This car has had numerous problems since delivery.
- Since delivery, the air conditioning fan shuts off randomly and intermittently, at which time all lights associated with the air conditioning or fan also go out. The second time the entire air conditioning dash unit was replaced with no results. The car is in shop currently for the third time to attempt fixing this.
- Possibly associated with the fan and also since delivery, there is very sticky whitish goop running down from the air conditioning/audio unit area onto the door of the storage compartment below. In the shop currently for this also.
- At delivery the car had many squeaks, rattles and buzzes. Most notable are a buzz in the rear passenger speaker at anything above the threshold of hearing volume levels, a plastic on plastic squeak in the dash on the passenger side on anything, but perfectly smooth road, and a rattle under the hood that can be heard when shutting the door or when hitting the brakes. Seems like the same rattle, but the brakes part is mystifying. None located or fixed by the shop.
- At delivery the black coating on both door sills was wrinkled. Evidently this is an issue on all 2003 Accord coupes, don't know if it also affects sedans. This was fixed on the first shop visit approximately 1 week after delivery.
- At delivery the driver's side door had something (which turned out to be an inside door panel attachment device) rattling around inside it. Also fixed on the first shop visit.
- I purchased the car Jan. 9, 2003 and the car is currently in the shop for the 3rd time attempting to have the fan and goop problem fixed. Total time in shop to date (Mar. 2) is 2.5 weeks, no estimate on when it will be done this time.
- Overall fit and finish on the car is comparable or lower than the Mustang I recently owned. NOT reminiscent of the Honda Quality I've heard of.
- One of the keys to my opinion on this car is that during the quite considerable time mine has been in the shop I have driven two other 2003 Accords for extended periods as dealership loaners (4 cylinder 4 door LX sedan, and EX V6 coupe with leather) and both displayed the same level of fit and finish as mine. The EX has the same rattle under the hood and same squeak in the dash, however on the drivers side. The LX sedan had an audio system that had barely functioning rear speakers. Both these cars had window stickers and less than 2500 miles during the time I had them.
- This car is going to be returned under my state's lemon law if (most likely when) the fan problem happens again. Although the loaners had no obvious problems except the ones stated, my gut reaction with them is that their quality level is not significantly higher. I'm sure I'm biased on this due to the problems with my car, but that's my reaction after driving them extensively.
I took delivery of my 2003 Accord LX last October.
Shortly after that time, I noticed a small oil leak (one or two drops of oil in the garage after one or two days of not driving the car). On the first attempt, the dealership mechanics couldn't find the source of the leak. I have an appointment to let them try again.
The anti-lock brakes seem too sensitive, almost locking the front wheels when turning/braking into a parking space at very low speed.
Also, there is wind noise on the driver's side window at speeds above 30 m.p.h.
And, please, put the door lock switch back near the door lock handle, not right next to the window controls; very confusing! (And couldn't the doors automatically lock when the transmission in placed into "Drive"? Even many vans now have this feature!)
In response to the previous two entries: My 2003 Honda Accord EX V6 has been running flawless with a current odometer reading at 10,000 miles. All cars are machines and machines do break. As an ex employee of Acura always remember that just because a car has 1 mile on the odometer when you drive it off the lot it doesn't mean that the car your driving was built using the exact specifications Acura/Honda intended it to be. The majority of these cars are built using "robots" meaning the margin for error on the assembly line remains just as high if not higher than if it were to be put together using humans. If you believe in all the "quality" inspections performed after the car is built good luck because you might end up with annoying problems like the two previous comments stated. Always remember that when you purchase a new or used car it is the responsibility of the BUYER to check every inch of the car once its in your possesion NOT when performing the test drive at the dealer. If your car was not built according to what the manufacture intended it to be, if you know anything about consumer rights... you will receive another vehicle or be compensated. No major dealership wants the media to show up claiming that they are selling people "lemons" so speak up!
