121 complaints reported

2003 Honda Accord SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
121
Crashes
8
Fires
0
Injuries
2

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jan 2012

2003 HONDA ACCORD. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS MALFUNCTION HAPPENED TWICE. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2011
Jan 2012

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS CONTINUE TO WARP. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO HONDA 4 TIMES SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE AND THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED AND NEW BRAKE PADS PUT ON. THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE NEVER BEEN REPLACED. THE VIBRATION IS VERY BAD WHEN BRAKING. *TT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2004
Mar 2011

MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD HAS HAD A SHUDDER WHEN BRAKING PRACTICALLY SINCE I'VE OWNED THE CAR-BOUGHT NEW IN FEB. 2002.. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE BRAKES WOULD STILL WORK AND I COULD DRIVE THE CAR AS LONG AS I WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I THOUGHT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP IN OMAHA HAD DAMAGED THE BRAKES WHILE FIXING THE ABS SYSTEM DUE TO A RECALL. I NOW SEE IT WAS PROBABLY A DESIGN FLAW--SINCE SO MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. NOW THE BRAKES NEED REPLACEMENT, AND I WILL ASK FOR NON-HONDA PARTS. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1999 HONDA ACCORD, AND IT WAS WONDERFUL. THIS 2003 IS NOT--IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKE PROBLEM, THE PAINT SCRATCHES EASILY AND THE INTERIOR IS OF VERY CHEAP MATERIALS, THE AC SMELLS BAD WHEN TURNED ON, AND THE CAR HAS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS--MANY OCCURRING AFTER IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER HONDA VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2004
Jun 2010

2003 HONDA ACCORD EX 4 DOOR SEDAN . I HAVE HAD A SOFT,TOUCHY BRAKE PEDAL SINCE THE CAR REACHED 55,000 MILES. BEFORE THAT IT WAS PERFECT,ROCK SOLID. I TOOK IT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE ABS ELECTRONIC MODULATOR UNDER MY WARRANTY. AFTER FEW DAYS THE PROBLEM DID NOT IMPROVE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT 1/2 WAY DOWN EASILY AND THEN THE DISC BRAKES JUST LOCKED UP ALL OF A SUDDEN. THE DRIVER HAD NO REAL CONTROL OVER THE BRAKING ACTIION. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY CALLED HONDA REPAIR AND TALKED TO A TECH. HE SAID THAT A SOFT,TOUCHY PEDAL WAS NORMAL ON THESE CARS. I TOLD THEM THAT UP TO 55,000 MILES THE BRAKES WERE PERFECT. WHAT HAD HAPPENED? THEY DID NOT KNOW. SO I HAD THEM REPLACE ALL MY PADS AND TURNED ALL ROTORS.I THEN HAD THEM BLEED THE BRAKES. THE STOPPING POWER DID INCREASE BUT THE SOFT,TOUCHY BRAKE PEDAL REMAINED. AFTER GOING BACK TO THE DEALER THE 3RD TIME TO COMPLAIN,THEY FINALLY JUST TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY BRAKES AND THEREFORE COULD NOT HELP ME. SO I WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND HAD THEM REBLEED MY BRAKES JUST TO BE SURE THAT THERE WAS NO AIR IN THE SYSTEM. AFTER THEY DID THAT MY BRAKE PEDAL FIRMED UP A LITTLE BIT. BUT AFTER 2-3 DAYS THE SOFT,TOUCHY PEDAL RETURNED. NO ONE AT HONDA COULD GIVE ME ANY EXPLANATION. NOW I AM READING ABOUT DEFECTS ALLOWING AIR INTO THE BRAKING SYSTEM FROM THE ABS MODULATOR AND I AM THINKING NOW THAT IT IS THE PROBLEM. IT WOULD EXPLAIN WHY MY BRAKE PEDAL WAS FINE FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE PEDAL PROBLEM APPEARED. I ALSO DROVE A NEW 2010 ACCORD EX 4 DOOR TO COMPARE THE BRAKES. THE NEW HONDA HAD A VERY FIRM,SOLID BRAKE PEDAL. SO I WENT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND TOLD THEM THAT I WANTED THEM TO FIX MY BRAKES SO THAT THEY FELT LIKE THE 2010 ACCORD'S BRAKES. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND THAT IT WAS MY IMAGINATION. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2010
Dec 2007

