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.
6.7
fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
144,050 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (2 reports)
changing out passenger side seat belt buckle (1 reports)
Just like many other 2004 Honda Accord owners; this issue of airbag light intermittently coming on and off should be a recall!!!! I failed my state inspection because of this light all of a sudden popping up during my inspection. After researching, & talking with a mechanic - 99% likely it just needs the passenger side seat belt buckle to be replaced.
So the fact that this default can cause major anxiety; makes one scared that the airbag is faulty. But Honda will not even diagnose it first to really see if true or just faulty seat belt sensor inside buckle without forking out $300. Went to Autozone who did free OBD2 scan and gave me code to take to a mechanic. Now I have only 14 days to get this fixed and pass my inspection! I am highly annoyed with Honda. NHTSA really needs to look into this and get Honda to recall all seat belt buckles on ALL its Honda Accords so people have peace of mind that the airbag will do its job if needed.
well! the scary thing is the car had been recalled and fixed by Honda Dealer but the problem is still there. The Airbag light it is not staying on, but on and off intermittently.
- orafup,
Santa Fe Springs, CA, US
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Just like many other 2004 Honda Accord owners; this issue of airbag light intermittently coming on and off should be a recall!!!! I failed my state inspection because of this light all of a sudden popping up during my inspection. After researching, & talking with a mechanic - 99% likely it just needs the passenger side seat belt buckle to be replaced.
So the fact that this default can cause major anxiety; makes one scared that the airbag is faulty. But Honda will not even diagnose it first to really see if true or just faulty seat belt sensor inside buckle without forking out $300. Went to Autozone who did free OBD2 scan and gave me code to take to a mechanic. Now I have only 14 days to get this fixed and pass my inspection! I am highly annoyed with Honda. NHTSA really needs to look into this and get Honda to recall all seat belt buckles on ALL its Honda Accords so people have peace of mind that the airbag will do its job if needed.
- Amita P., Clifton, VA, US