I have to say you are very unlucky. Just about everyone I know who owns a Honda has had no problems (with the Exception of the Odessy). I drive a 96 Civic, but enough about me. Honda is great, but its not the only great company, you should have checked the car out before you got it, (I test drove mine 4 times before purchase, had it inspected at a shop with a friend of mine while I was test driving). Also, dealers will lie to you, no matter what make you buy, some Honda dealers are good and some are not. The defects on your car are bizzare, Honda should not allow this to happen. I don't understand how they can allow their new cars to give owners so much trouble, during a time when Toyota is racking in all the points. Also Honda, like every other company does not have a set dealer code. That's why I switched dealers for my Honda a year after I got it, and I'm very happy with the new guys who inspect the car. I'm terribly sorry for what happened to you, I'm kinda mad at Honda, cause this simply should not happen.
I suggest you return the car, find a company or dealer that suits your needs. You could try Toyota or Acura, also the new Lexus cars are pretty wicked. Then again, say thanks you don't own a Kia.
Cheers!
Hello, original poster here.
There were definitely a couple problems (such as the door sills) I could have caught when the car was delivered, and I probably should have inspected better. First problem is that I shouldn't have had to, and second is that most of them cropped up in the weeks after I purchased the car and were not evident at delivery, making an inspection moot. To update: I'm a fairly tender driver and the car now has a badly warped front brake rotor, 6k current miles and a month out of the last shop visit.
I've had nothing but good luck with Hondas in the past. Although this is the first Honda I've actually owned, I've driven quite a few for extended periods as company cars and such, and my impression of them was always a sheet metal version of an M1A2 Abrams. Rock solid. From my experience most automakers could not hold a candle to Honda and Toyota in initial quality and long term reliability, which is why this car was such an unpleasant surprise. Like I mentioned, this not-so-rave review is the result of not just my own, but two other 2003 Accords, top of the line EX V6 coupe and basic LX sedan, both of which I drove for around two weeks while mine was in the shop.
I would like to make a salient point for clarification. If the dealership/automaker wishes to maintain their quality-based sales numbers, it is incumbent on the dealer/automaker, not the buyer, to make sure that the initial quality is there. Initial quality is a function of there *being no problems* on the average car that rolls off the lot, not the buyer locating them and having them fixed. Manufacturers can play it any way they like of course, but in the end if they would like to keep their reputation it's up to them to convince the buyer that they're getting a quality product by delivering it trouble-free. Only a dealer would attempt to tell you differently after you've already made the purchase.
I am a father of two teenage boys and decided to purchase a 2003 Accord EX-V6 as a graduation gift for both of my sons to share. To date, this car has 12,000 trouble free miles on it. And let me tell you... my sons being teenagers don't treat this car "nice" as they tend to rev the engine a lot. Also I overhere them every once in awhile state things like "you should have seen how I smoked that car" etc. I agree with the 3rd poster on here that stated that it is the responsibility of the BUYER to make sure that the initial quality is there. The manufactors main goal is to produce, produce, produce. And the buyers main goal should be to inspect, inspect, inspect. Honda's stock market value has been above average since they moved from producing just engines to cars, but please don't blind yourself by thinking that they "should" deliver me a trouble free car in order for the company to keep its reputation high. The fact is that the vast majority of Honda autos are extremely reliable. Me and my entire family would love to buy American made auto's, but since we have seen and experienced over and over again their lack of reliability we have and will always purchase anything, but American autos even if its double the price tag. Thanks for reading.
Well, "two sons" aside, it's simple logic. People that have a good experience will probably agree that it's the buyer. People who has a bad experience will probably agree that it's the seller. It's which side of the fence you're on and we happen to be on the opposite side of the fence. The more cars like mine they make the more people will agree with me, and therefore their reputation will suffer.
If you make cars with problems, over time you will not maintain your reputation. That's basic business, and a pretty hard argument to refute.
I don't think Honda is making bad cars, but from what I've seen I do think they're slipping from their standards a little.
I purchased a 2003 Accord LX V6 in October of 2002. It has close to 15,000 miles on it and I have had nothing but problems with it. I had always heard that Honda was about the best car you could buy for the money. Here are some examples of problems I have had. These are just a few because I could never remember everything it has been in the shop for.
