Honda Accord Complaints (2003)

1,987 consumer complaints on file.

#10067841April 26, 2004
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067731April 23, 2004
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067696April 22, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
I PURCHASED MY NEW 2003 HONDA ACCORD LX COUPE IN APR 2003. IN DEC 2003, I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO LEAVE MY CAR THERE BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES. THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. LESS THAN 4 MONTHS LATER, WHILE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, THE BRAKES FAILED AS MY FOOT NEARLY WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I SHIFTED THE GEARS DOWN AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR THAT WAY, NO ACCIDENT. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT (IT WAS A THURSDAY). THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I INSISTED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REPAIR PERSON THAT THE MECHANIC DECIDED TO PROBE FURTHER DUE TO MY INSISTANCE AND HE SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND AIR BUBBLES IN THE BRAKE FLUID. THEY BLED MY BRAKES. THAT FOLLOWING MONDAY, SOMETHING ELSE WENT WRONG. AT THE TIME I BELIEVED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE BRAKES, BUT NOW I AM NOT SO SURE. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT MY APARTMENT, IT FELT AS THOUGH THE BRAKES SLIPPED. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT DID NOT STOP; IT ALMOST SEEMED AS THOUGH THE CAR SPED UP A LITTLE, WHILE MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR. IN A PANIC, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND PRESSED IT AGAIN. I HEARD THE TIRES SQUEAL, BUT BY THAT POINT IT WAS TOO LATE. I ENDED UP HITTING A POLE. STATE FARM HAD MY CAR EVALUATED TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. I TOOK IT TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP SHOP, BUT ONLY UNDER THE CONDITION THAT THE STATE FARM INSPECTOR CHECK THE CAR WITH THEM. THIRTY MINUTES INTO THE INSPECTION THE STATE FARM INSPECTOR LEFT AND MY CAR WAS SUBSEQUENTLY LEFT FOR APPROX 1-1/2 HOURS SOLEY WITH THE DEALERSHIP . AT THE END OF THE 2-HOUR INSPECTION, I WAS TOLD NO PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES. I NOW DRIVE MY CAR FEARFULLY, HOPING THAT NOTHING ELSE WILL GO WRONG. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067650April 22, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR WAS IN PARK WITH ENGINE RUNNING ON A FLAT DRIVEWAY. CAR ROLLED DOWN DRIVEWAY ACROSS A STREET, OVER A CURB, ON TO A NEIGHBORS LAWN AND CAME TO REST ON A PILE OF LOGS. ENGINE WAS TILL RUNNING AND CAR WAS STILL IN PARK. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO PERSONAL DAMAGE, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE BACK BUMPER. IT WAS CHECKED OUT BY THE HONDA DEALER, NO PROBLEMS ACCORDING TO THEM ,THEY SUGGESTED USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AT ALL TIMES. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, I TRULY FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE A CAR COULD ROLL WHEN IN PARK, IT LEAVES ME WITH QUITE A BIT OF DOUBT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067667April 22, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
1.FRONT BRAKES GRIND FOR THE FIRST 1-2 STOPS AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT OR 1-2 HOURS. 2. RATTLE OR CREAKING SOUND IN THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND B COLUMN, UNRESOLVED AFTER 3 TRYS BY THE DEALER TO FIX.ONLY PRESENT WHILE DRIVING ON MILDLY COARSE ROAD SURFACE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071572April 20, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED *PH *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10071556April 20, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ONCE THE CONSUMER SHIFTED TO REVERSE, THE ENGINE WENT FULL THROTTLE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A PICKUP TRUCK THAT WAS PARKED BEHIND THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *PH THIS ACCIDENT CAUSED LIGHT DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE HE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION TWICE AFTER THIS INCIDENT. AFTER THE THIRD INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A 300 MILE ROAD TEST BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067420April 19, 2004
SUSPENSION
CONSUMER PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA ACCORD BRAND NEW,AND SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN RATTLING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED A FEW THINGS. BUT HAD NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066167April 14, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
03 ACCORD LX BRAKE ROTORS WARPED. WHEN STOPPING THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING AND BRAKE PEDAL. BRAKE PADS ALSO SQUEEK AND MAKE GRINDING NOISE. WILL BRING TO DEALER FOR ASSESSMENT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065941April 11, 2004
STRUCTURE
MY 2003 ACCORD EX V-6 HAS DEVELOPED A LOUD POPPING OR CREAKING SOUND FROM BENEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR PAN EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE, DECELERATE, OR TURN INTO A CORNER. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL WHEN I FIRST OFFICIALLY COMPLAINED AT 7,000 MILES, BUT AS TIME HAS PASSED, THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN WORSE. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT 5 TIMES, BUT HAS NOT YET FOUND A SOLUTION. WITH SOME RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED A HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN (03-058) THAT STATES BODY WELDS WERE IMPROPERLY FINISHED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS, AND THAT THE STRUCTURE MUST BE RE-WELDED. MY DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS "EXCESS FLEX" IN THE BODY OF MY CAR, AND AS A RESULT, MULTIPLE SQUEAKS AND RATTLES ARE DEVELOPING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SEVERE STRUCTURAL FAULT THAT IS PUTTING MY SAFETY AT RISK IN THE CASE OF A CRASH AND WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO MY CAR DUE TO BODY FLEX FOR YEARS TO COME. I HAVE REQUESTED THAT HONDA REPLACE THE CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066622April 6, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:QUICK RELEASE VALVE
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE BRAKES SUDDENLY ENGAGED. THE ENGINE POWER DECREASED AND THE ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066875April 1, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
