Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Honda Accord problems

Owners filed 2,013 complaints about the 2003 Honda Accord with NHTSA between Jul 2002 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is power train (926).

Complaints
2,013
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
158
Reported by owners
Fires
19
Reported by owners
Injuries
157
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train926
  2. Air bags324
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic146
  4. Electrical system143
  5. Engine and engine cooling95
  6. Steering91
  7. Vehicle speed control81
  8. Structure75
  9. Visibility65
  10. Equipment56
  11. Engine51
  12. Suspension31
  13. Exterior lighting30
  14. Interior lighting27

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 2, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20024
2003188
2004176
200573
200666
200762
2008134
2009176
2010272
2011209
2012126
2013106
201495
2015109
201646
201745
201832
201938
202014
202111
20227
202312
20243
20255
20264

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

926 reports20 crashes3 fires1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that there were several mechanical failures with the vehicle. The contact stated that there was a failure with the ignition switch, and the key could not be removed from the cylinder, and the shift lever failed to shift into drive(D), park(P), or into reverse(R). The contact stated that while the vehicle was in drive(D), the drive(D) indicator was flashing. Additionally, the contact had been having a failure of the power steering assist. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or to the right. The contact was unaware of any warning lights during the power steering failure. The contact stated that the power steering failure was recurring. There was also a failure with the transmission. The contact stated that after being able to shift to drive(D), and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated before responding. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shaking abnormally and hesitating. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2025Steering, Power train, Electrical systemODI 11688957

Air bags

324 reports93 crashes3 fires9 related recalls
“The vehicle was rear-ended on I-5 in Seattle Washington. The impact drove the subject car into the car in front of it. The front passenger airbag deployed (no occupant). The front driver airbag did not deploy, resulting in the driver hitting their nose and forehead on the steering wheel. The driver sustained relatively minor nose bruising and possibly a mild concussion. (Note, airbag recall had been performed on this vehicle)”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 27, 2026Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11746949

Service brakes, hydraulic

146 reports13 crashes
“I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF 2003 ACCORD, EX. MY CAR HAS 113,000 MILES ON IT. ITS A WELL MAINTAINED CAR I KEPT FOR YEARS. I MUST SAY THAT THIS CAR IS EXCELLENT, HOWEVER, THERE ARE SIGNS THAT SOME PARTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING REALLY WELL LATELY. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, I NOTICED MY TCS SIGN ON THE DASHBOARD COMES ON AND OFF TOGETHER WITH THE TRIANGLE SIGN IN ORANGE. IT STARTED COMING ON AFTER I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION TO MY FIRST DESTINATION AND AFTER JUST LIKE 10-15 MINUTES AND START MY ENGINE AGAIN, IT WILL COME ON AFTER DRIVING FOR NEXT 5-10 MINUTES. ALSO, JUST TWO WEEKS AGO I NOTICED THAT THE GEAR GETS STUCK ON "PARK" MODE AND I HAVE TO PRESS THE HANDLE BEFORE IT GETS RELEASED. I AM NOT SURE IF THE GEAR HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TCS AND TRIANGLE SHOWING ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, I NOTICED MY CAR HAS AN ISSUE WITH BRAKES WHEN DRIVING WHILE RAINING. I HAVE TO STEP ON THE BRAKES A FEW TIMES WHEN ITS SLIPPERY TO BE ABLE TO COME TO A FULL STOP. IT'S SO SCARY THAT I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME A FEW TIMES. I AM LODGING MY COMPLAIN SO THE MANUFACTURER WOULD TAKE A LOOK ON THIS ISSUE AS I FOUND ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON TCS ISSUE ON 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX ONLINE WHEN I…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 1, 2013Steering, Service brakes, hydraulic, Power trainODI 10490661

Electrical system

143 reports9 crashes6 fires1 related recall
“I brought my vehicle to a Honda dealership for a safety recall repair (airbag/SRS related). After the repair, the SRS warning light appeared on my dashboard, indicating a potential safety issue with the airbag system. This issue was not present before the recall repair. It appeared shortly after the dealership completed the service. I contacted the dealership multiple times, but they have not responded or provided any assistance. This is a serious safety concern because the airbag system may not function properly in the event of an accident. I believe the recall repair was performed improperly, creating a new safety risk. I am requesting an investigation into this issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 6, 2026Electrical system, Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 11729508

Engine and engine cooling

95 reports2 fires
“HI! AS YOU CAN SEE, I AM AN OWNER OF A HONDA ACCORD 2003. I HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN IT FOR A REPLACEMENT OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. WHILE I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS SPECIFIC YEAR AND MODEL, HAD SOME OTHER ISSUES OR RECALLS TOO. FOR EXAMPLE, THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. HIS CAUGHT MY ATTENTION SINCE I THINK I DO HAVE A PROBLEM PROBABLY RELATED TO IT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN MAY LAST YEAR, FROM AN ACQUAINTANCE, AND SOON AFTER, I NOTICED A SHAKING IN THE GAS PEDAL, EVERY TIME I WAS ACCELERATING BETWEEN 25 TO 35 MPH (CITY AND HIGHWAY). THE SHAKING ALWAYS GO AWAY WHEN I STOP SPEEDING IT FOR A SECOND, AND THEN CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN. IT FIRST, AND BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE TURN ON, I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, AND I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC. WELL, I DID IT AND...THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. AM I IN DANGER HERE?. OK, I WILL WAIT FOR YOUR RESPONSE. IN THE MEANTIME, AS MIGHT UNDERSTAND, I WILL DOCUMENT THIS REQUEST, JUST IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION!!! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 28, 2016Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10822828

Steering

91 reports7 crashes4 fires1 related recall
“My key will not go into the ignition. It also starts to get hot. The steering column also starts to get hot. It also periodically smells like something is burning. The dealership wants to charge me $140 to look at it. I don't have the money. I have not been able to have anybody look at it because I don't have the money. This first happened back in February of 2023 but I got worse around June 1, 2023”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 2, 2023Steering, Electrical systemODI 11525074
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 2, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.