Transmission Gear Slipping problems of the 2003 Honda Accord - part 2

2003 Honda Accord ex-v6, 76,000 miles: automatic transmission slips, causing violent downshifts, erratic shifting, and an undriveable condition. Condition occurs after car is driven for at least 20 minutes. Non-Honda shops have replaced fluids, sensors, but to no avail. Honda dealer had previously installed a jet kit in 2008, and their eval today says the entire transmission must be replaced at a cost in excess of $3,200.

Transmission originally slipped going uphill at 30mph, but did not have engine light come on. Transmission fluid changed again and car was good for another 300miles. Traveling at 70mph uphill on freeway, car jerks into lower gear and immediately jumps back into high gear and happens continuously. Within a few miles, car stays under 40mph at 4,500rpm and continues to slip. Had vehicle towed to Honda dealership and an eventual $3,900 charge to replace transmission.

I am the owner of a 2003 Honda Accord ex v6. On yesterday, 6/23/2010 ,I was driving to work on the highway, during rush hour,when my car started to choke and slip. It felt like someone was pushing and pulling the car. The rpms were going up to 4-5 when I tried to accelerate. Naturally I was scared. My car was disrupting the flow of traffic, but thankfully no one hit me. I had my car towed to northwest Honda in owings mills MD on that day. Nw told me that my transmission needed to be replaced due to an internal malfunction. This was unusual because I bought a certified preowned Honda in 2005 and I had all of my regularly scheduled maintenance done at that dealer. Lastly my car gave no warning of possible defects , no lights etc. After doing research I found out my year/model of Honda Accord is notorious for transmission defects and several people have had similar experiences. I'm sure some may have even been in an accident. Honda did a recall on the at in 2004, but that was only to fix the gears and prevent the transmission from locking. That does not fix the transmission problem from slipping and defecting without warning. My car is slightly out of the manufactured warranty which expired in on 11/15/2009. My extended warranty expired 01/01/2010. I obviously took the precautions to avoid this type of incident. I am now without coverage for this defective part. Honda offers good will assistance but it is granted on a case by case basis and is not a guarantee. I do have a claim in with Honda. I feel Honda should be held liable for their product before someone get seriously hurt or injured, much like the Toyota recall. This is an ongoing issue that must be addressed. Thankfully I am without physical harm, mentally I was shaken up. The situation could have easily been worst. Please check online for the numerous complaints on this car. It is a serious issue. Honda should be required to recall all 2003 Accord transmissions for safety reasons. Thanks.

My 2003 Honda Accord transmission slips between second and third gears. First noticed getting on freeway in bad traffic. If I had kept foot on gas it could have caused wreak with high speed traffic on busy freeway. I took foot off gas for a split second and it shifted. Avoiding high speed areas I was able to shift by backing off the gas between second and third. Took 2003 Honda Accord to dealer and was told it was a transmission failure and needed new transmission.

2003 Honda Accord transmission slips and can not accelerate, also would not shift into reverse.

My 2003 Accord has transmission recall that supposedly has a fixed. The recall was at around 40,000 miles the gears start to slip on automatic transmissions. The fix was a jet kit in the transmission to help cool down the fluid. My transmission was too late for the kit and was already damaged so I had to replace it at 65,000 miles (in 2005) and to top it off the dealer said my car is not part of the recall but when I registered in Honda owner link site it clearly says that my VIN is part of the recall. Well now it is 2009 and my transmission has 50,000 miles and it is failing again. This fix they supposedly did is not working and it needs some investigation because there is way more complaint not reported and I think this will give them a push telling them this is a serious issue. I honestly think Honda need to come out with a better solution. Or even convert the vehicle the manual transmission free of charge.

2003 Accord starting with transmission slipping around 2nd gear. On wed. Aug. 26 traveling south of winston salem nc on hwy 52 when car jerked to an almost complete stop. While trying to pull over to stop lane it jerked several more times. Started to drive on shoulder to next town when stopped by state trooper and explained situation. Told me to be safe and get it off main highway. The engine light,tcs and maintenance light all on plus green light at drive is flashing. Very lucky I did not get hit or hit someone due to lockup.