THE CONSUMER'S WIFE HIT A STONE IN THE ROAD WHICH WENT UNDER THE VEHICLE STRIKING THE CHASSIS. THIS CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT AND THE CURTAIN AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. *PH THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT HONDA SHOULD COVER THE EXPENSES. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064287March 31, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
I HAVE HAD 3 PCS VALVES REPLACED IN MY 20003 HONDA ACCORD. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START OR EMISSION LIGHT CAME ON TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE A LOUD GRINDING SOUND THE FIRST TIME I USE THE BRAKES WHEN DRIVING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064080March 29, 2004
STEERING
2003 HONDA ACCORD (EX) CONSISTENTLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE DRIFTS AT MEDIUM SPEED (35-45 MPH) AND IS ACCOMPANINED BY VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. STEERING IS REMARKABLY LESS RESPONSIVE, PARTICULARLY IN RIGHT TURNS. ALL-WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND BALANCING OF TIRES DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM, AND IN FACT HAS MADE THE PROBLEM MORE NOTICEABLE. LOSS OF CONFIDENCE IN THE RELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLES STEERING SYSTEM BRINGS INTO QUESTION ITS SAFETY ON THE ROAD. GIVING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, NHTSA SHOULD CONSIDER INITIATING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS VEHICLE'S SUITABILITY FOR THE RAOD. I FEEL AS THOUGH MY VEHICLE IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063965March 26, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SINCE PURCHASING MY BRAND NEW 2003 HONDA ACCORD IN JUNE 2003, THERE HAS BEEN A SEVERE GRINDING AND VIBRATION COMING FROM THE BRAKES. I HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER (HERB CHAMBERS, BURLINGTON, MA) 4 TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM. FIRST THEY GROUND THE ROTORS (THE CAR WAS ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD). THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURED AND I BROUGHT IT BACK A WEEK LATER AND THE "SUPPOSEDLY" REPLACED THE ROTORS AND PADS BUT THEY REFUSED TO LET ME SEE THE OLD PARTS WHEN I REQUESTED THEM. PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE AND WE BROUGHT IT BACK AGAIN TWICE IN FEBRUARY AND THE DEALER INSISTS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THEY ONLY DROVE IT 1 -2 MILES EACH TIME. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND THE CAR MUST BE DRIVEN ALL THE TIME AS MY FAMILY DOES. I ALREADY HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT WHEN THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP AT ALL AT ONLY 5 MPH. I WROTE HONDA APPLYING THE MASSACHUSETTS LEMON LAW AND THEY IGNORED IT. I RECEIVED NOTHING IN WRITING OF THEIR FINDINGS. I WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT BRAKE SPECIALIST WHO LOOKED AT THE BRAKES AND SAID HE DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE REPLACED - ONLY TURNED. I THEN WENT TO ANOTHER HONDA DEALER WHO SAYS THAT HONDA IS WELL AWARE OF THE BRAKE PROBLEM (SEVERE GRINDING AND VIBRATION) AND ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP NAMED MARK KEEPS CALLING US BUT FOR A WEEK, EVERY TIME WE CALL HIM BACK, WE GET HIS VOICE MAIL AND HE NEVER CALLS US. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE CAR IS A LEMON AND THE NHTSA WEBSITE SHOWS MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. HONDA WON'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THEY NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE BBB IN MASSACHUSETTS AS WELL AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. I HAVE ALSO PLACED CALLS TO THE THREE LOCAL MEDIA STATIONS AND MY ATTORNEY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057376March 17, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SEATS, STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE ENGINE EMITTED A ROTTEN EGG SMELL. THE DRIVER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS NOT STABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 9 TIMES FOR MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. *NM PAINT ON THE HOOD IS FLAKING. SEAT IS NOT FIXED. THE DOOR PANEL WAS FIXED TWICE BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. CONSUMER CONFRONTED DEALERSHIP ABOUT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE BUT CONSUMER WAS IGNORED. CONSUMER CALLED AMERICAN HONDA TO REPORT ISSUE WITH DEALER. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062185March 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2003 HONDA ACCORD LX V6 COUPE, WITH 35,000 MILES AND CURRENT IAW OWNERS MANUAL PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE, MY TRANSMISSION WITH OUT! I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO OURISMAN HONDA LOCATED IN LAUREL WHERE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT 'FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE', RETURNING IT TO ME STATING 'THE PROBLEM WAS TARGETED AND CORRECTED'. THE VERY NEXT DAY, TAKING A TRIP TO PHILADELPHIA WITH MY GIRLFRIEND, WE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSON SLIPPING AS WE WERE LEAVING THE TOLL BOOTH, 15-20 MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE TRANSMISSON WAS SO SEVERE IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE PAST 3RD GEAR (5 SPEED AUTOMATIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED IN UNDER THE RECCOMENDATION OF PRINCETON HONDA, WHERE THE TRANSMISSON WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSON, PER OURISMAN HONDA OF LAUREL, WILL NOT BE COVERED PAST THE FACTORY 36,000 MILE WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062268March 15, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
POWER DRIVER'S SEAT SHIFTS IN ITS TRACK WHEN CORNERING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062919March 10, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE BRAND NEW, AND WHEN HE DROVE IT BRAKES OVERHEATED AND VEHICLE VIBRATED. BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD A DIFFERENT TYPE OF BRAKES, AND THEY NEEDED TO BE SPECIALLY ORDERED. IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THIS PARTICULAR KIND OF BRAKES. THEN, MECHANIC DROVE VEHICLE , BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. CONSUMER HAD HIS VEHICLE BACK, AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES BECAME WORSE. CONSUMER MAINTAINED THAT HONDA KNEW ABOUT THESE BRAKES AND WERE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060885March 10, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
OIL LEAK ENGINE. ROTTEN EGG SMELL FROM INTERIOR AIR VENTS AFTER CRANKING COLD ENGINE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Honda Accord