2003 Honda Accord Complaint Log

IN ADDITION TO ALREADY RECALLED 2004-5 HONDA ACCORDS, YOU NEED TO INCLUDE 2003'S TOO. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. QUITE POSSIBLY IT IS THE OCCUPANT PROTECTION SENSOR, OR SOME COMPONENT OF THAT SYSTEM, IN THE 2004/05'S IT IS A WIRING HARNESS. MINE HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THEY WILL GLADLY BEGIN LOOKING FOR A $120 DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE. THIS IS A FEDERALLY REQUIRED SAFETY SYSTEM, ANY SAFETY SYSTEM FIXES SHOULD BE AT NO COST TO OWNER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD V6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT WHILE SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION HAD SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN ONE MONTH LATER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

THE LOW BEAM LAMPS OF THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE FAILED 3 TIMES - TWICE IN THE DRIVER SIDE, ONCE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR HONDA AS OTHER HONDA MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE CAR, IT IS EXTREMELY COMPLICATED TO REPLACE THE BULB. AS NOTED IN THE CAR INSTRUCTION MANUAL, THE LINING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL WELL MUST BE REMOVED TO ACCESS THE HEAD LAMP BULB! THIS MAKES IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ANYONE OTHER THAN A HONDA DEALER TO REPLACE THE BULB. AS A CONSEQUENCE, REPAIRS TO THE HEAD LAMP CANNOT BE EASILY AND QUICKLY MADE BY AN AVERAGE OWNER, FURTHER ADDING TO THE SAFETY HAZARD CAUSED BY THE LAMP FAILURE. HONDA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THIS MODEL, REPAIR THE HEAD LAMPS, AND REPLACE WITH A NEW DESIGN TO ENABLE RAPID, SIMPLE BULB REPLACEMENT BY THE AVERAGE OWNER. REPLACING A MAJOR SAFETY ITEM ON AN AUTO SHOULD NOT BE SO DIFFICULT. HOW MANY INJURIES HAVE BEEN CAUSED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM?

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2003 HONDA ACCORD, THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT TO SECOND GEAR GIVING A BURNT SMELL. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND HE SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED. WE HAD THE CAR SERVICED AT REGULAR INTERVALS AND WE ALSO FOUND THAT WITH THIS MODEL THERE SEEMS TO BE AN UNUSUAL HIGH NUMBER OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES. I FEEL THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR WE ARE ON THE HIGHWAY DAILY. HONDA HAD A RECALL TO PUT AN OIL SPRAY KIT ON THIS MODEL, BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM MAGNIFIED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE AGGRESSIVELY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE YET THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY DRIVE FORWARD WHILE IN SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS, AS THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,000. UPDATED 1/19/2010 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO CHANGE GEARS AND SLIP OUT OF GEAR ON ITS ON. THE STARTLING DELAYED SHIFTS WERE VIOLENT AND SUDDEN, WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, WHICH CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LURCH AND DECELERATE IN A VERY AGGRESSIVE MANNER. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE OR MOVE FORWARD ABOVE SECOND GEAR. UPDATED 03/28/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED DURING RAINY WEATHER. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE WITHOUT INCIDENT AND WHEN ARRIVING, THE WIPERS RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE AND WAS ORDERED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V169000, (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR) AND WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURE THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,450 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED AND KNOCKED THE CONTACT UNCONSCIOUS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A MAILBOX AND TREE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BODY BRUISES AND INJURY TO THE NOSE. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGES AND WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY, RESULTING IN THE CONTACT CRASHING INTO A TREE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER WAS REPORTED INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

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.

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 SUBMITTING A COMPLAINT WITH THEM AS WELL. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. HARD WORKING PEOPLE DON'T DESERVE TO BITE THE EXPENSE OF REPAIRING SOMETHING THAT'S CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. *TR

THE SRS AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT HAS COME ON ALMOST DAILY SINCE MY PURCHASE OF MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX V6 IN SEPTEMBER 2010, INDICATING MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN I NEED THEM MOST (IN THE EVENT THAT I NEED THEM). THIS IS A HIGHLY CONCERNING COMMON TREND OF THIS GENERATION OF ACCORDS. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL NEEDS TO RESULT. *JS

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR. ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY CAR FORCED ITSELF INTO A LOWER GEAR. MY CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY AND SKIDDED ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS LUCKY THAT NOBODY WAS AROUND ME AT THE TIME, OR I COULD HAVE DEFINITELY HIT SOMEBODY. I DROVE MY CAR STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $4,500. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY THE FEE AND FIX MY CAR. SEEMS RIDICULOUS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS, WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THERE IS CLEARLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP BETWEEN GEARS. WHEN HE WOULD ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD BUT THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE THIRD GEAR PRESSURE SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

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

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

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 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.

