2003 Honda Accord: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Nov 20, 2015 · Airbags, Transmission · 218,000 miles · GA

My 2003 honda accord ex v-6 has 229000 miles and is need of its fourth set of engine/motor mounts. I have owned several accords and have never had this problem. The car jerks upon take off and makes grinding sounds when decelerating . Also, the car squeaks, moans, and groans when slowing down to make left and right turns. My mechanic told me it is rare for a car to need motor mounts so often for a vehicle. Due to the broken motor mounts, the car's oil pan has begun to leak due to movement of the engine and transmission and power steering fluids are leaking due to the movement. Also, my airbag warning light turns on intermittently. I have checked several times and my car is not included in the takata airbag recall, but it does concern me. I don't know if there is a problem or if it is an electrical problem.

Filed Sep 1, 2015 · 133,000 miles · WI · 1 injury

Driving at approx 50-55 MPH, my car suddenly and abruptly jerked several times, like a sudden hard brake, then let loose. Did this intermittently a few times then no more on this particular day. The next time I drove it, it did one hard sudden jerk, so I pulled over. The car did not move in drive after that, had to be towed, since the front axle broke from the sudden jerking. The jerking or braking, as it seemed, was very frightening as it felt like it would throw me off the road or someone from behind would hit me. The car's tires squealed because it jerked so hard and it would throw my head against the head rest. Very frightening at 55 miles an hour!! I took it in and it was discovered that the clutch was sending debris into the transmission causing it to plug up and the transmission was trying to go into 2 gears at the same time causing it to stop suddenly, then let loose. It does this after about 20-30 minutes of driving when it has warmed up the fluids in the transmission. The transmission has to be rebuilt. This seems like a recall issue, as this is common with this vehicle they said. Could very easily cause death or injury if it happens on icy roads or in traffic!! Thankfully I did not have to drive on the freeway and that it is not winter, because it could very easily have thrown me into another car or another car hit me from behind or lost control on an icy roadway and spun into the ditch or worse, been killed!! It very much scared the mechanic when he drove it also.

Filed Jul 27, 2015 · Engine · 131,239 miles · CT

While slowing down to stop at light in traffic and car just stopped and almost got hit by cars in my rear . I heard a loud boom and car(car mileage at 131239 )wouldn't move .it also wouldnt go in to park and there was grinding sound when trying to put in park . Had car towed to find out its was transmission ,paid 1895.00.now here I am 7/27/2015 and the same thing happen (car mileage at 153000) . How is honda not have a recall on these cars. It is dangerous and I see so many complaints about this problem with this car .I spent alot or money to have a car continue to need transmission fixed at $2000 cost .

Filed Apr 28, 2013 · Transmission · 98,500 miles · NJ

Brought 2003 accord in oct 2010 with approximately 66k miles on it. In december 2010, I had to return it to the dealer because it was shifting very rough, and I would hear a grinding sound while driving to work(approx. 16 miles, round trip). There was a recall on the issue, however, the dealership manager tried to have me pay $285 for shipping costs of the parts. After some haggling for 2 days, he called me back & said they'd pay for it since it was around the holidays (lucky me!). Today, the transmission felt as if it literally fell out the car! While pulling out of my parking spot, it felt as if I ran over something huge! I put the car in reverse & it wouldn't move. I put in gear(automatic) and it made a loud whirring sound,then a grinding sound. I immediately put in park & the noise got louder. I turned the car off & it stopped, looked under the car, nothing. I started car again, put in gear, no movement & loud noise started again. I turned car off & had to get family members to assist in pushing it to a parking spot. Searched for & found dealer invoice from 2010 repair, and it states "warr. Exp. 11sept2013"......halleluah! I'm calling the dealer 7am on monday, letting them know I'm bringing it in, and I'm not paying a dime!

Filed Apr 14, 2012 · Engine · OH

Honda accord just stopped while my daughter was driving. Made a grinding sound when tried to restart. Fortunate that this happened on our court.

Filed Mar 1, 2012 · Transmission · 93,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda accord. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated when driving at any speed and would exhibit a grinding noise. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and a diagnostic was performed, but the dealer was unable to generate a failure code. The dealer also test drove the vehicle but the failure could not be to duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 93,000 and the current mileage 108,000.

Filed Sep 13, 2011 · Transmission · 101,380 miles · NH

I was driving on the highway and my car suddenly downshifted I was thrusted forward and back. I continued to drive home attempting to slow at a light it shifted so hard the tires squealed. The car continued to shift very hard between first and second gear for about 1 mile until I got home. As I was looking on the internet for a transmission I came across a web site and learned there was a recall for second gear in 2004 that I was never notified about. I dropped it off for first thing in the morning at the dealership, that afternoon I received a call stating they drove my car around the block and there was nothing wrong with the transmission and I could come get the car when I refused due to recall, I was told they would need a few days to get the recall repair parts. I was fine with that considering I was too afraid to drive the car and I was getting a ride to and from work for the last two weeks anyway. The very next day they called and said they fixed all recalls, and drove the car again and the transmission was fine. When I went to pick up the car I wanted to make sure they inspected second gear per recall they told me they did take a picture but would not offer proof. They also told me second gear would not fix my transmission after they tell me there is nothing wrong with it.I do not believe they inspected my transmission at all. I think they just replaced the parts they needed to get the recall done I cannot help but think if I received this recall six years ago I may not be going through this now! By all the complaints on this site and many others this is a known problem. What is going to take for honda to make it right? I am now stuck with a car I an too afraid to drive!!!!!!!!!!!

