2003 Honda Accord Electrical System

WHAT WILL BE THE DETERMINATION AND PROCEDURE FOR HONDA AND ACURA MOTOR VEHICLES AS IT RELATES TO THE 2.5% ERROR ON THE ODOMETERS FROM 2002 TO 2006? *NM

RECENTLY THE BACK LIGHT ON THE RADIO/HVAC/CLOCK PANEL WENT OUT. AFTER CHECKING ALL FUSES IT WAS DETERMINED NOT TO BE A BLOWN FUSE. SERVICE ADVISOR/MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $200-$400 TO FIX AND THAT THE RADIO UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS LED ME TO CONDUCT MY OWN RESEARCH AND WAS SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED TO FIND THAT THIS HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON NEWER MODELS OF HONDA ACCORDS ('03 AND NEWER). I ALSO LEARNED FROM NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS THAT THEY'D RECEIVED THE RUNAROUND FROM THE CAR DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. HOWEVER, SEVERAL INDICATED THAT AFTER MAKING NUMEROUS CALLS TO HONDA OF AMERICA THE COMPANY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. IT APPEARS TO BE A WIRING PROBLEM, WHICH COULD, IN MY OPINION, LEAD TO MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. AS A SINGLE PARENT I PURCHASED THE HONDA FOR MY DAUGHTER, WHO ATTENDS COLLEGE SOME 700 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND REQUIRES A SAFE AND RELIABLE VEHICLE. SINCE HONDA OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THEY REALLY SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO OWNERS. *JB

ILLUMINATION IN RADIO FAILS. NOT READILY REPLACEABLE, NOT EVEN BY DEALER. THIS FAILURE ALSO CAUSES LOSS OF ILLUMINATION FOR THERMOSTAT AND FAN CONTROL ON DASH WHICH CREATES A MAJOR DISTRACTION AT NIGHT WHEN TRYING TO ADJUST THESE CONTROLS. THIS DISTRACTION COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL, A CRASH, AND/OR SERIOUS INJURY. *NM

CENTER LIGHT FOR STEREO AND CONSOLE IS BURNT OUT. THIS MEANS THAT A DRIVER CAN NOT CHOOSE CRITICAL CONTROLS WHY DRIVING UNLESS THEY TURN AN INTERIOR LIGHT ON. *NM

2003 ACCORD RADIO/TEMPERATURE DISPLAY DEFECT. *TS THE DISPLAY UNIT FOR THE RADIO AND HEATING/AC GAUGES WENT BLACK. WHEN THE APPROPRIATE FUSE WAS REPLACED, A INSTRUCTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, THE RADIO STOPPED FUNCTIONING ENTIRELY AND THE CONSUMER WAS STILL UNABLE TO SEE THE TEMPERATURE CONTROLS FOR THE HEAT AND A/C. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 HONDA ACCORD WITH APPROXIMATELY 52,000 MILES AND YESTERDAY THE RADIO LIGHTS AND THE CENTER POD LIGHTS WHICH CONTROL THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING LIGHTING STOP WORKING AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED, I HAVE CHECKED ANY AND ALL FUSES UNDER THE DASH AND ALSO IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THERE ARE BLOWN FUSES. NOTHING ELSE SO FAR IS OUT OF THE NORM, I AM JUST NO SURE WHERE TO LOOK OR WHAT TO DO SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

2003 HONDA ACCORD EX V6 - RADIO CONTROL, AC CONTROL AND CLOCK CONTROL BACKLIGHT STOPPED WORKING. CONTACTED DEALER AND TOLD THAT RADIO WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND SENT TO CALIFORNIA FOR REPAIRS. COST ESTIMATED IN EXCESS OF $500. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BACKLIGHTING ON THE CENTER CONSOLE CLIMATE CONTROLS DARKENED, MAKING THE CONTROLS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

