FaultScore

2003 Honda Accord electrical problems

148 of the 2,384 complaints about the 2003 Honda Accord are about the electrical system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 66,500 miles.

B

148

Complaints

8

Crashes

6

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 82 55.4%
Ignition 23 15.5%
Switch 14 9.5%
Instrument Cluster/Panel 14 9.5%
Interior/Under Dash 6 4.1%
Front Underhood 2 1.4%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 2 1.4%
Control Module 2 1.4%
Wiring 1 0.7%
Relay 1 0.7%

Electrical System across every Honda Accord year

1990 28 0.7%
1991 17 0.4%
1992 26 0.6%
1993 28 0.7%
1994 36 0.9%
1995 46 1.1%
1996 44 1.1%
1997 101 2.5%
1998 319 7.8%
1999 398 9.7%
2000 177 4.3%
2001 79 1.9%
2002 71 1.7%
2003 148 3.6%
2004 152 3.7%
2005 96 2.3%
2006 42 1.0%
2007 60 1.5%
2008 108 2.6%
2009 44 1.1%
2010 34 0.8%
2011 18 0.4%
2012 33 0.8%
2013 417 10.2%
2014 380 9.3%
2015 237 5.8%
2016 192 4.7%
2017 150 3.7%
2018 285 6.9%
2019 100 2.4%
2020 50 1.2%
2021 56 1.4%
2022 90 2.2%
2023 23 0.6%
2024 23 0.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

EL Monte, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I brought my vehicle to a Honda dealership for a safety recall repair (airbag/SRS related). After the repair, the SRS warning light appeared on my dashboard, indicating a potential safety issue with the airbag system. This issue was not present before the recall repair. It appeared shortly after the dealership completed the service. I contacted the dealership multiple times, but they have not responded or provided any assistance. This is a serious safety concern because the airbag system may not function properly in the event of an accident. I believe the recall repair was performed improperly, creating a new safety risk. I am requesting an investigation into this issue.

NHTSA complaint #11729508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My break starts seizing up for no reason just out of the blue and a mechanics can't seem to find them problem, which led to my brake light constantly being on.

NHTSA complaint #11719786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 238,000 miles Medford, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, the contact started the vehicle, and the vehicle shut off independently. The “Maintenance Required” message was displayed. The contact stated there was smoke coming from the hood of the vehicle, and several minutes later, the smoke dissipated. The contact stated that a technician from the Auto Care Department at Walmart inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the positive and negative battery terminals were burned and damaged, as well as a wire near the engine. The technician from Walmart used a diagnostic machine to diagnose the vehicle however, the result was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 238,000.

NHTSA complaint #11691819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 337,000 miles Lawrenceville, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2003 Honda Accord. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 156,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 337,000.

NHTSA complaint #11690002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 230,000 miles Poughkeepsie, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that there were several mechanical failures with the vehicle. The contact stated that there was a failure with the ignition switch, and the key could not be removed from the cylinder, and the shift lever failed to shift into drive(D), park(P), or into reverse(R). The contact stated that while the vehicle was in drive(D), the drive(D) indicator was flashing. Additionally, the contact had been having a failure of the power steering assist. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or to the right. The contact was unaware of any warning lights during the power steering failure. The contact stated that the power steering failure was recurring. There was also a failure with the transmission. The contact stated that after being able to shift to drive(D), and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated before responding. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shaking abnormally and hesitating. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and found several recalls related to the failures. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and the contact was advised that two previous recall repairs were completed for the air bags and the ignition, but the VIN was no longer under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

NHTSA complaint #11688957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mesilla Park, NM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My key will not go into the ignition. It also starts to get hot. The steering column also starts to get hot. It also periodically smells like something is burning. The dealership wants to charge me $140 to look at it. I don't have the money. I have not been able to have anybody look at it because I don't have the money. This first happened back in February of 2023 but I got worse around June 1, 2023

NHTSA complaint #11525074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Babylon, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Doors locked from inside and cannot get out unless I put my window down. Safety issue. Second time I replaced my door since I was in a car accident a few years ago. Same problem came back again after replacing the door handle it used to work for years at the driver side until recently. Also doors are unable to unlock from the switch.

