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.
No heat, no radio. disconnected battery to replace headlight bulb (which, according to owners manual you must first take a body shop course to learn how to dis-assemble your front end to get to the bulb...another complaint) and this morning at 4:00 AM I found out the car is wanting to know a PIN# (after 3 years of owning this car I NEVER knew this). Well if you want to control your air/heat and radio you better know that PIN# or you are S*&T out of luck. For 2 hours I drove this morning in 24 degree weather with NO heat or radio, just pure frustration at the idiots at Honda for designing such a piece of CRAP. NEVER will I own another Honda and so many people will hear about this one. I hope the design engineer designs his own baby crib for his first born. NO just kidding, I'm not that cruel, just that MAD!!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
No heat, no radio. disconnected battery to replace headlight bulb (which, according to owners manual you must first take a body shop course to learn how to dis-assemble your front end to get to the bulb...another complaint) and this morning at 4:00 AM I found out the car is wanting to know a PIN# (after 3 years of owning this car I NEVER knew this). Well if you want to control your air/heat and radio you better know that PIN# or you are S*&T out of luck. For 2 hours I drove this morning in 24 degree weather with NO heat or radio, just pure frustration at the idiots at Honda for designing such a piece of CRAP. NEVER will I own another Honda and so many people will hear about this one. I hope the design engineer designs his own baby crib for his first born. NO just kidding, I'm not that cruel, just that MAD!!!
- Chris P., Murfreesboro, TN - Tennessee, US