERAL YEARS EARLIER. I HOPE I CAN GET A REFUND OF MY MONEY AND GET A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED LIKE I SHOULD OF GOTTEN IN THE FIRST PLACE IF I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE RECALL. YOU WOULD THINK THE CAR DEALERSHIP WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE RECALL AND REPLACED IT AT NO CHARGE. I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS IF NEEDED. *TR

MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD ROUTINELY REVS UP WITHOUT GETTING INTO GEAR. THIS OFTEN HAPPENS WHILE I'M IN TRAFFIC. IT HASN'T CAUSED AN ACCIDENT YET BUT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. I'VE TRIED HAVING IT SERVICED MULTIPLE TIMES AND AM TOLD THAT IT CANNOT BE DUPLICATED IN THE SHOP. I'VE EVEN GOTTEN HONDA'S 500$ TRANSMISSION SERVICE...I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

2003 HONDA ACCORD V6 EX WITH 130,000 MILES ON IT. TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR TO PASS ANOTHER CAR AND NEVER ENGAGED. 30 MINUTES LATER, DRIVING AT 45 MPH, WHILE COASTING TOWARDS A STOP-LIGHT THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR AND I ALMOST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. DROVE 5 MORE MILES AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED FROM 3RD OR 4TH GEAR INTO 1ST GEAR 5 MORE TIMES. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHO WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AFTER TESTING FOR 2 DAYS. TOLD ME THAT I SHOULDN'T DRIVE IT, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. IT COULD BE DEADLY IF RUNNING AT HIGH SPEED. SCARED THE TECHNICIAN DRIVING. I WAS QUOTED A REPAIR PRICE OF $4100. I'M STILL CONTEMPLATING ACTION. *TR

THE FIRST TIME I DISCOVERED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR WAS WHEN I WAS GOING ABOUT 45 ON A PARKWAY AND THE CAR BUCKED. I WASN'T SURE WHAT HAPPENED AND THERE FOR EVERYTIME I SLOWED THE CAR DOWN, SLIPPED WHEN I WOULD PULL OFF. IT EVEN HAD AN ISSUE WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT IN REVERSE. I THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND DROVE IT AROUND AND IT WAS FINE. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER THE CAR DID THE SAME EXACT THING, IT WOULD REV UP AND THE CAR WASN'T MOVING. IT THEN WOULD BUCK AND WOULD CAUSE MY HEAD TO LASH. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE GOING ANY WHERE WITH IT. *TR

HONDA 2003 ACCORD EXV6 AUTOMATIC. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. BEGAN SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR ON AUG 9 2010. VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR REV BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FINALLY SLIPPED BACK IN GEAR. EXTREMELY CONCERNED I WAS GOING TO BE HIT WHILE STALLED IN INTERSECTION. SECOND TIME AFTER GOING TO DEALERSHIP ENGINE DID THE SAME THING BUT ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO PULL OFF TO EMERGENCY LANE. *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 NOTICED RESIDUE ON THE CONNECTION HOSE FOR THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 11/12/10 *CN

SINCE JANUARY, 2010, ON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT SOMETIMES REMAINS LIT - ALONG WITH THE NOTICE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF", WHICH TURNS OFF AFTER A SECOND OR TWO. THIS IS NOT AFFECTED BY WHETHER THERE IS A PASSENGER (OR PACKAGE) IN THE SEAT, COLD OR WARM START, TEMPERATURE OUTDOORS OR TEMPERATURE INSIDE THE CAR. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT RANDOMLY TURNS ON AND OFF. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY. *TR

ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD 3.0 L V6 DID AN UNEXPECTED RAPID DECELERATION FROM 50 MPH TO 25 MPH IN A SPLIT SECOND. IT HAPPENED SO FAST THAT IT RAMMED ME INTO THE SEAT BELT CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CHOCK FROM THE SUDDEN IMPACT WITH THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT. I AM VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. I WAS PRETTY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT ELSE IT WOULD DO SO I GINGERLY PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE ROARED BUT I WAS ONLY GOING 27 MPH AND THE RPM'S WENT UP TO 3500. IT WAS LOUD. I DROVE 3 MORE MILES TO GET HOME. I DROVE WITH MY FLASHERS ON SINCE I COULDN'T GET ABOVE 30 MPH. THE ENGINE ROARED AND SHIFTED ROUGHLY THE ENTIRE TIME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE HONDA DEALER AND HE SAID THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO REPEAT THE INCIDENT AND THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED OUT FINE. HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DOES HAVE A BURNT SMELL. HE RECOMMENDED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. THEY FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE FLUID. BUT, HE TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS OKAY. I PICKED MY CAR UP TODAY. I NOW OWN A CAR THAT HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT I DON'T HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE. *TR

