Is the 2004 Honda Accord a bad year?
1,018 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 348, 13× a quiet Accord year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2004 Honda Accord were filed between 79k and 123k miles. You're at 100,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 Accord owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 100,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 348 (34%) | 79k–123k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 251 (25%) | 58k–129k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 58 (6%) | 20k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 146 (14%) | 45k–118k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Steering | 66 (6%) | 69k–166k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Engine | 52 (5%) | 66k–121k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Seat belts | 38 (4%) | 44k–130k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 37 (4%) | 44k–130k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 36 (4%) | 69k–118k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seats | 21 (2%) | 44k–125k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 20 (2%) | 5k–107k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Fuel system | 14 (1%) | 45k–134k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 60 (6%) | 9k–39k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 47 (5%) | 38k–95k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 100,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,018 complaints: 90 mention a crash · 14 mention a fire · 66 report an injury · 13 say the car was towed.
5 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While driving my 2004 Honda Accord V6 it just stop driving in the middle of the highway no warning ,putting my life at danger as trucks and trailers were coming at my car I was terrified.
I own a 2004 Honda Accord ex coupe V6 engine...and the transmission has failed at 79,000k miles.
I was driving and all of a sudden the transmission began slipping. Within 2-3 miles the car would not move in any gear.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 100,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 Honda Accord: 22
The rotating portion of the accelerator pedal assembly may bind. If the accelerator pedal binds, the engine may not quickly return to idle after the pedal is no longer pressed, increasing the risk of a crash.
The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode. An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The affected vehicles may have been assembled with an incorrect passenger frontal air bag module that does not comply with the advanced air bag requirements. An air bag module does not meet the advanced air bag requirements can increase the risk of injury or death in the event of a crash.
The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury or death.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
In September 2012, Honda informed the agency that it was including an additional 573,147 vehicles including certain model year 2003 through 2007 Accord V6 vehicles. If this occurs, power steering fluid can leak onto a hot catalytic converter, leading to smoke and possibly an under-hood fire.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Certain maxzone headlight assemblies, depo brand, p/nos. 317-1131L-AS, 317-1131R-AS, 317-1131L-US, and 317-1131R-US, sold for use as aftermarket equipment for the above listed passenger vehicles. During production a slight distortion of the bezel changed the luminous intensity of the turn signal. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Certain tyc headlamp assemblies p/ns 20-6361-00 and 20-6362-00 sold as aftermarket equipment for 2003-2006 Honda Accord passenger vehicles. The photmetric were misaligned which does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. Misalignment of the lights deminishes frontal illumination which could result in a vehicle crash.
On certain vehicles, the seat position sensor (Sps) detects the driver's seating position and adjusts the air bag inflation pressure accordingly. The wiring harness for the sps was attached to the seat frame in the wrong location and may have been over tightened. A failure of the sps causes the air bag system to default to full inflation pressure, regardless of the seat position. Full deployment of the driver's air bag can increase the risk of injury for smaller drivers in a frontal crash.
Certain tradesonic combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash.
Certain alfaotto combination headlamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
Certain eagle eyes and sonar headlights and corner lights sold as aftermarket for use on 1988-2005 Honda civic, 1990-2005 Honda Accord, and 1990-2001 Acura integra passenger vehicles listed above. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
On certain sedans, a tear in the fabric of the driver's front air bag occurred after apparent contact with the inside surface of the air bag cover during deployment. A torn air bag may not offer the same level of protection, in the event of a crash, thereby increasing the risk of injury to the driver.
On some Mini vans, sport utility and passenger vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage. Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 38
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Honda Accord. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The MIL comes on with one of these DTCs: P2646/P2651 (Rocker arm oil pressure switch circuit low voltage)
The rear cylinder head cover gasket leaks oil
During manufacturing, an incorrect airbag was installed that did not meet the advanced airbag specification for the 2004 07 model year
Yesterday, march 28, 2016, american Honda notified NHTSA of a noncompliance recall affecting certain model year 2004-07 Accord vehicles to inspect…
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Frontal driver air bag
Neighbouring years
2003 Accord: 1,985 complaints, consider selling · 2005 Accord: 656 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Honda Accord year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Accord years side by side
Other Honda models: Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Pilot · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2004 Honda Accord a bad year?
1,018 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 348, 13× a quiet Accord year. At 100,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2004 Honda Accord were filed between 79k and 123k miles. You're at 100,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Honda Accord?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (348), air bags (251), speed control (58), electrical system (146), steering (66). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 79k–123k miles.
How many recalls does the 2004 Honda Accord have?
22 recall campaigns list this model year: Speed control (NHTSA 19E068000), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-501), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-499), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-182) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.