2003 Honda Accord with v-6 while traveling 215 miles to a friends funeral my transmission began to violently shift into 1st gear regardless of the speed traveling. This started after exiting the interstate and stopping to look at the map about 40 miles from my destination. I tried driving as gently as I could and the car would start shifting normally and at some point after shifting into a gear higher number gear than 1st it would downshift into 1st. None of the gears were slipping. After a number of starts it went into limp home mode staying in 1st gear and I finished my trip in 1st on country roads. I let the car sit all day while at the funeral and when I started it to put it on a trailer it was working fine. Therefore I left for home. Once the engine was up to temp it started doing it again. This time I quickly put the trans in neutral for 2-3 seconds then back into drive and all was well for a few miles, sometimes 20-30 and it did it again. If I weren't an experienced driver and able to maintain control while quickly putting the car into neutral it I have no doubt it would have caused a serious accident. When traveling at 65-70mph on the interstate downshifting to 1st is very dangerous. My car is at the dealer who just says the trans must be replaced for $,3610. 00 and cannot explain why it shifts fine when cold but starts acting up when hot. We have about 112,000 miles on this car and haven't had any problems until this which was shortly after the dealer flushed and refilled the transmission. I've called Honda USA and am waiting to hear back from them. Many talk of their trans going out of gear and coasting with the rpm suddenly shooting up as if it were in neutral after which no gear will engage. Mine never slipped in any gear, just downshifts abruptly to 1st without warning. I've asked Honda why it works fine when cold and not when warmed up. They don't know and just repeat that the trans needs replacing. This is definately a safety hazard.

2003 Honda Accord transmission slipping. When going up a bridge had to drop down to 20 mph to keep car going.

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 35 mph, the contact noticed that the transmission was slipping. He was unable to change gears and the vehicle would not accelerate over 35 mph. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the transmission failed. The cost for a new transmission was estimated at $4,000. The manufacturer filed case number n012009-071300056 regarding the failure and stated that there were no recalls. The manufacturer offered to pay $1,500 towards a new transmission. The contact believes that Honda should pay for the entire repair. The vehicle has not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were 97,244.

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving 20 mph, the vehicle failed to shift from second into third gear. As a result, the rpm's increased and the vehicle failed. The contact was able to get the vehicle to shift into the correct gear after a couple of seconds. There were no warnings prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the transmission was slipping between second and third gear, and also bangs when switching into reverse. The dealer spoke with the manufacturer and they offered the contact 50% off the total bill, which would amount to $1,508. 73. The contact refused and no repairs have been made. The vehicle was repaired According to NHTSA campaign id number 04v176000 (power train:automatic transmission), but the failure has recurred. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 59,000 and current mileage was 59,500. Updated 08/19/09 also, the lights for the temperature, radio and defroster were out. Updated 08/20/09.

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. While driving various speeds, the gear slips intermittently and causes spontaneous acceleration and downshifting. The failure could cause the transmission to lock up, which could result in a crash. The dealer stated that because his vehicle was previously repaired According to NHTSA campaign id number 04v176000 (power train:automatic transmission), they would not assume responsibility for any repairs. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 102,000.

I have an '03 Honda Accord ex with transmission slippage. While driving on the expressway, (40-50 mph) my car would slow down to about 20-30mph!, causing traffic behind me to almost rear end my veh. I would attempt to speed up, but the engine would just rev up with no increase in speed. After maintaining 20-30mph for a few seconds the veh. Would suddenly jerk forward and the slow down again. I took the veh. To sloan Honda (phila. ) and they told me that I needed to replace the transmission, and it would cost me $3,500. 00. A service rep. Called back again and stated that Honda agreed to lower my payment to $2,100. 00. I'm a law enforcement officer for this city and I need a veh. The dealership nor Honda would give a courtesy rental ! there is an obvious safety issue with the '03 Honda transmission and I hope that this will be addressed.

