2003 Honda Accord Lighting Problems

I WAS LEAVING A FRIENDS HOUSE AT NIGHT ON DECEMBER 28 AND WHEN I TURN THE CAR ON NONE OF THE LIGHTS IN THE CENTER CONSUL LIT UP. I COULDN'T SEE THE RADIO TO OPERATE IT NOR THE TIME. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO OPERATE IN TRYING TO SELECT CLIMATE CONTROL. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE ANY OF THE SELECTIONS FOR A HOT COLD, THE ABILITY TO INCREASE OR DECREASE THE FLOW OF THE HEAT, SELECTING WHICH ITEM TO USE SUCH AS THE DEFROST BUTTON. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED FROM A STATIONARY POSITION. HOWEVER, SINCE THIS WAS A NEW VEHICLE TO MYSELF IT MADE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT AFTER I LEFT HIS FRIENDS HOUSE. IN PARTICULARLY BECAUSE I NEED IT TO CHANGE THE DEFROST AS I WAS DRIVING, AND I COULDN'T SEE WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SELECT. ADDITIONALLY, SINCE I CANNOT SEE THE TIME, I HAVE TO USE OTHER MEANS SUCH AS A PHONE OR WATCH WHICH I'M SURE CAUSES DISTRACTED DRIVING.

ERROR CODE IDENTIFIED 54-5X FROM DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS OR AIR BAGS, INTERNAL FAILURE OF SRS UNIT. LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR SEAT BELTS IS BEING DENIED AS APPLICABLE BY HONDA FILED MANAGER AND HONDA DEALER. SUBSEQUENT TO SUCH CONFIRMED DX, RIGHT SIGNAL MARKS BEGAN TO FAIL.

THE PANEL BUTTONS ON THE AUDIO/HVAC UNIT ARE NOT ILLUMINATING WHEN THE LIGHTS ON THE 2003 HONDA ACCORD ARE TURNED ON. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE (SVC BULLETIN 04-027). FOR THIS RECALL, THE WARRANTY EXTENSION COVERAGE IS 7 YEARS OR 105,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. I CALLED AMERICAN HONDA TO INQUIRE ABOUT A "GOODWILL REPAIR" AND WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER COVERED BY THIS RECALL. THE RECALL IS BASED ON A COMPONENT FAILURE ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) AND HONDA SHOULD REPAIR THIS FAILURE PAST THE 7 YEAR OR 105,000 MILE MARK. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, BECAUSE YOU NEED TO TURN ON THE DOME LIGHT TO FIND THE CORRECT BUTTON OR KNOB ON THE AUDIO/HVAC UNIT AT NIGHT, SUCH AS THE FRONT OR REAR DEFROSTER BUTTONS.

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE RADIO DISPLAY WENT OUT. THERE IS NO LIGHTS ON THE HEAT/AC DIAL CONTROL, THE FAN CONTROL, ALL THE DEFROSTER/AIR BLOWER OPTIONS. MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO USE THE DEFROSTER IN THE FRONT OR REAR WHEN DRIVING SINCE I CAN'T SEE WHICH BUTTON I AM PUSHING. IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE TO TRUN ON AN INTERIOR LIGHT WHEN DRIVING TO SEE WHAT I NEED TO PUSH TO MAKE MY VISIBILITY BETTER. *TT

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. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTING WAS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,500. UPDATED 11/07/11 *BF UPDATED 05/10/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE HAZARD RILEY SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,000. UPDATED 01/24/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL FAILED WHILE IN USE. THE HAZRD RETURN SWITCH WAS REPLACED. UPDATED0 3/22/11

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?

I HAVE A HONDA ACCORD 2003 LX. MY STEREO LIGHT IS DIM AND I COULDN'T SEE THE CLOCK. THEY HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN 04-027. HOWEVER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY FIX ALL THE 2003 ACCORD EXCEPT MODEL LX AND DX. THE POINT IS MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS OTHER 03'S ACCORD DOES. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT IF DRIVERS TRY TO READ THE TIME AT THE DARK. ( OR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE DURING AT NIGHT WITHOUT THE BACKGROUND LIGHT) HONDA SHOULD COVER ALL THE 2003 ACCORD! NOT ONLY UPPER MODEL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. NONE OF THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WORK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER. SHE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH TURN SIGNALS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77482.

