72 complaints reported

2004 Honda Accord Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
72
Crashes
1
Fires
4
Injuries
2

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2025

My car is beinbtg locked remotely. I do not have a working key fob so it is not anything I am doing. I am having difficulty opening the lock ad well on my car doors. This is very recent

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2025
Mar 2025

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2004 Honda Accord. The contact stated that upon retrieving the vehicle Carfax history report, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 156,100; however, the Carfax history report indicated that the mileage was 278,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2025
Nov 2024

The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it was difficult to place the key into the ignition, and it was also difficult to remove the key from the ignition. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2024
May 2023

The honda accord 2004 and close models have an issue with gps control screen that fails to turn on, it keeps getting stocked in one position on which prevents access to air controls as well as gps controls but more important air controls to defog front windshield when in cold weather as driving creating a hazardous condition for the drivers as a potential for accident as the driver attempt to clean windshield but air controls are not accessible on screen, it also controls the radio and maps that are not as important as the air control. Please note that the issue is been present for many years on cars and Honda have not provided a solution just yet as is not a warranty issue instead it will be considered a manufacturers defect that was carried by car owner for the rest of the car life and the challenges presented during the driving on the road unable to access those controls. There are many people complaining about the same issue on these models and have been but a repair have not been offered that I'm aware of it. Once again is not an owners problem or anything that is been caused by car owners instead the part became a defective product. My complain is not about receiving a free product instead receiving assistance on asking the manufacturers to respond to a deflective product provided to consumers and assist with repair and provide parts needed if necessary to correct problem rather that directing consumer to purchase new product that will cost thousands of dollars and not been a consumers fault. Thank you for your assistance.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2023
Aug 2021

Please note that my 2004 honda accord ex is been having issues with navigation system turning off by itself as we are driving, we purchased the last update cd orange 2014 and caused the car to do that. the screen goes blanc and controls air system as well as radio and navigation operations, honda was contacted in the past and technician stated to wait for honda for a possible repair or update for software that they were looking for a solution but it has not happened. the air control is an important issue since the car will fog out windows as driving in cold weather and been unable to defog due to lack of access to screen controls is dangerous. To better explain the clock display time can not be changed either and it was explained to me to be controlled by gps system but since software is not recognized or updated those issues can not be corrected. Please assist with these issues with gps-navigation system, it is an issue with software honda related as I have been explained but can not be corrected with out further assistance from honda. Thank you

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2021
May 2019

CAR WOULD NOT ALWAYS START WHEN TURNING THE KEY. SOMETIMES IS WOULD START IMMEDIATELY AND OTHER TIMES I WOULD HAVE TO KEEP TURNING THE KEY AND EVENTUALLY IT WOULD START. A FEW TIMES IT TOOK ME OVER 1/2 HOUR TO GET THE CAR STARTED. BATTERY WAS LESS THAT A YEAR OLD. HAD THE BATTERY CHECKED AND IT WAS OK. HAD TO TAKE CAR TO GARAGE AND HAVE THE STARTER REPLACED. I TRIED FINDING MORE INFORMATION ON LINE AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THE HONDA ACCORD. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT. I SHOULD NOT OF HAD TO REPLACE THE STARTER. I HAD TO PAY $390.91 TO REPLACE THE STARTER.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2019
Sep 2017 Fire

RADIO DOES NOT PLAY AUDIO, RANDOMLY BLASTS STATIC AT VERY LOUD LEVEL, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE STARTLED. NO FUNCTIONS OF RADIO WORK.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2015
Jan 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION. AS A RESULT, ALL THE METERS AND GAUGES DISPLAYED INCORRECT READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2014
Dec 2015

I GOT BACK IN MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT AT WAL-MART AND THE CENTER CONSOLE DISPLAY IS NO LONGER LIGHTED. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF THE WINDOWS FOG UP AND IT IS DARK, YOU CANNOT SEE THE BUTTONS. THE CENTER OF THE CAR THAT SHOULD BE LIGHTED IS COMPLETELY DARK. HONDA DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR WANTS TO CHARGE $115.00 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. I READ WHERE THE WARRANTY FOR THIS WAS EXTENDED TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. MY CAR SHOULD BE COVERED, BUT THE HONDA DEALER SAYS NO. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Dec 2014
Jun 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2015
Apr 2015

