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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,697 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.
I got out the driveway and made a right turn. The ignition key jump out of the ignition key hole and broke the key handle ( plastic with remote doors/trunk opening. The car stalled and stop. I put the key ( the metal part) in but the engine did not start. I tried super glue the metal and plastic back together and turn the ignition key. The engine was on normal. I took the key out, and tried to turn it with the metal part again. The car did not start. I did not realize the serious of the problem until I read the worcester telegram gazette ( Saturday 8/13/05) and found the Honda Acura rsx has the same problem to other and it locked him three times. I may get kill if the key jump out of the ignition and stall on the highway. Please alert Honda about these problems: Could be bad ignition lock, shift interlock mechanism, or steering column or the anti-theft. Please help and investigate this serious safety device.
While driving through a residential neighborhood the steering column locked and could not be turned one way or the other. As a result the vehicle hit a parked car. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer, and they said a pin had sheared causing the steering column to break. The dealer could not determine if it happened before or after the accident. The vehicle was taken to a different mechanic and this problem was fixed. The accident caused damage to the parked car and the consumer's vehicle.
Bought my car in late July 2004 and within days it developed a ticking noise in the steering column. It has been to service and they tell me it was the keys rattling. It is indeed the steering column because it does it with the key out of the ignition if you bump the steering wheel.
- Lubbock, TX, USA
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- Worcester, MA, USA