2003 Honda Accord Equipment Problems

STEREO BACKLIGHT DIED NOT ALLOWING ME TO SEE RADIO, CLIMATE CONTROL, ETC. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE RADIO CIRCUIT BOARD. TOOK TO AUTHORIZED HONDA DEALER AND WAS TOLD OF AN EXTENDWARRANTY, BUT I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS WARRANTY. WARRANTY IS FOR 105,000 MILES OR 7 YEARS. MY MILEAGE WAS 79K, BUT THE CAR WAS 7 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS OLD. CAR WAS REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE. CALL HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIR. HONDA FELT THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS SUFFICIENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO DISPLAY INTERMITTENTLY BECOMES BLANK AND FAILS TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $1000 TO HAVE THE RADIO REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE LIGHTING ON THE RADIO DISPLAY HAS FAILED. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT SINCE HER VEHICLE WAS OVER 105,000 MILES SHE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 128,514. UPDATED 2/17/10 *CN UPDATED 02/22/10

HELLO I HAVE A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE FAILURE HAPPENED TO MY RADIO IT WILL NOT OPERATE. THEY ONLY THING THAT WORKS IS THE TIME. IT WAS WHILE DRIVING MY RADIO JUST TURNED OFF, NEVER CAME BACK ON......CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THE DEFECT THANKS... *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING DRAIN WAS CLOGGED AND WATER ENTERED INTO THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, WHICH DAMAGED THE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $917.01. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CHECK THE AIR CONDITIONER EVERY SIX MONTHS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 53,853. UPDATED 10/27/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/27/08. *JB

THE BACK LIGHT ON THE RADIO UNIT HVAC INFORMATION CLOCK RADIO DISPLAYS ALL WENT BLACK AND CD CHANGER DOES NOT FUNCTION. *TR

CD PLAYER MALFUNCTION, NOT A MECHANICAL FAILURE, 2003 FIRST MODEL YEAR OF THE ACCORD LX MAKEOVER, HIGH HEAT BUILDS UP IN THE DASHBOARD WHEN ON THE FREEWAY WITH HEATER AND PLAYER ON. CD ARE VERY HOT. DIGITAL DISPLAY "ERR" OR "BUSY",THIS HAPPENED AT 18,000 MILES,(COVERED BY WARRANTY) WHEN DRIVING ON VACATION IN LATE FALL, 2ND FIX AT 75,000,DEALER REDUCE CHARGE OF NEW INSTALLATION, AT 100,000 MILES BURNED OUT AGAIN, ON FREEWAY EACH WEEK SINCE I OWNED THE CAR AT LEAST 2 HRS. DEALER DENIAL OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY, SERVICE-PERSON,ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR, BUT ON THIRD VISIT DENIED HE MADE SUCH STATEMENTS. NOT A BOOMBOX PROBLEM, I PLAY MOSTLY CLASSICAL MUSIC, WHEN I DO, NOT FROM OVERUSE! NO COMPUTER CD EVER PLAYED, ONLY COMMERCIAL CD'S PLAYED. IT STILL LOADS AND REJECTS AS NORMAL BUT DISPLAYS ERROR MESSAGE, AND BUSY MESSAGE. SERVICE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL 2003 ACCORDS, THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED IN THE 2004 MODEL. I WOULD LIKE HONDA TO ASSUME COSTS AND FIX MY PLAYER.....PLEASE. CD ARE NOT WARM, THEY ARE VERY, VERY HOT WHEN PLACED ON TO THE CHEEK, AT FIRST ALARMED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE, SO I EMPTIED OUT THE PLAYER AND HOPED THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE TO PULL OVER. *TR

AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT ON 2003 HONDA CRV TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP, WHERE PARTS WERE COVERED BUT HAD TO PAY FOR LABOR. *JB

HONDA ACCORD 2003 AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) FAILURE . A/C STOPPED WORKING DUE TO FAULTY COMPRESSOR CLUTCH, AND COIL . A/C DID NOT BLOW COLD AIR OR WORK ANY LONGER DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE COMPRESSOR WAS NOT FUNCTIONING TO KICK A/C ON. *AK

THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ON MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD SUDDENLY STOPPED BLOWING COOL AIR. I ASSUMED IT WAS IN NEED OF COOLANT SINCE I JUST RECENTLY REACHED THE 60,000 MILES MARK. BUT WHEN I WENT TO HAVE THE AC SERVICED, I WAS TOLD THE COMPRESSOR HAD GONE BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I KNOW THE DEPENDABILITY OF HONDAS. SO, I WAS BAFFLED THAT THE COMPRESSOR WOULD "GO OUT" IN JUST FOUR YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONER LIGHTED CONSOLE DID NOT ILLUMINATE. A SERVICE DEALER WAS CONSULTED, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RADIO UNIT NEEDED TO BE REMOVED, AND DURING THE TIME OF THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE WOULD BE CONSIDERED UNSAFE TO OPERATE.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO COOL THE CAR. COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH COILS. *JB

AIR CONDITIONING HOSE FAILURE. I MANAGE A COMMERCIAL HVACR OPERATION. I HAVE ACCESS TO SUITABLE LEAK DETECTION REPAIR TOOLS, ETC. I OWN A 2003 HONDA ACCORD THAT HAS LOST ITS R134A CHARGE THROUGH WHAT I BELIEVE IS DEFECTIVE / IMPROPER HOSE CRIMPING, THAT IS WHERE THE LEAK IS. IS THIS A COMPLAINT THAT OCCURS WITH ANY FREQUENCY OR DO I OWN THE ONE BAD HOSE SET PRODUCED? *JB

2003 HONDA ACCORD EX BACKLIT DISPLAY ON 6-CD RADIO SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS. HONDA INDICATES THE ENTIRE DEVICE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROX. $900. *NM

AUDIO-HVAC DISPLAY MODULE IS DIM OR DARK (AS DESCRIBED BY HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 04-027). *AK

THE BACK LIGHT WENT OUT IN CENTER CONSOLE DISPLAY (RADIO, CD PLAYER, & A/C DISPLAYED THERE), MAKING THE CONSOLE LOOK LIKE IT WAS TURNED OFF. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING CAUSED BY THE RADIO AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THANKFULLY MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THEREFORE THE DEALERSHIP MADE THE REPAIR AT NO COST TO ME WHEN THE PART CAME IN 1 WEEK LATER. THE CENTER CONSOLE DISPLAY IS NOW FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY.

PURCHASED 2003 ACCORD EX V6 IN 5/03. HAD A FEW PROBLEMS WITH CAR AFTER PURCHASE: DELAY WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE (DEALERSHIP SAID WAS NORMAL), MUFFLER SOUND LIKE IT HAS A LEAK (DEALERSHIP COULD'NT FIND A PROBLEM), NOISE HAS GOTTEN WORSE. MY CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF WARRANTY SINCE 1/05. WENT ON VACATION IN 2/05, WHEN I WENT TO CRANK THE CAR, PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON DASH AND RADIO LIT UP, TURNED THE KEY FURTHER TO CRANK, ONCE STARTED THE DASH LIGHTS CAME BACK ON, BUT THE RADIO LIGHTS DID'NT. THE RADIO STILL WORKED, YOU JUST CANT SEE THE DISPLAY. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AFTER WE GOT HOME AND THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A BULB WENT OUT, THEY WOULD REPLACE IT BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 80.00 LABOR AND THEY COULD'NT GUARANTEE THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP FOR THEM TO CHANGE THE BULB, THEY TOOK OUT THE RADIO AND CALLED THE HONDA DEALERSHIP THAT I CALLED AND THEY TOLD THE MECHANIC THERE WAS NO BULB IN THE RADIO. THEY PUT THE RADIO BACK IN AND GAVE ME THE CAR BACK. I BOUGHT A NEW RADIO AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY PUT THE NEW RADIO IN AND THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE, RADIO WORKS, NO LIGHTS. THEY PUT THE OLD RADIO BACK IN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND THIS TIME I EXPLAINED AGAIN ABOUT MY RADIO LIGHTS, THEY SUGGEST I CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FOLLOW THEIR SUGGESTIONS, SO I DID, AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THEM. THEY ADVISED ME THERE WAS A BULLETIN ALREADY ON THE PROBLEM WITH MY RADIO, THAT THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO FAULTY EQUIPMENT. TOLD ME I SHOULD TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, GIVE THEM THE BULLETIN NUMBER, LET THEM DIAGNOSE MY PROBLEM AND IF IT IS DUE TO FAULTY EQUIPMENT, GET AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO FIX. CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE BACK AND LET THEM KNOW HOW MUCH THE DEALERSHIP WOULD CHARGE ME AND ASK FOR GOODWILL ASSISTANCE FOR FINANCING THE COST TO FIX FAULTY EQUIPMENT THAT OBVIOUSLY IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HONDA, NOT THE CONSUMER.

