Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
STRUCTURE
0601200406/01/200410014213Rodent damage to knock sensor subharness. *sc04/29/2005
20402/16/200410014245Water leak under rear passenger's seat. *nm04/29/2005
20402/16/200410014248Water leak at doors and/or floor. *nm04/29/2005
70407/16/200410014116Accessory belt noise. *sc04/28/2005
0501200405/01/200410013988Ticking, popping or creaking from driver's a-pillar. *nm04/27/2005
0201200402/01/200410009137Center console armrest disassembly/assembly. honda. servicenews. *tt09/13/2004
12010212/01/200210001975Creaking or clicking at dashboard or a-pillar when driving. *tt *jb07/29/2003
02010302/01/200310001812Door glass weatherstrip damage from tinting. *tt *jb07/18/2003
0301803/04/200310001301Rattle from the rear shelf. *jb04/28/2003
STRUCTURE - BODY
0228200502/28/200510015347Request for visit front (cabin) interior water leak. *tt07/14/2005
10505/16/200410014129Srs impact sensor dtcs (diagnostic trouble code) after sensor removed and replaced. *sc04/28/2005
70407/16/200410014109Navigation system won't map match or gets lost. *sc04/28/2005
110211/16/200210013813Creak or click noise at dash or a pillar. honda tech line summary. *tt04/26/2005
0405710/01/200410012648Creak or click at dashboard or a-pillar. *tt03/09/2005
0405610/01/200410012647Creaking or popping from driver's a-pillar. *tt03/09/2005
0405510/01/200410012646Ticking, popping, or creaking from driver's a-pillar. *tt03/09/2005
0308511/25/200310008363Wind noise from the upper rear corner of the front door. *mj07/28/2004
11010211/01/200210005873Missing rear license plate bolts. honda servicenews. *tt03/18/2004
100210/16/200210005936Rear license plate bolts missing. honda october tech line information. *tt03/18/2004
0305809/23/200310004701Creaking or popping when accelerating and decelerating. *tt12/31/2003
60306/16/200310003207Water leak from roof at the a and/or b pillars. *tt10/10/2003
0206706/24/20030206710002094Center pocket lid doesn't work properly. *tt08/13/2003
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR
11170311/17/200310005347Request for visit. door rattle. *tt02/23/2004
06010306/01/200310002712Front door sill trim removal. *tt09/11/2003
01060301/06/200310000983Inspect digital photos of vehicles with door moldings deformed. *tt04/09/2003
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
0303508/05/200310003059Door window molding is wrinkled. *tt10/07/2003
STRUCTURE - BODY - ROOF AND PILLARS
0303707/29/200310003481Roof molding channel leaks water. *tt10/21/2003
0300701/28/20030300710000998Headliner sags in the back. *tt update. *tt04/10/2003

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
STRUCTURE
03/15/20129000001
 This car has a manufacturer's defect and the clear coat is coming off. it will need to be repainted. *tr
01/01/19011
 2003 honda accord interior door handles replaced on passenger side due to the chrome peeling off the handle frame. *nj the consumer stated the peeling acted as a thin sharp razor, which caused 2 of his passengers to sustain finger cuts which included bleeding. *jb
06/16/200648000112/02/2002
 Took my car in for a regular oil change. hours later i received a phone call from the service advisor asking me, if i had time so he could talk to me regarding my car. i said, yes and the service advisor from honda dealership went on to tell me that i needed my transmission fluid changed, brake fluid changed, and my engine coolant changed. the total amount of cost came to $500.29 which i thought i was being ripped off. the honda service advisor also went on to tell me that i need to have my front struts replaced because they are bad. i noticed when i would make a right hand turn i would hear a squeaky noise. he confirmed that it was my front struts. i ask the service advisor how long does it normally take for struts to wear out he told me around 80,000-100,000 miles well my 2003 honda accord ex only have 48,000 miles on it. i'm assuming that i probably started off with bad struts in the beginning since i had my honda accord ex, i have had nothing but problems. now, that my car is out of warranty i'm hit with a huge fee to get struts replaced on a car which i think was bad in the first place. my honda accord ex was originally purchased by me in december of 2002. i have been the only driver of the car. at this time i would never purchase another honda accord. i used to have an 2000 honda accord ex never had a problem. since i have had this car there have been recalls on my car. i have had problems with the door latches, inside panel on passenger side coming off. sunroof rubber coming unglued. i had to have the windshield replaced bad wipers which scratched the windshield up. new radio system. trouble with the lights for the heated seats, dash board lights went out. radio lights went out. i was sold a complete lemon. i believe honda should look into my maintenance record and see all the problems i have had with this car and really consider replacing the struts for me. i do not have an extended warranty it's going to cost me $700. *jb
01/03/200645000108/19/2003
