Problems · by component

2003 Honda Accord interior lighting problems

27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Honda Accord cite interior lighting, 1% of all 2,013 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
27
1% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the interior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE RADIO DISPLAY WENT OUT. THERE IS NO LIGHTS ON THE HEAT/AC DIAL CONTROL, THE FAN CONTROL, ALL THE DEFROSTER/AIR BLOWER OPTIONS. MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO USE THE DEFROSTER IN THE FRONT OR REAR WHEN DRIVING SINCE I CAN'T SEE WHICH BUTTON I AM PUSHING. IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE TO TRUN ON AN INTERIOR LIGHT WHEN DRIVING TO SEE WHAT I NEED TO PUSH TO MAKE MY VISIBILITY BETTER. *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 29, 2012Interior lightingODI 10445792
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTING WAS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,500. UPDATED 11/07/11 *BF UPDATED 05/10/12”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 9, 2011Interior lightingODI 10424430
“CONTROL PANEL DISPLAY (AUDIO-HVAC DISPLAY) FAILURE. I HAVE A 2003 HONDA 4 DOOR (W/O NAVIGATION)ACCORD EX. ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AGO WHILE DRIVING THE DISPLAY PANEL FOR THE VEHICLE OPERATING SYSTEMS-RADIO, HEAT/AC, TIME BLACKED OUT. AT-NEAR THE TIME OF THIS OCCURRENCE I WAS ON THE NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY. A FLASHING (EMERGENCY) SIGN -FLASHING 'EMERGENCY' 'CHECK RADIO CHANNEL 530 OR 1610 FOR DETAILS'- NOTIFYING AN EMERGENCY. AS I WAS DRIVING AND COULD NOT SEE THE RADIO DISPLAY. IT WAS DARK. I WAS UNABLE TO ACCESS THE EMERGENCY NOTICE. MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HONDA AND WAS TOLD THIS REPAIR WAS A DEFECT. THIS REPAIR WAS PART OF A CAMPAIGN TO FIX THIS DISPLAY, PER HONDA SERVICE BULLETIN 04-027 BUT THE PROGRAM FOR MY VEHICLE HAD EXPIRED. THEY MENTIONED THE CAMPAIGN WAS PART OF A CAMPAIGN NOT A RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE SAFETY WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES IN THE PROGRAM. I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THE ROADS ARE EQUIPPED WITH EMERGENCY MESSAGE SIGNAGE' ARE FREQUENT AND COMMONPLACE. NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THESE MESSAGES DUE TO A CAMPAIGN PROGRAM WHERE NO NOTICE WAS RECEIVED BY ME (I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE). THIS PROBLEM, WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2010Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Interior lightingODI 10355541
“I HAVE A HONDA ACCORD 2003 LX. MY STEREO LIGHT IS DIM AND I COULDN'T SEE THE CLOCK. THEY HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN 04-027. HOWEVER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY FIX ALL THE 2003 ACCORD EXCEPT MODEL LX AND DX. THE POINT IS MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS OTHER 03'S ACCORD DOES. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT IF DRIVERS TRY TO READ THE TIME AT THE DARK. ( OR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE DURING AT NIGHT WITHOUT THE BACKGROUND LIGHT) HONDA SHOULD COVER ALL THE 2003 ACCORD! NOT ONLY UPPER MODEL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 22, 2010Interior lighting, EquipmentODI 10312642
“BOUGHT THIS CAR USED (WITH OVER 140,000 MILES) FOR MY TEENAGE SON. WHEN HE TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS ON - ALL THE INTERIOR DISPLAY LIGHTS FOR RADIO, HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING AND DEFROSTERS WENT DARK. WE CALLED HONDA OF AMERICA AND THEY DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF HISTORY OF THIS RECURRING PROBLEM. THEY EVEN WENT SO FAR TO SAY THAT BECAUSE THE HONDA WAS MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO THAT NO WARRANTIES APPLIED. THE CAR HAD A 6 CD PLAYER WHEN WE BOUGHT IT HONDA SAID THE ENTIRE RADIO SYSTEM COULD ONLY BE REPLACED BY A SINGLE DISC PLAYER. IT COST $1000 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. I OWN 3 HONDAS, HAVE OWNED HONDAS FOR DECADES AND WILL LOOK TO AMERICAN MADE CARS FOR ALL MY FUTURE PURCHASES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 18, 2010Electrical system, Interior lightingODI 10300118
“MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX HAS HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF THE ACCESSORY LIGHTS GOING OUT THAT CONTROL THE RADIO AND HVAC CONTROLS. IT IS ACTUALLY A TRANSISTOR ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD BLOWING THAT CONTROLS THE CONSOLES LIGHTING. HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HAS PUT OUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ABOUT THIS FOR 7 YEARS OR 105,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. IF THE WARRANTY IS OUT, THE COST TO FIX IT THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP IS $700-900, NOT SOMETHING MANY PEOPLE THESE DAYS CAN AFFORD, AND BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT, THEIR SAFETY IS DECREASED. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT, THEY REALLY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX ANY THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. MULTIPLE TIMES I'VE TRIED TO CHANGE MY TEMPERATURE OR RADIO SETTINGS AND WHILE TRYING TO SEE THE DISPLAY ALMOST GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE MESSAGE BOARDS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AND HOW MUCH OF A SAFETY CONCERN THIS IS. AN ANONYMOUS USER POSTED THIS ON THE BOARDS: : "CAN'T VIEW ANYTHING ON THE RADIO DISPLAY OR CENTER CONTROLS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT WHEN TRYING TO ADJUST THE HEAT OR A/C AND CAN'T…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 17, 2009Interior lighting, Electrical systemODI 10258945

Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 2, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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