I have the same problem with the audio/climate controls backlight just stopped illuminating. I received the extended letter notice from Honda in 2007, but I have such a short commute to work, I don't rack up a lot of miles. So, the problem finally occurred in July of 2010. I remembered the letter, went to my local Honda dealership. I had only 95K miles but the warranty had expired in February. I was told there was nothing they could do but they told me to call Honda's customer service line. No luck! Ray, who is also the manager, was NO HELP! He basically told me Honda has done all they are going to do and they are aware of the problem. I even offered to pay half and he was still unwilling to budge. The repair cost about $650. At first I was going to just live with it but after two months, it's kind of annoying. Honda knows about the problem, they should definitely recall the item and fix it. They are doing nothing but losing customers!

Radio back light went out and no longer covered under extended warranty (and they won't provide me with a good will repair). Honda dealer can't fix in-house because Honda WON'T provide them the part (circut board) if it is out of warranty. They suggested I either get a new radio or they could send out and would take ~4weeks to be repaired...I'm in my car about 2hrs a day and can't imagine being without a radio for 4 weeks. Rediculous! Honda makes a bum radio and their dealer's aren't able to fix if out of warranty.

Lucky me, was also hit by their bum transmission, which I had to replace at 100k miles. Used to be a loyal honda customer, but don't forsee another honda in my future...

I contacted Honda and they said I have contacted them before. I explained to the rep that I am Active duty Military and I have been in and out of port and now have the time to repair. The rep from Honda not only said it was past the 7 year warranty but i could not get it fixed even if the my mileage was under the max that I could not get it fixed. I thought it was seven years or 106k miles. Is this not the case? I love Hondas and this is the first time i have had a problem out of Honda. I can not see my dashboard at all. I have to turn on my overhead light to turn on the heat, defroster.

This posting is to direct readers to contact more than one service provider for an evaluation. The local (Colorado Springs) Honda dealership, where I purchased the car new, were uncooperative indicating I would need to bring the car in for to inspect the problem. They also said the car was out of warranty and there were no open service bulletins without asking any qualifying questions. I called the next closet dealership (Pueblo) to get a second opinion. The service manager did not have an immediate answer for me so he took my name and number. He called back promptly. he had spoken with with a service tech and asked me for the mileage and VIN #. With that he was able to determine there were 2 open service bulletins. One for the backlight problem and one for a wiper motor. He ordered the parts will setup an appointment for the repairs when materials are in hand. He also indicated my car is under warranty for another 5 months. There are good dealerships and bad ones. Take the time to find a good one.

The heat/air--stereo/cd display went so dim that it is unreadable. I cannot see if my defroster is on or if I have on the ac/heat. Also, you cannot tell what radio station or which cd is in, its just a real accident waiting to happen. Trying to drive down a country road that is curvy and crooked trying to figure out if the heat is on your feet or if the air conditioner is on. Constantly adjusting trying to find the right setting is dangerous to you and other persons on the road. I contacted the Dealership that I bought the car from, and he said it was covered as a factory defect and I could bring it to their dealership and they would order the part and all I have to do is drive back again to the dealership and get it repaired at no cost to me. However, I live 3 hrs from the dealership one way. We had a rock slide and now we have to detour an hour out of our way, so were talking about two 6 hr trips just driving to and from the dealership. That really does cost time/money. What a pain in the $@%.........

The backlight on the clock went out. I've searched online and found Service Bulletin 04-027. The original bulletin in 2004 stated ALL 2003 Honda Accords were affected. They've modified the bulleting three more times, and now MY VIN # is no longer "affected." I called Honda (800-999-1009) and was told that they could not help me because my VIN # is not listed on the Service Bulletin. I paid $1386 for an extended warranty-- but only the standard 3-yr would cover this OR their Service Bulletin. But after multiple revisions, I'm excluded even though I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS REPORTED IN THE BULLETIN!

I bought a Honda for reliability-- now something this small won't even be repaired when they have documentation of this exact problem. Honestly, I don't know that I would ever buy another Honda considering how poorly they are handling this. I never used the extended warranty ($1386) and this fix is quoted around $600--- hello, Honda, you are not treating this in an ethical manner!

Update from May 30, 2012: Now I see the complaints and that they modified the bulletin and extended it to 100k mileage... does me now good now that I'm at 107k. Why didn't they send out a recall or a bulletin? I'm registered on their Honda website so they have my e-mail address. Would have the professional thing to do! Now my whole stereo system trips out... the clock flashes off, it starts and restarts itself, turns the radio on and off and the whole panel goes blank. Not just the backlighting like before. Argh! And I can't find a kit to mount a new stereo in the same location as the old one.

Back light on radio display went out. Can still see the display although dim during the day. Can not see it at night. Lights on the heat/ac/defrost controls also out. Called Honda after searching online to find out this is a recalled issue on 2003 Honda Accord. The dealer said the recall has been extended to 108K miles. I have to take the car in to the dealer for them to get some special number off the car to be able to order the correct circuit board. Inconvenience but no cash out of my pocket.

My light went out two days ago. After reading this forum I called Honda. The rep I spoke with took my VIN and stated that my car was on the list of those affected and that I should take it to the nearest dealership to have it fixed for free. She also said that I should have gotten a letter about the issue, but I never did. I took it to the dealership today where it remains for now. I spoke with one of the actual mechanics, not the service rep, and he told me that they get at least a car a day with the problem. He said that Honda is no longer replacing the radio. Instead, the dealerships have a kit that includes a replacement circuit board for the radio. The mechanic told me it takes about an hour to replace. He also confirmed that the problem is with the resistor placement and the new circuit board has been reconfigured to remove that issue. So if you have the problem I would call Honda first and confirm your VIN is on their list. Then when you go the dealership tell them that you have spoken to Honda and they sent you to them to have it repaired.

Back light for the radio/climate control just went out. Two local Honda dealerships told me that the circuit board needs to be replaced. This diagnosis matches the Honda service bulletin 04-027.

Since my car is beyond the 7 year/105K mile extended warranty, the dealerships told me I would have to pay for it out of pocket.

Dealership #1 wanted $225 (part) + $156 (labor) = $381

Dealership #2 wanted $230 (parts & labor)

So check around with different dealerships to get the best deal. Not sure what I am going to do with this huge inconvenience. Live with the inconvenience or fork out the dough?!

I will definitely think twice about buying another Honda since I just had my transmission replaced 6 months ago (luckily Honda paid a portion of that nice bill).

I went to the first Honda dealership for them to confirm the problem, only to be told that the part that would fix it had not been recalled as I thought (according to what I'd researched and found online). Oh, and I was told to fix it would cost over $900 between parts/labor! So, I took it to yet another Honda dealership, that was way out of my way, only to be told that it was the part I thought it was, and does have a recall on it, and that they needed to order the part, and I can call and confirm they've received it before I make the long trek out to see them, and then they should be able to fix it within a couple of hours. I'm due to take it back in a couple of days, so we'll see what the outcome is...Honda has me skeptical at the moment. I'll believe it's fixed, and for free, when I see it.