 The rubber gasket around my moonroof is rotting away. the car was purchased in august 2003 and i am the original owner. due to high mileage, i am out of the original warranty. i was told by the honda dealer in covington, louisiana that the gasket cannot be purchased separately, thus i will have to buy an entire sunroof assembly to cure the defect. this will cost in excess of $500. the gasket has never been damaged and the rot appears to be from normal weather conditions. the problem was first noticed about 6 months ago, i.e., a little over two years after the car was purchased new. *jb
12/28/200558000110/08/2002
 I have a 203 honda accord ex. the center console light failed. now i cannot operate the defroster controls, radio or any other air conditioning function because the screen is no longer visible. *jb
03/02/20045000310/01/2003
 1. car was sold as a white honda accord, all bumpers are eggshell, dealer told me that is the color on all white honda vehicals. 2. car pulls to the right at all speeds, dealer told me that is the way all new hondas are built to vere off the road rather then oncoming traffic. 3. brakes make a loud clicking noise after in reverse to drive, dealer said that was the brakes resetting.*ak
04/16/200423000104/10/2003
 I wash the vehicle weekly and on my weekly wash i realized that the paint was peeling. i brought the car to my honda dealership where they said they were not responsible. the car at the time was only 1 year old. now there are various areas on the car where the paint is peeling.*ak
08/23/2003108/23/2003
 Problems with 2003 honda accord.*mr (nar) while baking up the columns between the rear and side windows blocked the consumer's view. *nm
04/01/2003500009/30/2002
 Driver window makes a creaking noise while driving. if you lower the window just barely so as not to hear wind noise, it will sometimes lessen the noise. otherwise, it is very loud and annoying. *nm
09/06/20034591607/07/2003
 (1) a. window being scratched by something in panel. both driver and passanger window. b. at about 16000 miles it was noticed that the transmission was leaking so badly i couldn't drive out of the dealership. ( i believe the car may have been leaking since purchase. new with only 36 miles.) c. trunk liner sagging. d. when making left hand turns if you have the sunvisor out it can swing and hit you in the head. e. passenger door latch not activated. could not open door from inside. (dealer forgot to install this on window repair.) f. motor mounts not installed correctly. g. belt tensioner needed replacement. h. car pulling to the right. f. black seal around door frame warping. (2) no consequences from any of these failures. except loss time having to leave car overnight for several days. who know what longterm effects of a leaky transmission, belt tensioner, and improper motormounts have on the car. (3) under warranty the dealer corrected every problem. mosts times more then one repair for the same problem was needed to correct the problem. for the tranmsission the dealer tried to stop the leaks with hondabond. the next morning i had leaks in the drive way. they had my car for a whole week on the first fix attempt. finally honda replaced the transmission with a new one. nothing was done about the visor because the dealer said if they install a new one it will do the same. my windows are still being scratched by the felt lining in the window panel. *jb
12/15/20021
 They are selling me a lemon and fool me around with excuse. the engine light have been on six time during this two year. the first three time the engine light on, i did not have duplicatin code. sum up the six time report, i have two times code 0700 and two times code 1705. i called honda because they authorized this dealer to sell thie car, however, they told me since the dealer do the modification on the car (add the auto starter in the car), they don't responsible on any problem that related to autostarter, even they authorized tham to sell their car. then i talk to the assistant manager, he is very sacratic, he ask me the detail how i use the autostarter, my answer was perfect, seem to be nothing wrong. as well as he told me the last engine light on was a year ago, i told me i have not use the autostarter for a year, because i decided to leave my baby with my mother-in-law, but i use the autostarter recently. then he blame me, perhap it could be as simple as losing the gas cap, or you use pc or cellphone in the car trigger the engine light. then i ask him what is the list of action i cannot do in the car, he told me he has the list, but he cannot find it. i ask the service rep can i have the summary to what you did for the past six time fixing, service rep told me that summary will not reflect the detail of what happen, only the date and your name. here is the list of problems my car has: check engine light on 6th time, dec 2002, code 700 customer statres cd changer is inop, april 2002 balancing 2 tires on dec 2001, miscommuncate check engine light on 5th time, nov 2001, malfunction a/t sensor check engine light on 4th time, sept 2001, code 1705 repaired rear bumper assembly, nov 2001 check engine light on 3rd time, june 2001, code 0700, 1705 auto start doesn't work check engine light on 2nd time, march 2001, code 900 check engine light on 1st time, jan 2001, code 1456
06/01/2004200001
