2004 Honda Accord: engine overheating

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 8, 2015 · Transmission · 112,000 miles · WI

04 honda accord v6- d(4) light starts blinking. Brought it into the shop for diagnoses; 4th gear pressure switch. Replaced 4th gear pressure switch. Car seems to be working better. 3 days later; car only goes under cool conditions (tranny seems to work when the car has not reached regular / recommended operating temperature). When it reaches normal operating temperature, the motor starts revving, even in d. This has happened while at a stop and on a highway. When I was on the highway and the car had already warmed up, the engine revved and then suddenly jerked back. The feeling is like a manual transmission car downshifting without pressing on the gas; it jerks then decelerates. And from there it just revs and revs, like it's not catching the gears. So I had to pull over to the side of the highway a few times, thanks to this non-working transmission. When this occurs on the small roads, I would then have to pull over and turn off the car. After a few minutes, the car will engage into gear again, but not for long. This is a probable sign of overheating within the transmission, which can probably cause the tranny to slip? Not 100% sure because I'm not a mechanic. So I was referred to contact american honda for a recall inquiry, and of course, my VIN# doesn't have an open recall for transmission, meaning I pretty much screwed myself from the start when I bought this vehicle because there's a sketchy transmission in it. Even if I got it replaced, what are the chances that the replaced one doesn't do the same thing? I understand that transmissions do not last forever on any vehicle, but if you just google: 7th gen accord transmission, you can read all the wonderful stories about fail honda accord transmissions, starting from year 2003; there's a community of authors. The worst part is, I got it replaced and I still don't feel any peace at mind. Good luck

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 Sep 15, 2013 · Acceleration, Electrical · 94 miles · NJ

First, I called approximately two weeks ago and filed a complaint over the telephone. The man I talked to said he would follow up with an email to me, which he never did. He also said I would receive something by mail, which I never did. My name is [xxx] I would like to know what happened to that complaint? In short: my 2004 honda accord's transmission failed at 94k. Honda said my VIN was not part of the recall. Who did honda make a deal with? I had to pay to have the trans rebuilt. Now going high speeds for long distances the dash board lights up, the d light blinks, the triangle comes on, the engine light comes on. Once the car cools down most lights go off and after 3 cycles, the engine light goes off. Auto zone came up with some p code that it was a sensor. The trans guy replaced it., I am still getting dashboard lights and this time I lost the speedometer. Someone said the trans is overheating. But then why the p code that it is a sensor electrical problem? If honda is having such a big problem with this why isn't the highway safety commission getting involved? Why doesn't everyone write to them and make a complaint? Why aren't you getting involved with this issue? Honda put a bad product in their cars and the consumers are suffering. In 1970s chevy put a small trans in a mid size car with plastic parts. After 3 transmissions and a trip to court the judge ordered they put a bigger trans in my car. Is this the same thing? This is a very serious problem with honda and their transmissions and I would like to know why the consumers are getting the raw deal on this? The honda dealership said they don't know anything about this problem? How can that be when there are so many complaints! Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Apr 3, 2013 · Transmission · 45,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 honda accord. The contact stated that the transmission was replaced in 2007 because the gears were chipped and fractured within the transmission. The contact had the transmission replaced again in 2011 because the gears had dried, overheated and fractured within the transmission for the second time. Each time the vehicle was repaired, the manufacturer advised that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number: 04v176000 (power train) which dealt with the gears overheating and needing an oil cooler return line or replacement of the transmission. The failure mileage was 45,000.

Filed Oct 25, 2012 · Acceleration, Suspension · 123,000 miles · MA

Transmission has been accelerating very fast overheating, slipping, it appears the transmission fluid have been leaking however I took it in for service about a month ago and everything was fine. My dealership from february 13, 2012 september 28, 2012 commonwealth honda has been claiming there is nothing wrong with this transmission the suspension or the timing belt. They performed service and all of them they claim everything is fine. Now less than 30 days later my transmission is broken. A vehicle with just got problems should not continue to be resold.

Filed Jun 30, 2010 · Transmission · 87,230 miles · MA

My new 2004 honda had a safety recall on october 18, 2004 to correct an overheating problem with the transmission which could result in gear teeth damage and a dangerous breakdown. Depending on mileage, the corrective action involved either replacing the transmission or installing a fan to reduce the heat buildup. For my car, they installed a fan but did not replace the transmission. Recently, I had my transmission fluid changed in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements. On my service receipt, the local honda dealer stated, "the transmission fluid was black and smelled burned with metal flakes in the fluid". Clearly the corrective action that was taken in the safety recall was ineffective and the transmission is overheating I filed a complaint with american honda in torrance ca and requested that my transmission be replaced to correct the safety problem. Their response was that since the transmission is currently functioning, they will not replace it. (note also that I have an extended warranty through honda that is still in effect) the purpose of a safety recall is to prevent accidents by taking timely corrective action. I am now at risk of a transmission breakdown with potential personal injuries to me and my family because honda will not replace this faulty transmission. I request the federal safety agency to compel honda to make good on the original safety recall and replace the transmission because the original corrective action was clearly ineffective. Updated ivoq 08/24/10 *tr the consumer stated the recall that was executed was inadequate, because it did not prevent the intended purpose of the recall as stated in the federal safety agency's recall detail. The transmission fluid that was drained from his vehicle was black and had a burn odor. Metal flakes were found in the transmission fluid. Updated ivoq 10/29/10

Filed Aug 9, 2007 · Transmission · 66,000 miles · MD

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 honda accord. While driving 45 MPH, the vehicle slowed down and would not accelerate. The vehicle was pulled over and restarted ten minutes later. As the contact was driving to the mechanic shop, the vehicle overheated. The mechanic stated that the transmission failed. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency recall # 04v176000 (power train:automatic transmission). The current and failure mileages were 66,000.

Filed Jan 19, 2007 · Transmission · 51,700 miles · GA

I purchased new a 2004 honda accord sedan with a v-6 engine and automatic transmission in february of 2004. While driving the car on wednesday, january 17, 2007, I suddenly no longer had 3rd,4th or 5th gear. Honda refused to fix the car under warranty because I had 51,700 miles on the car, 1,700 miles over the warranty. They denied that there was a recall on this model car. I have since learned that this model has had a recall, 04v176000, that calls for the replacement of the transmission if 1) there are over 17,000 miles on the car; and 2) there are obvious signs of discoloration due to overheating. I had the car towed to a transmission repair shop, and they called to tell me that the entire transmission had "completely burned out." the shop service manager stated that "the bands should be a light tan color," and mine were "burned black." I have since been told by honda that my car was not covered by this recall, and they would not fix the transmission.