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.
6.7
fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$280
Average Mileage:
71,700 miles
Total Complaints:
68 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (32 reports)
call American Honda (1-800-999-1009), ask for goodwill repair (11 reports)
Honda Radio 03 04 Accord Display Dim Screen Repair Fix - Honda Radio 03 04 Accord Display Dim Screen Repair fix
This problem is very common for this type of vehicle.
It is going to cost you lot of money (aprox. $300+) to replace the radio or to ask the dealership to fix it
Don't waste your money!!
I can bring your radio back to life!!
Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed!!
The service is as cheap as $70!!
Honda Accord 03 04Dim Display Radio Repair - If you don't fill comfortable doing it yourself, please delegate this job to reliable people who's been doing this since 2005 with 100% money back guarantee. Links: http://jycomputerservices.com/2013/10/honda-radio-03-04-accord-display-dim-screen-repair-fix/
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I have read that Honda had a recall with the back light on the radio that shows a/c and fan on the screen. I went to Honda they told me that they can't help me and they are aware of the issue. I will have to pay to have the radio replaced and it is going too cost $1200.00. I told them forget it. So I went to a mechanic I know and he told me $266.00, so I had the radio fixed. Now I can see what's on the screen.
I read online about the recall for the radio / backlights and the detailed complaints. While others mention that this issue is annoying, I see this as a major safety issue that Honda should fix for free, regardless of mileage..they knew there was fault at their end. We trust them to provide a safe ride and transportation for others and when you can't see the defrost buttons there is definitely a safety concern. I was driving in the mountains and I could see the defrost button and my car was fogging up. I had to pull over (which was unsafe also, but I couldn't see) to turn on the defogger. HONDA, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT YOU SOLD TO ALL OF US, FIX IT!
radio light went out. I watched a video on you tube, took it apart and soldered it back. It worked for awhile and then I had to do it again. went out again and I just said screw it and left it dark. This car is a piece of crap.
My concern over reliability and Honda quality grows as I document problems that appear to be fairly standard for the model I own. The circuit board had previously been replaced (recall-service bulletin), but the replacement board also failed and is no longer under warranty.
My Honda 2004 Accord HVAC Display Module went Dark. It's a royal pain. It had been getting dim for a long time. Now I can't see temp, radio or nothing. I understand this is a Honda defect. I called Honda about this issue. I purchased this car new. Honda want offer me no assistance. I was told this runs 1000 to fix. I can't afford to fix it. I guess I want buy another Honda. A sensor went out in A/C right away. Cost me 400.00 to fix. Also replaced brake rotors and pads several times. My daughter bought a 2007 Accord, got rid of it because of brake issues.
I'll stick with Toyota.
- fancy face,
Millers Creek, NC, US
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I bought the car used in 2007. It had a around 40,000 miles on it. During the test drive, I noticed the radio backlight was out. The dealer agreed to have it fixed, and they did. The backlight works fine (and still does), but a few years later, the CD player stopped working. It won't play a CD . . . won't even accept a CD into the slot. I just bring my ipod into the car now. I noticed Consumer Reports gave a bad rating for Audio System on their used car reliability history for this model year.
I get that things break but if they know its a bad product FIX IT! Paying to have my circuit board replaced $200+ No dealer help 79K on the car but over the 7 year extended warranty. Love the car though.
My wife and I are the original owners of our 2004 Accord EX V6. Last week the radio backlight and HVAC backlighting went out. This is related to TSB 04-027. This bulletin covered the failure for up to 7 years or 105k miles which ever came first. Well the car is now 8 years old but only has 42k miles on it. I figured I had nothing to lose so I called American Honda customer care and explained the problem. The rep said we needed to have a Honda dealer confirm the problem. I told them no problem, I'll take it in the next day (Sat) which I did and they confirmed. An American Honda case manager called them Monday to confirm the diagnosis. The case manager called me later that day and said Honda would cover the complete repair minus a $75 deductible. I am more than satisfied with that. So I guess all I'm saying is even though you may have a service problem that falls outside the warranty period, you have nothing to lose by calling Honda.
