My complaint is much similar to the one precedes me (#203 in Transmission category). I have a well maintained 2003 Accord which underwent all required oil changes and miles services. I took the car for 90K mile service. The service personnel gave it a clean bill of health. Two days later as I enter the highway, the car refused to shift to higher gears and had to travel at 5000 RPM and 30 mi/hr for over 30 mins to reach the Honda Service. The service person knew the problem right away and gave 50% off the service cost even before I requested!

I called Honda a few days later and expected them to pick up the rest of that cost. The case manager was polite, but refused. After I stated that this is my 5th Honda, he took additional 2 days and then rejected my claim! If only 200+ of their million-customer base are unhappy, why should they care. All they lost is just one more loyal customer. I saw a open letter to the Attorney general. I plan to sign that to bring this to his/her attention, hoping other Honda buyers would benefit. I am done with Honda cars.

First - I would like to thank everyone who posted their story. I googled my problem when my transmission failed and through reading the other complaints, I was mad, but better prepared to address the probelm with Honda.

Same story as others - 91k miles, transmission fails in 2nd and 3rd gear. Car becomes undrivable. A month before - all dash lights went on (which Honda fixed when I took it in a month earlier for $1200). Then a 40 days later, the transmission fails.

Went to the dealer - had this site printed out and in hand. They got the point and said most likley Honda America would pitch in 25%, the dealer 25%, and me 50%. I had no choice but to proceed. In the end, it didn't go down this way. The first offer was 25% Honda America - 75% me. I founght that by emailing my situation and that this was a Honda problem and not my problem. I'm out of warrenty on time, but under 100k - no luck. After more debates, the dealer went back to Honda America and got them to pick up 40%. The Honda dealer picked up nothing (although they supposedly fought with Honda to get the 40%). I picked up the 60% which came out to $2200 (out of pocket) $4100 for the whole job quoted. This doesn't include my earlier visit 40 days earlier. They replaced with a remanufactured transmission and said there was a 36 month warrenty on it.

I am going to call the law firm noted below and 'get on the list'. I will never buy another Honda. Honda would not pick up any % if they didn't know this was an issue. But at the end of the day, they not taking responsibility for their faulty transmission, they basically said "screw you customer".

For thoses reading this, my sincire regrets you are in this same situation. Be stong and use this site for facts and positioning.

Update from Apr 7, 2010: Update 4-10-2009. The NY law office mentioned in other posts doesn't return calls and never seems to be there. My refurbashed transmission has lost all 'punch' the car once had. Very upsetting.

Your only recourse is to submit a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Submit your complaint at this web address. Maybe somday, they will take some action.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm

Good luck and don't buy another Honda - I never will and I'm telling anyone who will listen our story.

Update from Oct 17, 2020: Seems to be a lawsuit against Honda finally on this matter:

Janet Case, et al. v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Settlement Website SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES Janet Case, et al. v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Case No. BC424169

Unfortunately, they want all the paperwork for repairs. My Honda has long since been donated and the paperwork is gone. Good luck!

The transmission on my 2003 Honda Accord EX V6 failed and left me stranded at the side of the highway. Less than 80,000 miles on the car. All scheduled maintenance performed at the dealership. The dealership told me that Honda and the dealership paid 65% to replace the transmission. The total cost to me to replace the transmission was $1564. The cost of ownership of this car is way higher than advertised, and the reliability just isn't there.

I won't be buying another Honda in this lifetime. Honda will replace the radio display, because it just doesn't cost them much, but when it comes to a major system of the car, forget it. I called the law firm mentioned in the other posts and was told that they are not pursuing a class action. I asked for a reason, but got no comment. The icing on the cake for me is the fact that I replaced a bad transmission with yet another bad transmission. There is a three year, 36,000 mile warranty on the "new" transmission, which is lame. My next car will be from a company that stands behind their product.