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON MY 4 CYLINDER 2003 HONDA ACCORD EXL WAS REPLACED UNDER THE 8/80 WARRANTY ON 7/10/09 AT JOYCE HONDA, DENVILLE, NJ. THE CAR HAD ONLY 67,187 MILES ON IT. NOW, LESS THAN A YEAR LATTER AND AFTER ONLY 18,348 MILES ON THAT GENUINE HONDA REPLACEMENT PART, ARON COOPER, THE JOYCE HONDA SERVICE MANAGER, SAYS IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HE SAYS THAT THE CODE P0420 CAME UP AFTER THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE REASON FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. THAT IS AN EXTREMELY SHORT LIFE SPAN FOR SUCH AN ENVIRONMENTALLY IMPORTANT PART. IT IS ALSO AN EXTREMELY SHORT LIFE SPAN FOR AN EXPENSIVE PART REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. MAT HATCH, THE HONDA FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE, SAID THAT HONDA WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE REPLACEMENT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH IS A HONDA PART, INSTALLED AT A HONDA DEALERSHIP WITHIN THE 8/80 WARRANTY PERIOD. MAT'S RATIONALE WAS THAT ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS WITHIN THE 8 YR. TIME PERIOD, IT IS 5,535 MILES OVER THE 80,000 LIMIT. HE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE UNUSUALLY SHORT LIFE OF THE REPLACEMENT PART THAT WAS INSTALLED UNDER THE WARRANTY. AS A CONSUMER I AM SUSPICIOUS OF A GENUINE HONDA WARRANTY REPLACEMENT PART THAT LASTS FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND ONLY 18,348 MILES. AS A CITIZEN I AM CONCERNED THAT HONDA WON'T HONOR ANY REASONABLE LONGEVITY FOR AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE PART. PERHAPS MR. HATCH DOESN'T SHARE HONDA'S ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS TO MARKET HONDAS AS RELIABLE AND ECOLOGICALLY SOUND TRANSPORTATION. PERHAPS HE DOESN'T SHARE THE HONDA'S MARKET

TRANSMISSION ORIGINALLY SLIPPED GOING UPHILL AT 30MPH, BUT DID NOT HAVE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AGAIN AND CAR WAS GOOD FOR ANOTHER 300MILES. TRAVELING AT 70MPH UPHILL ON FREEWAY, CAR JERKS INTO LOWER GEAR AND IMMEDIATELY JUMPS BACK INTO HIGH GEAR AND HAPPENS CONTINUOUSLY. WITHIN A FEW MILES, CAR STAYS UNDER 40MPH AT 4,500RPM AND CONTINUES TO SLIP. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO HONDA DEALERSHIP AND AN EVENTUAL $3,900 CHARGE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HE PARKED HIS VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE AND REMOVED THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGED TO THE REAR BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE DEALER DID NOT CALL THE CONTACT REGARDING THE FAILURE; ALTHOUGH, HE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK FOR OTHER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. NHTSA RECALL #10V364000, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION DATED AUGUST 04, 2010 WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE AND WAS NOT EXPECTED TO BEGIN UNTIL ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 29, 2010. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 11/05/10 *BF UPDATED 11/05/10.*JB

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AROUND 90K MILES (2 WEEKS AGO). HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WITH VIOLENT JERKING BETWEEN SHIFTS AND UNEXPECTED DOWNSHIFTS WHICH EQUATE TO SUDDENLY FLOORING THE BRAKES. HAVE HAD INCIDENTS ON HIGHWAY WHEN IN OVERDRIVE AND SLOWING, TRANSMISSION SEARCHES, OR DOES NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR LEAVING ENGINE DISCONNECTED FROM DRIVETRAIN. ALMOST REARENDED ON 3 OCCASIONS THUS FAR AS CAR SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTS AROUND 40 MPH IN TOWN. PROBLEM CONTINUES TO WORSEN AND NOW DO NOT HAVE REVERSE GEAR ON OCCASION. SHOULD NOT DRIVE CAR BUT HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE. WILL ATTEMPT REPAIR MYSELF IF HONDA WILL NOT COVER COST. EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED 3 MONTHS PRIOR. *TR

2003 HONDA ACCORD 3.0 4DR AUTOMATIC - TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND RAPIDLY DECELERATED NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY IN GEAR AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DID ENGAGE IT WOULD ONLY GO INTO 2ND/3RD GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE DEALERSHIP NOW HAS THE VEHICLE AND HAS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRES A NEW TRANSMISSION. DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE THE PART WILL COST MORE THAN THE VEHICLE IS VALUED. *TR

THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT ON DRIVER'S SEAT MALFUNCTIONS, HAD SPORADICALLY COME ON AT RANDOM TIMES (HAD BEEN OCCURRING SEVERAL TIMES PER WEEK) WITH BUTTON IN OFF POSITION, ON MY '03 HONDA ACCORD. IT WOULD GET QUITE HOT NEAR LOWER BACK PORTION OF SEAT. THE DEALER HAD DISCONNECT AT MY REQUEST THE WIRE ON THE CONSOLE BUTTON, IN HOPES THIS ADDRESSED THE SITUATION. I'M NOT CONFIDENT THIS HAS BEEN TOTALLY RESOLVED, AND MY VEHICLE HAS HAD 3 INEXPLICABLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES OVER THE PAST 12-14 MONTHS. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

CAR BEGAN REVVING UP TO 2500 RPM'S AT 25-30 MPH, THEN UP TO 6500 RPM'S AT 50 MPH, AND NEVER SHIFTING BACK DOWN. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR