general problems of the 2003 Honda Accord - part 2

Transmission just downshift to first gear while driving in the highway. Almost got rear end really bad .

Transmission locks in second gear when driving violently downshifts to second gear and over revs and no reverse after it cools same result seems to be overheating and starving for fluid.

I have experienced the same problems that over 800 people on this site alone have had with the 2003 Honda Accord transmission. I am the original owner of this Honda, when purchased had 30 miles on it. Received the recall notice and immediately took the car to the closet dealership for repair. Was told by the service guy that they only inspected my car but did not do anything to it. They did not feel it was necessary. I felt this was odd because Honda knew there was a problem. On October 30th, 2014, now at approximately 150,000 miles I was on my lunch hour, when suddenly my vehicle downshifted and began losing all power on a very busy 4 lane highway. Before coming to a complete stop, I managed to slowly get off to the side of the road before causing any kind of major accident. Had my local trusted mechanic take a look at it and he called me back today to let me know that I needed a new transmission. He contacted several "transmission specialist" and they have refused to even try to fix my vehicle because they are fully aware of the transmission problems with the 2003 Honda Accord. I have contacted Honda's customer service department as well as the Honda product concern department and was told the only thing that I can do now is to have a new transmission put into my car, at my cost. I am not asking for a handout, but Honda has known for a long time that the 2003 Honda Accord had major transmission problems and they refuse to accept any kind of responsibility. Fortunately, no one was injured when my defective transmission decided to blow but what if that had not been the case?does it actually take someone being seriously injured or losing their life for Honda to step up to the plate and seriously take responsibility for their mistake?have always been a loyal Honda owner up until now always trusted that they would stand by their product. Boy was I wrong!!!!!!!!!.

I started to use the Honda around 2008 for work. It's mileage was about 25000 miles due to the use of a second family car at the time. I have an extensive record of maintaining my Honda with a local Honda dealership since I purchased an extended warranty that expired in April 2014. On Aug 26, 2014 I left my work and entered the freeway ramp at about 30 mph ready to accelerate and merge with traffic. The car started hesitating and the rpms would race without the car picking up speed. Concerned about the cars behind me and making a very fast decision to move right as fast as I could without getting rear ended, I managed to exit the freeway to a right off ramp. I experienced the same rpm acceleration a week or two prior to this incident, but I thought I had just hit the gas peddle in a strange way while driving. I exited the freeway and drove home. When I arrived by my home 10 minutes later, the car stopped accelerating and I drifted into a parking space on the side of my house. A family member helped me straighten out the car in two moves after I placed it in neutral. I ended up towing the car to my local dealership who diagnosed it as aa broke transmission. The Honda was purchased brand new, I'm the only owner and it was bought because of it's reliability, reputation and quality in general. .

2004 safety recall for defective transmissions. Vehicle was with dealer for one hour and returned to me with statement that transmission was fine. I asked about paperwork and the answer was "none needed. It's fine. " transmission gears recently locked up, almost causing rear-end collision.

This has happened 3 times in just a couple of weeks and probably would have occurred more but I'm scared to drive it and only do so when necessary now. I live off a one lane highway on the mountains and should this happen with someone right behind me, I fear my life being in jeopardy.

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the gear shifter separated from the handle while attempting to change gears. The contact placed her finger into the left side of the gear shifter in order to shift the gear handle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the gear shifter plastic holder had melted in the gear shaft. As a result, the gear shifter knob and cover needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacture was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 96,928. Updated 08/21/lj.

Driving down the road at 65 mph, my 2003 Honda Accord v6 suddenly decelerated. It was like the car downshifted by itself. I let off of the gas and turned my hazard blinkers on. I accelerated to 65 mph again and after about half a mile, the car suddenly decelerated again. I pull over to the shoulder and drove slowly to the nearest Honda dealer (only half mile away). The dealer told me that this issue was a problem with the transmission and I would need a new one. I asked if any work was done when I brought in the car (a couple of years ago) for the 2nd gear work. The service manager said that the car was inspected at that time and nothing abnormal was found, so no work was performed on the transmission.

Car has dark transmission fluid and is not shifting into 3rd gear. Car has 124,062 miles on it and won't shift into 3rd gear transmission ports are made too narrow not allowing fluid to cool transmission causing fluid too burn over time clearly a recall is in order Honda knows this year has issues with v6 automatic transmission and won't stand behind their product.

I pulled out from a gas station accelerating to mix into the traffic flow. I only got to 20 mph and then, even though the engine was turning at 3000+ rpm and the car was in drive, I started to just coast. Traffic approaching at 40+ mph had to hit their brakes and swerve to avoid me as I coasted ever more slowly to the side of the road. It is truly amazing that someone was not injured or killed. The transmission had totally failed in the blink of an eye with no warning whatever. I have looked this up online and there are hundreds of complaints about this problem. "why have you not made Honda recall these models?" seems to be the general question people have. 2003 Honda Accord v6 transmission.

Sudden and violent rpm shifting, from ~2500 to 5000, no warning, severe lurching for several miles until we could exit highway. Subsequent failure to shift into correct forward gear, as well as failure to shift into reverse. A dangerous situation on a 65-mph road, which could have resulted in a fatal accident, involving either multi-vehicle or single. We are in touch this morning with the dealership service dept, who so far are feigning surprise at the story, even though it is a known issue.

2003 Honda Accord. Consumer writes in regards to transmission problems. The consumer stated prior to purchasing the vehicle, the transmission was replaced. The transmission was replaced in March 2014. The consumer wondered if the transmission was properly replaced by Honda. The consumer stated this will be the third transmission.

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving 75 mph, the transmission locked and there was a sudden increase in engine rpms without any warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 190,000 and the current mileage was 195,000.

Driving along and transmission would not shift up. Stayed in a low gear, slowed down to see if it would shift into higher gear and wouldn't. Pulled over and put shifter into park. Waited a couple of minutes and put it back into drive. It took a minute for it to engage. Pulled onto road, and again, it stayed in low gear, refusing to shift higher. Pulled over again, tried the same thing and even turned the car off. Pulled onto road and began to drive, still would not shift, then it began to stop moving intermittently. It would move slightly, then stop moving while in drive. All I would hear is the engine revving, but car not moving. Acted like I was going from drive to neutral but car was still in drive. It finally quite altogether on a very narrow,dangerous steep uphill road. Had to have it towed.

The car transmission has engagement issue and had to be towed home it barely made it into garage 2003 Honda Accord I thought it will last a bit more than 108000 miles.

Driving car at 35 mph on feeder road, went to enter freeway so accelerate, car did not accelerate and a big thunk like a brick fell into engine, car stalled, rpms accelerated, car did not. Now drives fine up to 35 mph but that's it.

I purchased a used 2003 Honda Accord in April 2011. It now has 132, 000 miles on it. This week I was driving on the interstate when my "d" drive on my hear start flashing in my car rpm started revving up & my check engine light came on. So I put my emergency flashes on to get the shoulder of the expressway my car. My car wouldn't drive anymore in the d drive shift to make it home safely I had to drive my car in d3 all the way home. My mechanic is now saying I need a new transmission which will cost me $2500 I don't have. I've driven Honda Accord's all my life this is the first Honda that I've had a major issue with.

I was driving my 2003 Honda Accord ex,v6, on the freeway at 70 mph when my car went into a front wheel locked skid. The duration of the unsuspected skid was less than one second, but I almost lost control of my car. Several seconds later, at 50 mph, my vehicle again went into a unsuspected front wheel skid, with a duration of less than a second. There was no warning light notification. The cause of the front wheel locked skid was the transmission clutch was burned out on gears #5 and #3. My vehicle transmission fluid and filter was changed every 30,000. This notification is for public safety. American Honda corporation was notified and they felt I should investigate this incident at my own expense.

I bought my car used and granted it has almost 200,000 miles on it but I trusted in Honda that it was a good car now my transmission has gone out and I haven't had my car a year yet granted I'm disappointed in Honda bc I have read several forums about 2003 Accords have transmission issues with way less mileage than mine Honda really needs to investigate this issue. It's christmas time and I'm out a car I would fix the transmission on this vehicle but it's no point in doing 3000 dollars worth of work on a car when I owe more than that on it and I have already had to replace engine mounts, thermostat, crank shaft pulley.

Vehicle transmission has been hesitating for over a year. Dealership insisted that there was nothing wrong. Two months ago I was told the rear main seal may need to be replaced soon. Three days ago the car violently shifted into a lower gear and nearly caused the vehicle to be rear ended. I'm told that the transmission now needs to be rebuilt or replaced. When I contacted american Honda I spoke to a customer services representative by the name of sopana. He first told me that because my car was over 120k mile Honda would not provide any goodwill assistance, I reminded him my car was at 115k mile, he was then flustered and said well I mean 100k mile or whatever.

My daughter was driving the car at highway speeds when the transmission downshifted into first throwing them violently forward and nearly causing impact with another vehicle, when she told me I did a web search and found that this is a common problem with this model and year. What has been done about this serious safety defect?.

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 40 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration power. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was found that the front axle had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 163,072.

Was at a stop sign went to drive and heard a loud screech car would not go forward went to put it into park car screeched car rolls back even when in park. . . Transmission.

Transmission was downshifting hard. Talked to an independent shop that told me Honda's have transmission issues, which the internet confirmed, but the dealer or Honda USA wouldn't. I opened a case with Honda USA. On a side note, I had transmission serviced at 26,000. So I took it to dealer who only serviced the car & all services were up to date. On 8/20/2013 they filled & drained transmission 3 times (mileage 51,507). They said all was fine. On 9/11/2013 transmission won't shift out of park, used emergency procedure out of owners manual to get it out of park (mileage 51,811). Dealer says it's the ecu (part#37820rad415) $1000 to repair, I'm still not sure this is the issue, it could be the transmission. Honda USA says "we don't care" due to the age & mileage. Seriously? an 03 with 51,500?! always garaged & serviced at the dealer? as of this writing the car is at the dealer, I'm deciding if they should do the repair.

My sister-in-law was driving the car on the highway at 60mph when it started to violently decelerate, as though somebody had jammed on the brakes. This happened approximately 6 times within about 4. 5 miles. She got off the highway and managed to drive the car to the dealership. When they tested it the next day the transmission destroyed itself and they barely managed to get back to the dealership. If it had failed the day before my sister-in-law could have been killed.

While driving my 2003 Honda Accord v6 coupe, at around 55 mph, the vehicle suddenly dropped to about 20 mph. The rpm's jumped to 7000. The check engine light and "maintenance" lights came on. After nearley being rear-ended by the vehicle behind me ( rush hour traffic), I pulled over and turned the car off. After waiting seveal minutes, I turne it back on and drove home, never going above 20 mph. When I finally got the car towed to landmark Honda (alexandria, va) I was told that I would need a remanufactured transmission at the cost of $5085, parts and labor. Granted, the vehicle is 10 years old with 90k miles, I was a little disheartened. I was able to find a transmission specialist in the area where they are rebuilding the transmission for $2800. I am extremely dissapointed in Honda and especially with their reputation for dependebility. I strongly feel that Honda is aware of this problem and needs to rectify the issue and compensate all Honda owners who have had this similar issue.

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the vehicle downshifted and independently decelerated to 10 mph. The contact stated that the speed began fluctuate independently. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 63,498.

2003 Honda Accord 2 dr coupe, v6 with 5sp auto-58k mileage-transmission locking, vehicle without any warning shut itself off, coasted, drifted no power, all electrical power shutdown while driving 0-30 mph, three lane road creating dangerous potential for driver without any capacity to engage hazard lights, temperatures 105+ degrees. Vehicle nearly rear ended as it occurred in middle of road. Vehicle towed to dealer. Sensor installed at $322 cost to owner. No goodwill. Less than one week once again transmission locking without any warning shut itself off, electrical power remained intact, driver immediately put on hazard lights, yellow light came one for service, tow arrived 60 minutes later three lane hwy hot weather conditions. Impeccable service records, all from Honda dealer, owner diligent with every required maintenance and extended warranty. Honda dealer mechanic diagnosed needs new transmission assembly approximately $6,267 w/ 3 year warranty and Honda manufacturer offered less than 6 1/2% toward replacement, owner responsible for remainder (dealer volunteered credit of 23%) dealer provided free loaner car for one week at their cost as Honda did not cover the loaner. Decision pending after Honda is contacted directly to remedy this dangerous, recalled defect noted to millions of others in transmission recall. Had great potential for owner to sustain injury or fatality, two locking incidents, one with all power failure too.

