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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
105,842 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.
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle decelerated independently and the transmission warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that a ticking noise could be heard coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was confirmed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the issue and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 04V176000 (power train:automatic transmission). The approximate failure mileage was 162,338.
I have a 2004 Honda Accord V6 and while merging into traffic on my way to work, the automatic transmission failed. I was nearly rear-ended, but was able to get the car off to the side of the road safely. Had this happened on a highway I could have been rear-ended by an 18 wheeler. With a V6, I expect to be able to pull out into traffic and come up to speed quickly and safely. That was not the case on the 29th of November and I was nearly rear-ended by a minivan due to the transmission failing completely. I am told that the transmission oil pump failed, and that lead to the transmission failure. I am now trying to trade in this vehicle for a Toyota instead. I no longer feel safe driving any Honda vehicles. In my experience, Honda nonchalant way of dealing with this issue is extremely disturbing, and makes me feel that Honda does not care about me as a customer. Sad, if this is the new Honda, I will be sure to inform everyone I talk to about the decline in Honda quality and customer service that I experienced.
Transmission failed on highway, was able to drive at 50 mph at 5000 engine RPM. Slow to engage into drive from stop. Next day, would not engage R or D. Honda offered only $1300 goodwill on a $5K+ bill for reman transmission. Always performed a transmission fluid drain and refill every 10K miles since 60000 miles on the odometer w/Honda oem atf-Z1 purchased from dealer. Filled up to the circle on the dipstick between the handle and last circle; poured new atf-Z1 through the dip stick hole. Had to bite on a $2500 rebuilt repair bill from an indy shop.
I was driving the highway and merging on an uphill ramp, the transmission raced and the car lost speed. About 20 miles later, I could feel something wrong with maintaining my speed and there was hesitation. Another 20 miles later, I lost all forward movement in drive and left the highway. I was able to go another few miles on a side street in 2nd gear and then the car stalled in the middle of the street. The transmission is completely lost.
At 57 to 60 mph, when accelerating the whole car shudders. Was told the front axles needed to be replaced. I did some research and found this is a very common problem with Honda Accord from 1997 to 2005. One piece of anecdotal evidence from a Honda repair technician was that he saw this problem at least once a day. This has to be a produce defect for this to happen so frequently. I am not sure of the ramifications of this problem on vehicle safety if left unrepaired but I have to imagine any problem with an axle could be potentially serious and/or life threatening.
- Ashburn, VA, USA
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While driving low speed 20 to 40 mph car started jerking bucking pulled over to store parking lot waited 10 minutes scared to drive 10 min to home but made it. Attempt to drive vehicle next day after driving start jerking transmission slipping pulled over again. Try to move vehicle again cars would not move. Contact american Honda informed transmission failed was informed my vehicle id was not on the 2004 Accord transmission recall list. Ask for good faith repair refused.
Transmission has been accelerating very fast overheating, slipping, it appears the transmission fluid have been leaking however I took it in for service about a month ago and everything was fine. My dealership from February 13, 2012 September 28, 2012 commonwealth Honda has been claiming there is nothing wrong with this transmission the suspension or the timing belt. They performed service and all of them they claim everything is fine. Now less than 30 days later my transmission is broken. A vehicle with just got problems should not continue to be resold.
My car started bucking about two weeks after I had it inspected in July. Also the drive light was blinking and the check maintenance light came on. At one point I was alone and far from home and the car would not go into reverse. I contacted a mechanic I know well who told me there was a safety issue and that I should try to drive the car to the transmission place he recommended. For several miles the car bucked and I wasn't sure whether I would get there or not, but I did. Very scary. Not sure this sure happen with a car that only has 76,500 miles on it and I am the only owner.
I was traveling on the interstate and was gradually having problems with my Accord V6 engine shifting into third gear. Rpms would go up, but no additional power. Finally transmission totally failed. Honda reported to me that the error code indicated an internal transmission failure and I needed a new transmission. They only gave me $1300 towards the $4400 cost of the transmission. They had no response to my comment that I noted other failures of the transmission posted in this database and elsewhere on the web.
