Used 2003 Honda Accord Sedan Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
These are the best
I love these cars just want to change style that's all great dependable vehicle
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Wish I'd done more research
I bought the car new; never had a Honda. Barely 3 years old & clear coat started to wear off. After 6 years old, clear coat/paint looked horrible and much worse than should for its age. Honda was unwilling to help and admitted no quality issues w/ paint; however have found many others with paint problems as well. Lots of squeaks & creaks on inside that are getting louder w/ age; Water from moonroof drains has left stains on the interior near windshield & did very early in its life. Doubtful that I would buy another based on my experience w/ paint issue.
- EX V-6 SedanMSRP: $4,50072 mi away
- LX SedanMSRP: $3,500176 mi away
- EX SedanMSRP: $5,000292 mi away
not what i expected from honda
This car picks up so much road noise its a joke.Engine light comes on constantly.{small repair after another}. The 2.4 four cyl uses oil to the tune of 3 qrts in 4000 mile oil changes.CD sticks in player so often that i gave up and just left one in.{would not come out no matter what i tried} Thought the gas mileage would be alot better than 23 highway. Power steering line started leaking fluid on exhaust had to replace line.Had to replace rotors on front and back, had to replace complete exhaust system,also seat belt light stays on constantly.All of this in the first 9 months of ownership. Update now I have had to replace both rear brake calipers and oil consumption has increased to a qrt every 600 miles! Forgot to mention the passenger side taillight assembly fills with water every time it rains! My first honda will probably be my last one. So sad that they would put such a piece of junk out to consumers and not recall them { all 03 accords}. April 8 2019 another update on this junk hunk. Oil consumption has increased to a quart each 300 miles! This car does not leak oil, does not smoke, and it does not lack for power,was reading other reviews on the 03 accord and someother owner indicated there may be a petition around to sign to pressure honda into recalling this wonderful piece of engineering and removing the black eye they have given consumers. April 13 2020 update on this 03 accord. Now in the past 3 months the clear coat has started peeling off on front bumper and hood. Still consuming oil but still gets me where i want to go ( just have to hold my breath and pray).
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great car for the price
Bought mine brand new for $21,000 out the door and very satisfied with the overall car. At 125,000 miles now, this car is rock solid and I commute with it daily. Oil change every 5,000 miles. So far the only major problem was the driver- side automatic door lock mechanism failed at about 105,000 mi which cost me about $600 to fix but that's because I used to keep pressing the unlock button on my key fob to blink the lights as I walk to the car, haha.
Tranny problems
Bought the car at 80,000 3 months went by ac went out told it was the condenser and compressor would’ve 1800 to repair at just over a hundred thousand tranny started slipping was told I was looking at 2400 for a used tranny not saying all Honda’s are bad I do not like the 03 Honda’s bad transmission
- Performance
Excellent whip¡¡¡
Comfortable reliable great car with no problems at 200 thousand miles I can't complain¡¡
clean
i've had this 2003 honda acoord lx for almost 5 years and it has over 260000 miles on it and still pushing. it obviously needs some maintenance to live this long but it was not very costly. it never died and left me on the street. cheap. reliable. would buy this car again and again.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Honda Accord EX-L
Excellent Acceleration and ride comfort, Rides Smooth.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Safest car ever
I was in a HORRIBLE high speed, head on collision (police & helicopters everywhere!) 4 days ago & was able to get out of my 2003 Accord & walk away. The passengers in the other car (not a Honda) weren't as lucky. I will only trust Honda made cars to protect my son & me!!!
Questioned Reliability
Bought this car new. The 8th Honda product in my family... 3 Acuras. Auto transmission failed at 76,000 miles. All scheduled maintenance has been performed. Car was out of warranty so took it to local transmission repair shop. Cost $2,200 for overhaul. Faulty torque converter was cause. My next car will be a Camry.
Four not six
Vehicle has an excellent engine with power and smoothness of a six, matched with a highly refined transmission. After 3,500 miles including lengthly trip, mileage is better than expected - 36.8 mpg on the highway. Road noise, however, is quite excessive. Exterior design needs improvement; back end doesn't seem to fit into design and front Honda enblem much too large.
Best car I've ever driven
I absolutely love my car. There is nothing I don't like about it except that the interior seems to collect lint. It drives like a dream, nice and smooth. The features are convenient, they thought of everything. I don't know that I will every buy a different kind of car. I'm sold on Honda.
We love our car!