 Two front end alignments were performed and the tires were rotated. a technical service bulletin indicated that this problem occurred because the crate upon which the engine sits was not positioned correctly at the factory. the dealership positioned the crate correctly, but the problem recurred. *ak the consumer noticed when he backed up the vehicle , a click would be heard as if the gear was not positioned correctly. the vehicle was pulling to the right. the consumer also felt something like a crate or tire axle would shift to one side. *sc the consumer was told that was the way the vehicle was designed. *jb
04/11/20043000504/03/2003
 My 2003 accord ex v-6 has developed a loud popping or creaking sound from beneath the driver's side floor pan every time i accelerate, decelerate, or turn into a corner. the dealer told me it was normal when i first officially complained at 7,000 miles, but as time has passed, the noise has gotten worse. the dealer has attempted to fix it 5 times, but has not yet found a solution. with some research, i discovered a honda service bulletin (03-058) that states body welds were improperly finished during the manufacturing process, and that the structure must be re-welded. my dealer told me there was excess flex in the body of my car, and as a result, multiple squeaks and rattles are developing. i believe this is a severe structural fault that is putting my safety at risk in the case of a crash and will continue to cause damage to my car due to body flex for years to come. i have requested that honda replace the car. *jb
08/09/2003108/09/2003
 I purchased my honda accord lx v6 on august 9, 2003. after a week of driving, i noticed that the right corner near the dash board's generating a rattle noise whenever i go over an uneven road. i took it into the dealership and they said they can not figure it out. they believe it's the plastic rubbing against plastic. however, i don't think that's the case since it doesn't sound like rubbing noise and more like something is loose inside the ventilation or the airbag area ??? i also have a very annoying rattling sound coming out of the center radio area. whenever i go over an rail tracks or really uneven roads, the rattle noise will start. i often had to push the plastic in a little bit just to make it stop for few second. it's getting to the point were it is unbearable !!! of course, when i took it into the dealership, they told me they couldn't generate that noise. lastly, my front driver window and rear right side window is making a rattling noise. i think i see a lot of people on this site is stating something about a pillar clips ??? i wonder if that the cause of the window noises ??? anyways, i just want you to know that i am very disappointed at the quality of honda and i especially hate when i have dealership service manager telling me if i turn my music loud enough, i will not hear the noise. you tell me, is that a good answer for you if it is your car that is having these kind of problems ???!!! p.s. i have always owned a honda. however, since i can no longer believe in the quality of honda vehicles, this will be my last honda i will ever buy in my life. *jb
10/28/2003500009/04/2003
 2003 honda accord coupe has developed loose windshield noises (pop and clicks) when suspension is flexed or challenged by road uneveness. the car only has 1000 miles on it and the cold weather brought out the noises. i consider this a serious structural defect and someone should investigate this. the car is not welded together well at all.
1
 While driving a creaking noise was heard coming from the front left side of vehicle. dealer could not duplicate the problem, but consumer suspected there was a problem with the structure of vehicle. *ak
12/20/2003500
 Driver side window and windshield are creaking when driving over left side bumps. car taken to dealer who claims this is normal body flex which is incorrect. research indicates that this is possibly due to a pillar clips or mohawk strip, however dealer inspected the a pillar and claims it is tightened to spec. *nlm
05/03/2003003/14/2003
 I have a 2003 honda accord purchased in march 03. the left rear and right front is leaking water. we don't know exactly when this started but noticed it on may 3rd. dealer has been unable to fix as of now and now car is smelling like mold. concerned about mold now that it smells. techs at dealer have not been able to fix. honda motor corp. was called by me and dealer but they have been no help. i know that it's dangerous to breathe in mold so i am now afraid that since they haven't fixed and don't know were it's leaking from that there could be mold that i am not seeing. *nlm
STRUCTURE - BODY
02/01/2008620001
 I own a black honda accord purchased new in 2003 from robertson honda north hollywood. after about five years of ownership i noticed the edges of the roof starting to fade, at first i though it was just a little wax left on, but after i couldn't remove it i knew there was a problem starting. every time i would go in for service i would mention it to the service writer but they would just brush it off. i still wash my honda once a week sometimes more and wax it every three months but its starting to look pretty bad. i am afraid its going to get in the metal and rust. please help me and all the other honda owners i see every day on the way to work [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr
02/01/200862000