THE BACK LIGHTING ON MY RADIO CLOCK HAS STOPPED WORKING. *JB

THE LIGHTS ON THE STEREO AND THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD WENT OUT AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. UNABLE TO SEE THE CONTROL SWITCHES FOR THE AC/HEATER WHICH WAS DANGEROUS DURING NIGHT DRIVING. THE STEREO WORKED - BUT IT IS COMPLETELY DARK - NO LIGHTS. I CALLED HONDA ON 2 OCCASIONS ABOUT IT ( CASE# : N032006-03-08-00025) AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THEM AND EVEN REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 HONDA ACCORDS ( BULLETIN : 04-027 ). HOWEVER, THE HONDA REPRESENTATIVES WERE NOT PARTICULARLY HELPFUL AND WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE VALIDITY OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN. ALSO, THEY DID NOT WANT TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 ACCORDS AND BACK LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. I TOOK THE CAR TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP IN WOODSTOCK AND THEY EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE COMPLETE STEREO WITH A RE-FURBISHED ONE WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM (AT NO CHARGE) - INITIALLY THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WHICH CAUSED THE BACK LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD TO GO OUT. LUCKILY, THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET WHERE IT ENDED UP COSTING THE OWNERS BETWEEN $400 - $800. *JB

THE ILLUMINATION (BACK LIGHT) BEHIND THE CLIMATE CONTROL AND AUDIO SYSTEM HAS GONE OUT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SELECT THE DEFROST CONTROLS WHICH MAKES COLD WEATHER DRIVING NEAR IMPOSSIBLE. ALSO, CLIMATE CONTROL INSIDE THE VECHICLE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE DURING THE DAY AND IMPOSSIBLE DURING THE NIGHT. PULLING OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY TO ADJUST THE CONTROLS (WITH THE AID OF A FLASHLIGHT) POSES IT'S OWN SET OF DANGERS. *JB

DEFECTIVE HVAC/RADIO BACKLIGHT BACKLIGHT MALFUNCTIONS AND HVAC AND RADIO CONTROLS AND DISPLAY GOES DARK. THERE HAVE BEEN PREVIOUS SERVICE BULLITENS RELEASED ON THIS ISSUE AND ITS A KNOW DEFECT; HOWEVER HONDA REFUSES TO REPLACE PART. *NM

I PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA ACCORD IN NOVEMBER 2002. IN APRIL 2003, AS I REPORTED TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, I WAS NOT IN MY CAR WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I WAS IN THE GROCERY STORE. A PAGE CAME OVER THE LOUDSPEAKER STATING THAT THE OWNER OF A GRAY HONDA PARKED IN THE SIDE PARKING LOT SHOULD COME TO THE MANAGER?S OFFICE. AS I WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE, I SPOKE TO THE MANAGER. THE MANAGER AND I WALKED OUT OF THE STORE TOGETHER AND I SAW THAT MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD WAS AT REST IN THE SIDE OF ANOTHER CAR. THE DOOR WAS LOCKED, THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. I HAD THE KEYS WITH ME IN THE GROCERY STORE. NOT KNOWING HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED, I FILED A POLICE REPORT ON THE THEORY SOMEONE MAY HAVE TRIED TO STEAL THE CAR AND ALSO TOOK IT TO THE HONDA DEALER TO SEE IF IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE DEALER COULD NOT "REPLICATE THE PROBLEM" AND AT NO POINT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING IN 1999 - 2002 HONDA VEHICLES. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED MORE THAN $3,000 IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, COST ME MY DEDUCTIBLE,AND INITIATED A RAISE IN MY INSURANCE RATES OF 32% (WHICH AFTER MUCH TIME, INCONVENIENCE, AND $27.00, I APPEALED AND WON). SINCE THE ACCIDENT, THE SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES. I HAVE THE KEYS IN MY HAND AND THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK. I DO NOT HAVE THE PAPER WORK WITH THE EACT DATE OF THE ACCIDENT SO I AM ENTERING THE "5TH" TO ALLOW ME TO FILE THE COMPLAINT. *AK

10/4/2004 - DRIVING 65 MPH AND CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF - LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. IN SHOP FOR 5 DAYS AND SAID PROBLEM'S FIXED. 2/7/2005 - DRIVING 50 MPH AND HAPPENED AGAIN - LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. IN SHOP FOR 5 DAYS, DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS FIXED. *JGB2/13/2005 - DRIVING 45 MPH AND CAR SHUT OFF AGAIN - LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. BACK IN SHOP CURRENTLY. SAFETY CONCERN - LIFE HAS BEEN PUT IN JEOPARDY 3 TIMES NOW. *JB