NHTSA complaint #11474137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 153,000 miles Omaha, NE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. O'DANIEL HONDA (LOCATED AT 123 BEVERLY DR, OMAHA, NE 68114, (402) 393-7801) WAS CONTACTED VIA PHONE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

NHTSA complaint #11292558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 260,000 miles Sheridan, AR 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL: MY SON WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT OVER 60 MPH WHEN THE SIDE AIRBAG (DRIVER SIDE) SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. IT SLAMMED INTO HIS LEFT ARM WITH EXTREME FORCE,KNOCKING HIM TOWARD THE PASSENGER DOOR MAKING HIM SWERVE IN FRONT OF AN 18 WHEELER. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG THEN DEPLOYED AND AS HE WAS TRYING TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE ON RAMP AND THE INTERSTATE, AS HE EXITED THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MAY 2016 THE AIRBAGS AND IGNITION RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE. AFTER INCIDENT DEALERSHIP RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND SAID ALL HE COULD SEE WAS THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SRS UNIT. HE ASKED US IF WE HAD MADE ANY ELECTRICAL MODIFICATIONS (WHICH WE HAVEN'T) I ASKED HIM IF THAT PART HAD BEEN CHECKED OR REPLACED DURING THE RECALL AND HE SAID THAT WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL. HE SAID WE SHOULD CALL HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I LEARNED THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON THE REPLACEMENTS BECAUSE OF MOISTURE BEING INTRODUCED DURING MANUFACTURING.ALSO THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH CORROSION AND MALFUNCTION OF THE SRS UNITS DUE TO EXTREME TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE HEAT INDEX WAS 110 AND THE HUMIDITY WAS EXTREMELY HIGH. ARKANSAS IS LOCATED IN THE SECOND OF THREE PRIORITY REGIONS FOR THE SRS RECALL.ALSO WHILE RESEARCHING SPONTANEOUS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSES, I LEARNED THAT THE SRS UNIT MOISTURE PROBLEM AND THE DEGRADATION OF ACCELERANT FROM MOISTURE CAN NOT ONLY CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT, BUT ALSO CAUSE THEM TO DEPLOY WITH NO IMPACT. THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL INFORMATION AND HONDA SHOULD EXPAND THE SRS RECALL. WE ARE LUCKY LIVES WERE NOT LOST IN THIS INCIDENT, BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE THE NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS.