I was driving at about 60mph when my car violently shifted down to second gear.

The automatic transmission on this car is horrible. My daughter was driving this car on the highway and the transmission suddenly quit on her. Fortunately she was not rear ended. Hackettstown Honda quoted me $4500 to replace the transmission even though there was a recall notice about relating to this (#04-037 dated April 2005) and the car has been in for a variety of other recalls. I also own a 2003 4 cylinder and have not had any problems.

While driving at apx. 45mph car violently downshifted into a lower gear, and then went into neutral, I pulled over to the side of road and shut it off. A minute or two later I restarted and it went back into gear. This happened 4 or 5 times over the next 3 miles to get car home. Spoke with Honda service advisor same day (6/8/13) and she basically told me it is a common issue and and I was looking replacing the transmission for apx. 4 - 4. 5k! over the phone and not having seen the car! called Honda customer service (6/10/13) and after 20 minutes on phone with rep he told me to have car towed to dealer, have them look at it and deal with them! fat chance I' ll do that, having it towed to an independent transmission shop. We bought the car new from dealer in may, 2003, has apx. 115,000 miles and has been maintained. Very disappointed in Honda, more so after "googling" the above issue and seeing it is a very common problem with this model! never to be a Honda owner again!.

This happened 3x today, the third time was terrifying & dangerous. I barely got on the shoulder off the highway in time. The tcs light came on & the car violently jerked from low to high gears while in drive, going about 25-30 mph. I shut off the car & restarted it, the tcs light shut off. The car jerked when I tried to get off the line and felt like it slipped into neutral. I parked in a parking lot and while pulling in, the car jerked violently again between accelerating & decelerating for no reason. The final time--I started to get on the highway and the car violently went out of control as it jerked wildly accelerating and decelerating while traffic was in all lanes of travel around me. I barely made it at about 20-25 mph (by the time the car decided to coast into a neutral feeling gear) to the shoulder on the side of the road where I waited for a tow to a Honda dealership for diagnosis.

I just got on a highway and the car would not accelerate and change from 2nd to 3rd gear. It happened 3 more times before I got to a Honda service. Further, there are at least 30 more technical service bulletins on this transmission. Clearly Honda has had serious manufacturing issues with this transmission and that has caused major reliability and safety issues for Honda owners, like me.

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the transmission would not shift into third gear. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who recommended that the transmission be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000.

I was fortunate but I am concerned we will read about a person and /or family that was killed by oncoming traffic because their car slowed in the fast lane or stopped without warning on a busy California freeway. I was changing lanes doing 65 mph when my car quickly decelerated-I could not get enough power to get into the next lane and cars were coming in all. Lanes. Finally,I got into the lane-it happened 2 more times b4 I could get off the fwy a short distance away. At the traffic signal, it stopped completely. After 15 minutes, I was able to slowly creep into the gas station& call aaa for a tow. I have a long history with Honda &stayed with Honda because I felt safe. 1st Accord I had for 10 years; prelude I had for 17 and gave to my nephew; so tho this Accord is 10 yrs old,I have it serviced regularly-last service was 4/11/13. I am waiting to hear if american Honda will accept that the trans is defective and pay the $4500 for the repairs. I rely on my car and must feel safe. I don't feel safe now and if Honda is irresponsible in fixing this defective trans, I will have also lost faith in the company. The mileage is way to low for the trans go out. If I drove it more then the trans would have gone out within the extended warranty (for which I paid $1600) time period. Extended warranty expired 8/2010 or 75000 miles- my mileage is at 58,559-quite a bit short of 75,000! please don't wait until someone is seriously injured or worse. Do you know what it feels like to have cars coming at you at 65+ mph and you can't get out of their way? you can only hope and pray they see that you are barely (if at all) moving and they change lanes. I was lucky. I have always trusted Honda (not all dealers but sierra Honda in monrovia is great) and I am hoping this situation can be remedied. But, consumers have to be informed of the problems with the transmission in this model/year.