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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
105,273 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. The contact stated that the gears failed to shift properly from park into the other gears. The failure occurred intermittently without warning. In addition, the vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to mclarty Honda (10 colonel glenn ct, little rock, ar 72210, (501) 227-7000) to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were not available.
ABS/tcs module failing causing transmission no to go into gear or jump around gears and hard shifts and acts like transmission failure all with out giving any codes only code I have is 84-1 car will start and drive anywere fine for about 15 to 30 mins then starts acting up like the transmission is failing, with help of Honda mechanic and other Accord owners saving me from buying an new 1300 transmission I have found ABS/tcs module failure
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. When the contact placed the vehicle into reverse and depressed the accelerator pedal, it moved forward. When the gear was shifted into drive, the vehicle did not move when the accelerator pedal was depressed. In addition, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
I purchased a Honda Accord 2004 V6, with 44,954 miles, certified at carson Honda, in carson California on Feb.9, 2006. This is my first car purchase from a dealership.I sometimes us to see the airbag light on and the last time I saw I on was about 2 weeks ago. I did call american Honda in torrance, ca. I had concern re. The takata airbag recall. They asked me the mileage of my car I told the rep.,it had about 170,000, he thought it was funny, because the car had so many miles. I did tell them that I had seen the airbag icon on and I had trouble with the transmission which had to be replaced, they said there are no recalls and end of call. Where can one see old recalls on car? I did receive a card called" important legal notice for owners of vehicles with takata airbag inflators". chapter 11 case. 17-11375(bls) my car is not in the recall am and am very concerned about the safety of passengers and myself. American Honda or carson Honda are not helping me with my concerns. I feel that vehicles with this takata airbag should be replaced. Is is very scary hat people have died instead of been saved.
- Altadena, CA, USA
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The transmission slipped into neutral while driving, luckily no accident, but left me stranded in the middle of an intersection! could have been disastrous!
I was driving on an express way, and all of suddenly the transmission would not engage and slip to neutral while my engine rev up to higher RPM. My speed limit went from 50 to almost zero, but luckily traffic was light and I was able to move to the shoulder safely. Same thing happened to my son a couple of days ago. I had my transmission fluid changed yesterday hoping this will prevent it from happening again.
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. While driving 30 mph, the speed began to drop and the transmission stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic were it was diagnosed, but not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 154,000.
Transmission slipping and grinding. Took it to our trusted mechanic and he said the transmission is failing and has to be replaced. The vehicle only has 128,000 miles. There was a NHTSA recall #: 04V176000 for 2003/2004 Honda due to transmission failure which could lead to an accident. I contacted Honda and they are not willing to help.
I did tune up my car because is run not good. The ball joint broke good the happen on street in repair get new ball joint and new axle both thing for drivers side used car had a good on gas mileage but after start giving bad mileages. Many time tune up. After that car not pick speed. One day I did google search. I find Honda recall for transmission over one million. I call Honda dealer about transmission recall he say need up date software but they don't have recall about this yet. But they have recall airbags was which haven already done. Now my car have problems with transmission, ball joint axle, smoking. Radio not works another I hope. I get recall soon. I wasn't know that to file complaints. Now I know and I helps other.
I was on my way home from work, exiting the downtown area and entering the freeway, when the transmission slipped out of gear. The transmission would not re-engage without moving the shifter down to the D3 gear first. I was able to limp the car using this method to the nearest transmission repair shop. The transmission slipped out of gear several more times on the drive to the repair facility. It was diagnosed with a faulty third clutch and a repair estimate of $3200-3400 for a rebuilt transmission. I chose a different repair shop, with an equally good reputation, and had the transmission rebuilt for $2700. It has been back to the same repair shop 3 times after the rebuild with similar symptoms. They are not able to determine the cause of the recurring slippage. Research reveals that hundreds of other Honda Accord owners have encountered the same issue of transmission failure. It appears to be the same parts failing in a majority of instances. The transmission will slip out of gear from a dead stop, in motion at slow speeds or moderate speeds with no detectable pattern. The transmission failing while the car is in motion creates an extremely dangerous, potentially fatal, driving situation. I don't feel safe driving this vehicle. Honda has issued a recall on this transmission already but not for this particular problem. My vehicle doesn't qualify for the recall.
The car was just amazing when I bought it. Even tho I purchased it used I went straight to a service shop had the oil changed and complete tune up done expecting to enjoy this car I have always heard great things about. The first couple months were great, no worries. Then it seems like out of no where I noticed a slight difference in the way it drove, just the complete feeling of the car was different. The next day I went out to eat and the transmission shifted hard. Okay I thought just need to pay attention, that night when heading to the store is when it became constant, shifting from drive to reverse a hard shift, from 1to2 slip 2to3 slip, then once it heated up stopped. Today is the second day of having to drive it and the light for the engine came on. The car has only 160,000 miles on it, supposedly still in its prime according to early Honda owners, my cousin had a early 90's model Accord I know lived to almost 300,000 on the same engine and transmission. What makes this generation not accountable or not as worthy of the same quality that has given Honda the loyalty of customers it has now. They have the audacity to turn a blind eye on this problem, knowing that these problems are a self inflicted and the direct result of cheap parts and a design flaw they allowed to be mass produced knowing, the "certainty" of mass failure it would create after the warranty freeing them of liability. Leaving the dedicated customers, the people who have helped Honda build there foot hold on the automotive industry in the usa, in the wind. Where is the justice, the accountability, knowingly producing a product that's design is inadequate, knowing due to improper fluid control or lack of proper fluid flow will undoubtedly cause failure of the powertrain. How is it not criminal where is the accountability I thought producing products which U know are default is illegal.