2003 Honda Accord lx v6. Automatic transmission is slipping between 2nd and 3rd gear. This model has had issues with the transmission since the beginning. My car only has 49000 miles on it, and I think Honda needs to correct and fix this problem before a safety incident occurs. On top of that they are well aware of this issue, and should stand behind their products, and not make this come out from the consumers pocket.

Driving home from work in rush hour traffic in a regularly serviced 2003 Honda Accord. I slowed down and then tried to speed up but transmission kept slipping back into 1 gear and wouldn't advance to the next gear. You couldn't go over 20 miles per hour without jerking and down shifting and it kept doing the same all the way to Honda auto repair parking lot. Was told the next day the transmission had to be replaced because of transmission failure. Couldn't afford a new one so was replaced by rebuilt transmission ($3747. 51). To my knowledge the original transmission has never been worked on or have I been told that there was a recall on the transmission. I just found out about the recall myself when checking to see if my car was on the recall list for the wiper motor I heard on tv this week. With all the news about recalls I thought I would just check to see what recalls Honda Accords had. To my surprise and joy a transmission recall was issued several years earlier. I hope I can get a refund of my money and get a new transmission installed like I should of gotten in the first place if I was told about the recall. You would think the car dealership would have known about the recall and replaced it at no charge. I have all receipts if needed.

2003 Honda Accord v6 transmission failure at 64,000 miles. I had problems with transmission several years ago (rough shifting) but dealer could not find problem. In the past 6 months, the transmission began slipping when going around 25 - 30 mph, mentioned to Honda dealer at 60,000 mile maintenance back in October and they inspected and changed transmission fluid. Was ok for a little while, but in last few weeks, it began slipping again. Took it to dealer on 4/21 and they said they tested it and could not find any problems. Then on 4/22, the transmission failed when going 60 mph on a highway, it bucked, and downshifted to 2nd gear and would not change. . . Immediate slowing of vehicle almost caused car behind me to hit me. I crawled to dealer and they tested and said sure enough the transmission had failed and needed replacement. The dealer rep said he went to Honda and that they were only going to pay 50% of replacement cost, but then because the rep pushed harder, increased offer to 75%. I agreed to accept it since I need my car back, but Honda should have paid the full cost. Interestingly, I had an extended warranty that would have covered it all, but it expired on 12/28/08. I have learned thorough research that this is a rampant problem with this model and yet Honda will not recall/replace. This is a serious safety issue that the NHTSA must take action on immediately. The transmissions in this model are fraught with problems, and will cause accidents, injuries and possible death. Please take action soon to address this serious safety issue. It would also be nice if any action you take includes reimbursing those of us who had to pay to get a new or rebuilt transmission installed.

I was aware that 03 Honda Accords have had transmission problems, so when my check engine light came on I immediately went to the dealer and asked them to look at it. They told me it was fine, my gas cap wasn't screwed on tight, but did a full check and sold me some battery stuff. Now, just a month later, the transmission failed at about 50 mph and nearly jerked me into another car. I was on the way to pick up my kids from school! I shudder to think what could have happened. I limped into the dealer with the dashboard lit up, drive indicator light blinking, and the gears slipping & downshifting hard. This time, they say the transmission fluid "smells bad" and I need it replaced. Why couldn't Honda, who knows all about this famously bad model year's transmission, make sure the problem was fixed when I, a very conscientious owner, brought it in last month? before a catastrophic failure that could have killed people? sorry about the caps, I'm just very, very frustrated at this irresponsibility. It is a clear safety issue.

2003 Honda Accord ex w/v6 - transmission failure at 102,800 miles the transmission began slipping - happened twice and I brought it to my regular mechanic for inspection. He informed me of a well know problem with the transmissions Honda used in the Accords from the early 2000s (my 2003 included). He told me it was going to fail - it would just be a matter of time. So on the way home from the appointment the "check engine" light came on and the transmission began slipping between 2nd and 3rd so badly that the car was undrivable. In between the slips the motor would rev up to 4500 rpm - so I immediately parked it. After a little research I discovered I am one of many with the same issue - and that Honda has refused to recall these transmissions due to "a safety issue" - well for the folks that have locked up and one from 45 to 20 - it's a safety issue! I contacted american Honda in CA and requested assistance (goodwill repair - partial at least) and they are in the process of looking at it - after a cost of $92. 00 to diagnose.

The Honda Accord 2003 transmission failure appears to be a huge safety hazard. While driving on a major highway, the transmission completely slipped. With drivers close behind, this could have caused a serious accident. The transmission continued to work and then slip while I tried to pull off the highway. The reason I'm filing this safety complaint is that I have researched this issue and it seems to be widespread. The 2000 and 2001 transmissions have been included in a class action law suit. I'm not sure what's taking so long. Something must be done before someone is hurt.

Transmission slipping on Honda 2003 Accord. Went to dealer who replaced 3rd pressure switch and gasket. Was told I needed a new/rebuilt transmission. Declined work and went to internet for a cheaper repair. When searched 2003 Honda transmissions noticed several web sites complaining of the same problem as mine. I feel that this is a defect that warrants a recall with repairs fixed and paid for by Honda.

I have a 2003 Honda Accord v6 coupe. My transmission began slipping at 20 - 25 mph. The car would lose power, rpm's would rev very high and then shift violently into third gear. I took my car into the local Honda dealer and was told that my transmission had failed. It had 82,017 miles on the car and had been very well maintained. The transmission had to be replaced - total cost $2600. Honda agreed to pay for half the cost, only after I threatened to picket their dealership. This transmission is dangerous and should be recalled.

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing transmission failure. The gears would slip between second and third gear at various speeds. When the gears would disengage, the contact was forced to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road. The failure occurred nearly every time the vehicle was driven. She took the vehicle to a repair shop and the mechanic stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact scheduled an appointment with the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified. The current mileage was 110,077 and failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

I was driving on a busy interstate (I-395 in northern virginia) when my transmission suddenly downshifted. I drive a 2003 Honda Accord ex v6. I couple months back I performed the required recall maintenance, installing a part on my second gear that was supposed to reduce the heat produced from the transmission. I had not had any problems with my transmission before the part was installed. The day of the instance, after the transmission slipped and I dramatically lost acceleration, I was luckily able to veer to the shoulder, almost causing the vehicle behind me to rear end me, and other vehicles surrounding me to veer out of the way. There was no injury or property damage involved, though there easily could of been. The Honda service center I took it to informed me that I was going to have to replace the transmission, as there were metal pieces that got loose in the fluid and caused the failure. To my belief, this is a recurring problem with my year/model Honda because I was instructed (through an internet message board of people with the exact same problem) to contact Honda America to help with my repair costs, because they were getting the same problems from customers from all around the country. I am still in talks with Honda about covering costs of their faulty transmission.

Transmission failure in my 2003 Honda Accord ex v-6, with automatic transmission and only 68,000 miles on it. As I entered onto the freeway and accelerated, the motor revved up, the tachometer went up 2500 rpm higher and the car did not increase speed. The transmission slipped and has so numerous time while I was trying to get it to the shop for repairs. . Read more...

Normal driving. . 90,000 miles. Transmission slips from 2nd to 3rd gear. Happens 9 out of 10 times I drive from 2nd to 3rd gear. Honda dealer says I need a new transmission and it will cost $2800, but they are aware of the problem. Was a recall item in 2005.

While taking my car to the dealer to replace the starter, they noticed that the transmission is slipping and recommend that I no longer drive the car until I get a new transmission. Luckily this has not yet caused an accident, but it is very expensive to fix and appears to be a common problem with the 2003 ex v6 Accord.

2003 Honda Accord transmission slipped into second gear at expressway speeds immediate threat to occupants and other motorist vicinity of said vehicle.

I was driving at approx 65-70 mph on the freeway, when the transmission seemed to slip or seize causing extreme deceleration (car seemed to shift itself into low gear). This caused wheels to lock up briefly, and nearly caused me to lose control of the vehicle. This incident was extremely hazardous, in my opinion. I see now from the internet, that hundreds of other Honda Accord drivers have had similar experiences.