AT ABOUT THE 12K MILES, THE BRAKES STARTED TO PULSE DURING NORMAL OPERATION. DEALER CUT DISCS AND INSTALLED NEW PADS. AT 24K MILES, SAME SITUATION. DEALER REPLACED DISC AND NEW PADS. DEALER COULD NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND AN AUTO MECHANIC. THE PROBLEM IS THE LOWER QUALITY STEEL BEING USED BY HONDA FOR THEIR DISC BRAKES. I SOLVED THE PROBLEM BY PURCHASING ($300 INCL SHP AND HANDLING) AMERICAN RACING DISC. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. CONCLUSION: HONDA IS USING LOW QUALITY STEEL IN THEIR DISC BRAKES AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO IMPROVE THEIR PRODUCT QUALITY. TSB ARE A POOR/CHEAP WAY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2003
Dec 2007

WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP AFTER BUYING THIS CAR NEW MY WIFE BEGAN COMPLAINING THAT THE CAR PULSED UNDER BRAKING. AFTER ABOUT 2 YEARS AND ~ 25K MILES THE PULSING/VIBRATION GOT MUCH, MUCH WORSE SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHILE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER TOLD ME I NEEDED TO HAVE ROTORS TURNED AND NEW PADS INSTALLED, AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME ALMOST $200. THE DEALER DID NOT TELL ME HONDA ISSUED A SERVICE TSB (TSB# 03-069) REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THE SERVICE SHOULD BE DONE UNDER WARRANTY PER HONDA. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE OF A TSB FROM HONDA TELLING ME THEY WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE. AS I WAS UNAWARE OF THE BRAKE PROBLEMS SPECIFIC TO THIS VEHICLE I DID NOT HAVE THE SERVICE PERFORMED AT THAT TIME BECAUSE I THOUGHT THE DEALER WAS LYING TO ME AS I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT HAD BRAKE ROTOR PROBLEMS AT ON ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES. NOT TELLING ME OF THE PROBLEM WAS NEGLIGENT OF THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED IF THE BRAKES FAILED. TO TRY AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM I FIRST TOOK THE CAR TO A TIRE SHOP AND HAD THE WHEELS REBALANCED WHICH COST ME $50, THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM SO I SPENT ANOTHER $90 ON NEW BRAKE PADS WHICH I DID MYSELF, WHICH ALSO DID NOT HELP...ANYWAY NOW AT 47K MILES THE VIBRATION THAT OCCURS WHEN NEEDING TO STOP FROM HIGHWAY SPEED IS SO SEVERE THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES, IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON INTERNET FORUMS AND THIS IS HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE TSB, BUT MY CAR IS NOW FAR OUT OF WARRANTY, SO I NOW MUST HAVE IT FIXED MYSELF, AND IT WILL PROBABLY START TO HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED, AND REPLACED WITH UPDATED AND SAFE PARTS. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY BRAKE ROTOR PROBLEMS ON ANY CAR I EVER OWNED BEFORE THIS CAR. HONDA'S SOLUTION (EVEN IF DONE FREE UNDER WARRANTY) OF TURNING ROTORS IS A TEMPORARY FIX AT BEST AND IS UNACCEPTABLE AS THE PROBLEM WOULD HAVE RECURRED LATER. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2004
May 2007

BRAKES FAIL IN REVERSE ABOVE 6000 FT WHEN CAR IS COLD. DEALER SAID THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY HONDA AND SAY IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT UPDATING CAR'S SOFTWARE WHICH HONDA REFUSES TO DO. DEALER HAS HAD MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT BRAKE FAILURE AT ALTITUDE WHEN COLD. HONDA STATES THAT THE CAR IS WORKING AS DESIGNED REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAIL. FAILS EVERY DAY SINCE WE HAVE MOVED. CAR NARROWLY MISSED PEDESTRIAN DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2007
Mar 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ACCORD. ON MARCH 3, 2007 THE BRAKE SMALFUNCTIONED. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND GRIND ONLY WHEN TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE ORIGINALLY BEGAN IN JANUARY 2007. ON MARCH 22, 2007 THE THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER DUE TO LOUD NOISES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39541.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Dec 2007
Jan 2007