After losing the HVAC/radio display on my 2004 Accord Ex V6 (76,001 miles) Sunday I read the 44 complaints on carcomplaint.com. which helped me understand my problem more fully. I called Honda Motor Cars of Corona (CA) on Monday and explained my problem. Mike knew immediately of the issue and offered to order the circuit board. We set up an appointment for this morning and by noon it was fixed. Mike even called Honda of America and got me half off (since I was over the 7 year mark but well under the mileage limit of 105K). I ended up paying $140 and they even replaced a brake light bulb, fixed the latch on the dash console and washed the car! Best dealership I have ever experienced in my 65 years (and being a car nut, that's a lot of cars)! Bottom Line - work with your local dealer and Honda of America.
My problem with the light on the CD player was caused by a circuit board. However, since I am over the wire for the fix I will have to pay it out of my pocket. I will try to call Honda this morning and try to ask them to pick up the charges on both my light problem and Motor mount problem, Hopefully, they will pick up the repairs.
Update from Dec 6, 2011: My Honda was a Certified pre-owned Honda. When my audio lights went out I took it to Honda West to have it fixed they told me it would cost $400 to fix. Since this was a Certified Honda, I believe they should have fixed this issue before they even Certified it. To make a long story short, I paid the amount to have it fixed and then called Honda after I found the info on this web site about the fix. They told me it was pass the date for the fix. However, they did decide to give me $153.00 for the cost of the audio board. I still got stuck with the labor costs. Since this was a CERTIFIED CAR when I bought it, they should have fixed the problem before they certified it. They were either too lazy or figured it didn't need to be fixed since it was still working and had not turned black!
One morning got in to drive the car and guess what no lights for the ac,radio ,clock temp.etc...went to 2 Honda dealers in town and both said it was a computer problem.....one wouldn't give me a estimate and the other said it would cost $198 or more for labor plus the part..right now I'm using a small flash light to see the background so I know what I'm listening to etc. Guess I''ll give Honda a call...WISH ME LUCK
Update from Oct 3, 2011: As I said before I'll call Honda...after I talked to rep....she said out of warranty and she couldn't or wouldn't help... I asked her about the goodwill situation and again she said No....so what I'm thinking about doing is going to a junk yard and see if they have the part and go to an Independent mechanic and get it fixed and if that doesn't work I guess I'll just have to eat the cost..at my local Honda dealer
Update from Nov 4, 2011: Well I didn't go to junk yard,but I did go to the service mgr. at the Honda dealership where I bought 4 Hondas..(new mgr.)..explained the situation,he gave me a little runaround overmilage and out of warranty...but said he would check into it...he called back the next day and said Honda made the goodwill gesture for the free part so my cost would only be$100 instead of the $250-$300..so there is some gold at the end of the rainbow..(be persistant)
Update from Nov 16, 2011: as I said in my last update Hondda turned me down....Luckey for me a new service manager was at my Honda dealer..told him about the situation..he called the Honda Rep....he said he would send the part as a goodwill guesture...Had it installed for $83.00 instead of the 250-300...I guess I lucked Out...(mileage was 106,000 miles)
Mine went out at 7 years, 4 months with 84,000 miles. The dealer says Honda won't honor the extended warranty, which I think is total bull since they know it is a built in problem with their printed circuit board.
Update from Jul 17, 2011: I called Honda direct after the dealer gave me no help, and Honda supplied the part via Goodwill. However the dealer - Bob Lindsay Honda - would contribute NOTHING. When I reminded the dealer manager that I had all my service work done at their shop and had recently had $800 worth of work done, he still wouldn't consider helping with the repair at all (not even the profit from the part that Honda had supplied at no cost). When I told the manager I would no longer have service work done there, his total response was "OK". Since Bob Lindsay Honda doesn't value my business, they will get no more of it.
