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:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,425 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.

2004 Honda Accord seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2004 Honda Accord Owner Comments

problem #4

Feb 062007

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

- the contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. The contact drove to the dealership to have the seat belt repaired, a distance of 10 miles after being told that the dealer had the part, when he arrived he was told that they did not have the part. The contact was angry that he wasted his time. The current and failure mileage were both 25000.

- Westcolesville, PA, USA

problem #3

Nov 232005

Accord 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
I was entering the intersection of gibbon street and South Washington street in old town alexandria, Virginia when I saw a taxi blow through a red light on South Washington street (I was on gibbon street). The point of impact was the front driver's side of my 2004 Honda Accord and the front passenger side of the taxi. We slid across the intersection together as my airbags deployed. When we came to a stop I realized that my seat belt, along with my passenger's seat belt, was still buckled, however the belt was completely unraveled. There were no serious injuries to myself or my passenger, but I did receive a partial tear of the tendons in my left thumb and burns on the top of my right hand from the airbag deploying. As of now, there have not been any repairs to the car as I am waiting for both insurance companies to make a decision on what to do as far as fixing it or claiming it a total loss. It is suspected that a new steering wheel, a new dashboard, new airbags, computer calibration and a new front end are needed, not to mention new seat belts.

- Springfield, VA, USA

problem #2

Aug 122005

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 17,900 miles
Driver seat belt did not restrain driver. Driver received injury from hitting steering wheel.

- South Windsor, CT, USA

problem #1

Mar 032004

Accord 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,800 miles
My daughter was in an accident on 3/3/05 with her 2004 2 door Honda Accord. She was traveling 40 mph and hit a vehicle turning across traffic head on. Not only did her air bags not deploy, her seat belt did not hold her back either. I tried contacting Honda, and their answer was they will refer it to legal department. I want to know my daughter is going to be safe driving a brand new car and they don't even want to send anyone to look at it.

- Macedonia, OH, USA

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