WHEN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE IS ACTIVATED, THE BRAKE IS SO WEAK AS NONE!!! VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU NEED BRAKE MOST AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE HAS NO STOPPING POWER! IT ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN THE ROAD IS SLIPPERY. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2007
Nov 2006

IN MAY 2003, I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 HONDA ACCORD EX. SOON AFTER, I NOTICED A STRONG VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO A HONDA DEALER FOR SERVICE IN AUGUST 2003. THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE ROTORS. THIS APPEARED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, THE VIBRATIONS RETURNED. AGAIN, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS. ABOUT ONE YEAR LATER, THE VIBRATIONS RETURNED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, SO THEY JUST REPLACED THE ROTORS AGAIN. THIS WAS IN JULY 2004. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM UNTIL MID-2006 WHEN THE VIBRATIONS STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER. NOW ALL THEY DID THIS TIME WAS RESURFACE THE ROTORS AND CHANGE THE BRAKE PADS. THIS TIME, I HAD TO PAY $375 TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM AS IT IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2003
Nov 2006

I'VE HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD LX, STARTING AT ABOUT 6,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS FRONT CALIPERS, ROTORS, AND PADS WITH A COMPLAINT OF "BRAKE JUDDER". THE CAR DOES NOT AND NEVER HAS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FIRST FEW THOUSAND MILES BRAKE NORMALLY. THIS NOISE AND IRREGULAR BREAKING HAPPENS IN NORMAL DRIVING AND THERE IS AN UNSTABLE FEEL TO THE BRAKES WHEN BRAKING FIRMLY IN AN EMERGENCY. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE HUNTINGTON HONDA DEALER 3X WITH THAT SPECIFIC PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THEY SAW NOTHING WRONG AND ON ONLY ONE OCCASION MADE AN ADJUSTMENT AND AT THE SAME TIME TELLING ME THEY SAW NOTHING WRONG. NOW I SEE NOW THAT A TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THESE BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSEQUENTLY, NOW THAT MY CAR IS OFF OF THE WARRANTY AND I'M READING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF OTHER ACCORD '03 OWNERS WITH THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK TO THE OWNERS OF THESE HONDA ACCORDS AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THESE FAULTY BRAKES. NOW THAT MY CAR IS OFF WARRANTY I FEEL AS IF I HAVE LITTLE RECOURSE EVEN THOUGH I BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM TO THEIR ATTENTION THREE TIMES WHEN THE CAR WAS COVERED. SOMETHING MORE SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THE HONDA COMPANY BEFORE INJURIES OR DEATH RESULT BECAUSE OF THESE FAULTY BRAKES. I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN HONDA. PREVIOUS TO THIS ACCORD I OWNED A CIVIC AND I NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. I OWNED THE CAR FOR 10 YEARS AND PUT 175, 000 MILES ON IT. I MOST LIKELY WILL NEVER BUY A HONDA AGAIN AND NEVER RECOMMEND ONE TO ANYONE ELSE. THANK YOU. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2004
Oct 2006

DT: THE CONTACT STATED SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TWICE. WHEN DRIVING GRINDING NOISE CAME FROM THE BRAKES. ALSO, THE BRAKES PULSATED. INTERMITTENTLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL HAVE TO BE DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR THE STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED THEY HAVE DETERMINED THERE WAS NO BRAKE PROBLEM. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2005
Sep 2006

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE ROTORS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES WILL NOT WORK UNLESS FULL PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ROTORS DUE TO WARPING. THE PROBLEM RETURNED AFTER THE REPLACEMENT. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED BEFORE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2005
Aug 2006