FIRWALL HEAT. 2003 HONDA ACCORD, BOUGHT IN SEPETEMBER OF 2003. IN OCTOBER, ON THE WAY HOME FROM VACATION, (SPEED 65, CAR ON FREEWAY FOR AT LEAST 5 HOURS) THE CD EJECTED FROM THE DASHBOARD WAS SO HOT THAT I THOUGHT THE OTHER CD'S IN THE PLAYER WOULD MELT, SO I EJECTED THEM ALL. CALL TO DEALER SERVICE SAID THAT SIMILIAR COMPLAINTS HAD COME IN BUT NOT TO WORRY. JUNE 8, 2003 THE LIGHTS IN RADIO AND LOWER CONTROLS GO OUT. SUBURBAN HONDA, IS GOING TO REPLACE THE RADIO UNIT, WHICH I BELIEVE BURNED OUT FROM HEAT, THE LOWER LIGHT BULB TOO, THOUGH SERVICE SAID IT WAS WORKING. IT WAS NOT WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN. WHEN I SUGGESTED THE FIREWALL HEAT PROBLEM, I WAS ASKED WHO I HAD BEEN TALKING TOO. I KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SUBJECT OF THIS MODEL YEAR. *AK

CONDENSOR IS LEAKING REFRIGERANT ON VEHICLE.*MR *NM

I'M COMPLAINING ABOUT THE DESIGN FLAW ON THE A/C CONDENSER OF MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE PLACEMENT OF THE CONDENSER IS FLAWED BECAUSE IT IS LOCATED IN THE LOWER FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THAT IS ALWAYS PRONE TO BE HIT BY SMALL PEBBLES WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE IS NO PROTECTION ON THE FREON COILS ON THE CONDENSER AND ANY SMALL PEBLLE COULD HIT IT AND DAMAGED THE COILS AND THE FREON WOULD LEAK. THIS MAKES THE OWNER ALWAYS FINANCIALLY AT RISK THAT THE COILS COULD BE DAMAGED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN. THE FINS ON THE CONDENSER DOESN'T EVEN PROTECT THE COILS AND ONLY AFTER DRIVING THE CAR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PEBBLE DAMAGE ON THE CONDENSER. YESTERDAY A PEBBLE HIT ONE OF THE COILS AND THE FREON ESCAPED, RENDERING MY A/C INOPERABLE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SEEMS TO PINPOINT RIGHT AWAY THE CAUSE BY POINTING TO ME THE PEBBLE DAMAGE ON THE CONSENDER IN ONLY 10 SECONDS. DOES THIS MEAN THEY HAVE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS KIND OF PROBLEM?. THEY SAY IT'S NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE DESIGN HAS SUBJECTED THE CONDENSER TO BE HITS BY SMALL PEBBLES WHEN DRIVING NORMALLY. DOES THE CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS FLAW. IF I HAD THEM CHANGE THE CONDENSER TODAY AND IT GOT HIT AGAIN TOMORROW, AND NEXT MONTH, ETC, ETC, WHEN WILL THIS FINANCIAL PROBLEM STOP FOR THE CONSUMER?*AK

I HAD MY OTHER HONDA FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND I LIKED IT SO MUCH I BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE. NOW I AM HAVING ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE WITH IT. 1. THE AC CONDENSER HAS HOLES ON IT. IT WAS WORKING WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I NOTICED IT NOT WORKING WHEN I TRIED TO USE IT RECENTLY. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THERE ARE HOLES IN CONDENSER. IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WOULD COST ME $500 TO REPLACE IT. THEY CHARGED ME $110 FOR TELLING ME WHAT IS WRONG. I CALLED HONDA AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICES AND ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE, I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY OWN FAULT AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. PERIOD. 2. THE BODY IS RUSTING. THE PAINT IS COMING OFF THE CAR AND THE UNDERNEATH METAL IS RUSTING. AGAIN THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY DON'T PAINT. I HAVE TO GO TO THE BODY SHOP TO REPAINT IT. THE COST IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HONDA AMERICA AGAIN DENIED ANY WRONG DESIGN AND HELP I REQUESTED. 3. WIND NOISE AS OF THE DOOR/WINDOW IS NOT CLOSED PROPERLY. DEALER CLAIMS COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO HAVE A TEST DRIVE WITH ME. 4. CLICKING NOISE WHEN I SHIFT GEAR FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. I THOUGHT IT WAS TOO MINOR TO MENTION TO THE DEALER 5. DON'T FORGET THE RECALLS FOR IN-TAKE BREATH PIPE AND NO-REVERSE CONDITION BESIDES A FLIMSY PRODUCT, THE DEALER AND HONDA AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICES IS NO HELP AT ALL. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE THEM RESPONSIBLE? THIS WILL BE THE LAST HONDA THAT I OWN