We purchased our 2003 Honda Accord to replace our 1991 Accord. It's much nicer than the Camry which we also considered. Several reviews have not liked the road feel, but I really like it. You can feel the road, but the suspension is tight and handles the bumps very well. It's way too nice of a car for it being our commute car, but I really enjoy driving to and from work now! I would definitely recommend the EX-L version to anyone considering an Accord purchase - the extras are well worth it.
No 7 year itch for us. We love this car!
We purchased our Accord in May '03, it has 105,000 miles, and still love it. It still runs like the day we bought it. The only issue we had was the timing belt broke literally 2 days before I was going to take it in for the 105,000 mile maintenance where it was going to get changed regardless. Thankfully, it happened in the driveway. At first we were quoted a $2000 repair, but when they saw our appointment in the computer, they charged just the $1500 maintenance, and did all the other services for that check-up, AND found a 10% off coupon for us to use. My husband has always loved Honda, but this is my first one. With reliability and service like this, I now understand why.
Great car
Great car! Bought it because we are having our first kid soon. Will make a great family car. Lots of room, drives great. Awesome gas mileage for such a roomy car. Fun to drive.
great car, feels like luxury
This car has been great. THe handling and performance is that of a BMW or lexus type. I have an 2001 accord also and the difference is tremendous. The interior is sleek and nice with the gray leather. The navigation system is also very nice. The only drawback is for my self who is 6'4" 300lbs the front driver seat become uncomfortable in the mid back area and requires some readjustment regularly. This is not a problem for my 5'7" 120lb wife. Great car which make you feel you are driving a 35K vehical for great price.
Best car for money
Accord has good accelaration,great mpg's. Interior customized around driver.The car handles well,outise noise is minimally.Test drove several other cars and this was best by far.Drove to Ny and back averages 33mpg. Only car that came close was Sonata butr resale value and road handling/acceleration werent even close.
A great car
2003 honda accord is great. this car is very comfortable and has good reliability. overall fit and finish is great.
Redesigned Interior
The interior is the most appealing because of the excellent features it provides. The handling and acceleration is also very good.
90,000 miles and better than new.
I've owned this car since December of 02, and have enjoyed every mile I've driven it. Honda recalled it to fix a potential transmission problem at 30,000 miles. I put new tires on it at 70,000 miles, which made it a much better car. The only other repair has been new front brakes at 80,000 miles. The car looks new, feels new, and with the new tires, rides and handles better and quieter than new. I can't find any reason to buy a new one, and plan to put another 90,000 miles on it.
Great Car
I have had my Honda for nearly eight years and have really enjoyed it. So far repair costs have totaled a mere $100 and that was at an out of town dealership on a Saturday afternoon! Very comfortable, precise handling, good visibility and the radio and HVAC controls are easy to use while driving. It is a little slow off the line but the mpg is outstanding. I regularly observe 34 mpg highway and even had one 38 mpg trip. The paint and interior have held up well and still look good. I feel confident that I'll enjoy driving this Accord for another eight years without any complaints.
The Best Buy !
I bought my first Accord on 1994 and just traded it in (could have kept it) for the new 2003! Redesigned with more room, leather is fantastic and the sound system rocks! I love the new dash, the heated seats are nice and comfy. it handles very well, smooth ride, little road noise but that is ok, unlike the Camery, were you cannot hear anything (not good for EMS/Police) Highly recomend!
Still impressed
Here is an update from my 3/22/03 review. This car is great. Took a long 2000 mile road trip and averaged 31.8 MPG with average hiway speed at 80mph. It was so hard to keep it under 90mph, it rides so smooth with almost no road noise. Driving at night is no problem anymore with non-lit steering wheel controls. Compliments keep coming from everyone. My sister is now buying one.
horrible engine
looking at having a 3rd engine installed with only 24,000 miles and they say my warranty won't cover it.
Fantastic Vehicle
This was my 3rd Honda Accord over the last 20 years. It has been a great vehicle since we purchased it new in 2003. The gas mileage has been excellent - consistent 24 MPG in city commuter driving. We have averaged 33 MPG on trips.
Great Car to own
I compared the Honda Accord and Nissan Maximum and I am so glad a chose the Accord. The car helds great and has great fuel economy. I owned a Infiniti I30t and the accord is more comfortable. Great car and would recommend it to everyone.
LX V-6, 5spd auto.
This is the best car I've ever had right from the start. It is powerful and agile and fun to drive. The build quality is near perfect. I'd recommend this car to anyone
Sound investment
It's been 1.5 years, and the car responds as well as when I bought it. The extended period of 7500 miles for an oil change helps in forgetting that this car actually has mechanical parts that require maintenance! I've the V6 with leather, navigational system - the works, and while I did question the need for the navi. system when buying it, it has become indispensible. It has a quick GPS lookup/update which is extremely important. The touch screen is slightly buggy but overall the interface is very intuitive. The voice guidance (configurable in male/female) is non-robot like!! One negative would be the brakes which seem to have worn out sooner than expected.