LEASED NEW 2003 HONDA ACCORD WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN JULY, 2003. HAVE HAD MINOR, BUT IRRITATING PROBLEMS, WITH THE CAR SINCE IT'S LEASE. POWER WINDOWS ACTIVATE INTERMITTENTLY, BATTERY DIED AFTER 15,000 MILES, AND BRAKE LIGHT WENT OUT. DEALER TOOK CARE OF ALL ISSUES EXCEPT WINDOWS. THEY STILL OPERATE ON THEIR OPTION, NOT MINE. AT 29,000 MILES, HEARD GRINDING NOISE IN REAR BRAKES. TOOK CAR INTO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIMED THAT IT WAS OUR FAULT FOR NOT "HAVING THE RUST REMOVED" AT 15,000 MILE CHECK-UP. NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS. WHEELS WERE NEVER REMOVED BY DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR AND FOUND THAT REAR BRAKES PADS HAD WORN DOWN UNEVENLY. PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON REAR BRAKES. FRONT BRAKES ARE FINE. FROM MY READING OF THIS WEB SITE ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH THIS BRAKE SYSTEM, I AM FILING A COMPLAINT AND HOPE THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL SOON BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS IS OUR THIRD HONDA AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEMS AT SUCH EARLY MILEAGE. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Dec 2005
Jul 2006

OVER THE COURSE OF 3 YEARS, WITH LESS THAN 27,000 MILES, WE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR TOO MANY TIMES TO REMEMBER. WE FIRST NOTICED A SQUEAKING SOUND AT 4,000 MILES WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH THE CAR AT A COMPLETE STOP. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED. THEY SAID THE BRAKES WERE COLD AND THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. THIS NOISE CONTINUED AND A SECOND NOISE, MUCH LOUDER AND RESEMBLING A "STICKING CALIPER" BEGAN TO OCCUR WHEN TURNING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE DEALER AGAIN DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THIS WAS AT 11,000 MILES. LATER, ANOTHER MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A "HOT" SPOT ON THE ROTOR FROM BRAKING TOO HARD AND THIS WAS CAUSING THE NOISE, THOUGH NO REMEDY HAS BEEN FOUND. THE BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS FELT SOFT AND THE NOISES CONTINUE, THOUGH I DO NOT BELIEVE THE DEALER EVER CHECKED THE ROTORS OR DID A PROPER INSPECTION. NOW AT 26,400 MILES THE PEDAL FEELS LIKE A SPONGE AND I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY SOMEONE ELSE TO CHECK THE BRAKES AGAIN. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES GRAB VERY HARD, SOMETIMES THEY SEEM NOT TO GRAB AT ALL. HONDA NEEDS TO RECALL THE CARS OR PROVIDE FREE BRAKE INSPECTIONS TO INSURE THE CAR WILL STOP AS EXPECTED. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND OTHERS HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE BRAKES HAVE NOT COMPLETELY FAILED, BUT WE HAVE HAD TO ASSUME THEY WILL NOT STOP THE CAR AS THEY WERE ADVERTISED, IN A REASONABLE DISTANCE RELATIVE TO SPEED. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR CORRECTIVE MEASURE COMPLETED DESPITE SEVERAL REQUESTS TO THE DEALER (MOST WHILE THE CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE UNDER WARRANTY). *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2003
Apr 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AT ALL SPEEDS THE BRAKES GRAB AND JERK AS IF THEY WERE BEING APPLIED TO HARD CAUSING THE OCCUPANTS TO GO FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2006
Mar 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ALMOST TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE PLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL NORMAL.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2006
Feb 2006

CONSUMER 2003 ACCORD BRAKES PULSATE AND GRIND WITH NO WARNING LIGHT OF BRAKE PROBLEMS. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ROTORS. THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD SET OF ROTORS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED. SIX MONTHS AFTER THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED THE CONSUMER HEARD GRINDING NOISES AND FELT THE BRAKES PULSATING WHEN PRESSED. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2006
Dec 2005

I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, AND I STEPPED ON MY BRAKES GENTLY TO SLOW DOWN HILL. THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION DURING MY SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY ROTORS WARPED AND BRAKE PADS RUBBING ON EACH OTHER. I RESEARCH THIS ONLINE THROUGH WWW.MYCARSTATS.COM, WWW.EDMUNDS.COM, WWW.HONDAACCORDFORUM.COM, AND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT EVERYTIME I CHANGED MY BRAKES EVERY 20K MILES, I WOULD NEED THE ROTORS RESURFACED. THIS IS A COST OF $200 AT THE DEALERSHIP. IT IS EXPENSIVE AND UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT ALL ACCORD OWNERS TO DO THIS. I CALLED ANOTHER HONDA DEALERSHIP SERVICE IN THE AREA, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY SEE THIS COME IN EVERY 3 DAYS. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Dec 2005
Nov 2005

