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:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,359 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.
Urgent - safety issues recently my air bag light indicator came on when I started the engine and it will stay on until I turn off the engine. This seem to be happen more frequently but it does not happen all the time. Further search on the web this seem to be a common problems for 2004 Honda Accord, below are steps that I had tried. 1/ if the light came on when the engine start, turn off the engine and start again sometimes the light goes off sometimes it does not. 2/ if the light came on when the engine start, turn off the engine then buckle the seatbelt and start, this seem to turn off the airbag light. 3/ with the engine running while in part, un-buckle the seatbelt sometimes the airbag light come on but not the seatbelt light. Other time seatbelt light on and airbag light off ( I think this is how it should be) searching through NHTSA website I found one really that might related to this on 2007 (NHTSA campaign # 07V001000) airbag frontal sensor/control module but did not receive any recall. Please help to look into this as the airbag might not work when there is an accident.
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!!!!!!!!!
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. The contact stated the drivers seat belt does not secure her correctly and the seat belt warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test that located the failure in the drivers seat position sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure miles was 71, 800.
My 2004 Honda Accord ex started illuminating the air bag on the instrument panel. Honda replaced the left front seat belt buckle set NH361 [part # 04816-sda-A72zb] and the SRS code 61010 cleared. The seat belts were covered by a lifetime warranty.
2004 Honda Accord. The SRS warning light was coming on intermittently. When it came on, if I restarted car it usually disappeared. It started happening more frequently. I took it into Honda, they diagnosed it as code 61-10 left front buckle failure and replaced it under lifetime warranty.
- Greenbelt, MD, USA
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2004 Honda Accord has an intermittent problem with the drivers seat belt. A contact in the seat belt latch is causing the air bag system to malfunction. My local Honda dealership stated that the air bag will not function with this problem. An internet search shows many Honda"S with the same problem. This problem in the seat belt disables the air bag and also disables the seat belt warning light which warns the driver if the seat belt is not latched. The Honda warranty states that ??any Honda seat belt component that fails to function properly during normal use" is covered by a lifetime warranty. However, Honda is refusing to replace the seat belt latch under warranty.
Red air bag light went on in Aug of 2007, took to dealer was told the battery was bad and replaced it. I had a new battery put im the previous year (2006-July. I was then told that the SRS unit could be bad, but was not replaced. The light was then turned off. In Aug of 2008 the light turned on again, I was told the SRS unit was bad again and this would cost $500 dollars to fix, it was no longer under warranty. I am feeling taken advantage of the situation. It is now July of 2009 and the light is on again. It seems just as soon as it gets hot the light goes on. I feel this is a safety hazard and that I should not be responsible for it. Could you please help me with this problem.
I have complained to Honda about my transmission slipping, almost stalling out and then taking a huge jerk...it normally happens when letting up off my gas...this has been ongoing for almost 2 years; last night I had the ride of my life in only a matter of seconds! I was stopping by the bank to get cash from the atm; as I let up off my gas, the car did a hard jerk and jumped the sidewalk hitting the corner of the bank. I'm so glad no one was using the atm at this time. My airbag never deployed and my seat belt released for me to get out but now it is jammed and will not pull out enough for me to wear it! with all the complaints I've found that are very similar to mine going back as early as 2003, I really feel that Honda should take these complaints more serious and that they should be held responsible for repairing the issue and any damages incurred due to the issue. I am a nervous wreck and I hope no one will experience what I just went through. There should be a thorough investigation requiring Honda to fix this problem.
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. While pulling into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and jumped over two curbs and a bush. The vehicle finally came to a stop when it crashed into a parked vehicle. The contact had her foot on the brake pedal during the acceleration. The air bags failed to deploy. The occupant seated in the passenger seat sustained lower back injuries because the seat belt failed to restrain the passenger and the contact. The vehicle is currently being repaired at a body shop and will be taken to the Honda dealer to be diagnosed. Police report number 07171505 was filed with the cochie county sheriff's department. The speed was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 39,000. The consumer stated the air bag light had illuminated, however there was no air bag deployment. Updated 10/10/07.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Grand Prairie, TX, USA