NHTSA complaint #11243916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT HAD TO LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. ONE HOUR LATER, THE KEY WAS RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. A FEW HOURS LATER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SERVICED DUE TO ITS AGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED WITH THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10981691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 97,746 miles Derwood, MD Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD LX CRASHED ON 10/01/2016 ABOUT 18 MONTHS AFTER I HAD MY AIRBAG SERVICED AT A LOCAL HONDA DEALER 4/7/2015. WHEN I GOT MY CAR BACK FROM THE DEALER, THE DRIVER DOOR HAD NO POWER AND COULD NOT BE OPENED REMOTELY OR WITH THE POWER LOCK CONTROL ON THE DRIVER DOOR. MORE IMPORTANTLY, NO SAFETY SIGNALS CAME ON WHEN THE CAR STARTED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY $80 TO HAVE IT CHECKED; I THEN CALLED AMERICAN HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHO ONLY DOCUMENTED THE COMPLAINT AND TOOK NO ACTION TO REMEDY MECHANICAL MISTAKE BY HONDA DEALER. I WAS DRIVING ON A DOWNHILL CURVE ON A WET ROAD AFTER A RAIN. WHEN I SAW A SLOWER CAR AHEAD OF ME, I GENTLY APPLIED THE BRAKE TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT FOLLOWING DISTANCE. THE CAR DRIFTED TO THE LEFT TOWARD ONCOMING TRAFFIC. BUT WHEN I TRIED STEER TO GET BACK TO THE RIGHT LANE AND TRIED TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE, IT LOCKED UP, THEN THE CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND I HAD NO BRAKE AND STEERING RESISTANCE WAS COMPLETELY LAX. MY CAR WENT OFF ROAD AND CRASHED INTO THE WOODS. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS CONFINED IN BED WITH PAIN ONE WHOLE DAY. MY TRANSMISSION HAD LOCKED UP, THEN WENT INTO NEUTRAL, TWICE BEFORE ON 1/14/2015 IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, AND ON 9/15/2016 IN MY DRIVEWAY. WE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HONDA FOR THE TRANSMISSION RECALL; HOWEVER, WE DID RECEIVE LETTERS REGARDING THE AIRBAG RECALL, THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL, AND THE WIPER MOTOR RECALL. A YEAR AGO, THE RECALLS CAME UP USING MY VIN#. THE DATABASE NOW SHOWS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE AT ALL. AFTER MY CAR CRASH, I HAD IT TOWED TO HONDA DEALERSHIP ON 10/4/2016 FOR REPAIR ESTIMATE. I LEFT MY CAR AND TITLE WITH DEALERSHIP; LESS THAN 48 HOURS LATER I CALLED TO GET CAR BACK FOR CRASH INVESTIGATION AND LAWSUIT, THE CAR HAD BEEN DESTROYED BY HONDA DEALER CLOSING ALL FURTHER INQUIRIES. AMERICAN HONDA TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY WHEN I CONTACTED THEM.

NHTSA complaint #10929411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Philadelphia, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CAR TURN ON WHEN HE WANT TOO I TRY TO TURN IT ON AND DO S CLACLACLA THEM LIKE 10 MINUTES LATER IT TURNS ON PEOPLE TELL ME ITS THE IGNITION IT DO THIS ALMOST EVERYDAY

NHTSA complaint #10889360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 190,000 miles Lakewood, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA complaint #10874617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stephenville, TX Fire 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, BEFORE THE PASSENGER EXITED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, SMOKE APPEARED WITHIN THE INNER PART OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND A FIRE ERUPTED. THE DRIVER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE PASSENGER WAS BURNED AND HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/29/16

NHTSA complaint #10860099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rahway, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2003 HONDA ACCORD. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FACTORY INSTALLED RADIO, COMPONENTS AND BACK LIGHT DEFECT ISSUES. *SMD CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED RECENTLY, THE CD PLAYER WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE RADIO BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION AND DRAIN THE BATTERY. THE RADIO WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF WHILE BOTH THE RADIO, ALL COMPONENTS AND VEHICLE WERE TURNED OFF AND THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START THE NEXT MORNING. ON TWO OCCASIONS AFTER DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF FOR FIVE MINUTES AND IT WOULD NOT RE-START. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND IT WAS ALL BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE RADIO. A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THEY HAD RECENTLY COME ACROSS NUMEROUS 2003-2007 VEHICLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE WAY HONDA INSTALLED AND MOUNTED THE RADIO, COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT THE BRAINS OF THE RADIO WAS DEFECTIVE, THEREFORE DRAINING THE BATTERY AND CAUSING THE RADIO AND BACK LIGHT TO FAIL. THE BACK LIGHT WORKED OCCASIONALLY AND THEN STOPPED ILLUMINATING. UPDATED 05/04/16*LJ *JS

NHTSA complaint #10836195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,000 miles Kenner, LA Crash

