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.
8.0
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$30
Average Mileage:
140,000 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
remove all barriers that prevent replacement (1 reports)
Replacing the light bulb should be a simple operation. However, Honda has invented a way to make the owner have to take a body shop repair course in order to replace a headlight bulb. WHY??? Why do engineers seem so ignorant when it comes to designing the most simple of features on a car. Changing the oil, battery, headlight bulbs, hoses, belts and such should be easy enough that a normal adult with common tools should be able to accomplish this. Maybe if engineers were able to talk to the customers or even work on an automobile they designed themselves then just maybe they'd get it.
With all the other issues with 2004 Accord...no more HONDA for me!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Replacing the light bulb should be a simple operation. However, Honda has invented a way to make the owner have to take a body shop repair course in order to replace a headlight bulb. WHY??? Why do engineers seem so ignorant when it comes to designing the most simple of features on a car. Changing the oil, battery, headlight bulbs, hoses, belts and such should be easy enough that a normal adult with common tools should be able to accomplish this. Maybe if engineers were able to talk to the customers or even work on an automobile they designed themselves then just maybe they'd get it.
With all the other issues with 2004 Accord...no more HONDA for me!!
- Chris P., Murfreesboro, TN - Tennessee, US