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.
My mother had an 03 Honda Accord V6 that was awesome except for the fact that you had to add roughly 2 courts of oil in it a week. It was not leaking oil it was burning it. Local garages did not have a solution to the issue. The issue never got fixed.
Later on, I bought a 04 Honda Accord 4-cylinder and the same exact problem occurred. Have to add at least 1 court of oil in every week.
In 2014 I noticed that my 2004 Honda Accord started using oil more and more frequently. It's now to the point where I have to put in at least 1 quart a week. This is ridiculous.
My Honda Accord 2004 which has 125,000 miles on it now, burns excessive oil. I have to refill about 2 quarts every 1,000 miles. Seeing this from last 6 months or so as the check engine light turns on. Bought brand new and regular oil changes for every 3,000 miles and car runs smooth. Called American Honda and they have no record of any recalls or documented issues for this problem. Asked to take it to a dealership for Oil Consumption Test to figure out the problem.
Did anyone have this issue and what is the fix?
- Sreenivas K.,
Monmouth Jct, NJ, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Every time I took my car in to get an oil change independent from a Honda Dealership, the mechanic(s) would state that my oil was significantly low and dirty. When I would start my car in the morning, I heard an extra sound, which was an indication to myself to add oil to my car; when I added oil to my car, the sound would go away. So, in between oil changes when my car would read that I had 60% oil supply still left, I (or my boyfriend) had to add a quart of oil to the engine. So, I go to Honda Dealership in Lexington, KY to have the software update (the update " to improve fuel injector and VTC timing' that may contribute to increased oil consumption per letter in mail) done in 3/06/2013. I assume everything has been fixed. In May, I stopped in at a local auto repair place to have brakes checked; they just happened to check my other fluids in car....Guess what?? Yes, my oil was significant low so they just topped it off, adding 2 quarts of oil. On 6/25/13 I got new tires and oil change (from S & S Tire) and staff stated my oil was significantly low and dirty. Does anyone else notice a trend here??? I mean, I'm no rocket scientist or mechanic. So, when I go to Richmond Honda dealership in Richmond, KY due to my check engine light being on, I also expressed concern about having to add oil to my car in between oil changes. The service lady acted as if I was crazy and stated she had not had any other complaints of this. The dealership stated my catalytic converter needs to be replaced ($590.00) and made the other following recommendations per on paper: change my spark plugs ($189.00; just had this done 20,000 miles earlier on 3/6/13), valve adjustment ($295.00; just had this done 20,000 miles earlier on 3/6/13 ), coolant service ($64.95; just had this done 20,000 miles earlier on 3/6/13), brake fluid service( $63.00; just had this done 20,000 miles earlier on 3/6/13), and an oil consumption test to see if further repairs are needed. When the service lady (Tammy) reported to me about the catalytic converter, I asked her about the oil consumption. Tammy stated that the mechanic did not even say anything about my oil; I request her to tell mechanic to check my oil even though my car reports that I have 70% oil supply left before I have an oil change due. Tammy comes back and tells me that my car is 1 and 1/2 quarts low of oil (however on the paper it states I am 1/2 quart oil low); she proceeds to say that it is low because according to the sticker in my car window from my last service I only have 400 miles left before I need an oil change....I did not get an answer as to why my car is reading that I have 70% oil supply left and the discrepancy of being a quart and a half low on the dipstick. I will be having my car looked at tomorrow morning, from a reputable auto repair---NOT HONDA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT- to get a 2nd opinion and more thorough look into my oil consumption problem. I am unsure as to why the owners of the 2008 Honda Accords with 4 cylinder engine were included in the recall software update 'to improve fuel injector and VTC timing' that may contribute to increased oil consumption' along with the other models, but were not included in the class action lawsuit when the same problem exists in the 4 cylinder car. Any thoughts???????
This is a single owner auto purchased new from dealer with all dealer servicing completed as scheduled. The engine oil light came-on within 5000 mile from last servicing; oil level not detected and required 3+ quarts oil. No prior problems for the first 105,000 miles. Excessive oil consumption appears to be a problem for this engine model per web postings. Will bring to dealer ASAP to determine cause.
We have a 2004 honda accord ex. We bought it brand new. This would be our 4th honda. We have never had problems with honda in the past. This year we took our honda to an "un-named" lube place that charges $29 to change your oil and filters etc.. We had that done, then about 30 days later the oil light came on. We took it to our local honda dealership. they said there was no oil. They put oil in the engine. Then about 3-4 months later, same thing, oil light comes on. We take it back to the honda dealer. They cant tell us why it went through oil. Maybe the oil plug was loose. Finally our mileage shows we need a tune up and oil change again. So we take it back and have that done. Again, 30 days later the oil and now the engine light come on. I call the honda dealership he says bring it in right away. They check the oil and they say its fine there is oil so maybe the light didn't get reset. They shut off the light. I drive it again another 3-4 months and the light comes on again. Again, no oil..... We have been dealing with this problem for over a year and not one Honda dealership mechanic can tell me why this is happening. We just recently took it in for air conditioning service (we had just put oil in the engine a week prior to this appt) and they call me and say that I am completely out of oil!!! I am getting very frustrated because I cant seem to get this problem fixed by anyone and I certainly cant afford to buy a new engine or a new car!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
If a backyard mechanic can figure this out then a trained Honda mechanic should be able to correct this problem. Or have them look it up on Youtube!!
- chemman11, Wilmington, US