2004 Honda Accord V6 automatic transmission. The transmission is going out at only 145,000 miles. I called a few transmission shops and the 2003, 2004, & 2005 Honda Accord with the V6 engine are known to go out around this mileage. I called Honda and they denied that there was anything wrong. I checked other online forums and they all state that the transmissions are faulty and should be recalled.
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 45 mph, a clicking noise started to emerge from the engine compartment. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle stalled. The contact coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. In 2004, the transmission was repaired through a manufacturer's recall. The approximate failure mileage was 147,000.
2004 Accord transmission began leaking at the same time as ABS trouble, what seems to be suspension problems (bad springs?), hood struts failed. These all happened about a month after one dealer replaced an engine mount and leaking power steering fluid container. The trunk opening switch would not work but was too expensive to repair. I had the ABS looked at at another dealer and for $100 an "electrical switch" under the gas pedal was replaced. The power steering fluid was leaking again. They said that the transmission needed to be fixed for $2000 and that my car was not in the recall. I saw many complaints about transmission leaks online and about the gas door not opening. The dealer didn't want to hear about that. (engine mounts and hood struts are popular items on amazon.) I was lucky that my head wasn't under there when the hood fell. I had opened the hood to check the power steering fluid and went to the trunk to get some, when it fell. I was able to replace them from amazon. I had the engine cut out twice while driving in the rain after last inspection. I lost steering and saw the engine light come on so I quickly started the engine again. About a month apart. It didn't happen again. It seems strange to me that all of this happened within 6 months after an inspection.
Jan. 2015 traveling at 25 to 30 mph, driver front lower ball joint separated causing wheel to turn sideways in wheel well, which resulted in disabling vehicle, seperated cv shaft and fender damage. No injuries and had to have towed. May 2015 traveling 20 to 25 mph, passenger lower ball joint separated causing wheel to turn sideways in wheel well, resulted in disabling vehicle and damage to fender. Local police were called, no injuries and vehicle towed. July 2016 backing out of driveway, passenger front lower ball joint separated, causing wheel to turn sideways in wheel well, resulted in disabling vehicle, damage to fender, separated cv shaft, and dented the oil pan, no injuries. There is a fault in the design of the lower ball joint placement, the weight of the vehicle is naturally causing the ball to press against the retaining edge of the socket, resulting in metal on metal contact causing the retaining edge to wear resulting in separation of the ball joint. The only way to correct this would be to redesign the front suspension steering knuckle and lower control arm. The ball joint should be pressed into the socket with weight on the wheels not pulling it apart. My only suggestions until something is done about this, is go to a service garage and have them check the ball joints with a pry bar between the steering knuckle and lower control arm, if there is movement have it replaced and keep your receipts. Just shaking the wheel by hand isn't enough to see the movement. Do not pick the vehicle up by the lower control arm, it can result in control arm bushing separation.
Driving on I-205 and the transmission started slipping. Engine would go from normal to racing while I was driving. Got off and parked to pick up a friend and it would not go in to reverse to back out of the spot. Had to have it towed and the transmission rebuilt. For about $4500. There was only about 47000 miles on it at the time.
4 cylinder automatic transmission started slipping during acceleration from a complete stop. Transmission would cause the car to her forward when breaking and after coming to a complete stop. The transmission completely failed at just over 54,000 miles and will not upshift. The car will only go about 20 mph, when the accelerator is engaged, it only revs up the engine and the vehicle redlines, the transmission will not shift into a higher gear.
Textbook case of transmission failure for my '04 Honda Accord V-6 on Friday, May 22, 2015. Car failed on the 15 fwy outside of barstow, ca and had to be towed to the los angeles area. When I contacted american Honda I was told that my VIN was not part of the recall. My car, though 11 years old, had only 89.5K miles on it. It had been serviced at all times by my Honda dealer, including transmission service 3 times, including January of 2015. I have all documentation. Honda quoted me $5,642.40 for the repair, and also in a letter dated 6/24/15 confirmed that I need a new transmission assembly. I "escalated" my complaint to american Honda and was offered $250 "customer loyalty card" which I initially declined. I then contacted american Honda again and received a $300 card for the inconvenience that when my car was returned to me by Honda the entire air intake system was missing!! it took the Honda dealership 3 days T contact me and return the air intake system. I bought this Honda Accord brand new from the Honda dealer and am the only owner/driver. I still am without a reliable vehicle and there is no reason that a transmission, which has been consistently serviced by the dealership, should fail with less than 90,000 miles on the vehicle. Had I not been in the desert with lighter traffic, I would have been involved in an extreme crash with other vehicles. Honda should repair my vehicle and acknowledge that the current recall fails to include additional VIN that were affected. They Focus their ad campaign on "helpful", yet they do not help their Honda owners. Shame on Honda and I would like some results.
While driving the speed limit to take my children to school this morning 02-18-2016, my Honda was in the last gear but suddenly downshifted into a power gear causing the car to jerk. My children and I were almost rear ended but the F-150 truck behind is swerved to keep from bitting us. I was very afraid also cause the seat belt around my children tightened to the point where my baby boy started crying cause it was like it choked him. After dropping them off, I got to the stop light which is on a hill and the car would not move. Put in park and cut off and car then went into gear but did not change fears to where it reved up the rpms. Cruised down hill to my home and decided to back up and the car would it even back up. I would like to know what can be done cause there seems to be a problem with Honda and all the can tell me is that there is no recall I. my car except for the power steering. I did research and there are hundreds of complaints about similar problems if not the same.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Little Rock, AR, USA