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.
Honda recently had a recall on this model as the radio display lights were not working. Immediately after recall, while driving at night, another passenger let us know that our brake lights were on constantly, thus when we put on our lights, the brake lights would also go on, whether or not we were braking (a fairly dangerous situation). I find it hard to believe that the recall repair had nothing to do with this as we were told. What is best way to see if other Honda owners have had same problem? Could this be a "ploy" to drum up business for the repair shops?? We were charged $580 to fix the break light problem. After picking up car, I noted that radio code display light was flashing, and we had to enter new code to use radio. These two problems must be related.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Honda recently had a recall on this model as the radio display lights were not working. Immediately after recall, while driving at night, another passenger let us know that our brake lights were on constantly, thus when we put on our lights, the brake lights would also go on, whether or not we were braking (a fairly dangerous situation). I find it hard to believe that the recall repair had nothing to do with this as we were told. What is best way to see if other Honda owners have had same problem? Could this be a "ploy" to drum up business for the repair shops?? We were charged $580 to fix the break light problem. After picking up car, I noted that radio code display light was flashing, and we had to enter new code to use radio. These two problems must be related.
- Barry D., East Williston, NY, US