Last year, I was driving my 2003 honda accord, and I locked my car as I was riding. Upon reaching my home I tried to unlock my car and it would not unlock manually, by pushing the bottom, or with the keyless entry. When I tried to use the interior button to unlock the car, it locked all of the doors and the driver door would not unlock manually, however, I was finally able to get a passenger door unlocked manually. It seemed like I was in a horror movie because the passenger doors would appear to unlock, but they would instantly relock. This happened more than a few times and I was terrified to drive in fear of a accident as well as the fact that I had to leave my car unlocked when I went out in public. Today, the issue started again. I tried to hold the keyless entry down so that the windows would roll down and I could gain access that way, but it was to no avail. I tried using the key, but that did not work. I just so happen that while trying to unlock it with the key I turn it (the key) in the opposite direction and held it and the windows rolled down which allowed me to unlock a passenger door manually and climb in to my car. I still can not unlock the driver side door regardless of method.
2003 Honda Accord electrical complaints
Page 3 of 6: complaints 41 to 70 of 142, newest first, as owners wrote them.
2003 honda accord ex, the radio and the A/C work, but you cannot see anything on the radio display, and the backlight for the A/C panel do not work, with the exception of the individual buttons such as the one for the compressor, that will come on when you push it in. The warranty on the radio display has been extended to 7 years/100k miles on the 2003-2004 accord. This problem is common. My car is 75000 miles, but is over 7 years. If the problem is common honda should extended the warranty time.
Control panel display (audio-HVAC display) failure. I have a 2003 honda 4 door (w/o navigation) accord ex. (I am the original owner of the vehicle). This problem, with potential safety implications seems to rise to the level of a defect. As I write, the display is dark and occasionally flickers. There have been previous service bulletins released on this issue and its a know defect; however I did contact honda customer service on december 2011 but, honda and honda dealer's refuses to replace part without paying for it. Windshield wiper (linkage arm) failure. On multiple occasions I had mentioned to multiple honda dealer's that windshield wiper are banging when returning to start position and I was told it was normal and they had checked the wiper motor and it works fine. Windshield wiper started banging year after I purchased the vehicle in 2003. I was able to fix the issue by replacing windshield wiper linkage arm at my own cost after I found the solution on independent honda forums.
The internal lighting for the stereo/climate control has failed. The buttons no longer light up and the display screen is so dim that it cannot be read except from about 3cm away. This is a safety concern because it makes it difficult to operate the climate control at night, say if the windows were fogging up and you needed to defrost quickly.
The stereo backlight went out and my car is out of warranty, honda will not provide any assistance with a known issue. Obviously it was a known defect which is why they extended the warranty, but it should have been a recall. The lights on the heat/AC/defrost controls are also out which makes it difficult to turn defrosters on at night when I need it to see.
Hi I have honda accord 2003 with only 70000 miles on it. Last year I had problem with the screen that display my AC/heater/radio it went off.I cant see anything on that screen, living in chicago and winter is coming, in extremely bad weather I am scared to drive that car and have my kids in it because I cant visualize and control the heat inside the car..driving on the highway with the bad weather that chicago hasm, I wont be able to control the heater to remove the fog from the front window and it will be impossible for me to see while driving.I believe this is %100 safety issue that you should call honda about and have it fixed because alot of americans use this type of car and alot of my friends have the same problem, honda having business here making money should make sure that the products that it sells for the americans meet the safety parameters in this great country. We care about our citizens and that's the role of our government and I believe that you should take action regarding this issue against honda. There was a recall about this issue but most of the customers were not ware of this recall, and now even though my car only has 70000miles on it, honda refuse to fix this problem that their car has. As american citizen having trust in you, I believe that you should put honda on the right track because people safety is an important issue in the united states for sure. Please look at this issue and don't put your people down. Thank you for all the great work that you guys been doing. God bless you.
Audio-HVAC display module is dim or dark: the audio display and controls (knobs, buttons, bars) of the audio-HVAC display module are dim or are dark. There is a known problem with the honda accords 2003-2007 where one of the components of the printed circuit board ( pcb) which controls the center audio console fails and then the whole audio console goes dark. So when you are driving the car, you cannot see any button or knob on the center console. It's almost impossible to change the heat / cool , the fan speed or any function that is controlled by the counter console. Honda initially sent out a technical service bulletin and they extended the warranty on the audio console to 7 years /100, 000 miles. But the problem still exists in a large number of cars. This is not like a transmission or a brake issue which can wear down over a number of years. This is a problem with the electronics on the car and should be escalated to a recall. This is a very dangerous problem as the console lighting does completely dark and the driver cannot see or locate any controls within the car. This can cause serious problem when driving and should be addressed immediately. Honda has issues a technical service bulletin number 04-027. This bulletin in the proof that honda knows about the problem. The extended warranty that honda has offered is of no use because a lot of people who have this problem are out of the warranty terms ( 7 years // 100,000 miles) this should be a recall item and the national highway safety institute should force honda to repair this component in the car irrespective of the miles or the number of years. The fact of the matter is that this is a manufacturing defect and is not related to break down of a components because of miles or years. There is no wear and tear involved with printed circuit boards. ( pcb)
My radio/HVAC area the lights to display them are out apparently it was recalled but not for all vehicles this is a safetyhazard for sure being I can't find my defrost... The other problem is the recall expired this year and it expired just after I bought the car and a few months later the middle console went out!!!