Filed Aug 29, 2011 · Engine, Transmission · 168,000 miles · PA

While traveling at speeds approximately 45-55 MPH, the engine initially would rev up and after gas pedal released, would return to normal within seconds. This happened approximately three times on separate days over a 3-4 week period. Yesterday, the transmission revved once as described previously. Within a few minutes of that episode, it then started to suddenly downshift from overdrive or drive into 2nd causing the car to suddenly lurch forward, rapidly decelerate and the tires to squeal. This happened several times and occurred regardless of whether we were going up or down a hill and at various speeds. We narrowly avoided an accident with a tractor trailer before we had the car towed.

Filed Jul 14, 2011 · Airbags, Body · CA

Since the purchase I've experienced continual transmission problems. Upon speaking with the dealership I was assured all was fine. You can imagine my surprise when I received notice of the transmission recall (the federal safety agency 04v176000). Upon repair, in september 2004, I did not notice repair improvement, and continued to detect the rough grind of transmission shift and a whining sound. In 2009 I experienced a catastrophic transmission failure to which I had sought repair. In december 2010 I experienced another transmission failure. I have just now experienced my 3rd transmission failure, july 2011. My power steering pump had always had a faint whine, but honda services never identified it as concerning. The problem progressively became worse until honda finally suggested a repair, but informed me that the component was then out of warranty and would be a costly repair. I decided to delay repair until june 2011. Ac problems manifested in september 2005 and required replacement in april 2008. My center council clock and temperature display has been flickering, dimmed, and absent since 2009. The interlock stuck issue first materialized in 2008 and serviced in july 2010. My airbag warning light has been active since 2008 with an occasional but repetitive tcs alert; and my headlamp glass has been hazed since 2005. The paint deterioration is ridiculously embarrassing, the leather seating began showing wear 2 years in, my seatbelt doesn't return to the original released position, head liner has water leak stains, cd player stopped working, exposed wiring is visible at the driver door hinge, I've gone through 3 batteries, countless tires, one cracked windshield, and I have always suffer from poor radio reception and occasional navigational signal roaming issues. In these times of thrift conscious fuel consumption, I utilize my nav tools to monitor my driving activity. I'm stunned to report I get a fuel economy of 24 mpg highway, not the 31 mpg as sticker reports.

Filed Feb 20, 2011 · Transmission · 71,499 miles · OH

On february 18th, 2011 my 2003 honda accord v6 ex-l sporadically and erratically started to down shift. From that point total loss of drive occurred within 10 minutes. Previous traction control warning light stayed on a week prior to this happening. Also a very high pitched whining or grinding occurred a few days prior (thought is was my front brakes). Currently vehicle is at certified honda dealer waiting for inspection. Mileage 71,499. Transmission flush done at 59,000 and vehicle recall repair was done within 3 months of re-call notice.

Filed Dec 14, 2010 · Steering · 80,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda accord. The contact stated that when starting the vehicle he would hear a loud noise coming from the front of the vehicle. When leaving the driveway and driving approximately 5 MPH, the steering would exhibit a loud grinding sound and the wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who informed the contact that he would need to replace the steering assembly or he would not be able to move the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. : updated 02/23/11 *bf updated 12/01/2011

Filed Nov 16, 2010 · Transmission · 112,000 miles · TN

On november 16, I was driving with my wife on the interstate at about 75 MPH. Suddenly, the tires locked and squealed enough that I could smell the rubber. Both of our seatbelts locked out because of the deceleration. About 1/2 second later, the car continued normally and we slowed to 55 MPH. We proceeded to the nearest exit and experienced another sudden deceleration that was not as severe as the initial one. We pulled into the nearest parking lot and I got out of the car to check the brakes. They appeared normal. When I shifted the transmission from park to drive, the entire car shook with a pronounced "clunk." when I shifted the car back to p and returned it to d, it shook the entire car again. The car drove normally around the lot, so we started driving to the dealership. The car would not shift past second gear once we got on the road. We pulled into a parking lot and had the car towed the remaining distance to the dealership. Maintenance has been performed according to the owner's manual service schedule. My research found hundreds of similar issues with 2003 accord transmissions. The local dealership said they had never seen this issue before. The dealership will charge over $4400 to replace the transmission. Other websites suggested contacting corporate honda directly to request "goodwill" financial assistance. I recalled the details to the representative who would not offer assistance because it was outside of warranty. The representative also stated they had not heard of this happening to any of their 2003 accords, which is highly suspicious given the 100s of complaints that I found.