NHTSA Complaint #10449133 — 2003 HONDA ACCORD

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH ON A LONG STRAIGHT ROAD WHEN FOR NO REASON THE CAR STARTED DOWNSHIFTING ON IT'S OWN. THE VEHICLE LURCHED. I CAME TO A STOP AND WHILE I WAS BRAKING, THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED ON IT'S OWN AS IF I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. I STOPPED AT A LIGHT, AND THEN TURNED ONTO A SIDE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20MPH WHEN THE CAR STARTED DOWNSHIFTING ON IT'S OWN AGAIN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ONCE AGAIN, THE CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY AS IF I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. AFTER A FEW DAYS AT A PERSONAL MECHANIC, IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP. PERSONAL MECHANIC STATED HE AT ONE POINT TOOK MY VEHICLE OUT ON A SIDE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO A NEUTRAL SPEED AND LOST POWER. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING AROUND 50MPH TO THE DEALERSHIP, CAR DOWNSHIFTED ON IT'S OWN CAUSING ME TO ALMOST GET REAR ENDED. I PULLED OFF FREEWAY AND CAME TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE AGAIN, THE CAR CAME TO A QUICK SUDDEN STOP AS IF I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. ONCE AT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP, TEST WERE RAN AND IT WAS DECIDED THE VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY QUOTED ME $4500 FOR REPAIRS. ENDED UP CALLING HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY WERE WILLING TO ONLY COVER $1100. I ENDED UP WITH A TOTAL BILL OF $3406.26. *TR