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda accord. While parked, the contact noticed that the lights for the HVAC unit would not illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics where the technician stated that the circuit board would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
My 2003 honda accord ex display light for the audio/HVAC went out. This is a real problem because it is difficult to select the defrost/air conditioner/radio settings that you need, and can cause a real safety hazard while driving down the road. Honda realizes that this is a common problem with their printed circuit board as they have extended the warranty on this part to 7 yrs/100,000 miles. However, it is obviously still a problem after 100,000 miles as mine has recently went out. They refuse to pick up any of the bill for their faulty electrical equipment because my car is over the arbitrary 100,000 miles which they chose, even though they admit there is a problem with the part. I feel that this is unfair and that they should show some responsibilty and stand behind their product.
Coming back from the airport, going home on belt parkway, the transmission stopped functioning properly out of a sudden, without giving any hints before, totally unexpected. It didn't go to the 2nd gear, stuck in 30mph. After anxiously drove back home trembling, found the reverse did not work either. The vehicle had to be turned off and restarted again to gain back the function of reverse. After research the on the web, and read through so many comments of honda accord 2003 owner, this seems very much related to the honda accord recall incident in 2004. It is believed honda didn't fix the problem permanently back in 2004. It was a temporary fix trick, and right now many of the honda accord 2003 owners are suffering from honda's failure to fix its defective product.
2003 honda accord radio backlight defective...they extended the warranty fix until 7 years or 105k miles. Unfortunately my died at to day and I have 110k and the car is 7.7 years old. My biggest concern is you cannot tell if the defrost if on or not...time, heat and A/C, defrost, fan etc are all displayed through the radio unit. I called 1‑800‑999‑1009 and they said too bad you are out of the warranty limits. I maintain my car meticulously but the dealer quoted me $800 to fix the problem. Too much for me. Honda id wrong this is a safety issue...cannot tune to emergency broadcast or use defrost.
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.
Failed radio display and environmental controls lights. Reference american honda case # [xxx] voluntary recall, but limited in time and mileage, this vehicle is out of the voluntary recall but is failed due to defect in radio. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The car can be shut off and the ignition key can be removed from the ignition switch without putting the car in park. (note that we are aware of a current recall for this problem, but our vehicle is not part of the general recall of american made honda accords. Ours was manufactured in japan; however we are having the same problem as the american made models.)
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.
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
2003 honda accord. Consumer states that her vehicle rolled into another vehicle when the key was taken out of the ignition. She had to pay to fix the other vehicle and would like to be reimbursed since there is a recall for this issue.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda accord. The contact received recall notice the federal safety agency#10v364000; electrical system, ignition regarding the ignition. There was no problem with the ignition before she received the recall notice; however, after the dealer performed the recall repair they were unable to remove the key out of the new ignition. The dealer had to install the old ignition back into the vehicle in order to start it. The vehicle began to stall and would not start after the recall repair was performed. The vehicle was towed twice to a local mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure. The dealer was not contacted regarding the continuous failures. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 80,000.
My 2003 honda ex accord is experiencing ignition issues that fall under this known recall: the federal safety agency campaign id number: 02v120000 recall data: 05/16/2002 components: electrical system:ignition:switch units affected: 1000000 1999 honda accord electrical system:ignition:switch recall date: 05/16/2002 when I called honda and shared my VIN number [xxx]they said that my particular vehicle wasn't covered under the recall, but I believe that it should be since the issue that I have been experiencing perfectly fit the issue outlined in the recall: the federal safety agency campaign id number: 02v120000. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda accord. While the contact was driving approximately 50 MPH, the transmission failed without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic where they informed that the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Previously, the ignition key would not release from the ignition switch; and the vehicle was repaired by the dealer. In addition, the stereo system, and the four automatic door locks would not operate properly. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl* tl-the contact owns a 2003 honda accord. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the display for the radio, heater, air conditioner and defroster were no longer illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for the failure. The failure mileage was 50,500 and the current mileage was 51,000.
2003 honda accord ex the key cannot be removed from the ignition unless the car is forced hard into park. When running, if the car is placed in park, the car will not stay parked and begins to move forward. Placing the emergency brake on holds the car if the car tries to move while in park. The problem occurs one hundred percent of the time and has been occurring on my vehicle for two months.