 I own a black honda accord purchased new in 2003 from robertson honda north hollywood. after about five years of ownership i noticed the edges of the roof starting to fade, at first i though it was just a little wax left on, but after i couldn't remove it i knew there was a problem starting. every time i would go in for service i would mention it to the service writer but they would just brush it off. i still wash my honda once a week sometimes more and wax it every three months but its starting to look pretty bad. i am afraid its going to get in the metal and rust. please help me and all the other honda owners i see every day on the way to work thanks, mark valdez
07/13/2011
 Since the purchase i
01/26/2010240001
 Both front doors on my 2003 honda accord 4 door will not stay open when opened. when either door is opened to the fully opened position, then released, the door will usually swing shut on its own. i feel that this is a safety issue because it could cause an injury during an unexpected closing. this problem can be corrected by the replacement of a part in each door. honda will not fix the problem unless payment is made for parts and labor. *tr
11/10/2007400001
 My 2003 honda accord exl started to rust through the left rear wheel well lip this past winter. the car has been meticulously maintained with the records to prove so. the car was damaged at the back edge of the left rear door and repaired at the dealer
12/01/20031
 Falling acorns have left many pock marks on the body of my 2003 accord. my other car is parked in the same area with no damage. the metal on the 2003 accord feels significantly weaker to the touch than the body of my other cars. this car looks like it was pelted with hail stones. it seems to me that a car should withstand the impact of an acorn! *la
07/10/20031
 The exterior window ledge is bubbling. it looks like cheap tape over metal. have heard this complaint from several other 2003 accord owners.*ak
05/15/20032500003/15/2003
 There is a constant popping noise that developed around 2500 miles. the noise occurs once or twice upon acceleration from a dead stop and while braking to come to a dead stop. the noise appears to be coming from the firewall area under the drivers side floor pan. other people with this problem have reported that this is a common issue with v6 accords and that the fix is to re-weld some areas between the firewall and floor pan. my dealer is not aware of any such fix and honda customer service has no idea as well. the popping noise appears to be caused to body flex in areas that were not welded properly.
STRUCTURE - BODY - BUMPERS
01/23/2004102001
 The consumer noticed a piece of plastic 15 inches long by 7 inches wide fell off from the front bumper. the dealer has been notified and the floor manger indicated they will get in contact with the district representative. *jb
10/09/200334001
 Honda 2003 accord is equipped with a design defect of costly and potentially harmful, from a safety standpoint, defect. the lower grill on the front bumper is designed in such a way that any road debris smaller than a 16 x 8 concrete block can enter and damage a fully-exposed and unprotected air conditioning (ac) condenser. it is clearly unprotected from the harsh outside elements. the ac is an integral part of the safety of this automobile in that to clear the windshield from any moisture on the inner surface, the ac must be acting in proper fashion. if a car's inside glasses fog-up with moisture, the only solution is to turn on the moisture wringing ac unit, regardless of the temp of the air, the dehumidifier effect of the ac conditioned air is an absolute necessity. the current design of the grill/condenser leaves it vulnerable to be easily damaged by a bit of gravel as small as a bb pellet. there is not any screen or deflector in place forward of the condenser to prohibit any errant road missiles from damaging the condenser thereby creating the safety hazard of a fogged windshield and more. a simple screen or deflector could and should be installed to protect the safety of this car. *la
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR
01/31/20031001
 Both driver and front passenger doors will not stay propped open. they are very heavy, and when pushed open to either the first or second 'catch', the doors invariably fall back and crush the legs of the person trying to exit the vehicle. both rear doors stay open, catching and locking properly on either of the two 'catch' points. when we pointed out to honda dealer while the car was in for a different recall issue, they offered to order a replacement part for over $100 without even looking at the latch mechanism. i believe this is an original flaw with the car that they should repair for free. *tr
01/06/2004212/12/2003
 1.front brakes grind for the first 1-2 stops after sitting overnight or 1-2 hours. 2. rattle or creaking sound in the drivers side window and b column, unresolved after 3 trys by the dealer to fix.only present while driving on mildly coarse road surface.*ak
03/01/20045076103/14/2003
 The engine emitted a rotten egg smell. the driver heard a grinding noise. the vehicle also had a brake problem. the driver's seat was not stable. the vehicle has been taken to the dealer at least 9 times for multiple problems. *nm paint on the hood is flaking. seat is not fixed. the door panel was fixed twice but problem still exists. consumer confronted dealership about problem with vehicle but consumer was ignored. consumer called american honda to report issue with dealer. *la
08/01/2003100107/30/2003