THIS REPORTED ISSUE IS NOT SPECIFIC TO MY 2004 HONDA ACCORD, BUT APPLIES TO MANY VEHICLES. ON ALMOST A WEEKLY BASIS, I SEE PEOPLE DRIVING THEIR CARS AT NIGHT ON FREEWAYS AND CITY STREETS WITHOUT THEIR LIGHTS ON, POSING A DANGER TO OTHER MOTORISTS WHO MIGHT NOT SEE THEM. I BELIEVE THE CAUSE OF THIS CAN BE SOLVED SIMPLY: CHANGE THE LIGHT SWITCH TO NOT ILLUMINATE THE DASHBOARD UNLESS THE LIGHTS ARE ON. MY CAR ALWAYS HAS ITS DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE LIGHTS ARE ON OR NOT. THERE IS A SMALL "IDIOT LIGHT" OF A GREEN HEADLIGHT WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON, BUT IT HARDLY NOTICEABLE. IF INSTEAD THE CAR'S DASHBOARD WOULD BE DARK WHEN THE LIGHTS AREN'T ON (LIKE IN 25+ YEAR-OLD CARS), I BELIEVE MOST DRIVERS WOULD BE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO FORGET TO TURN THEIR LIGHTS ON -- DO YOU AGREE? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2015
Apr 2015

BATTERY LIGHT CONTINUALLY FLICKERS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE BATTERY LIGHT FLICKERS, MY HEADLIGHTS GET VERY DIM, MY A/C FANS FLUCTUATE IN SPEED, AND MY AFTERMARKET STEREO AMPLIFIERS (2) CUT OUT. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE WHERE THEY TESTED THE BATTERY, STARTER, AND ALTERNATOR. BATTERY HAD A DEAD CELL BUT WAS STILL HOLDING A CHARGE. STARTER AND ALTERNATOR TESTED OK. I BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY ON THE SPOT. THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO GET CHECKED AT MULTIPLE AUTO PARTS STORES AND THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP. NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG. EVERY DAY SEEMS TO GET A LITTLE WORSE. IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE BATTERY LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND THE CAR LOSES POWER INTERMITTENTLY ALONG WITH ALL OF THE OTHER SYMPTOMS I HAVE ALREADY LISTED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2015
Feb 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CIRCUIT BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2015
Jul 2014

MY VEHICLE ALLOWS ME TO REMOVE THE KEY WITH IT NOT IN PARK. I KNOW THAT THIS WAS A RECALL ON 2003 HONDA ACCORDS BUT NOT 2004. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CAN HAPPEN. IT WILL COST ME UPWARDS OF $700 TO FIX A DEFECT. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS BEHAVIOR SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK IN 2011. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2011
Jul 2014

THE DISPLAY FOR THE CLIMATE CONTROL AND RADIO LIGHT WENT OUT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING AS FAR AS DEFROST AND HEAT EXT.. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM, AND OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS NEEDS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS REASON. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2014
Jun 2013

I STARTED UP MY CAR AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS IN NORMAL CONDITIONS AND THE LCD DISPLAY FOR THE RADIO/CLOCK/AC/HEAT/VENTS ETC DID NOT LIGHT UP. I'VE HAD IT CHECKED AND THE ONLY SOLUTION IS AN EXPENSIVE ONE. ONE REPAIR PLACE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO A LOT OF HONDA'S LATELY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2013
Apr 2013

LIGHT FOR INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY QUIT WORKING, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ CLIMATE CONTROLS, DEFROSTS, RADIO ETC. THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN NEEDING TO CONTROL THESE FUNCTIONS WHILE DRIVING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2012
Feb 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD ILLUMINATE AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2011
Jan 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. ALL OF THE GAUGES WERE OPERABLE BUT THE LIGHTING WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2012
Oct 2012

THE LCD RADIO DISPLAY WENT DARK. EVERYTHING WORKS BUT NO DASHBOARD INFORMATION. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM AND HONDA ISSUED A WARRANTY EXTENSION. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2012
Oct 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE RADIO WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIO WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2012
Aug 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING PANEL WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000. UPDATED 4/2/12 *CN

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2012
Jul 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DURING THE EVENING, HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL. THE CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL FAILED WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER OR REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 170,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2012
Jul 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE INOPERATIVE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW FAR THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AND HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2010
Jun 2012

THE DISPLAY FOR THE RADIO/AC IS VERY DIM. THE RADIO STILL WORKS BUT YOU CAN'T SEE THE DISPLAY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. HONDA NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL AND FIX THIS ON ALL ACCORDS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA ACCORD, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2012

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2004 Honda Accord has 72 Electrical System complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.