I'M LEASING MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD LX. AT 20,000 MILES MY BRAKES WERE PULSATING AND STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING WHEN BRAKING AT 55MPH. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE ROTORS RE-SURFACED. NOW AT 40,000 MILES I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. HONDA SERVICE SAYS IT'S THE WAY I'M DRIVING AND THAT IF I RE-SURFACE ROTORS AGAIN I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO MY DRIVING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I DON'T THINK IT'S MY DRIVING BUT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THERE ARE MANY CUSTOMERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2005
Nov 2005

LATE APRIL 2005, BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO THE FLOOR WHILE TRYING TO STOP. THOUGHT WAS GOING TO STRIKE VEHICLE AHEAD BUT AT THE LAST SECOND THE BRAKES SEEMD TO CATCH AND VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO STOP. AT THAT TIME TCM LIGHT CAME ON. NO ONE INJURED. DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM WITH TCM SYSTEM AND REPLACED FRONT DISC BRAKES AND TURNED ROTORS. VEHICLE HAD 27,700 MILES AT THAT TIME. SECOND AND THIRD OCCURRENCES WERE IN MID NOVEMBER 2005. SAME THING WITH PEDAL GOING ALMOST TO FLOOR WITH BRAKES NOT ENGAGING AND AT LAST MINUTE THEY ENGAGED WITH VEHICLE ABLE TO STOP. TCM LIGHT DID NOT COME ON THIS TIME. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM, NOR COULD HE REPEAT PROBLEM IN THE 8 HOURS HE HAD THE VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS MADE. DEALER SAID HE HAS NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS SEVERAL TSB'S ON BRAKE ROTORS AND BRAKES. VEHICLE HAD 34559 MILES AT THIS TIME. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2005
Nov 2005

I BELIEVE THERE IS A BRAKE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD V6. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS ON MY VEHICLE TWICE WITHIN 37,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED ONCE AND THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS RESURFACED ONCE WITHIN THIS MILAGE PERIOD. GOING THROUGH THREE SETS OF ROTORS AND ONE SET OF BRAKE PADS WITHIN 37,000 MILES MEANS THERE IS EITHER A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I EXPERIENCED NO BRAKE FAILURES AS A RESULT OF THESE PROBLEMS.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2005
May 2005

WHEN BACKING DOWN MY ANGLED DRIVEWAY, WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, THE BRAKES DO NOT ADEQUATELY STOP THE CAR. IN FACT THE CAR CONTINUES MOVEMENT EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED FIRMLY. THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN SHOULD I NEED TO STOP SUDDENLY AND YET THE CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE. THE CAR ALSO DOES THIS WHEN DRIVING IN A FORWARD MOVEMENT DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, BUT NOT TO THE SAME DEGREE AS DRIVING AND BRAKING BACKWARD. THE DEALER AND LOOKED AT THE CAR TWICE, AND TELL ME THIS IS NORMAL BECAUSE THE CAR REVS UP HIGH WHEN COLD TO REDUCE POLLUTION, AND THE DRUM BRAKES ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO STOP THE CAR WHEN BACKING DOWN A GRADE. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2005
May 2005

MY BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE CONTINUALLY HAD PROBLEMS SINCE ABOUT 4,000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 44,000 MILES ON MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD LX, AND THE BRAKES/ROTORS HAVE BEEN SERVICED 9 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED; ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED AND ALSO REPLACED THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD. THE BRAKES GRAB WHEN APPLIED, WHICH HAS OCCURRED SINCE IT WAS NEW. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN OCCASIONS WHEN THE BRAKES MADE A POPPING NOISE; ALWAYS VIBRATE WHEN APPLIED, AND A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS WHERE THE CAR ALMOST DID NOT STOP.*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA HONDA, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2003
Mar 2005

THE BRAKES GRINDED, AND THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING WERE USED ON SNOW COVERED ROADS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATED OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO, DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER IN THE SNOW AREA, AND LET THEM INSPECT THE BRAKES. NO INSPECTION WAS MADE AT THIS TIME.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2004

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2003 Honda Accord has 121 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC complaints on file. 8 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.