2003 Honda Accord Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 924 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2003 Honda Accord, 47% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 98,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “automatic transmission” (14% of reports).
- 924power train complaints
- 98,000median miles at failure
- 20mention a crash
- 15mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,600typical repair cost reported by owners
- 44%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Automatic transmission: mentioned in 132 of 924 complaints (14%)
- Second gear: mentioned in 66 of 924 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2003 Honda Accord at $5,600, and half of them between $4,600 and $6,200.
Based on 145 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2006–2015), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 853 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 924 complaints, 20 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 15 an injury.
Honda Accord power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Accord | 5 | 6% | — |
| 2024 Accord | 6 | 4% | 75,000 |
| 2023 Accord | 3 | 4% | — |
| 2022 Accord | 8 | 3% | — |
| 2021 Accord | 14 | 6% | — |
| 2020 Accord | 16 | 4% | 2,833 |
| 2019 Accord | 43 | 6% | 32,500 |
| 2018 Accord | 137 | 7% | 14,110 |
| 2017 Accord | 33 | 6% | 15,814 |
| 2016 Accord | 29 | 5% | 28,750 |
| 2015 Accord | 40 | 7% | 29,000 |
| 2014 Accord | 64 | 7% | 53,314 |
| 2013 Accord | 110 | 8% | 15,500 |
| 2012 Accord | 27 | 7% | 62,000 |
| 2011 Accord | 21 | 7% | 4,700 |
| 2010 Accord | 45 | 8% | 64,121 |
| 2009 Accord | 36 | 5% | 62,175 |
| 2008 Accord | 70 | 5% | 78,150 |
| 2007 Accord | 58 | 11% | 88,306 |
| 2006 Accord | 50 | 12% | 98,640 |
| 2005 Accord | 113 | 17% | 70,000 |
| 2004 Accord | 348 | 34% | 100,000 |
| 2003 Accord | 924 | 47% | 98,000 |
| 2002 Accord | 478 | 46% | 88,000 |
| 2001 Accord | 209 | 23% | 84,500 |
| 2000 Accord | 201 | 17% | 113,006 |
| 1999 Accord | 246 | 22% | 83,000 |
| 1998 Accord | 276 | 23% | 86,000 |
| 1997 Accord | 33 | 7% | 82,500 |
| 1996 Accord | 27 | 6% | 125,000 |
| 1995 Accord | 18 | 3% | 147,323 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: 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 leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage.
Risk: Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
Fix: On vehicles with 15,000 miles or less, the dealer will update the transmission with a simple revision to the oil cooler return line to increase lubrication to the second gear. On vehicles with more than 15,000 miles, the dealer will inspect the transmission to identify gears that have already experienced discoloration due to overheating. If discoloration exists, the transmission will be replaced if discoloration is not present, the dealer will perform the revision to the oil cooler return line. The recall began on april 21, 2004, for pilot, odyssey, and mdx owners. Owners of the accord vehicles will start receiving letters on june 28, 2004, and on june 29, 2004, for owners of the tl and cl vehicles. Owners should contact honda at 1-800-999-1009 or acura at 1-800-382-2238.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that there were several mechanical failures with the vehicle. The contact stated that there was a failure with the ignition switch, and the key could not be removed from the cylinder, and the shift lever failed to shift into drive(D)…
Tie rods, brakes
The contact's sister-in-law owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission failed to shift properly; however, the engine revved abnormally. The driver pulled to the side of the road and turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Honda Accords have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 924 owner complaints about power train for the 2003 Honda Accord (47% of the 1,987 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Honda Accord power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 98,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2003 Honda Accord?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,600 (half paid between $4,600 and $6,200), from 145 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2003 Honda Accord?
The most frequent phrase is “automatic transmission”, in 132 of 924 complaints, followed by “second gear” (66).
Other 2003 Honda Accord problems
See all 2003 Honda Accord problems or power train problems across all Accord years.