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.
So I bought this 2004 Honda Accord as a Certified Pre-owned in November 2008. In April 2009, I was coming to a stop sign and the car wouldn't stop! Never had a problem like that before just minor vibrating and grinding noise. I slid through the intersection and hit a minivan. Thankfully no one was seriously injured. The insurance company said that they couldn't find anything wrong with the brakes. How convenient. Then I found out that the car had been wrecked a year after it was originally sold and that it had about $7000 worth of damage to the front end!! Honda's collision repair center wouldn't fix the car because they said the damage was from the previous accident. So now I have a POS Honda that no one wants to fix the way it's supposed to be fixed. I will never buy another Honda again. That was the first and last time. I will stick to Dodge.
Brake pedal went to floor, took to dealer, master cylinder was leaking and was replaced. Seemed a little too soon (34K) miles. Out of warranty, but was replaced at no charge, making me think that I may not be only one with this problem ??
On return from a trip, my wife noticed that the pedal was nearly going to the floor and the pedal was very soft. The car used to grab after an inch of pedal. At 21,000 miles we had the car in for service and the dealer wouldn't give it back to us without replacing the master cylinder. Its acting like it did back then. The car was in the shop for an oil change at 31,000 miles and they replaced the rear rotors and pads. Now this soft pedal again. I took it in for the next oil change and told the dealer that the master cylinder was gone again. Two mechanics looked at it and said they couldn't find the "squeak" in the brakes. Try again boys, notice the pedal goes to the fire wall? No problem they said. Take it home, or we can do the $550 36,000 mile check up where we might find a problem with the calipers. Gee, no thanks..... I think I'll be installing a master cylinder myself and move on. NHSTA should know about his by the end of it.
- Bud G.,
Rochester, NY, US
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So I bought this 2004 Honda Accord as a Certified Pre-owned in November 2008. In April 2009, I was coming to a stop sign and the car wouldn't stop! Never had a problem like that before just minor vibrating and grinding noise. I slid through the intersection and hit a minivan. Thankfully no one was seriously injured. The insurance company said that they couldn't find anything wrong with the brakes. How convenient. Then I found out that the car had been wrecked a year after it was originally sold and that it had about $7000 worth of damage to the front end!! Honda's collision repair center wouldn't fix the car because they said the damage was from the previous accident. So now I have a POS Honda that no one wants to fix the way it's supposed to be fixed. I will never buy another Honda again. That was the first and last time. I will stick to Dodge.
- hate hondas, Bowling Green, KY, US