* The car has been "pulling to the right" since I bought it, on every trip to the dealership I ask them to fix this problem, they always say it is fixed then when I get the car back it is still pulling to the right. When I took it in a couple of weeks ago they said it was out of align and fixed it. Then they proceeded to tell me this was only covered under warranty until 9,000 miles and since I was over that I was going to have to pay close to $50 to have this resolved. Needless to say I refused to pay it.
* There is a popping noise coming from around the passenger side front tire every time you are stopped and begin going again. Sometimes it is louder than others, but is almost always present. Still haven't resolved this problem.
* One day after work I got into the car to go home. When the car went from 1st to 2nd gear the car jumped. It would not go to 3rd gear. The check engine light came on, the traction control light came on, the light that shows you are in drive on the instrument panel began flashing. I managed to get the car home where I called the dealership and they towed it in. Then they said they couldn't get the car to do it after keeping it for several days. It has since done this again. This time for only about 5 minutes.
* Yesterday my air conditioning quit working. Since I live in South Georgia this is a major problem. After switching the car off and back on it began working again.
Who knows what kind of shape this car will be in by the time the warranty runs out. This is very disappointing when you have always wanted a Honda and when you finally get one this happens. I knew I should have bought that Altima!
I bought my 2003 Honda Accord LX V6 last December 2002. The car has been pulling to the right ever since. After driving approximately 500 miles, I had it looked at. The alignment was perfect, so they switch the two front tires and the problem seemed to have disappeared. I took the mechanics for a test drive, but he was unable to explain the problem. I was given all sorts of reasons why cars pull to the right. It was the way the roads were constructed or because it was too windy. I have been driving for over 15 years and cars don't pull like my Honda does. I went to a dealer an test drove the same model. The result was the same: the car pulls to the right.
I had problems with the electric seat advancing one notch forward when braking. Honda will replace the seat as soon as they get one in the shop.
The brake disks do not seem to be able to withstand the heat caused by braking. I had to be turn the disks after 3,000 miles. The shop turned them last week at 9,500 miles.
I tend to brake with moderate force and I live in Phoenix, but still, I bought a Honda.
I have had my 2003 Honda accord five months. The motor makes a loud ticking noise, there is popping sounds coming from the rear, middle and front. I have already had to have to rotors turned at 10,000 miles, and they have new carpet on order for me know. The carpet was pulling away from the sides. I have took the car to the shop and the techs do not hear the motor or the popping sounds and they are driving me crazy. I still have my 1995 Honda Accord with 180,000 miles and it has never gave me any trouble at all.
For the past ten years my family and I have owned a total of six Hondas and we have loved every one of them. So you can imagine my excitement when the new accord came out. I researched various makes and models for six months and test drove the Lexus ES 300, Toyota Camry, Mitsubishi Gallant, and the Honda Accord and found that the Accord offered the same level of quality as the Toyota/Lexus and more options for less money.So I bought my Accord sedan EX V6 on December 30, 2002 and after two weeks began experiencing problems with the car cranking. Since the car was bought for my wife I thought that it may be a faulty security chip in her key and the car was operating as it should. It failed to crank three times while she was commuting to work and I thought that it was her imagination and she was over-exaggerating the problem until one day I got in to go to the grocery store and the car failed to crank. I attempted to crank the car with all three keys we had and the car would not crank. I then became disgusted and just held the key over and after approximately 45 seconds of continual turn-over the car fired off. I was very upset, so I called the dealership the next day and he said that they had reports of other V6 Accords with the same problem.
In the first two months of ownership of my Accord it has been in the shop for 35 days. The dealer finally replaced the fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator and the main fuel relay and still no fix. They now will not take the car for anymore repairs because they say the Honda engineers have not been able to isolate the problem and have no fix for it. My dealer says that they have had five more V6 Accords come back with the same problem since mine was reported. I love Honda's cars and I know they make excellent vehicles, but I would think that they would have worked all these major problems out of their design before they release a vehicle on the market.
