CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2005 Honda Accord suffers from transmission failure. It's not a huge widesperad problem like in prior years, but definitely still something to consider.

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 problems have been a huge problem for the Accord & several other Honda models all through the early 2000s model years. Honda eventually extended the transmission warranty to 93 months/109k miles for the 2000-2001 Accords as a class action lawsuit settlement, but owners of other Accord model years with transmission problems are out of luck.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
38,615 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.

2005 Honda Accord engine problems

engine problem

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2005 Honda Accord Owner Comments

problem #16

Nov 082014

Accord 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2005 Honda Accord. Consumer states when the vehicle is in use for more than 15 minutes, a yellow light comes on and the car shuts off. The consumer stated the vehicle was serviced numerous times.

- Coconut Creek, FL, USA

problem #15

Jan 292014

Accord 6-cyl

  • 76,500 miles
Driving to work in somewhat heavy traffic when I approached a slight incline. The engine began racing to redline and the transmission would not engage to move the car forward again. I was very nearly rear ended by the vehicle behind me as the car suddenly slowed down. I put on my hazards and pulled to the shoulder, and suddenly the gear engaged again and I was on my way. While slowing down further on in my drive, the transmission began pulsing and surging as I slowed nearly causing me to lose control. I backed off from the traffic and was almost to work when I approached another hill. This time the engine again raced to redline and I pulled to shoulder and shut the car down. I waited a minute and restarted and the vehicle appeared to be fine again. I drove the half mile to work and immediately setup an appointment to have the transmission looked at. I was able to make it to the dealer by keeping the drive select in 3rd and they have diagnosed the vehicle with a failed 2nd gear leaving me to foot the bill for a remanufactured transmission at over $5000. Needless to say, my wife and I as the original owners of this vehicle are very disappointed and hopeful that Honda will help to cover part of the repair. I am concerned that my wife and children could have been in the car when it lost power and could have been seriously injured in an accident and the vehicle is only 8 years old with 75K on the odometer.

- Avondale, PA, USA

problem #14

Dec 292013

Accord 6-cyl

  • 66,700 miles
While driving on the interstate my car lost power from the engine. The RPM's went higher but there was no power even though the engine continued to rev. There were no warning indicators on the dash to try to understand what was happening except for the RPM gauge. The transmission had completely disengaged just as if it were in neutral even though it was in 'drive'. the scariest part was that I was stuck in heavy traffic driving at highway speeds at night during a rainstorm and there were no visible warnings to observe other than the tachometer and sound of the engine revving up. I understand now that the transmission has started to fail prematurely due to overheated transmission fluid and needs to be replaced at a high cost.

- Strafford, PA, USA

problem #13

May 102013

Accord

  • 78,093 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Brought vehicle in for routine maintenance timing belt replacement. Honda technician notified me that the timing belt tensioner was leaking and could leak onto the belt causing it to slip off of tensioner.. he further stated that this type of leak goes un-noticed until timing belt is replaced. Loss of power can occur if timing belt is not secured.

- Kinnelon, NJ, USA

problem #12

May 142011

Accord 6-cyl

  • 24,370 miles
Honda Accord 2005 V6 under 25,000 miles suddenly started having problems with the automatic transmission which finally failed on May 2011 while driving on the highway. A complete automatic transmission overhaul and torque converter change were performed at a Honda dealer at a cost of over $2600. New transmission felt great during the first 3 months (even though it torque converter started leaking oil and I had to take it to the dealer for repair) but recently I have notice abrupt delays (slow down) while shifting gears, like its is pulling you back and strange kicks while shifting. Car accelerates slower as well and does not react as quickly or smoothly as new. I took the car to the same Honda dealer and they say nothing is wrong with the transmission.

- Guaynabo, PR, USA

problem #11

Feb 132012

Accord

  • 45,000 miles
2005 Honda Accord fire danger. The catalytic converter heat shields fell off while driving and almost caused an accident. The catalytic converter is warranted 8 years or 80,000 miles. My Honda only had about 45,000 when the catalytic converter heat shields failed. I took the auto to a Honda dealer. The dealer contacted the Honda company customer service representative and she refused to pay any part of the repair. We also called the Honda representative several times without any help from Honda. This person refused to let me speak to her supervisor. The reason the catalytic converter has heat shields are to prevent fires from heat given off by the catalytic converter. The auto is unsafe without the heat shields which surround, and are part of the catalytic converter a major emission control devises.

- Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA

problem #10

Feb 132012

Accord 4-cyl

  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2005 Honda Accord fire danger. The catalytic converter heat shields fell off while driving and almost caused an accident. The catalytic converter is warranteed 8 years or 80,000 miles. I took the auto to a Honda dealer. They contacted the Honda company customer service representative and she refuses to pay any part of the repair. We also called the Honda representative several times without any help from Honda. The reason the catalytic converter has heat shields is to prevent fires from heat given off by the catalytic converter. The auto is unsafe without the heat shields which surround and are part of the catalytic converter a major emission control devise.

- Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, USA

problem #9

Sep 212011

Accord 4-cyl

  • 89,233 miles
My car has been turning on my check engine light. My vtec seems to be staying on and it jerks my car back and kicks the light back on. I've been reading online and I'm not the only one with this problem. A lot of people say its the vtec oil pressure. I change my oil on a regular basis and don't think that this vehicle should be having this problem. It lacks power between 1-3000rpm and its not safe.

- Salem, MA, USA

problem #8

Jun 102009

Accord

  • 76,000 miles
My O2 sensor went out on my 2005 Honda Accord and was stalling out and it was powerless would not go anywhere. I replaced the O2 sensor but it still stalls out.

- Camp Hill, AL, USA

problem #7

May 072008

Accord

  • 40,000 miles
The mass air flow sensor has major issues. During the normal course of driving the car became sluggish on going uphill like losing power. Then the check engine light would come on. We took it to a dealer and they informed us that it was the mass airflow sensor. We had it replaced. Then about 6 months later the same thing happened again and we took the vehicle to the dealer and again it was the mass airflow sensor. This time the dealer cleaned the sensor and informed my wife that according to specs that the sensor could require cleaning after something like 80 hours of operation. This was crazy and I asked the dealer do they have the garage lined with Accord getting their mass airflow sensor cleaned? that did not make common sense. Then about another 6 months later the vehicle did it again. We took the vehicle to the dealer and informed them that it was going to be the sensor again. They said well we have to look at the code. I told them that I had been through this twice before and I wanted the underlying problem found. They called me back about 2 hours later and informed that the code read the mass airflow sensor. I told them that I told them that on the paperwork when I dropped the car off and I asked them what was the underlying problem causing this. They said they could only go by the code. That showed me that the dealers have no idea about their own vehicles. This did not start until the vehicle had about 40000 miles on it and it seems to be happening every six months. I have lost faith in this vehicle and its reliability. First happened April 2007, then again December 2007 and the last time was May 7 2008.

- Midlothian, VA, USA

problem #6

Mar 222007

Accord

  • Automatic transmission
  • 34,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

TL-caller owns a 2005 Honda Accord. Failure mileage 34000. Wife parked vehicle and went into store. Ten minutes later she was paged and informed that her vehicle was on fire. Fire department extinguished fire and insurance company had it towed to do an investigation. The insurance findings are not available as of yet. He believes the fire started in or near the engine. Ktf

- Wauconda, IL, USA

problem #5

Apr 192007

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,800 miles
I have been driving my 2005 Accord LX since 12/04. Initially the engine seemed to be a bit racy but I reasoned that it was due to the fact that the engine needed to be broke in. As time and miles accumulated, from time to time the engine would race even after more than enough time to warm up. About a year ago, I went by the local Honda dealer for another issue when I asked the (service manager) about my "racy engine." His quick response was that the engine needed to warm up to a certain temperature, and it was implied that this was normal performance for my car's engine. Over the past 21/2 years that I have driven the car, I always make it a point to leave extra room in front of me whenever I stop behind another car because the car will lunge forward. To prevent the "lunge, " I must ease up on the brake slightly periodically rather than "stand" on the brake. On 04.19.07, I rear ended the car in front of me as I came to a stop at a traffic light. There was very slight damage to each of the vehicles. I received a citation and possibly 2 points on an otherwise pristine driving record. As I calmed myself as the day continued, I wondered if there may be some defect that may need to be corrected. Thank you for your time.

- Flint, MI, USA

problem #4

Nov 152006

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 9,100 miles
: the contact stated while driving various speeds and hitting bumps, the vehicle bounced. The dealer determined the vehicle performed as designed. Also, to defog the windshield the heater has to be on. The dealer indicated the defogger performed as designed. The contact further stated while driving various speeds in wet weather, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was maneuvered off the road and restarted. It was driven to the dealer who could not duplicate the problem.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #3

Jun 022006

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 7,000 miles
: the contact stated during sudden, hard braking the vehicle pulled to the right. Then a few days later, during normal braking, the vehicle pulled to the left. The dealership was unable to determine a problem. Then while traveling 30 mph on a slushy downhill road the brake pedal was depressed and the brakes did not respond. The vehicle rear ended another vehicle. There was a police report taken at the scene. The driver received minor injuries. The vehicle was driven to the dealership, where repairs were made for property damage. The dealership was unable to determine the problem with the brakes. The vehicle was taken to another dealership and an independent repair shop, which was unable to determine the problem as well. There was a rough idle when coming to a stop. The headlights flicker at times. Updated 07/05/06.

- Findlay, OH, USA

problem #2

Sep 152005

Accord 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,000 miles
Contact stated that while sitting at a stop light on a hill and taking foot off the brakes the vehicle rolled backward. Dealer and manufacturer told her this was normal for this type of vehicle. She was told the idle was lower for a quieter ride, and it did not have the power the hold the vehicle on a hill.

- New City, NY, USA

problem #1

Nov 272004

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50 miles
Consumer complained about intermittent hesitation/stalling problems while driving at any speed. Vehicle had been taken to the dealer on two separate occasions, and they were unable to resolve the problem. Consumer had another appointment with the dealer for the third time.

- Bronx, NY, USA

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