The Lemon Index2003 Honda Accord.
The 2003 Honda Accord is worse than average by owner complaints: 487 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 150, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 24 recalls, and it gets 21 to 26 mpg combined. The best Honda Accord year is 2011.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 1,987 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Honda Accord year. 2003 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 51K to 119K miles on the car (1,583 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 77K–120K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 52K–135K miles
- brakes complaints mostly came at 5K–21K miles
Recalls 24
- speed control 2019
The rotating portion of the accelerator pedal assembly may bind.
- airbags 2019
These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high a…
- airbags 2019
The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high …
Show all 24 recalls
- airbags 2019
The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containi.
- airbags 2018
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
- airbags 2017
If the passenger frontal air bag module has been replaced, such as after a crash necessitating frontal air bag deployment, the replacement air bag module may include a Takata air bag inflator.
- airbags 2015
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury…
- airbags 2015
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator t…
- airbags 2014
Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S.
- airbags 2014
American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 200…
- steering 2012
In May 2012, Honda filed a defect report to recall certain model year 2007 and 2008 Acura TL vehicles.
- electrical 2010
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 HONDA ACCORD, CIVIC TWO AND FOUR DOOR, AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2004 HONDA ELEMENT VEHICLES.
- lights 2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- lights 2009
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- lights 2008
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES.
- visibility 2008
HONDA IS RECALLING 351,000 MY 2003 ACCORD VEHICLES.
- lights 2007
CERTAIN MAXZONE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, DEPO BRAND, P/NOS. 317-1131L-AS, 317-1131R-AS, 317-1131L-US, AND 317-1131R-US, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- lights 2007
CERTAIN TYC HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES P/NS 20-6361-00 AND 20-6362-00 SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR 2003-2006 HONDA ACCORD PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- lights 2006
CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- lights 2006
CERTAIN ALFAOTTO COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- lights 2006
CERTAIN EAGLE EYES AND SONAR HEADLIGHTS AND CORNER LIGHTS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE ON 1988-2005 HONDA CIVIC, 1990-2005 HONDA ACCORD, AND 1990-2001 ACURA INTEGRA PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
- lights 2006
CERTAIN POLI-AUTO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. 11-728, 11-728D, 11-710, 11-419, 11-713, 11-703, 11-704, 11-708P, 11-735, 11-725, 11-726, 11-716 (P&C), 11-721-1, 11-733, 11-729, 11-730, AND 11-732, SOLD AS REPL…
- lights 2006
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- transmission & drivetrain 2004
ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADIN…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Honda told dealers about
Honda sent dealers 382 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Automatic transmission leaks on the cooler lines
- Manual transmission hard to shift into 1st gear, grinds into reverse
- Wheel bearing noise after transmission removed and replaced
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- OpenAir bag inflator rupture2015
- ClosedAir bag inflator rupture2014–2015
- ClosedIgnition shift interlock2009–2010
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2450–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
The consumer had problems getting the recall on the transmission done at a local dealer.
2003 Honda Accord owner · NHTSA complaint 10092479
More owner reports
Vehicle does not brake smoothly, pedal is very sensitive to the slightest pressure.
NHTSA complaint 10044484
The brakes make the car shutter after only 7500 miles Honda of america won't fix it under warranty.
NHTSA complaint 10039086
Quick answers
Is the 2003 Honda Accord reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.5× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 150; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Honda Accord year by this measure is 2011.
What are the most common 2003 Honda Accord problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (30%), transmission & drivetrain (14%) and airbags (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2003 Honda Accord have?
24 safety recalls (latest: speed control). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Honda Accord get?
21 to 26 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2003 Honda Accord problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 51,200 and 119,000 miles. The middle report was at 88,000 miles, from 1,583 complaints.
Does the 2003 Honda Accord have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 14% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2003 Honda Accord cost in fuel a year?
About $2450 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2003 Honda Accord have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.
What Honda Accord year is better than the 2003?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2011, 2012 and 2010.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works