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.
I've owned several Honda's through the years, and all, overall have been dependable automobiles. I recently purchased a used, 2004 Honda Accord EX. This car was exceptionally clean, and it was easy to see the previous owner had taken very good care of this car.
Over the last few weeks, It started having some starting issues, which i simply related to the fact of needing a new battery. I drove the vehicle to the store on Friday, Sept 19th, and returned from the store approximately 5:30pm. I parked the car, and locked it up, planning on staying in that evening. The next morning, Sept 20th, I was paying some bills online, and needed some information that i had in the console of the car. I walked out to the car, opened the passenger side door, and was shocked to find a melted mass of plastic, wires and such in the middle of my dash.
I've filed an insurance claim with my insurance company, and have researched recalls for my particular model, and of course, there isn't one concerning any kind of electrical problems. I did however find a lot of other Honda owners complaining of wiring issues with numerous Honda models. Even though no recalls have been issued, I'm quite sure Honda is fully aware of the wiring problems. I read on complaint sites, one after the other of issues with shorts, wiring, etc, and even found several almost identical fires like mine.
Guess the only repercussion I have at this point is to make sure I never buy another Honda product. Word of mouth carries a long way these days with the social media sites available. Honda may not want to admit their problems, but i can damn sure tell what happened to me. Anyone else out there had a similar thing happen to their Honda?
Update from Sep 25, 2014: I cant blame Honda for my financial condition and the fact my payoff was several hundred dollars more then the Insurance company was willing to give. But, had Honda acknowledged this wiring problem, and issued a recall, i wouldn't be on foot today, and in worst shape then i was when the day i purchased their vehicle. Because of their unwillingness to stand behind their product and acknowledge the wiring issues, I now have no vehicle, and with no fault of my own. That's a tough pill to swallow. One thing is for sure, I will never put my trust in a Honda again. Slowly their reputation is becoming one that took them years to build. Seems to me they would do whatever it takes to stop that erosion. They know by admitting fault, it will cost them millions, if not billions to recall, and I guess the executives are so blinded by the financial issue, they cant see the big picture. Continue to let your reputation dwindle, and you wont have to worry about millions or billions of dollars. You will be back to making motorcycles exclusively.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
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I've owned several Honda's through the years, and all, overall have been dependable automobiles. I recently purchased a used, 2004 Honda Accord EX. This car was exceptionally clean, and it was easy to see the previous owner had taken very good care of this car.
Over the last few weeks, It started having some starting issues, which i simply related to the fact of needing a new battery. I drove the vehicle to the store on Friday, Sept 19th, and returned from the store approximately 5:30pm. I parked the car, and locked it up, planning on staying in that evening. The next morning, Sept 20th, I was paying some bills online, and needed some information that i had in the console of the car. I walked out to the car, opened the passenger side door, and was shocked to find a melted mass of plastic, wires and such in the middle of my dash.
I've filed an insurance claim with my insurance company, and have researched recalls for my particular model, and of course, there isn't one concerning any kind of electrical problems. I did however find a lot of other Honda owners complaining of wiring issues with numerous Honda models. Even though no recalls have been issued, I'm quite sure Honda is fully aware of the wiring problems. I read on complaint sites, one after the other of issues with shorts, wiring, etc, and even found several almost identical fires like mine.
Guess the only repercussion I have at this point is to make sure I never buy another Honda product. Word of mouth carries a long way these days with the social media sites available. Honda may not want to admit their problems, but i can damn sure tell what happened to me. Anyone else out there had a similar thing happen to their Honda?
Update from Sep 25, 2014: I cant blame Honda for my financial condition and the fact my payoff was several hundred dollars more then the Insurance company was willing to give. But, had Honda acknowledged this wiring problem, and issued a recall, i wouldn't be on foot today, and in worst shape then i was when the day i purchased their vehicle. Because of their unwillingness to stand behind their product and acknowledge the wiring issues, I now have no vehicle, and with no fault of my own. That's a tough pill to swallow. One thing is for sure, I will never put my trust in a Honda again. Slowly their reputation is becoming one that took them years to build. Seems to me they would do whatever it takes to stop that erosion. They know by admitting fault, it will cost them millions, if not billions to recall, and I guess the executives are so blinded by the financial issue, they cant see the big picture. Continue to let your reputation dwindle, and you wont have to worry about millions or billions of dollars. You will be back to making motorcycles exclusively.
- jimstewart2013, Denison, TX, US