Overrated by thousands of people
This car has been okay but not nearly as great as many claim it to be. City mpg is about 14 with the V-6 engine with light throttle, 28 to 30 highway. Car has had transmission problems, electrical issues, and generally not that reliable. I also owned a 2001 Acura TL that nearly stranded me at 61,000 miles due to a faulty transmission. This will be my last Honda since the dealer is not sympathetic even with the extended warranty ("that is normal"). I do not recommend Madison Honda in Madison, NJ to fix any Honda - do not buy the extended warranty there.
Great Long Lasting Car
This car is great. I wish the 4 cyl. engine was a bit quicker being a high school student. Also the problems I have had were the brakes had to be resurfaced at 7,500 miles, and a whistling noise coming from the front pass. window. But overall this looks to be a great college and beyond car. Bought new, sophomore in High School.
sequestered car
I have a blue Accord LX 4cyl auto. Excellent brake response and feel. Passing power is confident and ready when cruising on freeway driving. Engine is peppy; as is typical of Accord. I drove this car from TX to VA and the mileage comes to about 33-34 mpg with 4 adult passengers at that. Honda could use a better sound system. With 45K miles I still have the original tires, brake pads and has done a wheel alignment. This is my second Accord, the first one a 92 DX with 193000 miles and still running perfectly. Both were made in Japan with VIN starting with JH...My daughter finally "sequestered" the car from me. She can't stand the fun I am having. Maybe a coupe v6 will be fun huh?
Car and Driver 10 best for a reason
This car is so much fun to drive. The V-6 is electric motor quiet in moderate acceleration, as well as silk smooth. Honda recommends regular gasoline unlike most other competitors. The interior is the best part. The Camry was too boring. The Camry doesn't come close to the Accord in standard features. The Accord doesn't have auto headlights, but it does have a way of doing it. If you leave the headlights on, the car will shut them off 15 seconds after you turn off the car, and leave. You'll have daytime running lamps during the day, and auto headlights at night.
Solid Family Sedan With a Little Fun
Great car. Solid construction. Decent handling (maybe a little heavy), smooth engine and tranny. Fantastic interior - almost perfect.
2003 DX Sedan 5 speed manual
Great performer for the $. Powerful acceleration w/good mileage. Drives well, quiet, fun 5 speed manual. Very refined for a $15K car. Not a lot of bells and whistles but has CD player & power windows. A/C is an option. Want A/C?, then an LX is a better deal. Only problem has been window seal buzzing (seems to have mostly gone away on its own) & buzz in the center console CD compartment at 70 on freeway. Wish it had power door locks. This is a low price entry into a top class of automobile. This car can be had for about same cost as Civic LX and is much more refined, powerful & roomy. Great value to buy and cheap to maintain over the years.
2003 Accord DX
I bought a new 2003 Accord DX Auto from Gillman in Houston. I think the DX is the best value around as it is on average 2000$ cheaper than the LX. It is better equipped than ever with a CD player, power windows, ABS, Automatic and AC. The engine is smooth and the gas mileage is excellent. The build quality is up to Honda standards. The interior is comfy and attractive. The exterior is conservative but elegant. In brief, it is a very practical and reliable car.
6 year old car turning into a money sink
Issues during the first 6 years included rapid brake wear, radio/AC backlight failure, ignition failure (6 ignition coil plus labor is a $1000 repair). The transmission never seemed to work right and I took the car in 2 weeks after we bought it (only to be ridiculed by the service transmission). It went in again for the transmission recall in 2004. The transmission fluid was changed at 111k miles in 2008 (well before the required 120k). Less then 6 months later the transmission went out. First gear only, no reverse. A faulty torque converter, the cause for the jerky shifts from 1st to 2nd gear that many experience, burned up the transmission.
Should have a 3-point star on the hood!
This car could have Mercedes Badges on it and everyone would believe it was German. Silky smooth power and lots of it. Top notch build quality. Ultra quiet and smooth with terrific handling. I never thought I'd say it but the Honda NAV system is worth $2000! The best integrated NAV systme ever put in an automobile. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for an upscale family sedan. Add a spoiler to correct that ugly tail that honda designed. It makes all the difference IMO.