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD WILL NOT START WITH KEY SHIFT LEVERAGE IS LOCKED IN PARK, MOVE OUT OF PARK, HAVE TO PUT ON EMERGENCE TO KEE BREAKS TO T FROM ROLLING. MY CAR ROLLED ON ITS OWN CRASHING INTO MY OTHER PARKED CAR BREAKING THE BACK BUMPER AND DAMAGING THE TRUCK LOCK ALSO, THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING ANYMORE ON THIS CAR.HAVE TO DISCONNECT BATTERY TO RELESSE KEY FROM IGNITION. THANK GOD I WAS IN MY OWN DRIVEWAY WHEN THE CAR BEGIN TO ROLL AND CRASH INTO MY OTHER CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10823386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Indianapolis, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE WINDOW MOTORS, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS, AND THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS REPAIRED. THE OTHER TWO DOORS AND WINDOW MOTORS WERE NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10818538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Philadelphia, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE FAILURE HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SYMPTOMS WERE THE SAME AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V364000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE, A SIMILAR FAILURE OCCURRED. THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10806144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,000 miles Yorktown, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

JUNE 2015: TORQUE CONVERTER: CAR WHEN ACCELERATING SLAMMED OUT OF GEAR AND FELT LIKE WE HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED. CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. RADIO: RADIO SYSTEM BACK LIGHT BROKE AT 60,000 MILES CURRENT ISSUE: GEAR SHIFT KNOB FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING CAR AND BUMPED GEAR SHIFT AND WAS ABLE TO SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING. CALLED HONDA COMPLAINT LINE TO COMPLAIN AND THERE WAS NO ACTION OR CONCERN REGARDING THE CURRENT ISSUE OF THE GEAR SHIFT KNOB.

NHTSA complaint #10780886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,000 miles Bunker Hill, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PROBLEM 03 ACCORD LX - 4 DOOR/ AUTO TRANSMISSION. I FIRST NOTICED THIS WHEN WALKING PAST THE LOCKED CAR, NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION, THE DISPLAY WOULD LIGHT UP EVER FEW MINUETS. THE RADIO TURNS ON SPONTANEOUSLY WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, DRAINING BATTERY, LEAVING ME STRANDED. COULD HEAR A CRACKLING LOUD SOUND COMING FROM SPEAKERS OFF AND ON WHILE TAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS FOR ABOUT A YEAR, RADIO WORKING OFF AND ON, EVENTUAL THE SOUND WENT OUT, RADIO APPEARS TO WORK BUT NO LONGER HAS SOUND, DISPLAY STILL LIGHTING UP AND DRAINING BATTERY. NO WRECKS.

NHTSA complaint #10748125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,030 miles Gloucester, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND IN PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS ON 128 ALMOST ON TO 95 WHEN AT CENTENNIAL DRIVE EXIT WHEN MY VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING, SLOWED FROM 60 MPH TO 30 MPH , I PUT ON HAZARDS AS CAR WENT FROM 30 MPH TO 10 MPH TO DEAD ALL IN A MATTER OF 45 SECONDS TOPS. IT WAS AROUND 12PM AND TRAFFIC WAS MODERATE TO HEAVY. CARS BEHIND ME WERE FORCED TO SLOW AT A SIGNIFICANT RATE, LUCKILY A PILE UP DID NOT OCCUR AS THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCH A ACCIDENT WAS EXTREMELY POSSIBLE WITH ONE DRIVER NOT FULLY PRESENT I DON'T WANT TO IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES. I WAS ABLE TO SEMI SLIDE CAR INTO BREAKDOWN LANE SAFELY ENOUGH AND AAA CAME 1 HOUR LATTER AS THEY LISTED MY CALL A PRIORITY CALL.. I HAD CAR TOWED TO HOME TOWN AND MECHANIC WENT THROUGH CAR IN ITS ENTIRETY TO DISCOVER THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HONDA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF TESTIMONIES FROM HONDA OWNERS REGARDING THEIR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS OCCURRING AROUND 126,213 MILES. THE MODELS WITH FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS ARE 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009 .