First Honda -new 1989 Accord LXI, Replaced in 1991 with new Accord SE which was stolen in 1994 and replaced with new 1994 Accord EX. Added new Accord EX V6 in 2003. Bought last Honda we will ever own 2010 Accord EX V6 seven days before the transmission in the 2003 took a kamikazes. We were two miles from home traveling at 55 mpg when the engine red lined and the car jerked and lost speed. Fortunately we had just gotten off of NC 17 and the road we were on was deserted. I let the car slow until the transmission engaged and nursed the car to our home. In the morning I called our Honda dealer in Myrtle Beach SC told them what happen. They stated they believed the transmission was gone but they needed to see the car. It was delivered on a flat bed and they called to tell me the transmission was shot. Located this site and the NHTSA site with suggestions to contact Honda for a goodwill coverage of the transmission. Considering Honda had just finalized the 90 million dollar class action suit and recall of 2000 - 2002 Accords I thought they would welcome our loyalty of twenty years and pay for their engineering failure. The twit at Honda Corporate gave me a hissyfit. What did I expect? The car is out of warranty! You should be lucky Honda is even talking to you. You have the car with the best resale on the market. So what if it has to be towed forty five miles to the nearest Honda Dealer (who had just serviced the 2003 the day we picked up the 2010). A week later the twit gave an ultimatum. Honda will replace the transmission for $2800 and split the cost 50/50. Considering the dealer had quoted a cost of $3400 this was going to save us. Today 11/5/09 my half grew to $1525 and the car stinks like hell. It smells like someone was smoking a really bad cigar. The driver's rug and the door panel are covered with grease. So where do I go from here. Since the 2003 was purchased while I was a New York resident I will contact the NY Attorney General Andrew Como who has a reputation of protecting the consumer. I hope this will help to push the Class Action suit forward and or force Honda to issue a recall. Honda after two weeks has not provided me with the title papers for the 2010 so technically they still own it. I have asked the Honda Dealer to take it back. I'm too old to get killed by another sneak attack. I suspect the smelly cigar was there answer to my complaints.

I bought a new 2003 Honda accord off show room floor and spent over 30k on it. The original transmission went out at 48789k miles with no warning lights etc. Honda did replace it at no charge. I have always serviced my car with the dealer and changed fluid at all the required mileages and now 42000k miles later it went again the exact same way it did the first time. I was told that the transmission failed and they found no codes to show why this happened again. This time I have to pay $700 to get replace and that this is more than fair since they owe nothing. Well I feel why should I be on the 3rd transmission on a car I take inpecitable care of. Who can I discuss this with future I have owed many cars with way more than 90k on them and never replaced the transmissions. This year car has had many problems with the tranys so why do I have to feel this is not a manufacturing problem and have to pay anything. Will complaining make them say so sad to bad we wont cover anything. Im not looking a gift horse in the mouth but this really is a problem with this year car so do i just eat it and shut up or speak up if it will do any good? Please someone give me an answer.

Well as you may know, Honda Motor Company consistently advertises how reliable their vehicles are and all scheduled maintenance would help to ensure that. Back in 2004, I received a recall letter stating that 2003-04 Accords V6 models are at risk of a transmission failure in the 2nd gear; that all owners should bring their vehicles in the local dealership ASAP for inspection. So I did, no problems supposedly there were no problems found with my transmission, but they install oil jet kit. In 2007, I begin having problems with my vehicle not changing into 2nd and 3nd gear properly. So as always, I scheduled a service diagnostic appointment with my dealership. I was advised that I needed a new throttle body; which would cost me about $500.00 to replace. During that time, I didn’t have that kind of money, so I waited for a few months until I was able to afford to have the repairs done. I called my Honda Dealership to reschedule an appointment. I was told by the Honda advisor, that I should have another diagnostic test done to make sure it was my throttle body. I agreed, but in the back of my mind, something was telling me they really wasn’t sure what was wrong the first time and wanted to assure themselves at my cost of another $40. The Honda Service advisor told that they were wrong a few months back and it wasn’t my throttle body that needed replacing; it was my transmission( test drove and transmission is slipping/flaring in 2nd, 3rd gears and ATF Fluid was burnt) which would cost about $3,500 to replace. At that point, I remembered that back in 2004, I receive a recall notice for a 2003-04 model transmission failures. I spoke with the service ad visor concerning the recall and how it would apply towards my problem. Of course to keep the cost off of Honda, he told me that it was different type of transmission failure; which was not related to the recall. At that point, I requested to speak with the Honda dealership service manager. I explain the issue to him, as well as how the vehicle was only six years old. I had all of my schedule services and maintenance done at their dealership, and plus I paid an additional $1,850 for an extended warranty on top of the $32,750 for the car. He said that the warranty, obliviously had expired and the recall would not apply. He also advised me the only thing Honda Motor Company would do, was to give me a 25% off of the total cost for replacement and Installation of the transmission which would be around $2500. I called Honda Corporate Center they said they could not offer me a Good service repair because of my mileages. At this point, my outlook on Hondas’ has changed indefinitely; I no longer have that reliable confidence in their vehicles. At this point, I would never again make another investment in a Honda Vehicle. I hope People can get together soon and file a big law suit against Honda... They have the attitude now like "we got you money for car, so we don't give a dam what wrong with it now whether or not it was our fault or not"... PLEASE GUYS I THINK IN THIS CASE A LAWSUIT IS NECESSARY....... I see hundreds of people who is having this same problem with the 2003 Honda Accord V6.......

