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.
1.6
hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
102,825 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 SRS light of my car come on and goes off all the time. Sometimes when I am driving, suddenly will turn on for a while. I usually pull over and turn off the engineer and turn it on back and wait a few. This happens constantly, and I have read the manual, this has to do with the front air bags, and according to the manual book can be 'an alert to a potential airbags, side curtain airbags, front seat belt tensioners or the driver's seat position sensor and the front passenger's weight sensors' we have check it all the time and it just goes on all the time as it comes off all the time. I have gotten to a point that concerns me a lot.
This vehicle and model has had 2 recalls regarding aftermarket parts in steering wheels, holes in leaking hoses and valves and fire hazardous. The second one is regarding low beam lights and very poor visibility, increasing probabilities of a crash. I have called american Honda to honor the repairs of this 2 recalls and they do not want to do it, because the car is already 14 years old. So I am driving a faulty vehicle, and to make matters worse I am already disable from 2 car accidents (as a passenger) one of the recalls, the steering wheel, was already taken care of in the past, but it still persist now as I bought it. 2 leaking steering wheel hoses. And the head lights haven't been done ever! my car has already been diagnosed by a Honda dealer specialist and american Honda does not want to assume the repairs of these 2 recalls. American Honda does not make themselves responsible for their own faulty vehicles, passed a certain time! where are my rights"????"
Heads lights dim as I drive in city streets. Honda has a service bulletin on this but never did a recall on Honda 2003 to 2005. The eld has a faulty solder joint. This is what the Honda factory service bulletin states. This is very dangerous at night. Part is over $550 plus labor.
The panel lights on the radio has went out. I can't recall if it happened while I was driving or not, but I noticed it while driving. In the 2004 Honda Accord, the ac, radio, & clock share the same display. It was raining the other night while I was driving and my windows fogged up. It was impossible to find the defrost button at night since all the display lights stop working. This is a big safety issue and hopefully Honda will step up to the plate and fix this issue to ensure their customers are safe while driving their vehicles.
The headlights flicker between normal output and dim output making it very difficult to verify if the headlights are even operational at times much less see in front of you while driving. It looks as if the headlights are rapidly turning off and on. This has been happening since the car was brand new but every time it's taken to a Honda dealership, they don't know what the issue is. I have paid hundreds and hundreds of dollars repairing random things Honda "thinks" might fix the problem but it's still a major issue that affects safety of the Honda driver, passengers and other drivers on the road.
- Goodlettsville, TN, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
The unit lights behind the radio knobs, A/C functions etc. Has gone out. It is a consistent issure with these Honda's. Honda is requiring almost a $1000 to fix. Read the customers reviews online..its a common issue.
The display where the heater and radio is does not light up, we just purchased this veh 2/12/15... I tried to drive it last night and it's a safety issue after dark, U can't see to turn knobs/buttons or any thing to do w/the heater....U have to turn overhead done lights on to see the buttons, it's very dangerous.
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the low beam, high beam and fog lights became dim. The failure was recurring and the instrument panel and radio lighting would also sporadically fail. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop where it was indicated that the eld device in the fuse box needed to be replaced. The vehicle was also taken to an authorized dealer, who diagnosed that the fuse box needed to be replaced. The vehicle was to be inspected and repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40000.
Car just shut off when I stepped on the brake. Had to restart the car and it ran fine until I hit the brakes again. Now it shuts off or stalls whenever I use the brakes, turn signals, head lights, and high beam lights. Check engine light will flash rapidly and go out sometimes.
Low beam headlights wont work, systemic problem with Honda Motors 2003-2004 product line, many Pilot and civics recalled but not Accord. Must use same parts and engineering.
Light display went out that controls radio and HVAC components 2 years ago. Dark at night when driving and when the windows get fogged up you can not see the switch to turn on defrost because the printed circuit board has stopped working, so it requires you to turn on interior light to find the defrost button, this is very dangerous while driving at night. After researching last night I found Honda extended the warranty on this until 2011 or 100,000. So I called Honda and I was told I'm past the warranty it's whichever comes first (I never received a letter from Honda or it would have went in to get fixed) this in my opinion should be covered by the dealer as it could cause a fatality with someone fumbling with the interior lights just to get the defrost buttons on.
I was driving on the freeway with rain, and the whole front panel (where the stereo, A/C, emergency light, went off. As I was tryng to find the emergency light( cause I was going slow in the rain and fix the temp. To clear de window I almost crash with another car. This shoul be taken more serious. I called and Honda said I was out of warranty. Ive been going to the dealer and they want me to pay almost a $1000, I called Honda customer service and they insist I ve benn out of warranty.this afect the concentration and visibility on the car.I've been reading and its a common problem on this model.
Major electrical problems began about 2 years ago. Radio display won't light, but radio/cd still plays; air conditioner cools intermittently, though compressor is working and freon is adequate; tail lights sometimes work, sometimes don't; ignition switch makes a noise as though the engine was already started when I turned the key, even though it wasn't - eventually the ignition switch had to be replaced (problem still occurs from time to time); brake calipers have always pulsed no matter how slow I come to a stop; and airbag light comes on for no apparent reason as there is not hindrance to the sensor switch mechanism below the seats.
My radio and A/C display went out. I have to turn on my interior lights at night to adjust the temperature in my car. It is extremely dangerous if my windows get foggy and I cannot fix it without pulling off of the road. This car needs to be recalled. I should not have to pay $1000 for a problem that all of these models are having.
I have no lights in the top of the car; A/C lights nor A/C work and the door lights. I feel very unsafe not being able to see when I get in or out of my vehicle. The seat belt tightens up whether brakes are applied or not. Not having any dash lights are essential to the safety of any vehicle. Want assist!!!!!!!!!
Radio display lights are out. The panel is completely dark. The A/C-heat controls, clock, radio are all displayed on this panel. This will not let me leave the failed components in the box and won't send the message....
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Worcester, MA, USA