 2003 accord lx manual transmission has a rattle inside the drivers and passenger doors in the area door lock post. the rattle appears when the car is in motion with windows up or down and doors locked or unlocked. i brought the car to a dealer 3 times to get it fixed however they still were unable to help me. *jb
03/25/20035303/25/2003
 Driver and passenger door make rattling sounds while driving, as well as the area by the seatbelt, and by driver side mirror in front of car.*ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
07/15/20081100001
 Front passenger and rear left door handle chrome plating is peeling off. plating is very sharp and caused a deep gash on finger of passenger while opening door. was informed was not covered by warranty. *tr
STRUCTURE - BODY - HOOD
03/01/20045076103/14/2003
 The engine emitted a rotten egg smell. the driver heard a grinding noise. the vehicle also had a brake problem. the driver's seat was not stable. the vehicle has been taken to the dealer at least 9 times for multiple problems. *nm paint on the hood is flaking. seat is not fixed. the door panel was fixed twice but problem still exists. consumer confronted dealership about problem with vehicle but consumer was ignored. consumer called american honda to report issue with dealer. *la
STRUCTURE - BODY - ROOF AND PILLARS
09/01/200309/01/2003
 2003 honda accord sedan lx with side airbags. there are a lot of rattles coming from the roof above the sun visor on the paggener's side. these rattles become louder and louder. i have come back to the dealership where i bought this car twice but the problem hasn't been fixed!!!
STRUCTURE - BODY - TRUNK LID
06/01/2004318001
 While driving at 60 mph consumer noticed that the trunk was open . consumer examined the vehicle, and found that the latches and the hinges were rusted. dealer examined the vehicle and simply put wrong straps on the trunk to keep it shut.*ak
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS
1
 When accelerating or depressing brakes a clicking noise came from front driver's side of vehicle. technician serviced vehicle and determined body panel was spot welded instead of welded. *ak
305/01/2003
 The consumer is concerned about the design of the vehicle. the consumer almost had three accidents because of a blind spot created by the front window frame's design. *la the driver's side window frame completely blocks the driver's vision when going around a left curve. *ph *nm
105
 Vehicle alignment problems. vehicle has been at the original purchase dealer four different times, tires were rotated, and the vehicle was aligned. vehicle was taken to a different dealer, and they stated that vehicle had serious problems with the frame. manufacturer was contacted, and has told the consumer that he will need to meet with somebody from the manufacturer so the can recheck vehicle, but no solution has been found so far.*ak
10/20/20023009/01/2002
 Falling acorns have left over 30 pock marks on the body of the vehicle. we also have a 2002 honda crv that was subjected to the same conditions with much less damage resulting, just a few small dings. the metal on the 2003 accord feels significantly weaker to the touch than the body of the 2002 crv. i previously had a 2000 accord that was also subjected to these conditions with minor damage. this car looks like it was pelted with hail stones. it seems to me that a car should withstand the impact of an acorn! i wonder how it would do in a crash test. dt
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS - UNDERBODY SHIELDS
09/29/200314007/29/2003
 I test drove 03 accords that tracked straight and some that did not. the car i picked pulled to the right, but the salesperson assured me that the car could be corrected by an alignment. before i took delivery of my car, i asked they do an alignment, but when i drove the car upon delivery it still pulled to the right. so i took it back for a second alignment that again did not fix the problem. on my third try to do an alignment, they found a service bulletin that said that my accord needed to have its subframe adjusted. they did the subframe adjustment and it made the situation better, but was still misaligned. on my fourth attempt at the dealer to get the alignment right they said that my car was within spec because it did not drift out of its lane in under 6 seconds. they said that alignments could not always be right on new cars and i should accept the car because it was within spec. but it is unacceptable that even when the road slopes slightly down on the left of the road, the car still drifts to the right. out of frustration, i went to an independent wheel and brake shop for alignment (which honda will not pay for, so it was $60 out of my pocket.) they where able make the car track straighter than before, but it still drifts to the right, even on road completely flat or sloping slightly down on the left. they found that the springs of my car made the right front tire on my car ride 1/4 lower than the left front tire. they think this creates a slight problem that cannot be completely compensated for. i am currently in the process of trying to get the customer service representative from american honda corp. to try to fix the situation, but i might be out of luck. they keep saying car is within spec. my case # at honda is n012003-09-0500462. the representative is anthony hill.