CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2004 Honda Accord suffers from widespread transmission failure & problems with the stereo backlight failing. We recommend avoiding this model year like the plague.
The transmission begins slipping & eventually has to be replaced, typically soon after 90,000 miles & with a repair cost of over $2,000. Transmission failure has been a huge problem for the Accord & several other Honda models all through the early 2000s model years. Honda extended the transmission warranty to 93 months/109k miles for the 2000-2001 Accord as a class action lawsuit settlement, but owners of other Accord model years with transmission problems are out of luck.
The stereo backlight problem has been an issue ever since these Accords were only a few years old. Honda eventually issued a recall which covered the repair for 7 years/100k miles, which was nice while it lasted but now that period is over. Honda initially replaced the entire radio ($800) but eventually began replacing just the PCB which at ~$300 is much cheaper. That sounds like a deal, but keep in mind we're talking about a backlight bulb that costs $2 to fix in most other cars.
Compressor had blown a large hole for no apparent reason and caused the rest of the AC unit to be filled with debris.
I purchased a second hand compressor and had the AC unit cleaned out and the new compressor installed for about $760 usd, and it would have been much more had I bought a new compressor.
Well, I have a 2004 v6 Honda Accord Coupe that blows out hot air through the passenger side while I am freezing my ass on driver side with cold air. Mechanics said either it's a compressor, "actuator," or something that deals with the navigation system because its digital and or because it has dual climate.
Imagine a hot May in NC, you turn on A/C to get cool and suddenly get hot air that temperature in the car instead of going down goes up. 1st my wife complaint this last May, but I didn't believe and thought she may have turned the heater on by mistake. But today (07/02/10) I start the car in the morning and turn the A/C ob and got blast of hot air and it only happens on left hand side the right side blows cool air.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Compressor had blown a large hole for no apparent reason and caused the rest of the AC unit to be filled with debris.
I purchased a second hand compressor and had the AC unit cleaned out and the new compressor installed for about $760 usd, and it would have been much more had I bought a new compressor.
- Michael M., Noosaville, Australia