I HAVE A NEW 2003 ACCORD V6 LESS THAN 5,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS HARD STARTS ONE OUT OF EVERY 5-10 TIMES. THERE SEEMS TO BE A GROWING TREND AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE DURABILITY OF MY NEW CAR. THE IGNITION TURNS OVER CONTINUOUSLY BUT THE CAR WON'T START. *LA

MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX WAS IN NEUTRAL AND ROLLED IN TO ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN MY PARKING LOT. EITHER I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY WHILE THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT WAS IN NEUTRAL OR THE GEAR SHIFT WAS ABLE TO JUMP FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED. *AK

THIS IS A REDO WITH CORRECTIONS OF #10079025 THE FOLLOWING IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER:WHILE TRAVELING IN RUSH HOUR(5-10MPH) TRAFFIC ON I80 IN NEW JERSEY ON HER FIRST DAY TO A NEW JOB,HER RADIO DIED.SHE THEN REALIZED THAT THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD.OTHER MOTORISTS NOTICING THIS BECKONED HER TO MOVE OUT OF THE LANE & ONTO THE SHOULDER.AS SHE WAS DOING THIS, SHE REALIZED THAT SHE HAD NO BRAKES.WHEN SHE GOT TO THE SHOULDER SHE APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE & TURNED OFF THE IGNITION.WHILE CALLING HER BOYFRIEND FOR HELP SHE HEARD PEOPLE YELLING AT HER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY, SHE WAS SCARED, GOT OUT & SAW SPARKS COMING FROM THE FRONT & BOTTOM OF THE CAR. SHE THEN HEARD SOMEONE YELL TO GET AWAY FROM THE CAR. AS SHE TOOK A FEW STEPS AWAY A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD.HER BRAND NEW CAR HAD 15FT FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF IT.SHE WAS DEVESTATED. FIRST IMPRESSIONS WERE THAT THIS IS ELECTRICAL RELATED.AFTER 3 WEEKS OF CALLING HONDA, NATURALLY THEY DISAGREE.THEY SAID THE "PROBABLE CAUSE" WAS A "NON-HONDA" OIL FILTER. AT THIS SITE ALONE I FOUND SEVERAL HEAT RELATED COMPLAINTS ABOUT DASHBOARD ISSUES.MY DAUGHTER MENTIONED TO HONDA CITY IN LEVITTOWN,NY ABOUT HER "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT STAYING ON, SHE WAS TOLD"IT'S NOTHING". PLEASE CONTACT US AT: [email protected] WITH ANY ELECTRICAL RELATED ISSUES.SIGNED A MOM. *AK

THE FOLLOWING IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER: WHILE TRAVELING IN RUSH HOUR(5-10MPH) TRAFFIC ON I80 IN NEW JERESY ON HER FIRST DAY TO A NEW JOB, HER RADIO STOPPED PLAYING. WHILE PRESSING BUTTONS TO TRY TO FIND ANOTHER STATION, SHE REALIZED THAT THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. OTHER MOTORISTS NOTICING THIS BECKONED HER TO MOVE OUT OF THE LANE THAT SHE WAS IN TO GO TO THE SHOULDER. AS SHE WAS DOING THIS, SHE REALIZED THAT SHE HAD NO BRAKES. SHE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO THE SHOULDER & THEN HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR, THEN TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHILE SITTING IN THE CAR CALLING HER BOYFRIEND FOR HELP, SHE WAS HEARING YELLING FROM THE OTHER MOTORISTS TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS GOING ON, SHE OPENED HER DOOR TO THE SCREAMS OF PEOPLE TELLING HER THAT HER CAR WAS SHOOTING SPARKS FROM THE FRONT & BELOW. AT THAT MOMENT SHE STARTED TO GET SCARED & GOT OUT. SHE SAW THE SPARKS & TOOK A STEP BACK & HEARD A YELL FROM SOMEONE TO GET AWAY FROM THE CAR. SHE STARTED TO WALK AWAY WHEN A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD. HER BRAND NEW CAR HAD 15 FT. FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. NEEDLESS TO SAY , SHE WAS DEVISTATED. EVERYONE AT THE SCENE, STATE POLICE, MECHANIC, & FIRE DEPT. CONCLUDED THAT THIS WAS ELECTRICAL RELATED.AFTER 3 WEEKS OF CONSTANTLY CALLING HONDA,WAITING FOR AN ANSWER, NATURALLY HONDA DISAGREES. THEY SAID THAT THE "PROBABLE CAUSE"....WAS DUE TO A "NON- HONDA" OIL FILTER. AT THIS SITE ALONE I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING HEAT RELATED ISSUES WITH THE DASHBOARD,ETC.. MY DAUGHTER HAD MENTIONED TO HONDA CITY IN LEVITTOWN,NY THAT THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WOULDN'T GO OFF. SHE WAS TOLD IT'S "NOTHING" . PLEASE CONTACT US AT: [email protected] FOR ALL ELECTRICALLY RELATED ISSUES SIGNED, A MOM. *AK

