For affordability, long-term reliability, high fuel efficiency, drivability, and comfort, the mid-size sedan Honda Accord ticks every box a driver could want. Especially when you’re on the roads as part of your job and making a difference to the community.
In Corpus Christi, Texas, local man Justin Kilmer reached 1 million miles on the odometer of his 2003 Honda Accord V-6. The milestone appeared on Saturday, March 11, 2023, while he was driving en route to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
A celebration was later organized to pay homage to the Japanese car that achieved this remarkable milestone after almost two decades on the road.
When you do the maths, that’s an average of 50,000 miles a year. Bonkers.
Honda and Justin Saving Lives, Literally
Purchased by Justin’s wife, Lisa, almost 20 years before the odometer reached the milestone, the 2003 Honda Accord has become central to Kilmer’s life. They moved to Corpus Christi in 2014 to join the Navy as a pilot, and by 2023, when the car reached one million miles, he was working as a flight instructor in Kingsville.
He had also been working for a courier company since 2015 after responding to an ad on Craigslist, where his deliveries mostly consist of life-saving supplies for local hospitals and other medical providers.
“For a while when I had the route going down to the valley it was like working two full-time jobs.
“My simulator job is my main job, but sometimes I’ve worked an excess of 40 hours a week doing this job too,” he explained to Kris 6 News.
“It’s a lot of time on the road and away from my family and everything. For example, then there’s the blood center locally.
“It actually has to send things to Houston for a test. So, a lot of times this car runs to Houston.” For those unfamiliar with Texan roads, the drive from Corpus Christi or Kingsville to Houston is about a 3.5-hour car journey.
“When you think about how many lives this car has probably helped out and potentially saved with medicine it’s pretty rewarding.
“That’s why I’m happy with the car. Yeah, it achieved a million miles, but it’s also done a lot of good in the world too.”
How Justin Kilmer Maintains His Accord
To keep the Accord running past one million miles, Kilmer shared in his YouTube video that he regularly replaces worn components and carries out ongoing repairs. From 950,000 miles, he replaced power steering hoses, suspension ball joints, tires, spark plugs, coil packs, and the starter.
He also replaced the battery cable, brake switch, transmission mount, window seal, and several interior switches. The car’s air intake system and filters have also been serviced. To keep it running, he plans to replace the engine and keep up his job of delivering life-saving equipment and supplies.
Hitting seven figures highlights why the Honda Accord has long been one of the most respected sedans on the market. Stories like Kilmer’s serve as a reminder that with consistent care and maintenance, an everyday family sedan can achieve extraordinary longevity, reinforcing Honda’s standing as a benchmark for reliability in the market.
The Car Now – Update November 2025
Kilmer’s most recent update on his Accord was published on November 8, 2025, and the car still appears to be going strong. He ended up replacing the engine and repainting the car, but revealed that he has since quit his delivery job and now drives it mainly for enjoyment.
As part of ongoing maintenance, he replaced all the power steering hoses except for the high-pressure hose leading to the pump, along with a new starter, a new manifold air pressure sensor, a new positive battery cable, a new shift knob, and a new brake switch.
Kilmer also used the car for several road trips across the United States. In March, he drove it to Phoenix, Arizona, to meet Honda collector Tyson Hugi for an interview. Later in the year, he travelled to Maryland in April, Daytona Beach in May, and Georgia for the Honda Fest car show.
He also drove the Accord to see Metallica in San Jose before visiting San Francisco, then travelled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in July, Vermont via Ohio in September, and Tennessee in October.
In short, he travelled across the United States in a now 1.1-million-mile 2003 Honda Accord that continues to get him from A to B without issue. It’s the perfect Honda advertisement story, and he has no plans to stop there. Fans can continue to follow his updates on Instagram.