Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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), park(P), or into reverse(R). The contact stated that while the vehicle was in drive(D), the drive(D) indicator was flashing. Additionally, the contact had been having a failure of the power steering assist. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or to the right. The contact was unaware of any warning lights during the power steering failure. The contact stated that the power steering failure was recurring. There was also a failure with the transmission. …
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, the contact started the vehicle, and the vehicle shut off independently. The "Maintenance Required" message was displayed. The contact stated there was smoke coming from the hood of the vehicle, and several minutes later, the smoke dissipated. The contact stated that a technician from the Auto Care Department at Walmart inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the positive and negative battery terminals were burned and damaged, as well as a wire near the engine. The technician from Walmart used a diagnostic machine to diagnose the vehicle however, the result was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 238,000.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2003 Honda Accord. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 156,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 337,000.
I brought my vehicle to a Honda dealership for a safety recall repair (airbag/SRS related). After the repair, the SRS warning light appeared on my dashboard, indicating a potential safety issue with the airbag system. This issue was not present before the recall repair. It appeared shortly after the dealership completed the service. I contacted the dealership multiple times, but they have not responded or provided any assistance. This is a serious safety concern because the airbag system may not function properly in the event of an accident. I believe the recall repair was performed improperly, creating a new safety risk. I am requesting an investigation into this issue.
My key will not go into the ignition. It also starts to get hot. The steering column also starts to get hot. It also periodically smells like something is burning. The dealership wants to charge me $140 to look at it. I don't have the money. I have not been able to have anybody look at it because I don't have the money. This first happened back in February of 2023 but I got worse around June 1, 2023
Doors locked from inside and cannot get out unless I put my window down. Safety issue. Second time I replaced my door since I was in a car accident a few years ago. Same problem came back again after replacing the door handle it used to work for years at the driver side until recently. Also doors are unable to unlock from the switch.
My 2003 Honda Accord will not start with key shift leverage is locked in park, move out of park, have to put on emergence to kee breaks to t from rolling. My car rolled on its own crashing into my other parked car breaking the back bumper and damaging the truck lock also, the interlock system is not working anymore on this car.have to disconnect battery to relesse key from ignition. Thank god I was in my own driveway when the car begin to roll and crash into my other car.
The fire wall or insulation under the hood the cowl wall caught on fire and they have no answer as to why. We have had two accords at the dealership I work for in the last 6 months. The ironic part is this is my personal car an 2003 with 25000 miles on it. And we had a 2004 v6 that Honda bought back from our dealership because we did not want to have to disclose to a customer which by law we would have to do. Any time there is a fire I would think it would cause a recall of some kind. They feel that the car did not play a role in the fire but they are unable to tell me what caused it in the first place. My concern is you never know when this is going to occur like I said my car was already a year old and then we had an 04 with very few miles. I am getting a run around from the very company that I have worked for the last 8.5 years. And am not sure what to do. …
My 2003 Honda Accord lx crashed on 10/01/2016 about 18 months after I had my airbag serviced at a local Honda dealer 4/7/2015. When I got my car back from the dealer, the driver door had no power and could not be opened remotely or with the power lock control on the driver door. More importantly, no safety signals came on when the car started. I called the dealer and they told me I had to pay $80 to have it checked; I then called American Honda customer service, who only documented the complaint and took no action to remedy mechanical mistake by Honda dealer. I was driving on a downhill curve on a wet road after a rain. When I saw a slower car ahead of me, I gently applied the brake to maintain a constant following distance. The car drifted to the left toward oncoming traffic. …
I was driving southbound in peabody, massachusetts on 128 almost on to 95 when at centennial drive exit when my vehicle, without warning, slowed from 60 MPH to 30 MPH , I put on hazards as car went from 30 MPH to 10 MPH to dead all in a matter of 45 seconds tops. It was around 12 pm and traffic was moderate to heavy. Cars behind me were forced to slow at a significant rate, luckily a pile up did not occur as the likelihood of such a accident was extremely possible with one driver not fully present I don't want to imagine the possibilities. I was able to semi slide car into breakdown lane safely enough and aaa came 1 hour latter as they listed my call a priority call.. I had car towed to home town and mechanic went through car in its entirety to discover that transmission needed to be replaced. …
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition
Honda is recalling certain model year 2003 Honda accord, civic two and four door, and model year 2003-2004 Honda element vehicles. The interlock lever of the ignition switch May unexpectedly deform, which can allow the interlock function of a vehicle with an automatic transmission to be defeated.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the original interlock pin and lever within the ignition switch, and replace them with new, designed components. This service will be performed free of charge.
NHTSA investigations
Ignition park-shift interlock
Odi has received 16 complaints alleging failures of the ignition park-shift interlock that allowed the ignition key to be removed from the ignition switch without the transmission being shifted to park in model year (my) 2002 and 2003 Honda accord vehicles with automatic transmissions.eleven of the complaints allege that the failure of the interlock resulted in a rollaway crash.one owner alleged that she was almost…
Ignition Shift Interlock
On August 4, 2010, American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA regarding a ignition interlock defect in approximately 384,220 model year (MY) 2003 Honda Accord and Civic and MY 2003 and 2004 Honda Element vehicles with automatic transmissions (Recall 10V-364).In a September 22, 2010 supplemental DIR, Honda expanded the scope of the recall population based on manufacturing…
Electrical complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2003 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 142 complaints about the electrical system of the 2003 Honda Accord, 7% of the model year's 1,987 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (23 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Honda Accord electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 10V-364 (ignition, Aug 5, 2010). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Honda Accord electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles, and 16% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 6 fires and 2 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.