I had very good time with this vehicle
I saw many reliability issues discussed in this board. I thought that was strange, because I only had good memories with this car. The, I remember that I did have some problem with brakes with this car. They wore out too quickly. In one case, the pads were completely gone before 25,000 miles, and rotor was slightly damaged. So I paid like $300 for repair, while vehicle was still under warrantee. I need to change pads again, I have 60k miles now. But I had no other problems, and quite enjoyed the ownership. The engine is powerful and handling is quite good. After 5 years since introduction, this car still looks pretty!
RATTLES EVERYWHERE
I bought my 03 Accord LX Sedan 4 cylinder about 2 months ago. Within the first 100 miles I stated noticing rattles from the front windshield - but only in cool weather. Within a day or two, I noticed rattles from the drivers side front door - and then the passenger front door. Then the drivers side sun visor started rattling. Now the doors creak whenever I accelerate from a stop. Well... you get my drift? This car is great - minus the rattles. I have not yet brought it in. I'm worried if they start pulling it apart, it'll be worse than it is. I somehow think I would have been better off with the Camry - even if it is boring!
Honda Accord LX
Not as quiet as my '92. Lots of wind noise around front windows. Road/tire noise is more than my previous accords. Drivers door doesn't always want to close as easily as the other three. Automatic Transmision is 5 star. Engine has more power than my previous Accords. Dealership very concerned about customer satifaction.
I LOVE IT MORE
I am just checking back. I bought it 7 months ago and put 6000 miles on it. Loved it then, love it more now. Some changes since my initial report: Bumpiness got better. Now it feels just right. Not too soft, not too bumpy. MPG improved. I get 35 MPG (75 % HWY). On my last trip with AC on and 80 MPH all the way I got 30 MPG. Pick up is better. It has better pick up on HWY speeds (ex. from 55-80). Very comfortable at highway speeds. Had 1 recall: simple stuff (weak hose clamp). I am considering a second one.
Honda Heaven
What a fun sedan!! Plenty of get up and go. Love the cruise control and sound system controls on the steering wheel. The interior is roomy and very nice.
Suprising Honda Accord Problems
Car was purchased new. After five dealer visits, a service bulletin was found regarding clunking and creaking noises from the car's underbody. A number of BODY WELDS were apparently MISSED AT THE FACTORY. The car is now being serviced by a body shop for spot welding the defect areas. There are also noises from something loose in the driver's seat. This has yet to be fixed. Face plate on Sound System needed to be replaced as it came loose. Car has some door rattles.
I really like this car.
Coming from 1991 Civic LX fuul version,153K. This car is powerful (Honda,are you guys sure its a 4 cyl?), confortable,fun to drive, good sound system (CD player+ 2 speakers, good AC (Texas here), classy looks. Only think I'm a little bit dissapointed is about some rattling/cracking noises in the sunvisor's area.(on bumpy roads) It seems that the padding there is a bit loosen.Dealer promised to fix it on its first service.(3750 Miles)
Wonderful Slick Sedan
When driving the Accord's competitors including the Camry, I felt indifferent and no excitement. One test drive in the Accord and I grinned like a fool. The Accord is so smooooth in everything it does, great build quality, thoughtful with many nice touches. Manual transmission Accords are harder to find but much more satisfying to drive. Gas mileage is great for a car with this weight and power. You've got to try the slick shifter, very Miata/MR2-like!!! The exterior is a little peculiar at first but I've grown to like it! Consumer Report, Car & Driver and Road & Track magazines are right on the money. The Accord is the best!
First car... Yay!
It's a great vehicle, drives smoothly and is in excellent condition.
Never gets old
This car runs so quiet…you can’t tell if it’s running or not!
Not So Sure About Honda Anymore
Bought this used in 2007 with 60, 000 from a Honda dealership. I always noticed that this car didn't have the smoothest downshifting, but other than that, it was great. I'm now at 125, 000 and it shifts hard quite a bit. Within the past months on 2 occasions it has refused to accelerate with my foot on the gas, and the check engine and TCS lights immediately come on. After reading many other reviews and complaints about this car, I'm sure I know what's about to happen...
Misleading
This car is awesome. Comfortable, good-looking, fast and smooth. Great all around and it still beats so many newer cars. However it is deceiving because this 2003 Accord is notorious for transmission failures and I was just one of several thousands to just find out. Do your research and you'll be shocked at the mess that is still happening. Honda has known about these awful transmissions since the cars' inception. So buyer beware if you're thinking of buying one now. It will cost you half if not more of it's value today in 2010 to get this manufacturer failure fixed by you. Honda American won't help although the car has much value left.
great car
honda did it this time. This car smooth ,comfortable seats, alot of horsepower.