NHTSA complaint #10706141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irvington, AL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO, CRUISE CONTROL, AND HORN FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE AIR BAG FAULT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT INTO PARK, THE SHIFTER KNOB FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SHIFTER KNOB PLATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V700000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 03/30/15*LJ UPDATED 6/24/2015

NHTSA complaint #10681159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 189,750 miles Missouri City, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE 2003 HONDA ACCORD FOR TRAVEL. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A TORQUE CONVERTER THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER DOING ADDITIONAL RESEARCH I FOUND THAT OTHER HONDA OWNERS HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. MY CAR RUMBLES WHEN DRIVING THROUGH RESIDENTIAL AREAS. WHEN I TRY TO ENTER MY VIN NUMBER IN TO SEE IF MY CAR IS ELIGIBLE IT WON'T COME UP, BUT I'M DEFINITELY EXPERIENCING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING IN SPECIFIC GEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10678430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 23,686 miles Sacramento, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DRIVER'S CAR (LEFT FRONT) KEYHOLE WON'T ACCEPT MY KEY, ELECTRONICALLY. I WENT TO DIFFERENT AUTO SERVICES AND HAVE THE SAME COMMENTS THAT MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE THE SAME. I CHECKED THE INTERNET, YOUTUBE.COM, MANY OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL & YEAR HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AND PROBLEMS, EVEN THE HONDA CHAT ROOM HELP SITE. I THOUGHT THIS IS AN ISOLATED PROBLEM, BUT IT'S NOT, IF THERE IS SOME WAYS THAT YOUR COMPANY COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS MATTER/ISSUE CONCERNING THE MANUFACTURER'S (HONDA) DEFECT ISSUE, PLEASE LET US KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO SHOULDER TO EXPENSES ON THEIR BEHALF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONCERN AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU THE SOONEST AND FOR THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM FOR THE INCONVENIENCE THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING FOR A LONG TIME. I HAVE TRIED CLEANING THE INSIDE OF THE KEYHOLE BY AIR PRESSURED AND WD 40, NOTHING HAPPENED. I CAN INSERT THE KEY HALFWAY ONLY AND THEN IT WILL STOPPED. ALL OTHER KEYHOLES ARE FUNCTIONING WELL, EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S KEYHOLE.

NHTSA complaint #10668176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles NEW Roads, LA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED SINCE 2008, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID. THE ISSUE PERIODICALLY OCCURS, BUT DOES CAUSE ME TO STARTLE WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON YESTERDAY WHILE DRIVING AND PRESSING THE ON AND BUTTON ON THE CONTROL PANEL DID NOT WORK AS USUAL. I HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF TO STOP THE ISSUE. I SURFED THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT WAS THERE ANYONE ELSE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND BEHOLD IT HAPPENED EXACTLY AS THE PERSON MENTIONED. SO, READ BELOW: RADIO STATIC NOISE ON 2003 ACCORD FORUMSTODAY'S POSTSLOG INREGISTER HOME/AUDIO/VISUAL ELECTRONICS RADIO STATIC NOISE ON 2003 ACCORD #1 12-19-2011 12:46 PM BY[XXX] C HELLO, I GOT HEADACHE PROBLEM WITH RADIO ON MY 2003 ACCORD. ACTUALLY SINCE 2008, SOMETIMES RADIO DISPLAY IS BLANK IN THE BEGINNING WHEN CAR STARTS UP. IT USUALLY RESUMES NORMAL IN 1 - 2 MINS. SOMETIMES RADIO STATION INFO SHOW UP BUT NO SOUND. IF TRYING TO TURN OFF/ON A COUPLE OF TIME, IT CAN GET IT WORKING. RECENTLY I AM GETTING STATIC NOISE OCCASIONAL COMING OUT FROM SPEAKERS IN THE BEGINNING WHEN CAR STARTS UP. IT LASTS 10 - 20 SECONDS THEN COMPLETELY GONE. YESTERDAY IT SCARED ME AS THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE A BIG LIGHTNING STRIKES AFTER I STARTS UP CAR. IT LASTS 20 - 30 SECONDS, THEN RADIO GETS NORMAL IN MINUTES AS USUAL. THE SUDDEN NOISE TAKES YOU BY SURPRISE WHEN DRIVING AND CAUSES PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL RESPONSES. SO, IT APPEARS THERE WAS SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE RADIO WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10660380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,000 miles Stuart, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WENT TO PUT THE KEY IN TO START MY VEHICLE AND THE KEY TOTALLY FELL APART IN MY HAND. IT WAS DARK AND I HAD NO WAY TO START MY CAR. I TRIED PUTTING THE KEY PORTION WITHOUT THE ENCLOSURE INTO THE IGNITION BUT IT WOULD NOT WORK TO START THE CAR. I THEN TRIED TO REASSEMBLE THE KEY IN THE ENCLOSURE AND TRY TO TURN THE CAR ON SO I COULD AT LEAST GET HOME...IT DID CATCH LONG ENOUGH TO START THE CAR AND I HAD TO HOLD IT TO GET HOME. SINCE THEN BOTH OF MY KEYS HAVE FALLEN COMPLETELY APART AND I HAD TO USE GORILLA GLUE TO HOLD IT TOGETHER BUT BECAUSE OF THE GLUE THE AUTO LOCK DOES NOT WORK....AND THE KEY IS VERY WOBBLY IN THE ENCLOSURE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY FACTOR WHICH I HAVE SEEN WRITTEN ABOUT ON THE COMPLAINT WEBSITES. I HAVE ALSO CALLED AND REPORTED IT ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY FACTOR.