THE ENGINE REVS UP, BUT THE CAR WON'T SHIFT INTO GEAR OR MOVE, DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS FAILING AND ESSENTIALLY BURNING UP THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, RENDERING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION USELESS. I HAVE TO STOP AND TURN OFF THE CAR RANDOMLY TO KEEP GOING. SOMETIMES CARS BEHIND ME HAVE TO SLAM ON BRAKES BE CAUSE CAR CAN NOT GO. ALSO HAPPENS ON INTERSTATE WHICH IS DEFINITELY IS A RISK TO CRASH. *TR

THIS CAR HAD RECALLED FOR TRANSMISSION . I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2006. I GOT TOLD THE RECALLED HAS BEEN FIXED IN 2004. I GOT PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION AGAIN IN 2007 WHEN MY CAR REACH 45000. THEY FIXED THIS PROBLEM USING MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOW SINCE LAST 2 YEAR I STILL GETTING THE PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION . AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYING THEY CAN'T FIX THIS TIME BECAUSE THEY HAVE FIXED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. I CAN'T PASS THE INSPECTION WITHOUT FIXING THIS PROBLEM. FIXING THIS PROBLEM COSTING ME MORE THAN WHAT MY CAR WORTH, ABOUT $5000. PLEASE HELP. *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

2003 HONDA ACCORD. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE TRANSMISSION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTIONED AS IT SHIFTED UP AND OR DOWN THROUGH SECOND GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP AND NOT ENGAGE INTO THE NEXT GEAR. POWER TO THE WHEELS WOULD BE LOST AND THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP TO ABOUT 5500 RPM. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, AN ABRUPT SHIFT WOULD SOMETIMES OCCUR WHEN APPLYING SLIGHT ACCELERATION/DECELERATION. IN GENERAL, SHIFTS IN LOWER GEAR SOMETIMES DID NOT SEEM TO BE AS SMOOTH AS NORMAL, EITHER TAKING TOO LONG TO MOVE FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXT OR SOMETIMES SHIFTING ABRUPTLY. THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION. REPAIRS WERE MADE ON OCTOBER 5, 2004, BUT IT APPEARED THE REPAIRS DID NOT PERMANENTLY RESOLVE THE DEFECT. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED ONLY AN OIL JET KIT WAS INSTALLED AS A TEMPORARY FIX. THE SECOND GEAR OF THE TRANSMISSION HAS SINCE FAILED. HONDA REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THEY STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. UPDATED 12/13/10*JB

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 3 MPH FROM A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN HER VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE DRIVER SIDE BY A POLICE VEHICLE. THE LEFT SIDE AND FRONT OF THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. A PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, ELBOW, KNEE, BACK, AND NECK. ANOTHER PASSENGER SUSTAINED A SMALL CUT TO HER FOREARM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,008.

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

MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD 6 CYLINDER AUTO TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. WHEN THE CAR HEATS UP AND I TRY TO ACCELERATE...IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. *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

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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 150,000. UPDATED 02/09/11*LJ UPDATED 05/23/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND THE SPEED WOULD WILL SUDDENLY DECREASE TO 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A HALF PRICE DISCOUNT OFF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

MY TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD ON MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD AND I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSIN REPLACED. TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH THE HONDA ACCORD AND CIVIC IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN MODELS MADE FROM THE EARLY 2000S. THE 2003 HONDA ACCORD AND 2001 HONDA CIVIC APPEAR TO BE THE WORST YEARS FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CURRENTLY THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION DEFECT, BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE (ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA). THE COST TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION IS INCREDIBLE AND I THINK THAT HONDA SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS REPAIR WHEN THEY KNOW IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THEIR PRODUCT. IT MAY NOT BE LISTED AS A SAFETY ISSUE ACCORDING TO NHTSA BUT THE TRANSMISSION CAN GO OUT AT ANY TIME (WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED) AND CAUSE DANGER TO ALL THOSE INVOLVED, NOT TO MENTION THE INCONVENIENCE OF BEING STRANDED!

ALL INTERIOR ILLUMINATION LIGHTS WENT OUT AND YOU CAN NOT SEE IN CAR. CALLED THE DEALER THEY STATED IT WAS NOT A BULB AND WOULD COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX THE ISSUE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AND WONDER WHY A RECALL HAS NOT OCCURRED. *TR

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 ASSEMBLY. UPDATED 07/22/11

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

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

AFTER TRAVELING 60MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HWY AND THEN TURNING ONTO A SECONDARY ROAD MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD STOPPED MOVING. WE TOOK IT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BURNED OUT. A REBUILT TRAN WAS PUT IN. *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

I WAS DRIVING AT 65MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE CAR SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR CAUSING IMMEDIATE DECELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE INITIAL INCIDENT BACK IN AUGUST 2010, THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY BE DRIVEN 8 MILES AND EACH TIME SOMEONE DARES TO "TEST IT OUT" IT ONLY TAKES A FEW MILES BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS LURCHING AND THE DRIVER IS FEARING FOR THEIR LIFE. THIS PROBLEM IS REAL AND IF IT HASN'T ALREADY IT WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN SOMEONE(S) LOSING LIFE OR LIMB. *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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 40-50 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE LED DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER WERE ON. THE FAILURE WAS A CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. UPDATED 02/07/11 *BF UPDATED 03/17/11

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP INTO SECOND GEAR AND JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BY A PREVIOUS OWNER, UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,209.

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 MARKETING DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS, FOR HE HAS IGNORED A LEGITIMATE CLAIM FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS BOUGHT A NEW EX MODEL VEHICLE EVERY 3 YEARS DURING THE LAST DECADE. SUCH A 'PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH' RESPONSE WILL LEAVE ME DESCRIBING MY DISSATISFACTION TO MY NEIGHBORS RATHER THEN SHARING MY PRIDE IN OWNING HONDAS. *TR