2004 Honda Accord: sudden loss of power

Filed Nov 28, 2025 · Transmission · CA

The transmission in my 2004 Honda Accord V6 3.0L is experiencing a serious safety defect. The transmission overheats while driving, begins slipping, and eventually the vehicle will not move at all. When this happens, I lose the ability to accelerate or maintain speed, creating a dangerous situation for me and other drivers. I have to pull over and wait for the transmission to cool before the car will move again. This failure matches the symptoms described in Honda’s prior transmission recall 04V176000 (overheating and gear failure due to lubrication issues). I have contacted Honda about this issue, and they opened Case #16008926, but the problem is ongoing and has not been resolved. The problem is reproducible and happens repeatedly after the transmission warms up. Warning symptoms include overheating and severe slipping before total loss of movement. This is a major safety hazard because the vehicle can suddenly lose power in traffic.

Filed May 15, 2023 · Transmission · SC

One day I was driving on the highway I all of a sudden lost power to acceleration. The rpm went up and I pulled over. Put it back in drive to a lower gear to make it home safe. Never had problems with my car until recently. It seems when I get up over 45mph is when the acceleration gives out.

Filed Oct 15, 2019 · Transmission · 230,000 miles · NE

While our son was driving his 2004 accord the transmission, without warning or any indication, went out and he lost power while going approximately 40mph. It is apparent with extensive research that I have done that transmissions in these vehicles have been a known problem and honda corporate is unwilling to do anything to investigate what caused the issue. The vehicle has had regular maintenance done and all the paperwork for anything major being done. I do not understand how if you maintain a vehicle that something like this can occur without warning or no indications that is was about to go out.

Filed Sep 27, 2016 · Steering · 79,340 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 honda accord. While driving approximately 5 MPH and attempting to make a turn, the steering wheel failed to move and the vehicle lost power without warning. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 79,340. Updated 11/29/16*lj

Filed Nov 4, 2015 · Transmission · 150,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 honda accord. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost power. The contact shifted the vehicle to drive two. The vehicle hesitated momentarily and resumed normal operation. The failure recurred three times. The contact brought the vehicle to an independent mechanic who stated the fluid in the transmission was so burned that it resembled tar. The mechanic recommended flushing the transmission without placing in it a machine to see if the failure would correct itself. The vehicle was repaired, but recurred a day later. The contact was made aware of the federal safety agency campaign number: 04v176000 (power train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but declined to assist since the VIN was excluded from the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Feb 24, 2015 · Steering · 150,000 miles · NC

The power steering hoses developed a leak causing turns to be very difficult. The car is a 4 cylinder. Looked up recalls and it seems like they recalled the hoses for the 6 cylinder and not the 4. Losing power steering in a turn can be pretty dangerous.

Filed Sep 9, 2014 · Transmission · 93,000 miles · WA

Driving on highway at 55mph. Started to pull a slight hill and was preparing to pass a truck. Vehicle rpms went higher but speed continued to drop off. Ended up coming to a complete stop on a bridge with no shoulder. Had to shut the vehicle off and then restart to get it to go again. Went about 14 miles and it did it again. Took it to dealership. Was serviced last week and had transmission fluid changed as a part of recommended maintenance by honda dealership. Car in shop now. The loss of power could have had serious repercussions on our safety.

Filed May 8, 2014 · Transmission · 10,200 miles · OH

I was driving the car on the I-15 approaching victorville, ca. The car suddenly lost all power and I had to pull to the side of the road to prevent getting hit from behind. The car stalled once I got it stopped and the warning lights for the engine and transmission came on. The transmission had apparently overheated and spewed all the transmission fluid out onto the road. I called for a tow truck and had the vehicle towed to victorville honda. They told me that it was too late in the day to look at the vehicle and drove me to a car rental place where I rented a car at my own cost. The next morning they called and informed me that the vehicle needed a new transmission and the cost would be approximately $6000 for them to replace it. I was driving from california to ohio and could not afford the cost. I had them flush the transmission and refill it and continued on my trip. Approximately one month later the transmission completely failed and I had it replaced at a local shop.

Filed Feb 16, 2014 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 138,000 miles · CA

August: 1st. Driving home shifted into 1st gear to go from a stop light. Car hesitated, began to go real slow even when trying to accelerate. Pushed gas pedal all the way to floor car did not go any faster. Rpm were revving up as if the car was going faster. Went into 2nd gear....the same. Check engine and tcs light was on. Turned off car 15min later the tcs light was off but check engine light was still on. Stayed on for about 2 days. Got codes check, it stated it was all misfires. 300-306. Reset. September: on the 15 fwy south on a sunday in september with my mother and kids going around 70mph in fast lane. Car then lost power instantly. Went down to 40mph car began to jerk and sputter. Had to put on hazard light and get off fwy as safe as possible. Very dangerous!!!!! Stop and called aaa. Engine codes read again. Codes were: po300, po3001, po302, po303, po304, po305, po306,.p2138. Shut off car waited 30mins and car drove fine and tcs light went off, the check engine light went off later. Took car to honda specialist and they said it was the misfire of 1st coil spring. Got that replaced along with fuel injection cleaning and oil change. November-january: car running sluggish. Honda dealer says nothing is wrong. Taking off sluggish. Check engine light flashes on and off from time to time. Feb 13th driving home on 210 fwy east at 8:30p. Going 70mph in 6the gear cruising and car instantly looses power again to 30 MPH. Making cars swerve around me. Had to pull off fwy very slow with hazard lights on. Car began to sputter and jerk. Feb16. Check engine and tcs light turned on while stopped at stop light. Car lost power and slowly turned into intersection. Pulled over. This is now becoming a safety hazard for my son and I and no one can give us answers and keep fixing things that aren't fixing the problem. Please help!

Filed Feb 6, 2013 · Steering · DC

2004 honda accord. Consumer writes in regards to power steering pump failure recall. *smd the consumer stated the honda service advisor confirmed with him, that a leak in the power steering hose could cause a failure in the power steering pump due to reduced power steering fluid. The consumer stated it would seem to him, that replacing a hose and o-ring on vehicles that have already had the hose fail was not going to fix the problem in its entirety. The hose on the consumers vehicle was confirmed to have failed and it caused the power steering pump to fail.

Filed Jun 26, 2012 · Transmission · 99,755 miles · NY

On june 9, 2012 my nightmare returned and again it was my transmission. I was driving on a major intersection in queens, ny when I felt a change in the speed of the car and the loss of power (car not moving). By the grace of god I was able to put the car in reverse to navigate it closer to a safer spot. I later had my car towed to a mechanic to diagnosis the problem and was informed that it was the transmission. Again, this was an unexpected expense that should not have been.

Filed Jun 18, 2012 · Transmission · 124,000 miles · NC

While driving on the highway our honda accord automatic transmission lost power and acted like it went into neutral. Luckily we were able to limp to the garage as it was an intermittent problem. My concern is that this could have caused an accident if this had happened on a busy highway or we were in a position which you could not pull over to a safe location. Complete loss of power due to a defect in the trans is a problem I have never experienced and feel the transmission should not fail in this way. I believe it is a design flaw. I hope no one is injured with these failing transmission as this is a common problem for this model if you do an internet search.