The problem of the console display going dark is already well-documented below. The repair is covered under extended warranty (7 years, 105K miles). Mine went out at 6 years, 10 months and 21 days / 97,000 miles. Just under the wire, but Honda covered it at no cost. Nice. Too often, I've been just barely on the other side of that mark. :)
Warranty extension is coming to the end so act soon! I got in with only 5 days to spare!! A little thing to be aware of is when they say it's "7 years or 100,000 miles" the 7 years are NOT model years but 7 years from the date the car was manufactured. A HUGE difference as your car may have sat on the lot for months before being titiled but the clock is ticking and this extended warrany will soon be up.
This happened a few weeks ago, but I was busy, then out of town, so I didn't get it looked at until now. My mechanic informed me that the stereo/AC backlight problem was covered under a recall and that I'd have to go to the dealer. Fortunately, American Honda customer service just informed me that my vehicle is covered under the extended warranty (7 year/105,000 mile). I guess I'm glad the problem happened now, as my car will be 7 years old in not too long. I've made my appointment with the dealer and hopefully everything will be covered as it's supposed to. Will update my post if it isn't.
My radio/AC display went dark on my car as well. Started out dimmed then eventually went totally dark. What a pain in the butt!! I dealt with it all summer because I figured I would be facing a hefty repair bill. I had my cd's and radio stations somewhat memorized so getting around on them was difficult but do-able. Because it was summer time if I needed AC I would just turn it on to full low temp and blast the cold air until I was comfortable. When fall came and I needed defrost action it became very difficult because I could no longer remember how many times to push the mode button to get all defrost, all feet heat, etc. I couldn't see to use my dual comfort zone heat control and could no longer see the exterior temperature reading, which I depend on when the weather dips below freezing (icy roads). Needless to say, I reluctantly took it the dealer...feeling stupid for how long I was going to tell them I had been dealing with it. Surprisingly, they knew what it was, ordered the part, and fixed it for free. My dealer was an A+ in resolving this for me. :)
About six months ago the display lights on the stereo and upper a/c lights started to flicker. Then they went out completely. I checked and there is an extended warranty that covers this. It's a pretty big inconvenience, because I can't tell what time it is, or which cd in the cd changer I'm listening to. I'll either have Honda repair this, as long as I don't have to incur any cost, or replace it with an after market stereo with an auxiliary input. But I'm wondering if replacing it with an after market unit will take care of the light display problem.
My radio/black light has gone out sometme after christmas and my o2 sensor has had to be replaced twice with in 2 years and spent $600 each time just to have it pass to get my tag for a 2004 this is awful. My brakes front and back have both had to be replaced I was very happy to get a honda thinking i had a reliable car ): boy was i wrong. Very dissapointed i will NEVER EVER buy another honda. I think i will go back to chevy my husband has a 2001 GMC with over 100,000 miles and still the original brakes. This by far is the worst car i have ever had.
I am calling Honda tomorrow and hopefully I will get some results. My clock/stereo/climate control backlight is out. I only hope my VIN is on the list and Honda will repair my problem. It is a shame, because I have never had any problems with Honda products. This is my 2nd Honda and I have friends and family who own a Honda and have nothing be positive things to say about Honda. I only hope they do not change my mind tomorrow when I call regarding my electrical problem.
OKay so last week my back light went out. I heard about the 03-04 recall, however, I called Honda and they said my VIN was not on the list and it would cost $500!!! That's crap, who whats to spend that on a backlight??? But it is super annoying. I'm going to try and find a radio in a junkyard and have my husband install it. BOOOOO to Honda.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I have read that Honda had a recall with the back light on the radio that shows a/c and fan on the screen. I went to Honda they told me that they can't help me and they are aware of the issue. I will have to pay to have the radio replaced and it is going too cost $1200.00. I told them forget it. So I went to a mechanic I know and he told me $266.00, so I had the radio fixed. Now I can see what's on the screen.
- Brett H., van Nuys, CA, US