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.
7.0
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
111,250 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (4 reports)
according to honda a new transmission go figure (1 reports)
Honda Accord is falling by the waist side. The 2004 Accord is nothing but a headache. When you pull into a repair shop all they see is dollars. Honda need to stand behind what they are making. Congress should step in and do something, beside drinking fine wine.
I have a 2004 Accord EX-L V6. I began hearing a strange noise from the transmission with a loss of motive power at speeds between 25 to 45 mph.. My Honda dealer said it had an internal fault and would replace transmission for $3800. I had a transmission repair shop repair transmission for $2900. The torque converter was replaced. Car had 97K miles. I am a three time Honda owner. This will be my last Honda as I have lost confidence that Honda means reliability.
When driving on a flat road at around 60km/hr, the transmission/torque converter vibrates horribly and fills the cabin with a low-pitched rumble. Car originally had the "shuddering" problem but this was fixed when the dealer flushed and replaced the transmission fluid, however this problem still remains.
When contacting the dealer for the second time about this, they told me that as the car is "too-old" they can't do anything on my behalf. They know all too well about this issue - just look at the amount of transmission complains on this page!
Honda needs to get their act together and issue torque converter replacements for those affected as this is clearly a blatantly obvious issue amongst many auto Honda owners!
I PURCHASED THE CAR IN DECEMBER. Shortly after the maint light came on. I informed the dealer (Dules) the maint person (Mike)informed me that nothing was wrong that the fluid had been changed and possibly someone forgot to reset the maint button (RIGHT?)I took it to another dealer and low and behold...needed the transmission fluid changed.I took it back to Dules Honda without explaining that the problem had been discussed already and now the transmission fluid needed changing. My complaint isn't really with the car but the service. It took me until June to get my tags and I still have only one tag and in DC we are required to have two. My tires are worn..I should have new ones also. I contacted the regional managers by email and they haven't even bothered to respond
- TONI B.,
Washington, DC, US
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WELL AFTER SEEING OTHER REPORTS ABOUT HONDA ACCORDS ESPECIALLY THE 2004 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD OF RECALLED BY NOW HOWEVER I GUESS THEY SEEM TO NOT REALLY CARE. I HAVE OWNED HONDAS FOR 25 YRS NOW AND FIRST SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE REALLY LET ME DOWN. TOOK DEALERSHIP 3 MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM, I GUESS SO IT WOULD DO MORE DAMAGE FOR MORE REPAIR BILLS. I HAVE A 1995 HONDA CIVIC BOUGHT USED IT NOW HAS 180000 MILES ON IT WITH NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, NOW I HAVE A 2004 HONDA ACCORD WITH A BUMM TRANSMISSION. WISH I MADE LAST PAYMENT ON AND 2 DAYS LATER WAS TOLD I HAD A BAD TRANSMISSION, GO FIGURE SOUNDS FISHY HUH. SO WITH ALL THIS SAID AND AS MANY COMPLAINTS AS I SEE ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS YOU WOULD THINK HONDA WOULD DO SOMETHING, AND YES THEY DID THEY GAVE ME A 25% DISCOUNT ON ANOTHER TRANSMISSION THAT SHOULD OF NEVER BEEN BAD IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY REALLY WANT YOU TO CARRY YOUR CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AND WE RELIGIOUSLY DO ALL SERVICES AND ANY KIND OF PROBLEMS. SO HOW DOES A BAD TRANSMISSION GO UNNOTICED WE HAD TO POINT OUT THE SOUND AT FIRST THEY SAID IT WAS JUST THE TIRES MAYBE, WHAT A SURPRISE 3 MONTHS LATER WHEN THEY FINALLY SAID BAD TRANSMISSION NOT A VERY GOOD SERVICE CENTER. LUMBERTON HONDA IS WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND THANKS TO THEM I GUESS OUR NEXT VEHICLE WILL NOT BE PURCHASED THERE, AND WE PLAN ON NEVER BUYING ANOTHER HONDA!!!!!!!! AND IM REALLY PUSHING THIS WITH ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO AVOID ANY KIND OF HONDA OR BUY FROM LUMBERTON HONDA!!!!!! WITH A EXTREMELY WEAK ECONOMY I WOULD THINK CUSTOMER SERVICE SHOULD BE TOP PRIORITY ENDING IM VERY UPSET NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE PRICE TO REPAIR BUT FOR THE RUN AROUND FROM HONDA AND THE DEALERSHIP!!!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Honda Accord is falling by the waist side. The 2004 Accord is nothing but a headache. When you pull into a repair shop all they see is dollars. Honda need to stand behind what they are making. Congress should step in and do something, beside drinking fine wine.
- Curtis W., Birmingham, AL, US