I was driving my car on the highway at 60mph a week ago and all of sudden while accelerating to pass another car, the RPM simply went up to the redline as if I was in neutral. So I let go of the pedal and kept on driving at the same speed. I tried once more and this time it was fine, the car accelerated and everything was normal. I thought it was a minor "bug" or such that happened. I took my exit and got and after bringing the car to a complete stop, I tried to accelerate off the intersection and the car wouldn't pass the 3rd gear. I drove around in the neighborhood and I couldn't go above 15mph, the transmission kept slipping / working like crap. Next morning I called Honda Canada (my car is out of warranty) and asked them if there was any recalls on my car or any known problems with the transmission (I looked up the problem before calling, and was hoping for a "goodwill deal"). The Honda rep on the phone said there were no recalls whatsoever for my car at the moment and denied that the transmissions were problematic.

Next morning I got in my car, same problem, so what I did is I took it to this independent transmission garage and had them look at my car. Turns out that the mechanic over there was actually doing all the transmission jobs from my local Honda dealer and he knew exactly what the problem was. Apparently he receives a lot of automatic Honda Accord and Civics from the dealer, one or 2 every single week. He did a transmission rebuild for a cost of 1340$ USD (1450$ CDN) and my car is working fine now. I didn't even go to the dealer, knowing they would have charged me much more than that

But seriously, what a piece of crap car that is! I got 167 000km on it and I drive the car like a granny every time. My ex-girlfriend's 1990 Accord had 350 000kms on it and the transmission was fine... I bought this Honda because I wanted a bulletproof car that would be reliable. Turns out it's the less reliable car I've ever owned. Oh and yes my CD player backlight is fried like so many. I should have stayed with Toyota!

I bought my 03 accord used (43,000miles) with an extended warranty. Lucky I got it because at 65,000 miles my gears were slipping and almost blew up my engine from the redlining. I took it to the dealer and they diagnosed the problem. the transmission is slipping. They said that there is recall to install a jet kit in the transmission but if the gear were damaged, they had to replace it. Originally they said that the transmission would fail at about 40,000 miles so mines was expected. Well I got this tranny replaced at 65,000 miles so I was like yes!!! lucky I got that warranty or else I'd have pay over $3,000 because they said my VIN did not qualify for the recall (Bull S**T)!!!

Now I am at 115,000 miles and guess what? 1st and 2nd is slipping or not grabbing. I had a transmission fluid change out in march of '09 and when I pulled out the dip stick out today, it is black. SO THE TRANNY IS ONLY 50,000 MILE. I think we should not pay for this poor quality tranny. this is going to be my second transmission and I am not going to want to expect this every 40-50,000 miles. there has got to be a suit or honda better pay their engineers more to come up with a better one and replace it with nothing out of our pockets. Or better yet convert my car to a manual. I am calling honda corperate today and tell them what going on and tell if i change this transmission its going to be my second in the period of 50,000 miles.

Transmission failed at 60,294. Brilliant Honda in Crystal Lake, IL said I needed a rebuilt replacement and quoted me a price of $3,875. They said it would come with a 12 month/ 12000 mile warranty. I complained and mentioned the class action suit against Honda at Stamell & Schager. The service manager said he will call American Honda to see if they would offer any assistance. Three days later he said Honda said Honda would absorb the cost of the transmission and I only had to pay for labor. This amounted to $1,087. In addition they said Honda extended the warranty on the rebuilt transmission to 36 months or 36,000 miles. I still went ahead and filed a compliant with Stamell & Schager since $1,087 is a lot of money to me and having a transmission fail at 60,000 miles of easy driving is absurd given Honda's reputation.

I purchased a 2003 Honda Accord from Lynnwood Honda. A couple weeks afterward I noticed my car started shifting hard. Now it is like it is slipping. It is very annoying. I heard a rumor that the manufacturer extended the warranty on these vehicles this year. Is this true? If so, how do I go about getting it replaced at only installation? Please let me know if anyone can find out. My Mother and I purchased the exact same type cars same year and make and model within a two week period and both of us are having the same issues. We both do not have any extended warranty on our vehicles. We purchased them as is.

Shaun Smith

Everett, WA

I purchased a used 2003 Honda Accord from a dealership. I did not have any warranty on the car. I wanted a Honda because I heard they run forever and are reliable cars. I purchased as is. The following day after I purchased it I noticed it shifting kind of rough. I didn't think anything about it because I traded in my Mustang Convertible and I thought I just might be pushing the gas a little harder then I should. Well, a week goes by and it gets worse. It got to the point of when I pushed on the gas pedal it would not move and the RPMs would go up. Then I let off the gas and pushed again and it would go forward. I called a transmission shop and they told me that the manufacturer extended the warranties on those make and model of cars for the transmissions. I called the local Honda dealership and he said "Oh, no not the 2003s its the 2001s". You will have to pay approximately 3500 for a new transmission. I don't have that kind of money. I just bought this car. You shouldn't run into this when you just get a car. I don't know what to do. This is ridiculous. I recently lost my job and I don't have any money to pay for this. This is not fair. The model is a 3.0L VTec V6.