NHTSA complaint #10626509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles Dorchester, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

I PURCHASED A HONDA ACCORD EX ABOUT 30 DAYS AGO, USED, OF COURSE. THE IGNITION SWITCH IS LOCKING. I CAN TURN THE CAR OFF BUT IT TAKES ME ABOUT 10 MIN TO WIGGLE THE KEY OUT. I HAVE TO TURN CAR ON OR HALFWAY ON AND OFF IN HOPES OF GETTING THE KEY OUT. THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD READS AS THOUGH THE CAR IS IN PARK AND DRIVE AT THE SAME TIME. HONDA DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS BUT PER MY RESEARCH IT HAPPENS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND HAS TO BE MORE THAN A USER ERROR. I MAY HAVE TO PAY ALLTHIS MONEY TO GET SOMETHING FIXED THAT IS FAULTY IN THE CAR AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AS THE KEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME OUT WITH NO ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10573199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Ozone Park, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

EVERY TIME I TRY TO START THE CAR THERE WILL BE A BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE TO TURNOVER THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I CAN GET THE CAR TO START. I NOTICED A DETERIORATION WITH MY ABILITY TO START THE CAR AFTER THE DEALER PERFORMED THE 'REPAIR' DUE TO AN IGNITION RECALL . CURRENTLY , THE OCCURRENCES OF FAILURE TO START THE CAR AT EVERY ATTEMPT HAS INCREASED TO THE POINT OF THIS BEING A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #10563526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Newark, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V364000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHE TURN THE INIGINATION ON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DID RESTART. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE EACH TIME SHE RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RE OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HE STATED IT WAS DUE TO A RECALL, AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AT 150,000.LJ

NHTSA complaint #10553044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Jasper, AL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PROBLEM STARTED : ABOUT A WEEK AGO . ENGINE WOULD STALL IF EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WAS/WERE ACTIVATED. AT THE PRESENT, ENGINE DIES WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED..AMERICAN HONDA TOLD US THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE. ( PROBLEM ALSO OCCURS WHEN 4 WAY FLASHERS ARE ACTIVATED). CAR IS UNSAFE AND NOT DRIVABLE WITHOUT TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY OTHER HONDA OWNERS HAVE OR HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM , AND ALSO WHAT WAS DONE OR REQUIRED TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE .

NHTSA complaint #10526275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Honda Accord problems

← Full 2003 Honda Accord report