I've had my 03 EX-V6 Leather Navi for only two months now. I feel the tranny is not shifting where it's supposed to be. I can't get the car in 5th until I hit 48 on a straight road, slow acceleration, no load. Honda says the trany is smart and will learn my driving habits and shift accordingly, it's all computer controlled now, but 48 mph to go into 5th??? I don't believe it...
I have a 2003 Accord and quite honestly it stinks (literally). It puts off a sulpher smell. I contacted the dealer and he said that to try and use a higher octane gas, that they just don't make gas like they use to. Well for three months I have used the expensive gas and it still stinks. They also advised me that many people have had this problem and the only solution that Honda is offering is to use the high octane gas. -frustrated (previous loyal honda customer)
I just bought my 2003 Honda Accord EXL and after the things I went through with my VW Jetta VR6, ANY of the problems mentioned above seem minute. If you don't believe me, check out the 1999-2000 VW Jetta section on here for reviews.
I personally LOVE my car and after 1000 miles haven't had a problem with it at all! I guess we'll see though.
I purchased my 2003 Honda Accord LX 4-door sedan with a manual transmission in March of 2003. Shortly thereafter, I began to hear rattles in 3 of the 4 doors at speeds anywhere from 25 to 70 mph. These rattles are intermittent and although they appear to be based on whether a door or window has been opened or closed, this isn't always true. Sometimes, the noise will stop or start for no apparent reason. The rattling stops when I place my hand on the top of the door panel by the window. There are also rattles in the passenger dashboard, particularly when I turn right, and rattles coming from the CD compartment.
I took the car in and foam cushion tape was placed inside the door panels and around the CD compartment to stop the noise. On the way home from the shop, I noticed that there were still rattles in the door panels. The noise from the CD compartment is gone, at least for now. The service manager indicated he wasn't sure whether the rattles from the passenger dashboard could be fixed.
The second time I brought the car in, the techs added more foam tape inside the door panels.
The third time, I stated that the foam cushion tape appeared to be a temporary solution. The tech that road with me to determine the source of the rattles this time indicated that the foam cushion tape was Honda's recommendation so more foam cushion tape was added. The pressure exerted on the windows by the addition of foam cushion tape is now affecting how freely they open and close. When I picked up my car, the tech indicated that the rattles in the passenger dashboard had been fixed, but I'm not so sure.
My car is scheduled to go back for a fourth time next week. I've asked for new door and possibly window parts. I do not want any more cushion tape in the door panels, especially since it is affecting the windows, which I can no longer tint unless I want striped, scratched windows.
At night, you can see light between the door of the glove compartment and dashboard.
As for the light in the glove compartment, Honda apparently recognized there was a problem with the way the glove compartment door and dash fit because there was already foam cushion tape on the underside of the door opening. The tech simply moved the tape, but you can still see the light coming from the glove compartment.
The speakers are poor and vibrate with the bass set at the default (C), even at a moderate volume. From a design perspective, unless the car is on a completely level surface, water on the car drips into the trunk.
Although my car handles well, shifts satisfactorily, gets good gas mileage (30 mpg average city/highway), and has plenty of backseat room for my long-legged passengers, I'm tired of driving with what sounds like a swarm of flies. I am so disappointed with my Honda.
My 2003 Honda Accord has had the brakes totally replaced recently. Starting at only 5,000 miles, I had to start getting rotor resurfacing done to eliminate shakes. It always came back. Over a 10 month period, I resurfaced rotors three times. Car rides/drives/brakes like an *oxcart*. After 10 months of misery, Honda finally admitted it goofed on the brake pad specs. Other issues: The carpet is coming up from the sides of the passenger's floor board. Fog lights have cracked twice (expensive to replace, not covered under warranty). Awful Michelin MXV4 S8 tires must now be replaced due to chronic brake problem for 10 months. (However, I am on my own when it comes to replacing tires, as they will not accept the link between the brakes and the excessive tire wear) Quality is just not there. Stinks. Would never have bought it had I known.