I was driving on the florida tpk. At approximately 60 mph. The rpms shot up like if the car had shifted into neutral. I was able to pull the car over to the shoulder and shut it for a few minutes. I bought this car used in June of 2008 with about 60,000 miles. This happened later that year in November. I had other minor incidents of slippage but it would quickly slip back into gear. I now have almost 90,000 miles and the problem continues happening randomly but mostly when the engine temperature is high and at low speeds. The gear slips from 2nd to 3rd. Fortunately for me, it was very early in the morning when this happened and there was not much traffic. If I would have been driving during heavier traffic times, I would have been involved in a serious accident. I feared for my life and no one should have to die before this becomes a recall/full action lawsuit for Honda. The car was jerking to try to find the gear and the first thing I did after I pulled to the shoulder was call my wife and tell her what had just happened. I called braman Honda in miami, FL and was given an appointment date to bring it in on 12/6/08. American Honda case: n032008-12-0200567. The transmission failure was diagnosed and the vehicle does need a new transmission. Although the dealership claimed they were unfamiliar with the problem, they called me back to say american Honda was going to split the total cost and pay for the transmission (goodwill deed) and I would only have to pay the labor, which was about $1,700. I could not afford that and continued trying to contact them for a full repair. No luck. I couldn't believe my Honda with 75,000 miles needed a new transmission! I have found out almost 1. 1 million 2003 v-6 Accords like mine are affected, but yet no recall?? Honda refuses to admit the 2003 Accords have faulty transmissions. Instead of standing behind their product, they are hiding the truth. I hope this complaint aids in getting the truth. I am contacting a lawyer in NY as well.

I noticed that NHTSA is waiting for someone to leave a complaint saying that someone has died or seriously injured! I am so disappointed at how many complaints I have seen about the 2003 Honda Accord auto transmission. I have a 2003 Accord and I have only had it for 1 year and already the transmission is slipping. I found out that I need another transmission. My car has 102,000 and past the warranty of I think 36-46,000 miles warranty. I called american Honda and I was told that my car received a oil ject kit in 2004 and the transmission was fine. Now, if some repair was done on my car in 2004, then why has my transmission gone out. It saddens me that Honda and NHTSA know of this problem but nothing is being done. I don't want my family to have to make this complaint because my children and I were killed in an accident from being hit from behind. I have had so many close calls that I had to pull over and cry because I was so upset. I was told that I am probably going to be responsible for getting this fixed and lord knows I don't have the money! how can this be happening. A company knows about this problem and stand by and leave their valued customers on a branch alone to take care of this problem. I would not recommend a Honda to any one. They brag about their car but the performance of the Honda is not backing it up! I am looking into talking to a lawyer about this deal!.

On 10/1/08, the transmission started slipping in between gears. We went and got the transmission fluid replaced and filled up on Saturday. On Monday, our transmission completed died, leaving me, my 9 year old, and 18 month old stranded on a busy highway during rush hour traffic. We had to get someone to come pick us up, and I had to get our car towed to our house since we have no idea where to take it to. When the transmission went out, it almost caused someone to rear-end our car and cause a huge car accident. Due to this, I now have to miss work and try to get this fixed. Who knows how long I will not be working because this is my only car!.

Transmission slips violently out of gear once the engine is warmed up, and the rpm's go over 2700. Occurs during acceleration (from a stop or when merging/passing on the highway) and when trying to maintain speed up an incline. This event occurs whenever the car gets warmed up (after about 35-40 minutes of driving).

Transmission failure while driving. Gears slips and car looses power.

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number 04v176000 (power train: automatic transmission). The dealer installed a jet pack kit to prevent the transmission from slipping. The transmission slipped after the recall repair was performed, which prevented the vehicle from driving in reverse and the gears from shifting while in operation. The failure mileage was less than 85,000 and current mileage was less than 87,000. Updated 1/6/09 updated 01/14/09.

My car is a 2003 Honda Accord and the transmission is slipping. The car is only 5 years old! I bought it new and it gets regular maintenance and oil changes. . Read more...