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:
30 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
28 / 1
Average Mileage:
77,349 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.
2004 Honda Accord has an intermittent problem with the drivers seat belt. A contact in the seat belt latch is causing the air bag system to malfunction. My local Honda dealership stated that the air bag will not function with this problem. An internet search shows many Honda"S with the same problem. This problem in the seat belt disables the air bag and also disables the seat belt warning light which warns the driver if the seat belt is not latched. The Honda warranty states that ??any Honda seat belt component that fails to function properly during normal use" is covered by a lifetime warranty. However, Honda is refusing to replace the seat belt latch under warranty.
I was hit by a truck from behind while I was waiting for oncoming cars to pass ( I had to turn left). The truck was going at least 50 M/H. my Honda is totaled. None of the six airbags in the car deployed.
Red air bag light went on in Aug of 2007, took to dealer was told the battery was bad and replaced it. I had a new battery put im the previous year (2006-July. I was then told that the SRS unit could be bad, but was not replaced. The light was then turned off. In Aug of 2008 the light turned on again, I was told the SRS unit was bad again and this would cost $500 dollars to fix, it was no longer under warranty. I am feeling taken advantage of the situation. It is now July of 2009 and the light is on again. It seems just as soon as it gets hot the light goes on. I feel this is a safety hazard and that I should not be responsible for it. Could you please help me with this problem.
My air bag light has been coming on my Honda Accord for about 2 months. I took it to frank brown dealership. They kept it all day and did not find anything wrong with it. The light comes on continually. I am taking it back in tomorrow because you never know if air bag will go off. They charge $75 diagnostic fee even if they do not repair the problem.
2004 Honda Accord with several problems since purchase. Consumer states that it all began with the vehicle jerking, warning lights illuminating, brake pads were low, transmission replaced, broken motor mounts, and the horn stopped working. When the consumer took the vehicle back to the dealership, he noticed the SRS light was on, which may have been due to the horn not working.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
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The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. While driving 35 mph, the air bags on the passenger side opened up like curtains in the front and rear seats of the vehicle. The ceiling on the passenger side was split in the middle. There was no impact or crash involved. The contact took the vehicle to the Honda dealer for repair, but they refused to acknowledge the air bag defect and would not repair it for free. The Honda manufacturer spoke with the dealer and concluded that they were not paying for the failed air bags. The current and failure mileages were 64,474. Updated 03-04-08
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. While pulling into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and jumped over two curbs and a bush. The vehicle finally came to a stop when it crashed into a parked vehicle. The contact had her foot on the brake pedal during the acceleration. The air bags failed to deploy. The occupant seated in the passenger seat sustained lower back injuries because the seat belt failed to restrain the passenger and the contact. The vehicle is currently being repaired at a body shop and will be taken to the Honda dealer to be diagnosed. Police report number 07171505 was filed with the cochie county sheriff's department. The speed was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 39,000. The consumer stated the air bag light had illuminated, however there was no air bag deployment. Updated 10/10/07.
2004 Honda Accord with air bag that deployed for no reason customer wants to reimbursed for repairs* the consumer was told that the air bag deployed because something may have triggered the air bag sensor.
The SRS (supplemental restraint system) dash light comes on and will not go off until the part is replaced. The dealership told me the airbags would not operate or would not operate properly if a wreck occurred because the part was "bad". I was provided a rental car while the part was replaced. Previous research revealed a previous investigation into this problem on the 2001 Honda Accord. (why is the same defective part still being used?).
: the contact stated while driving 65 mph on a dry freeway, the driver's air bag deployed without incident. The contact did not hit anything in the road nor drive over a bump in the road prior to the incident. The air bag light had not illuminated. The vehicle was pushed off of the road and remained on the side of the road pending a tow truck. There were injuries sustained. The dealership was not notified.
While driving the vehicle's drive axle collapsed causing the driver to loose control of his 2004 Honda Accord. The driver's side air bag deployed but did not inflate. The vehicle was totaled.
My car was hit on the driver side bumper anywhere between 40-50 mph. The police report is still pending to state the appx speed. My car crumbled, the bumper totaled, and the hood rolled up. My face hit the driver side glass and shattered the window. At no point during the accident did my airbags deploy. This is very concerning, especially in this type of accident. Thank you!
The steering wheel started jerking uncontrollably while driving, the consumer was unable to maintain control of the vehicle. The driver applied the brakes, but the pedal went to the floor. The vehicle crashed into a parked vehicle and it flipped over. The air bags did not deploy. The insurance company repaired the vehicle.
Vehicle was involved in a collision at 40 mph and vehicle's air bags did not deploy. The consumer was told that the vehicle did not dip enough and that's why the air bags did not deploy. The consumer feel this is a poor explanation and believes the air bags should have deployed.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Brazoria, TX, USA