What's Wrong with the 7th Generation Accord?

The Worst 2003-2007 Accord Problems

Power Steering Whine

One of the more common complaints about Honda's power steering is how it can whine or groan everytime you turn the wheel. Turns out all that noise is due to air getting into the power steering system because of two, old O-rings. There's no …

Honda Vehicles with Recalled Takata Airbags

A large number of Honda vehicles have been recalled because they contain dangerous airbag inflators made by Takata. The shrapnel-hurling inflators have been recalled in over 37 million vehicles (and counting).

Peeling Paint and Clear Coat

Is your Honda shedding clearcoat and peeling off paint at an alarming rate? You're not alone. Far from it actually. Even the most ardent, wax-happy, electric car polisher wielding owner can find their paint tearing off in sheets. So what gi…

Automatic Transmission Failure

If you own a Honda released between 1999-2004 and haven't had any issues with your automatic transmission, may I suggest you go to your nearest conevnience store and play the lottery? 'Cause you're one lucky son-of-a-gun.

What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

2003 Accord transmission failure 502 (100%)
2004 Accord transmission failure 207 (41%)
2003 Accord not shifting properly 162 (32%)
2003 Accord transmission slips out of gear 127 (25%)
2003 Accord stereo backlight blew 87 (17%)

Worst Topics

Transmission 1425 (100%)
Interior 445 (31%)
Body 373 (26%)
Engine 222 (16%)
Brakes 169 (12%)

Worst Years

2003 1688 (100%)
2004 621 (37%)
2005 304 (18%)
2007 302 (18%)
2006 197 (12%)

Timeline of 7th Generation Accord News

Honda wants to settle up a decade-old lawsuit about downshifting transmissions with an offer so low it's borderline insulting. A 2009 lawsuit says 5-speed automatic transmissoons in some 2002-2004 Honda and Acura vehicles have a defect in the 3rd clutch. That defect can cause the transmission to suddenly downshift from 5th to 2nd gear. That's one way to reach your heart rate goal on your FitBit.
Posted on
January 7, 2021
Tagged
#lawsuit
Source
carcomplaints.com
Those replacement PSDI-5D Takata inflators that were supposedly safe? Now they're exploding too. The desiccated replacements were exposed to excess moisture during assembly. This rapidly degrades the propellant and allows pressure to build up over time, turning the inflator into a mini-grenade that explodes during airbag deployment.
Posted on
March 13, 2019
Tagged
#recall
Source
carcomplaints.com
If you thought one recall for Takata airbag inflators was a nightmare, you're really not going to like this news from CarComplaints.com. The 2004-2007 Accord has been recalled because they were assembled with an incorrect front passenger airbag module that doesn't comply with what Honda says is the "advanced airbag requirements._" Or put another way, the fix ain't workin'.
Posted on
April 9, 2016
Tagged
#recall
Source
carcomplaints.com

What Accord Owners Say About This Generation

Automatic Transmission Failure
I kept this vehicle running in tip top shape for years, really a dream car for the most part. Then the trans starts slipping and nothing I can really do about it. Not worth replacing as the trans cost a fortune and because it's poorly engineered it only happen again.
2003 Accord Owner in CO

By the Numbers

5 model years
Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.
3,106 complaints
Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.
58th in reliability
Overall reliability rank out of 58 eligible generations.