NHTSA Complaint #10133939 — 2003 HONDA ACCORD

THE BACKLIGHT FOR THE RADIO/CD/ENVIONMRNTAL CONTROLS HAS GONE OUT. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THE LED TAHT PROVIDES THIS LIGHT IS BUILT INTO THE RADIO AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED. THE HONDA DEALER STATES THE RADIO MUST BE REPLACED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD BUT IS OVER THE MILAGE ALLOMENT TO BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. SO, IN ORDER FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SET THE CONTROLS FOR THE HEATING/AC/DEFROST AND/OR CD/RADIO I WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY $750.00 FOR A NEW RADIO, PLUS LABOR. BROWSING THE EDMUNDS.COM REPAIR FORUM I SEE THIS APPEASR TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2003 HONDA ACCORD. THERE HAS BEEN OVER 300 POSTS ON THIS ISSUE IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS. BECAUSE OF FLAWED ENGINEERING BY HONDA, THE CONSUMER IS REQUIRED TO PAY OVER $750.00 FOR A $1.25 LED THAT BY DESIGN - COMES ATTACHED TO A BRAND NEW RADIO UNIT. PLEASE NOTE: ALL OF THE COMPONENETS: AC/DEFROST/RADIO/ETC, WORK JUST FINE - YOU JUST CAN'T SEE THE CONTROLS TO SET THEM PROPERLY.