USING TURN SIGNAL SWITCH CAUSES ENGINE TO DIE. THE ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. *TR

MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX HAS HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF THE ACCESSORY LIGHTS GOING OUT THAT CONTROL THE RADIO AND HVAC CONTROLS. IT IS ACTUALLY A TRANSISTOR ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD BLOWING THAT CONTROLS THE CONSOLES LIGHTING. HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HAS PUT OUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ABOUT THIS FOR 7 YEARS OR 105,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. IF THE WARRANTY IS OUT, THE COST TO FIX IT THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP IS $700-900, NOT SOMETHING MANY PEOPLE THESE DAYS CAN AFFORD, AND BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT, THEIR SAFETY IS DECREASED. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT, THEY REALLY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX ANY THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. MULTIPLE TIMES I'VE TRIED TO CHANGE MY TEMPERATURE OR RADIO SETTINGS AND WHILE TRYING TO SEE THE DISPLAY ALMOST GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE MESSAGE BOARDS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AND HOW MUCH OF A SAFETY CONCERN THIS IS. AN ANONYMOUS USER POSTED THIS ON THE BOARDS: : "CAN'T VIEW ANYTHING ON THE RADIO DISPLAY OR CENTER CONTROLS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT WHEN TRYING TO ADJUST THE HEAT OR A/C AND CAN'T SEE WHAT I'M DOING. HONDA SHOULD DEFINITELY FIX THE ISSUE. IT REALLY IS A SAFETY PROBLEM." MORE DETAILS HERE: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/HONDA/ACCORD/2003/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/STEREO_BACKLIGHT_BLEW_CANT_JUST_REPLACE_THE_BULB.SHTML. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED ON MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD WITH 32,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER REFUSED TO EVEN COVER THE REPAIR. FOUND PROBLEM BEFORE AN ACCIDENT HAPPENED. *JB

FIRST, MY CD PLAYER STOPS WORKING OUT OF NOWHERE, WHICH I LATER COME TO FIND OUT THAT THEY HAD INSTALLED AN INTERNAL DEFECTIVE CD PLAYER. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THE CD PLAYER BROKE, MY DRIVE SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY OR POWER LOCKS. THEN, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO MY DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I GOT SOMEONE TO CHANGE BOTH SO THAT ONE WOULDN'T BE BRIGHT THAN THE OTHER, BUT AFTER THEY WERE BOTH I CHANGED, THE DRIVE SIDE HEADLIGHT STILL REFUSED TO WORK.

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD WITH A FAILURE MILEAGE OF 83,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME TOO DIM TO READ. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE AUDIO UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UNIT FREE OF CHARGE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,975.*AK

THIS COMPLAINT APPLIES TO ALMOST ALL CURRENTLY SOLD VEHICLES FROM ALL MANUFACTURERS. THE POLYCARBONITE LENSES ON VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS DETERIORATE QUICKLY AND GREATLY REDUCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS COST OF REPLACING THESE DEFECTIVE LENSES IS PROHIBITIVE FOR MOST OWNERS AND THEY SIMPLY DRIVE WITH THE DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE HEADLIGHTS. MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THESE DEGRADED AND UNSAFE LENSES WITH GLASS OR OTHER NON-HAZING MATERIAL AT NO CHARGE. POLISHING SCHEMES RARELY ARE EFFECTIVE AND DO NOT LAST LONG ANYWAY. ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION ALONG WITH NORMAL WEATHERING IS THE SUSPECTED CAUSE OF THIS DETERIORATION OF THE POORLY DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED LENSES.

THERE WAS NOTHING OF CONSEQUENCE THAT OCCURRED IN THE TIME LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE. THE DISPLAY, CONTAINING THE CLOCK, AIR CONDITIONING, RADIO, AND CD CONTROLS OF THE 2003 HONDA ACCORD NO LONGER LIGHTS UP. THIS MAKES IT VERY INCONVENIENT TO ATTEMPT TO USE ANY OF THESE FEATURES. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE THIS FIXED, AS WELL, SINCE THE LIGHT SOURCE IS INSIDE THE UNIT AND THE ENTIRE CENTER UNIT MUST BE REPLACED, WHICH CAN COST APPROXIMATELY 1000 DOLLARS. I AM AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENING IN THE CARS OF EVERY OTHER PERSON I KNOW WHO OWNS THE SAME MODEL CAR. *NM

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

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

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