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 was braking for a red light when all of a sudden the car starts trying to accelerate at full speed with my foot on the brake. I immediately put the car in park and turned off the engine. Upon trying to start the car again, the car is revving and shaking due to trying to accelerate at full speed. Turned car off again. By this time a cop is behind me calling a tow truck. Waited about 5 minutes and tried again. Came on fine. Got it home driving as slow as possible. My husband took the car to see what was going on. Same thing happened to him. Having it looked at today. Was the most frightening experience ever that could have been fatal. And it felt like my own car was trying to kill me. Everyone says Hondas are great cars...I would hate to experience bad cars.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I was braking for a red light when all of a sudden the car starts trying to accelerate at full speed with my foot on the brake. I immediately put the car in park and turned off the engine. Upon trying to start the car again, the car is revving and shaking due to trying to accelerate at full speed. Turned car off again. By this time a cop is behind me calling a tow truck. Waited about 5 minutes and tried again. Came on fine. Got it home driving as slow as possible. My husband took the car to see what was going on. Same thing happened to him. Having it looked at today. Was the most frightening experience ever that could have been fatal. And it felt like my own car was trying to kill me. Everyone says Hondas are great cars...I would hate to experience bad cars.
- Elonia E., Albany, NY, US