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 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
106,173 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.
Front right suspension failure resulting in loss of steering input. The front right wheel separated from the suspension and was at 90 degrees while moving forward. The vehicle was in motion, the event occurred right after a U turn.
It seems as if my transmission is failing. It jerks when it"S put in drive or reverse. On the highway or anytime that it"S in motion it jerks when changing gears and it gets stuck between 3 and 4 RPM.
Was informed that there is a power steering fluid leak in the vehicle. Noted that there was a recall of hundreds of thousands of 2004 Honda Accord for this exact problem but told at dealership that my particular 2004 Honda Accord was not included. I am concerned that this is the same problem. Of note, by 2007 Honda Odyssey has also been diagnosed with a power steering fluid leak. Multiple mechanics have stated that this is very unusual that two cars made by the same manufacturer would both have power steering issues. Both the Odyssey and Accord models have had power steering recalls in the past and I suspect that these vehicles have similar issues
- Guilford, CT, USA
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I was driving down a city road and the vehicle started to accelerate on its own and it did not want to shift gear. I was able to apply brakes but the car continued to accelerate to very high rpms. I had no choice but to turn the shut off the car midway and pull-over. While stationary and car shut off on side of the road I tried to turn it back it and it automatically jumped to high RPM and was never able to change gears from park to drive or anything because the car would take off. After 45 minutes of letting the car figure itself out, it stopped revving too high RPM and was able to go back home. The issue has stopped but now when I start the car up and switch from park to drive the car has a delayed engagement. Also, now my steering wheel locks up ever once in a while and when making turns randomly. I have checked power steering and no leaks or any sign on a repair that needs to be completed.
This vehicle and model has had 2 recalls regarding aftermarket parts in steering wheels, holes in leaking hoses and valves and fire hazardous. The second one is regarding low beam lights and very poor visibility, increasing probabilities of a crash. I have called american Honda to honor the repairs of this 2 recalls and they do not want to do it, because the car is already 14 years old. So I am driving a faulty vehicle, and to make matters worse I am already disable from 2 car accidents (as a passenger) one of the recalls, the steering wheel, was already taken care of in the past, but it still persist now as I bought it. 2 leaking steering wheel hoses. And the head lights haven't been done ever! my car has already been diagnosed by a Honda dealer specialist and american Honda does not want to assume the repairs of these 2 recalls. American Honda does not make themselves responsible for their own faulty vehicles, passed a certain time! where are my rights"????"
When in motion, the steering wheel randomly locks when turning. While turning left or right, the steering wheel will lock and the vehicle will keep straight as if the steering wheel has not been turned at all. It has also locked when attempting to reverse from a parking spot making it difficult to back out. I had to switch back and forth from drive to reverse multiple times because the steering wheel would lock with minimal slack allowing me to barely maneuver the vehicle in the correct direction to successfully back out. The vehicle has been brought to a local mechanic who replaced the power steering belt thinking that it was slipping which could cause the issue, however the issue still continues. The vehicle was brought back again for further evaluation and I was told that there was a recall on a pin part of the steering column. This deeply concerns me because I have an infant child and my vehicle is the main source of transportation for him because my husband has a single cab truck. When the steering wheel locks randomly it puts our lives in jeopardy, especially with ongoing daily traffic and never knowing when to expect it to happen.
Takata recall air bags should be reinstalled in all vehicles of the year that was being recalled. I have a 2004 Honda Accord sedan and I find it applauding that responsibility isn't being accepted 100%. if one air bag is defected then they all should and could be, with that being said I urge them to honor the faulty equipment and fix it instead of 'playing with people's lives' and wait I to see if the worse happens when the air bags are supposed to be a safety item in case of a accident in which they will release.
Picking up son from pre-K and car key would not turn off. After messing with the key and juggling it for over an hour, I was able to turn it off but it would not turn on again. I took it to the dealer and was told it could be the ignition lock cylinder. The vehicle was stationary at the time.
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 5 mph and attempting to make a turn, the steering wheel failed to move and the vehicle lost power without warning. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 79,340. Updated 11/29/16
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.
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. While driving 10 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and a squealing noise was heard from the front passenger side tire. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and observed that the power steering hose was leaking. The failure occurred constantly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12V222000 (steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 198,678.
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.
My 2004 Honda Accord had the battery, alternator, ac filter, and oil changed by the Honda dealer. After picking the car up from the Honda dealer, it was driven approximately 10 miles on the interstate. After exiting the highway, while coming to a stop, the car burst into flames. The fire department responded and extinguished the blaze. The car was a total loss. The dealer stated that the cause of the fire was a failure of the power steering system.
While driving the vehicle at night, I experienced a spontaneous total electrical failure when switching the dash control which powers the digital thermometer/odometer control. This effected headlights, steering and braking, as if the car was turned completely off, but I was able to coast toward the road shoulder.
The power steering hoses developed a leak causing turns to be very difficult. The car is a 4 cylinder. Looked up recalls and it seems like they recalled the hoses for the 6 cylinder and not the 4. losing power steering in a turn can be pretty dangerous.
Car will not speed up and suddenly slowed down, been told transmission failed, needs new transmission. Just did transmission service one month ago power steering oil leak and changed pipe and then power steering pump failed.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Auburn Hills, MI, USA