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.

9.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
63,800 miles
Total Complaints:
2 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (2 reports)
2004 Honda Accord body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2004 Honda Accord Owner Comments

problem #2

Nov 232007

Accord EX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles

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

I PURCHASED THIS 04 HONDA FROM BERNARDI HONDA IN MA . ALTHOUGH IT WASN'T MY FIRST CHOICE BUT IT WAS OFFERED TO ME WITH CONFIDENCE. DEC 28 2006 . NOV 22 2007, ON A COLD NIGHT I TRIED TO GET SOME GAS AND THE GAS DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN. I PLAYED WITH THE LEVER IN THE CAR UNTIL IT FINALLY OPENED. SINCE THEN I HAVE TO OPEN THE TRUNK AND RELEASE THE LEVER LIKE A SPRING IN ORDER TO GET THE GAS DOOR OPEN. NOT ENOUGH TIME TO CHECK WITH HONDA DEALERS. BUT THIS TIME IT'S THE 6 DISK STEREO LIGHT THAT WENT OFF A FEW MONTHS AGO. YOU CAN ONLY SEE THE AC/ HEAT SETTINGS ON BRIGHT LIGHT OR SUNSHINE. SO I AM HEADING TO THE NEAREST H. DEALER TO HVE THEM FIXED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY, OTHERWISE THIS WILL BE MY LAST HONDA.

- PIERRE F., BROCKTON, MA, US

problem #1

Oct 032007

(reported on)

Accord 2.4L

  • Manual transmission
  • 74,565 miles

Can't open the trunk, by lever or remote. I have the coupe, so there is no lock cylinder. I can hear the motor go when I use the remote. Not quite sure how to get into trunk to fix it?? Guess I'll have to take it in.

- claudes, Brampton, Ontario, Canada

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