THE FIRE WALL OR INSULATION UNDER THE HOOD THE COWL WALL CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THEY HAVE NO ANSWER AS TO WHY. WE HAVE HAD TWO ACCORDS AT THE DEALERSHIP I WORK FOR IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THE IRONIC PART IS THIS IS MY PERSONAL CAR AN 2003 WITH 25000 MILES ON IT. AND WE HAD A 2004 V6 THAT HONDA BOUGHT BACK FROM OUR DEALERSHIP BECAUSE WE DID NOT WANT TO HAVE TO DISCLOSE TO A CUSTOMER WHICH BY LAW WE WOULD HAVE TO DO. ANY TIME THERE IS A FIRE I WOULD THINK IT WOULD CAUSE A RECALL OF SOME KIND. THEY FEEL THAT THE CAR DID NOT PLAY A ROLE IN THE FIRE BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO TELL ME WHAT CAUSED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. MY CONCERN IS YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS IS GOING TO OCCUR LIKE I SAID MY CAR WAS ALREADY A YEAR OLD AND THEN WE HAD AN 04 WITH VERY FEW MILES. I AM GETTING A RUN AROUND FROM THE VERY COMPANY THAT I HAVE WORKED FOR THE LAST 8.5 YEARS. AND AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. NOW THEY WANT ME TO INCLUDE MY INSURANCE COMPANY WHICH IS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THIS IS A HONDA ISSUE. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING THAT WOULD SATISFY ANYONE. WOULD YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE PUTTING YOUR FAMILY IN MY CAR? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY WONT RECALL OR CAMPAIGN UNTIL THEY HAVE ENOUGH CASES AND THEY ARE SAYING THAT THERE ARE ONLY 10 OR 20 CASES IN THE US. I DON'T CARE I AM ONE OF THOSE CASES AND I WANT SATISFACTION. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *JB

THE NEED TO DIM INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING OR RESET TRIP ODOMETERS REQUIRES REACHING BEHIND STEERING WHEEL. DOING THIS WHILE DRIVING POSES AN STEERING INTERFERENCE HAZARD. WHY NOT LOCATE THESE CONTROLS IN A MORE SAFE AREA? *AK

CAR DOES NOT START UP IMMEDIATELY WHEN I TURN THE KEY (PARTICULARLY IN COLD WEATHER). TURNS OVER, BUT SEEMS ALMOST AS IF IT IS NOT GOING TO START. ONDA SERVICE MANAGER TELLS ME 10-15 SECONDS OF CRANK TIME IS CONSIDERED NORMAL.*AK HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK THIS IS NORMAL.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH- MY KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION EVEN AFTER BEING FIXED BY THE DEALER. *AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH - KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION & CANNOT GET IT OUT OF THE IGNITION FOR HOURS.*AK

2003 HONDA ACCORD COUPE HAS HARD STARTS. WILL OCCASIONALLY TURN THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE ENGINE WILL START.*AK

FEEL A GRINDING NOISE WHEN MOVING THE CAR FORWARD (UNDER 10 MPH). THE PROBLEM HAPPENS ONLY WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR AND MOVING FROM PARK. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AFTER THE CAR RUNS AND STOPS FOR RED LIGHT. *AK