A VERY SMALL PEBBLE (QUARTER OF THE SIZE OF A DIME) IN FORM OF ROAD DEBRIS, PUNCTURED THE AIR CONDITIONER (AC) CONDENSER. HONDA SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT OTHER PEOPLE ALSO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. HONDA NEEDS TO DESIGN A SHIELD FOR THE CONDENSER OR BUILD STRONGER CONDENSERS. COST OF REPAIRS WAS ALMOST $500!! THE CAR IS ALMOST BRAND NEW, ONLY 7500 MILES. *LA

I HAVE HAD MY 2003 ACCORD EX IN THE DEALER'S SHOP WELL OVER 15 TIMES FOR VARIOUS REASONS. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD RATTLES AND HAS BEEN LOOKED AT 5 TIMES AND CANNOT BE RECTIFIED. THE CD PLAYER WOULD NOT LOAD CD'S PROPERLY AND HAVE HAD THE STEREO REPLACED. NOW THE COVER TO THE STEREO WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE STEREO HAS BEEN LOOKED AT 4 TIMES AND HAS TO GO BACK IN A 5TH TIME TO HAVE THE COVER REPLACED AGAIN. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT 5 TIMES, SINCE THE FIRST WEEK WE BOUGHT THE CAR. THE FIRST 3 TIMES THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE 4TH TIME, THEY HAD TO RESURFACE THE ROTORS BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED. AT THIS VISIT, THERE WAS ONLY 9,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THE 5TH TIME WE TOOK THE CAR IN, IT HAD 12,000 MILES AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED AGAIN. NOW THE BRAKES ARE GRINDING AND SQUEALLING AGAIN. THIS IS NOW THE 6TH TIME WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THE SEAL AROUND THE DOOR GAVE WAY AT AROUND 5,000 MILES. THE DOOR SEAL SEEMS TO BE VERY THIN AND DOES NOT HOLD UP VERY WELL. WE PURCHASED AN AFTER FACTORY ANTI-THEFT DEVICE. MY WIFE'S FOB FAILED TO DEACTIVATE THE DEVICE. I REALIZE THAT THIS IS AN AFTER FACTORY INSTALLED DEVICE, BUT THE HONDA DEALER SHOULD BACK WHAT THEY SELL.

HOLE IN AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSOR. A HISSING NOISE AND ODOR WERE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR ON 8/7. TOOK AUTO IN TO SERVICE DEPARMENT THAT DAY AND THEY COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. WENT BACK 4 DAYS LATER (8/11) BECAUSE AIR WAS NOT WORKING AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE CONDESOR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO HOLD FREON. SERVICE DEPARMENT HAD PART IN STOCK AT THE TIME, BUT I HAD TO WAIT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED SO THAT I COULD FILE A CLAIM WITH INSURANCE. CLAIM WAS APPROVED 2 DAYS LATER, SO I TOOK CAR BACK TO SERVICE CENTER. I WAS TOLD PART WAS ON NATIONAL BACK-ORDER AND IT COULD BE 1-2 WEEKS BEFORE IT CAME IN, THEY WERE GIVEN NO ETA. CAR IS 7 MONTHS OLD AND I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING IN 90 DEGREE HEAT WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAD A STRONG ROTTEN EGG ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS WHICH MADE THE OCCUPANTS SICK. *NLM

THERE IS ALWAYS A HIGH PITCH BACK GROUND NOISE (MORE LIKE HUMMING AND HAZING SOUND) COMING OUT FROM THE STEREO UNIT WHEN THE VOLUME DIAL IS 01 AND UP NO MATTER IF IT IS THE CD OR RADIO. IF I ADJUST THE VOLUME TO 00, IT IS GONE. BUT WHEN THE VOLUME IS 01 OR UP, THE NOISE COMES BACK. MY DEALER ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM ON ALL THEIR 03 HONDA ACCORD IN STOCK. HE CALLED AMERICAN HONDA REGARDING THIS ISSUE BUT HAS NOT GOT ANY RESPONSE YET. *JB