Honda Accord 2003–2007
7th generation (North America) · CM4/CM5/CM6 sedan, CM7/CM8 coupe
NHTSA data through 12 August 20265,812 complaints, 4,461 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 40,400 and 120,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 151 complaints (3.4%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 7,000
- 25%
- 40,400
- Median
- 84,000
- 75%
- 120,000
- 90%
- 156,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 378 | 8.5% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 135 | 3.0% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 108 | 2.4% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 73 | 1.6% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 115 | 2.6% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 74 | 1.7% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 97 | 2.2% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 93 | 2.1% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 103 | 2.3% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 113 | 2.5% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 123 | 2.8% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 109 | 2.4% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 139 | 3.1% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 135 | 3.0% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 142 | 3.2% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 157 | 3.5% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 155 | 3.5% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 168 | 3.8% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 166 | 3.7% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 171 | 3.8% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 169 | 3.8% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 149 | 3.3% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 109 | 2.4% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 130 | 2.9% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 137 | 3.1% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 115 | 2.6% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 118 | 2.6% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 68 | 1.5% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 97 | 2.2% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 57 | 1.3% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 107 | 2.4% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 42 | 0.9% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 63 | 1.4% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 47 | 1.1% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 24 | 0.5% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 23 | 0.5% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 33 | 0.7% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 22 | 0.5% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 21 | 0.5% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 25 | 0.6% |
| 200,000+ | 151 | 3.4% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 5,812 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003–2007 Honda Accord, and 4,461 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 40,400 and 120,000 miles. The median is 84,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the transmission and driveline (25.9% of complaints, typically around 97,000 miles), the airbag system (18.7% of complaints, typically around 89,000 miles), the electrical system (8.6% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles).
13 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Transmission and driveline97,000median 97,000 miles, middle half 74,000 to 122,000
- Airbag system89,000median 89,000 miles, middle half 51,000 to 130,000
- Electrical system75,000median 74,800 miles, middle half 40,000 to 118,000
- Hydraulic brake circuit15,000median 15,000 miles, middle half 6,000 to 32,000
- Steering102,000median 102,000 miles, middle half 55,000 to 150,000
- Throttle and speed control68,000median 68,300 miles, middle half 23,000 to 114,000
- Body structure70,000median 70,000 miles, middle half 20,000 to 114,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 1,505 | 25.9% | 97,000 | 74,000–122,000 |
| Airbag system | 1,084 | 18.7% | 89,000 | 51,000–130,000 |
| Electrical system | 498 | 8.6% | 75,000 | 40,000–118,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 314 | 5.4% | 15,000 | 6,000–32,000 |
| Steering | 300 | 5.2% | 102,000 | 55,000–150,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 262 | 4.5% | 68,000 | 23,000–114,000 |
| Body structure | 200 | 3.4% | 70,000 | 20,000–114,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 196 | 3.4% | 45,000 | 5,500–89,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 182 | 3.1% | 100,000 | 31,000–136,000 |
| Engine | 157 | 2.7% | 120,000 | 94,000–144,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 84,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 25.9% of complaints (1,505 reports, 1,370 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 97,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 74,000 and 122,000 miles.
A single system taking 25.9% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The airbag system accounts for 18.7% of complaints (1,084 reports, 681 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 89,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 51,000 and 130,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 8.6% of complaints (498 reports, 381 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 74,800 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 39,500 and 118,000 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 5.4% of complaints (314 reports, 245 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 15,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,900 and 32,300 miles.
The steering accounts for 5.2% of complaints (300 reports, 237 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 102,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,000 and 150,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 4.5% of complaints (262 reports, 215 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,300 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 23,387 and 114,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2003 model year drew the most — 2,384 complaints — while 2006 drew the fewest at 541. The median year sits at 880.
That makes 2003 an outlier: roughly 2.7 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 13 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (10), the steering (1), the transmission and driveline (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 5,812 complaints filed against this generation, 657 reported a crash; 92 reported a fire; 593 reported an injury; 22 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 11.3% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 40,400 and 120,000 miles, with a median of 84,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the airbag system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 89,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Transmission 2003–2004 V6 automatic
V6 5-speed automatic (BAYA) second-gear and countershaft bearing failure causing loss of drive; addressed by NHTSA recall 11V-395 and Honda warranty extensions.
Engine
V6 models with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) show spark plug fouling and elevated oil consumption; the Accord Hybrid's VCM V6 is the first US application.
Airbags 2003–2007
Takata front airbag inflator propellant degradation causing rupture; this generation is in the highest-risk 'Alpha' population for some 2001-2003 Honda inflators.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2,384 | 1,886 |
| 2004 | 1,307 | 1,016 |
| 2005 | 880 | 678 |
| 2006 | 541 | 386 |
| 2007 | 700 | 495 |
Recalls (13)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 19V501000 | 2019-08-12 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 19V499000 | 2019-08-12 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 19V182000 | 2019-04-10 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 18V268000 | 2018-06-22 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 17V220000 | 2017-05-10 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 16V178000 | 2016-05-02 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 15V370000 | 2015-07-01 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 15V320000 | 2015-07-01 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 14V700000 | 2015-01-26 | Air Bags |
| 14V353000 | 2014-09-12 | Air Bags |
| 12V222000 | 2012-06-15 | Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, and Connections |
| 11V395000 | 2011-08-27 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm) |
| 10V364000 | 2010-10-07 | Electrical System:ignition |
What owners reported
Headlight luminance noticeably fluctuates between a lower and higher intensity. The high beam is not on at this time. Happens ususally when car is at a lower speed and slowing down or accelerating. Intensity stays constant at higher speeds. Very annoying. Dealer and manufacturer don't know the cause. Alternator…
2003 · Exterior lighting
They are selling me a lemon and fool me around with excuse. The engine light have been on six time during this two year. The first three time the engine light on, i did not have duplicatin code. Sum up the six time report, i have two times code 0700 and two times code 1705. I called Honda because they authorized this…
2003 · Problems owners could not categorise
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord ex. While the contact was driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle began to shake with an intense vibration. The "check engine" warning light illuminated. The warning indicator remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. The failure recurred on two separate occasions.…
2003 · 2 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 4,461 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page