2003 Honda Accord: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Oct 7, 2025 · Electrical · 238,000 miles · NY

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.

Filed Apr 18, 2016 · Body, Electrical · TX · fire · 1 injury

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

Filed Nov 5, 2015 · Steering · 200,000 miles · MO · fire

I have a 2003 honda accord sedan. In aug 2015, I had been noticing a wheezing, straining sound when I turned my car while driving. It became harder to turn as well. I checked the power steering fluid, and it was empty. I got the appropriate power steering fluid specifically for hondas and refilled it. In sept 2015, on my way to work in the morning, I noticed smoke coming from under my hood. It is a 10 minute commute for me through the city streets. The smoke began when I was outside my work at a stoplight. I was able to get into the parking lot when I realized the underside of my hood had caught fire. (see attached photos) that day, I got it to the mechanic, and he told me that there were cracks in the power steering and fluid was everywhere under my hood, all over my engine. Doing some research online, I saw a recall for this exact problem, with my exact car: the federal safety agency campaign id# is: 12v222000; may 17, 2012. It states that "prolonged under hood and power steering fluid temperatures may cause the power steering hose to deteriorate prematurely, resoling in cracks and power steering fluid leakage. If this occurs, power steering fluid can lead onto a hot catalytic converter, leading to smoke and under hood fire." when I called into honda customer service to confirm my car applied to this recall, they said it did not. I do not understand how this exact problem can exist for my car, but my car not be listed as effected. Regardless of what they say, my car caught on fire. My car caught on fire for the same reason honda recalled 625,762 other vehicles for power steering defects. As I cannot afford to fix the power steering, I was however forced to replace the belt that is closest to the power steering fluid reservoir (see photos), because it had been burned and mangled. Nearly $200 just for the belt.

Filed Jan 12, 2015 · Engine · 117,000 miles · LA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda accord. While driving 35 MPH, the engine caught fire and the radio turned on and off. The instrument panel lights flashed and the speedometer increased to the highest number. The contact merged the vehicle to the side of the road and noticed smoke under the hood. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.

Filed Mar 17, 2014 · Transmission · 170,000 miles · NC

2003 honda accord v6. Going approximately 70mph on a major highway and the car violently downshifted as if I had slammed on the brakes. Almost hit by other cars on multiple occasions as the problem persisted. Also heard a whining noise/rattling under the hood while driving in 2nd gear. Once I smelled burning I knew it was time to give up. Had to get car towed an hour away.

Filed Jan 17, 2014 · Steering · 186,000 miles · WI · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda accord. The contact stated that after having the vehicle serviced under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 12v222000 (steering), the vehicle caught on fire from under the hood without warning. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was scheduled for an inspection to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 186,000.

Filed Oct 12, 2012 · Airbags · 94,000 miles · NJ · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda accord. The contact stated that while traveling 35 MPH the air bags deployed. The contact was able to merge to the side of the road where the housing for the front passenger side air bag caught on fire. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home and was later driven to the dealer where the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 94,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Jan 23, 2012 · Transmission · 170,000 miles · IL

The car would not accelerate beyond 10 MPH but occasionally jerking forward as the car struggled to shift gears. I was on a road with a speed limit of 35 MPH, and fortunately I was able to move the car into a nearby parking lot where the car completely stalled. I shut off the engine after briefly smelling a burning smell. I was able to start the car again and take side roads to get home. We took the car in for servicing and were told it was an issue with the speed sensor. $259 and two days later we were driving along a local highway with a speed limit of 40 MPH when the car again jerked through gears and barely moving. Snow was falling, and visibility was limited. With hazard lights on, several cars came within feet of rear-ending us as the roads were slick and we were not able to fully get into the median. Again, a burning smell prompted us to shut off the engine. About 20 minutes later we were able to start the car and drive it down the median at about 5 MPH as the engine continued to jerk through gears.

Filed Jun 3, 2011 · Steering · 104,819 miles · AZ

After parking the car in the driveway, the smell of burning oil was detected. This event occurred roughly a week after an oil change and was initially thought to be residual spillage of oil. The burning smell continued to get worse over the next couple of days. The smell was mostly noticeable when the vehicle was stopped, and the air had to be placed on recirculate, which muted the smell. About 4 days after first detecting the smell while getting off the freeway and waiting at the light, smoke was observed coming from under the passenger side of the hood near the windshield. The vehicle was immediately taken to the honda dealership. The service advisor immediately identified the problem as a leaking high pressure power steering hose from under the rubber bushing/support over the rear engine exhaust manifold. When asked if it needed to be fixed right away, the advisor stated that the power steering fluid was dripping directly down onto the catalytic converter and could start a fire. He stated that he has seen cars come in for repair that were smoking a lot or had been on fire for this same problem. The hose was replaced, and the final diagnosis by the honda mechanic confirmed the advisor's initial diagnosis - there was a leak in the high pressure fitting that was housed in the support bracket. Cost to replace was $412. Other complaints about this exact same problem were also identified on the federal safety agency complaint website - and that's only from the people who reported (or knew to report) the problem.

Filed Jun 29, 2010 · Transmission · 101,945 miles · MO

2003 honda accord v6 transmission failure while turning into oncoming traffic. Almost hit by oncoming traffic. This definitely is a safety issue with this model. Burning smell in car. These cars need to have a recall in regards to transmission.

Filed Apr 18, 2008 · Engine, Transmission · FL · fire

On april 3, 2008 I took my car to kuhn honda at 3900 west kennedy blvd, tampa, florida 33609. They did a routine oil change, tire rotation, regular maintenance service. Four days later my transmission fell out of the car on the highway and I had to have the car towed to the dealer. I had the 105,000 mile warranty and they replaced the transmission. As driving off the lot I notice the transmission would not shift from second gear. Next day I took it back to the dealership, they ordered another transmission and put the new one in. That was wednesday april 16th, 2008. I left the dealership around 3:00pm and the traffic was horrible so I drove less than 3 miles to the mall to shop. Parked the car at the mall, when inside and was there less than 10 minutes when I was called by the tampa police department telling me my car was on fire in the parking lot and burnt the entire engine to a crisp. The car was melted like a piece of plastic nothing up to the windshield. The dealership claims no responsibility. They have no idea what happened or why! They claim these things happen and they do not know how it could have happened. They did not even apologize!

Filed Apr 18, 2008 · Engine, Transmission · 70,000 miles · FL · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda accord. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for its 70,000 mile service. When she left the dealer, the entire transmission failed. The vehicle was towed to the same dealer and they replaced the transmission. While parked, the entire vehicle caught fire and spread to some tree shrubs. The police and fire departments arrived on the scene and filed a report. The insurance company stated that the vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 70,000. Updated 05/13/08. *lj updated 05/13/08