NHTSA Complaint #10448479 — 2003 HONDA ACCORD

2003 HONDA ACCORD. FIRST TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP AT 50,000 MILES. TOOK TO DEALER FOR EVALUATION AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, DRIVING ON WEST SIDE HIGHWAY GOING FROM BROOKLYN TO HOME IN NJ. TRANSMISSION FAILED AND FINALLY GOT IT INTO FIRST GEAR. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THIS TIME AND DID NOT HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING. AT 108,000 MILES AGAIN I FELT THE TRANSMISSION START TO SLIP. AGAIN, BROUGHT TO MAHWAH HONDA AND TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. ONE WEEK LATER, DRIVING ON MAJOR HIGHWAY IN NJ (ROUTE 17 SOUTH) THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. LUCKILY, AT CARS GOING 60 MPH AROUND ME I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT AND NOT GET REAR ENDED OR IN AN ACCIDENT. CAR WAS FLAT BED TRUCKED TO DEALER. WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE ISSUES WE KNEW THAT HONDA 2003 ACCORDS/TRANSMISSIONS WERE HAVING, THEY IGNORED THE COMMENTS. THIS WAS NOW THE THIRD TRANSMISSION FOR THE CAR, THE ORIGINAL, THE REPLACEMENT AT 50,000 MILES AND THE EVENT THAT JUST OCCURRED. THEY DID NOT WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING OF IT. IN THE END, THE "DEAL" THEY GAVE WAS TO PAY CLOSE TO $3000 FOR THE TRANSMISSION (THEY GAVE A 20% DISCOUNT, HOW KIND). THE SERVICE WAS AWFUL. AS A LIFE LONG HONDA CUSTOMER WITH AT LEAST 25 YEARS OF HONDA CARS, I WILL NEVER GO BACK. WHAT A SHAME THAT HONDA WILL NOT LIVE UP TO THEIR PRIOR GREAT REPUTATION AND BACK UP THE CARS AND OBVIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE KILLED ME DRIVING. SHAME ON HONDA. *TR