Control panel display (audio-HVAC display) failure. I have a 2003 honda 4 door (w/o navigation)accord ex. About 2-3 months ago while driving the display panel for the vehicle operating systems-radio, heat/AC, time blacked out. At-near the time of this occurrence I was on the new york state thruway. A flashing (emergency) sign -flashing 'emergency' 'check radio channel 530 or 1610 for details'- notifying an emergency. As I was driving and could not see the radio display. It was dark. I was unable to access the emergency notice. My vehicle was taken to honda and was told this repair was a defect. This repair was part of a campaign to fix this display, per honda service bulletin 04-027 but the program for my vehicle had expired. They mentioned the campaign was part of a campaign not a recall, even though they acknowledge safety was one of the issues in the program. I live in an area where the roads are equipped with emergency message signage' are frequent and commonplace. Not having the ability to access these messages due to a campaign program where no notice was received by me (I am the original owner of the vehicle). This problem, with potential safety implications seems to rise to the level of a defect. As I write, the display is dark and has not even flickered since the initial occurrence.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda accord. The contact stated that after he parked his vehicle in the garage and removed the key out of the ignition, the vehicle rolled backwards and crashed into a tree. There were no injuries. There was extensive damaged to the rear bumper of the vehicle. The insurance company repaired the vehicle; however, the contact was responsible for the repair cost. The dealer stated that if he was able to take the key out of the ignition that there was no failure. The dealer did not call the contact regarding the failure; although, he had taken the vehicle back for other routine maintenance. The federal safety agency recall #10v364000, electrical system ignition dated august 04, 2010 was related to the failure and was not expected to begin until on or about september 29, 2010. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired by the dealer. The failure mileage was 65,000. Updated 11/05/10 *bf updated 11/05/10.
The heated seat element on driver's seat malfunctions, had sporadically come on at random times (had been occurring several times per week) with button in off position, on my '03 honda accord. It would get quite hot near lower back portion of seat. The dealer had disconnect at my request the wire on the console button, in hopes this addressed the situation. I'm not confident this has been totally resolved, and my vehicle has had 3 inexplicable electrical issues over the past 12-14 months. My concern is that this is a fire and safety hazard.
Upon turning the car on, the backlight behind the radio went dark. It is impossible to read the radio lights, radio mode, station, time of day, volume, A/C and/or heat settings, temp of A/C and/or heat. I feel it is distracting and unsafe to attempt to use/control these "invisible" settings while operating the vehicle. There was a tsb released for certain 03 & 04 honda accords affected by this defective hardware, but only a warranty extension was given. I recently purchased this vehicle with the radiolight intact, no I am being told is will cost me 350$ to fix an already known defective hardware problem that I feel creates a safety problem when operating this vehicle. This problem has been made aware to honda for a number of years now, and they have not placed a recall on it, as one service rep told me, "because recalls deal with safety issues, this radio is not a safety issue." I beg to differ, a defective part and safety issue warrants further compensation by honda to its vehicle owners.
I first noticed issues with my auto tranny in my accord ex v6 at around 50k miles. They had just installed some jet for the recall for hard shifting for this car. At about 80k I noticed it getting worse, so I told my mechanic and he changed the tranny oil for me. It seemed to shift a little better and this was only from 2-3 gear that it would rev up to about 5k and then jerk the car to get into 3rd. It's very embarrassing and I'm afraid it's going to lock up on me on the freeway. I saw that california filed a suit against honda and honda settled. Every state should be filing a suit - I'd be first in line! I too talked to honda and the hq for honda, but since mine has so many miles on it (all freeway), they are blaming that, even tho I have maintenance records showing it's been a problem. They don't want to step up to the plate. I hope some lawyer gets a hold of these complaints and sues them like california did. This is my 2nd honda and I swore by it, but I'll never buy another honda after this. Even from day one I've asked honda about the dimming of the headlights when the car shifts and they said it was normal cuz they car needed all the power to do the shifting, so they wouldn't do anything about it. I've owned several other cars and this was never an issue. I don't know if it's the year of this accord or that it's a v6, but it's very frustrating and honda should be ashamed! If complaints keep happening, you'd think they would fix the issues or investigate it a little harder since they already did one recall on them. I have told all my friends not to buy honda and told them why. Let's spread the word and maybe when their sales go down, they might wonder why and do something about it. I'm now faced with a $4k to rebuild my tranny. Sickens me, especially when the car is only worth $7k cuz I have 140k miles on it now. Email me if you can help sue them...[xxx] . Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Srs light comes on intermittently while driving. Talked with the dealer he told me to get the SRS module replaced. I think this is a manufacturers fault not installing proper SRS sensor module into honda accord ex model cars. I truly believe this is a safety issue.
Was able to remove car key from ignition while car still in "drive".
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