At 155,000 miles, I was driving about 60 MPH on highway and suddenly the transmission started to vibrate very roughly, speed immediately dropped. I exited to feeder road, and can never drive the car other than at gear D1 or D2. The engine light went on. It was Saturday night. On Monday, I took the car to GoodSon Honda dealer on north I-45 close to exit FM 1960 in Houston. At the end of the day, they told me that I need to have the solenoid replaced before they can further diagnose. I agreed. Then in the course of 3 days, they ended up telling me that the only option is to replace the transmission and the cost is $2,700 for replacement; however, I had to pay $580 for the solenoid replaced I agreed earlier. So after 4 days my car was kept in the shop (and they did not bother provide free car loan as their advertisement flies all around), they charged me $580 and the state of my car when I drove into the dealer is the same as when I picked it up; that is, I could not drive at any gears except D1, D2.

I then brought my car to AACO transmission. They fixed that and charge me $2,500 for replacing the torque converter and clutches. They said it is "re-condition" or "overhaul" the transmission. I paid extra $300 for 36K warranty.

I then drove for another 15K Ok, then the engine light went on. I brought it back to AACO, and charged me $90 and said the problem is the Engine Throttle body and the steering rack, not the transmission.

I then had the engine throttle body and the steering rack replaced; however, after that, the engine light does not go off. Instead, the TCS lights comes on and off.

On 09/18/2009, I brought the car to John Eagle Honda on 290 close to FM 1960 in Houston. They scanned and gave a quote P0741 Torque Converter Clutch stuck off. The cost is $75. I then brought my car back to AACO transmission; by the way, it is located on Veteran Memorial, between West Rd and HWY 249. The store manager is David. I am upset because the last time I brought my car there when the engine light went on, he told me it was engine throttle body and steering rack and charged me $90. Now the problem is proven to be transmission, but he does not show he wants to stand by the warranty that I paid the extra $300 for.

After, Honda Accord EX V6 2003 is great except the transmission. It sucks. Also, I now doubt that the mechanics at Honda dealer are skilled or good at all. I think they are mediocre or average people.

If you live in Houston, and if you think about bringing your car to a Honda dealer, consider John Eagle Honda first. That is the only place worth bringing your car to.

In addition, always buy 36K warranty for transmission rebuild.

Transmission failed at 88,000 and replaced at my Honda dealership for $2600.

Didn't know this was such a common complaint or I would have harassed my dealer for a better price. After I had the transmission replaced my check engine light went on, of course half way to my destination for vacation. It's been in the shop for 3 days and they can't figure out whats wrong. First they said it was the oxygen sensor (already replaced once at 65,000). Now they are checking the computer. What the hell happened to Honda? I've had 7 Honda's and this is the first one with problems. Is this company going downhill?? Looks like I'm buying Toyota's from here on out.

I was fortunate - but the whole thing still bothers me. I took my car in b/c it wouldn't move forwards or backwards. I was told I needed to replace the transmission - completely. I was IN SHOCK and PISSED OFF. I bought the car new. I paid a little extra to get the extended warranty to get me to 100k miles as opposed to the 60k mile warranty they tried to push on me. (note: it was about $2 a month more - no brainer). I now had 102k miles so I was just over the warranty.

I started to complain - and then the girl looked something up and informed me that because of some class action lawsuit that Honda added an additional 5% to my warranty - so instead of 100k miles, it was now 105k miles and i was sitting there at 102k.

Again - I was relieved - but I'm still concerned that I bought a brand new honda - had all the required maintenance and it only got me 102k miles. I asked what the new warranty was - 12k miles - so now I'm concerned that what they replaced it with will fail after 13k miles.

Actually, I just wanted to thank all of the Honda owners who took the time to post this valuable info! I almost bought a 2003 V6 EXL with only 131,000 km. I presently own a VW Golf which had a transmission with a design flaw....a new one cost a ridiculous amount of money and endless grief and headaches as VW offered no support whatsoever. So thank-you for saving me from history potentially repeating itself! Although, to the best of my knowledge, the vehicle in question does not have an issue...YET. I'm not willing to go down that road when there are several more honourable auto manufacturers.

Good luck with your issues and the class action suit. More importantly, keep safe, something apparently is not at all concerned with.

R Mikelsons

My wife has a 2003 Honda Accord sedan and called me up one afternoon letting me know her car would rev up, but not go anywhere. Since her Uncle is a mechanic we took it to him and left it for a week. He said it seemed like a transmission problem and wouldn't be cheep. I decided to see about recalls and such on the internet and found this site wth the same complaints. still have yet to get it fixed, b/c of the cost and it only does this every once in a while. I figure I'll just baby it until I get it fixed or trade it in.