2003 Honda ACCORD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,987 owner complaints analyzed
13 distinct recall campaigns
88,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,589 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 576 of 1,987 complaints (29.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 879 | 44.2% |
| Braking behavior | 307 | 15.5% |
| Steering behavior | 119 | 6.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 49 | 2.5% |
| Engine operation | 46 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 0.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 576 |
| Power Train | 339 |
| Air Bags | 253 |
| Electrical System | 82 |
| Steering | 80 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 67 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 63 |
| Engine | 51 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 576; Power Train: 339; Air Bags: 253; Electrical System: 82; Steering: 80; Vehicle Speed Control: 67; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 63; Engine: 51
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 255 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 123 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 229 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 354 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 463 |
| 150,000 and above | 165 |
Under 25,000: 255; 25,000 to 49,999: 123; 50,000 to 74,999: 229; 75,000 to 99,999: 354; 100,000 to 149,999: 463; 150,000 and above: 165
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (463). 398 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 182 |
| 2004 | 175 |
| 2005 | 62 |
| 2006 | 66 |
| 2007 | 56 |
| 2008 | 134 |
| 2009 | 176 |
| 2010 | 272 |
| 2011 | 209 |
| 2012 | 126 |
| 2013 | 106 |
| 2014 | 95 |
| 2015 | 109 |
| 2016 | 46 |
| 2017 | 45 |
| 2018 | 32 |
| 2019 | 38 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2002: 2; 2003: 182; 2004: 175; 2005: 62; 2006: 66; 2007: 56; 2008: 134; 2009: 176; 2010: 272; 2011: 209; 2012: 126; 2013: 106; 2014: 95; 2015: 109; 2016: 46; 2017: 45; 2018: 32; 2019: 38; 2020: 14; 2021: 11; 2022: 7; 2023: 12; 2024: 3; 2025: 5; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 879 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 307 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 119 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007278 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT INTO DIFFERENT GEARS, THE GEARS JUMPED AND HUNG UP IN GEAR, THE GEARS HUNG UP BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEARS, ALSO WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN REVERSE, IT WOULD SPEED BACKWARDS WITHOUT STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018746 · 2003-05-15 (May 15, 2003)
WHEN AUTO SHOULD BE COASTING OR UNDER VERY SLIGHT LOAD, FEEL INTERMITTENT ENGINE BRAKING, ENGINE RPM IS FLUCTUATING INDICATING TRANSMISSION IS SEARCHING BETWEEN GEARS. DEALER SAID THAT IS THE WAY THEY ALL ARE. VERY ANNOYING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018746 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000257 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)
MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE IN MOTION. I INCREASED SPEED FROM 40 MPH TO 50MPH TO PASS A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE IN MY LANE AND EXPERIENCED A SURGE OF POWER THAT I COULD NOT CONTROL BY TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. I NEEDED TO BRAKE TO RESTRAIN THE VEHICLE. THE TACHOMETER WENT TO 6000 RPM AND STAYED STEADY THE ENTIRE TIME PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AS I PREPARED TO KILL THE IGNITION RETURNED CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED RESPONDING. I HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND AM GETTING…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000257 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002412 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS HAD FAILED. DEALER ALSO ADVISED CORRECTIVE PART IS NOT IN THE UNITED STATES AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN UNTIL POSSIBLE 02/15/03. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 80 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002412 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024267 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING, IT CAUSED A CAR ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED, THE VEHICLE HAD GONE BACK AND FORTH AND CAUSED HER TO HIT THE TIRES OF THE SEMI. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,981 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036707 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)
I PURCHASED A 2003 ACCORD IN JUNE 2003. THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT I NOTICED A VIBRATION THAT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THE VIBRATION WAS CAUSED BY OUT OF BALANCE TIRES, AND THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO BALANCE ALL FOUR WHEELS. AFTER BALANCING THE TIRES, THE VIBRATION STILL EXISTED. I TOOK MY CAR BACK FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TOLD THEM THAT THE VIBRATION WAS STILL PRESENT. I TOOK THE TECHNICIAN ON A TEST DRIVE AND HE CONFIRMED THE VIBRATION, HOWEVER WHEN I RETURNED TO PICK UP MY CAR IT WAS INDIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036707 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060243 · 2004-03-03 (March 3, 2004)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH- MY KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION EVEN AFTER BEING FIXED BY THE DEALER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 45 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060243 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060268 · 2004-03-03 (March 3, 2004)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH - KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION & CANNOT GET IT OUT OF THE IGNITION FOR HOURS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060268 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019790 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040349 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10395193 · 2011-04-07 (April 7, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR REPLACEMENT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 05/05/11*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK, THE NEEDLE WOULD NOT GO PAST 3/4. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND PUMP…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10409590 · 2011-06-23 (June 23, 2011)
AT APPROXIMATELY 56,000 MILES, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR MAIN OIL SEAL. AT 68,000 MILES, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AND AS OF JUNE 4TH, 2011, WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 78,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AND PROCEEDED INTO "LIMP MODE" TO 30 MPH. IT PROCEEDED TO THEN RETURN INSTANTLY TO 70 MPH AND WITHIN 30 SECONDS REPEATED THE SAME AND AS WE WERE TRYING NOT TO FLY OFF THE HIGHWAY IT AGAIN REPEATED THIS SAME BEHAVIOR AT WHICH POINT WE PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, WHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10409590 at NHTSA ↗