The vehicle stopped dead for me on a road. Fortunately I was not on a highway (I was on a 30-mile/hour road) because I probably would have been rear-ended and I would have been dead or, worse, caused someone else to be injured. I called the towing service and they said it was the transmission. The car at present is worthless. I never received a recall notice form Honda. I can only guess that I had moved from the date of purchase. However, my local Honda dealership in syracuse, NY never (over 8 years of service at the same dealership) notified me of a potential issue or recall on this transmission. This is a serious problem since the car just stalled on the road and died. Very disappointed with Honda and their lack of notifying owners of the potential serious problem.
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. The contact was driving 20 mph when the transmission failed without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection where they advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 04V176000, (power train:automatic transmission). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified but did not respond. The failure mileage was 48,406.
I did the routine maintenance on my Honda Accord. I have followed all of the specifications regarding oil changes, maintenance on the transmission, timing belt replacement, etc. Unfortunately, even with the routine maintenance performed on this car, my transmission failed on a road trip on July 7, 2012. I was driving on the interstate going 75 miles per hour when my Honda Accord would not accelerate anymore. Thankfully, I was able to safely pull across three lanes of traffic in order to get to the shoulder. Unfortunately, that is when I discovered that my transmission failed and I had to take it to the nearest garage.
Feb. 2007, approximately 60,000 miles on the vehicle, while driving on freeway middle lane, engine started racing, lost acceleration. Was fortunate to get to the shoulder without causing an accident. Through an extended warranty which I paid for, got a new transmission installed by Honda. Since I had not used the warranty before, the premium on the warranty would have been reimbursed to me had the transmission not had to be replaced. After 70,000 miles on the second transmission, the same exact incident occurred again on July 6th 2012. I contacted Honda and was told that there has not been a high amount of complaints with 2004 Accord transmissions. Honda also claims that there have not been any recalls or extended factory warranties. I have documentation that both transmissions have been maintained to Honda specifications. Vehicle is currently having a third transmission installed.
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle began to decelerate and the engine began to race. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostics. The technician advised the contact that the transmission would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Approximately four years later, failure recurred. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 04V176000 (power train:automatic transmission) but was advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000. Updated 08/01/12 the consumer stated he/she was told the initial repair to the transmission was sub par. Updated 08/02/2012
On June 9, 2012 my nightmare returned and again it was my transmission. I was driving on a major intersection in queens, NY when I felt a change in the speed of the car and the loss of power (car not moving). By the grace of god I was able to put the car in reverse to navigate it closer to a safer spot. I later had my car towed to a mechanic to diagnosis the problem and was informed that it was the transmission. Again, this was an unexpected expense that should not have been.
Started with high pitch whine, then it took a few seconds to go into gear, then sputtering and ultimately it would stop accelerating while I was driving.
While driving on the highway our Honda Accord automatic transmission lost power and acted like it went into neutral. Luckily we were able to limp to the garage as it was an intermittent problem. My concern is that this could have caused an accident if this had happened on a busy highway or we were in a position which you could not pull over to a safe location. Complete loss of power due to a defect in the trans is a problem I have never experienced and feel the transmission should not fail in this way. I believe it is a design flaw. I hope no one is injured with these failing transmission as this is a common problem for this model if you do an internet search.
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. The contact stated while going 40 mph, the transmission failed. The contact stated the vehicle was jerking forward and she pulled the vehicle over and noticed that the vehicle did not have any transmission fluid. The contact added transmission fluid in the vehicle and vehicle functioned normally, but the failure later recurred. The transmission failed completely and the contact had to get the vehicle towed to her home. The contact notified the manufacturer and they informed her that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 105000.
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. The contact was driving 10 mph when the transmission failed while attempting to accelerate. There was an increase in engine rpms, but the vehicle was extremely slow to respond before failing again. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the transmission needed a complete rebuild. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were notified and informed the contact that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure mileage was 138,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- North Little Rock, AR, USA