2004 Honda Accord: complete transmission failure

Filed Oct 23, 2025 · NC

I bought a used 04 v6 accord with 84,000 on it I bought it for $7500 that was in May/June 2021 he was going on and on about the air conditioner and the jbl radiothe About the time it started getting cold I noticed problems with it not wanting to go when put in drive unless it was warmed up enough didn't really think much about. in the colder months the next year it would start doing some jerking problem and then it started messing up like when you are slowing down for a red light but then it turns green and you give it the gas but it just wines like it was in neutral but it was still in drive so I would have to pull over to the side of the road coasting but once I got to a lower gear like first gear I could hear it and feel it go into gear and then when I gave it the gas it would go. Google found a 4.3 million recall on that 04 v6 tranny... mad people same problems they had transmissions replaced somewhere saying to change the transmission fluid every three months just with 3 quarts until the torque converter was flushed out and so on well I had just bought this vehicle pretty much put my savings into it. Apparently the recall was for shavings from the transmission getting in the linkage causing it to pop out of gear if not that bad it could be fixed but if it was bad transmission need replacing no recall on my car if it has same safety problem why no recall. my childhood friend told me it was a transmission it got so bad I had to park sitting 2yrs i have no one to work on it I don't have the funds to pay a garage my friend had a heart attack passed away some say shift solenoid, I know that seller knew there was a problem he spent $600 yea no revall for him he ripped me off but at such low miles there's got to be a reason for this barely used car to be such a safety hazard...my dad told me to write you guys what can it hurt he said the car has been sitting because I have no money to pay to get it fixed I live on SS. Feel free to call me please i miss my honda

Filed Dec 12, 2018 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 308,400 miles · TX

Abs/tcs module failing causing transmission no to go into gear or jump around gears and hard shifts and acts like transmission failure all with out giving any codes only code I have is 84-1 car will start and drive anywere fine for about 15 to 30 mins then starts acting up like the transmission is failing, with help of honda mechanic and other accord owners saving me from buying an new 1300 transmission I have found ABS/tcs module failure

Filed Dec 9, 2018 · Transmission · 167,000 miles · CT

Car stopped while driving on a busy street. Transmission failure.

Filed Jan 16, 2017 · Transmission · 128,000 miles · TN

Transmission slipping and grinding. Took it to our trusted mechanic and he said the transmission is failing and has to be replaced. The vehicle only has 128,000 miles. There was a the federal safety agency recall #: 04v176000 for 2003/2004 hondas due to transmission failure which could lead to an accident. I contacted honda and they are not willing to help.

Filed Dec 14, 2016 · Transmission · 144,700 miles · CA

I was on my way home from work, exiting the downtown area and entering the freeway, when the transmission slipped out of gear. The transmission would not re-engage without moving the shifter down to the d3 gear first. I was able to limp the car using this method to the nearest transmission repair shop. The transmission slipped out of gear several more times on the drive to the repair facility. It was diagnosed with a faulty third clutch and a repair estimate of $3200-3400 for a rebuilt transmission. I chose a different repair shop, with an equally good reputation, and had the transmission rebuilt for $2700. It has been back to the same repair shop 3 times after the rebuild with similar symptoms. They are not able to determine the cause of the recurring slippage. Research reveals that hundreds of other honda accord owners have encountered the same issue of transmission failure. It appears to be the same parts failing in a majority of instances. The transmission will slip out of gear from a dead stop, in motion at slow speeds or moderate speeds with no detectable pattern. The transmission failing while the car is in motion creates an extremely dangerous, potentially fatal, driving situation. I don't feel safe driving this vehicle. Honda has issued a recall on this transmission already but not for this particular problem. My vehicle doesn't qualify for the recall.

Filed Sep 20, 2016 · Transmission · 147,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 honda accord. While driving approximately 45 MPH, a clicking noise started to emerge from the engine compartment. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle stalled. The contact coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. In 2004,the transmission was repaired through a manufacturer's recall. The approximate failure mileage was 147,000.

Filed Apr 6, 2016 · Transmission · 89,538 miles · CA

Textbook case of transmission failure for my '04 honda accord v-6 on friday, may 22, 2015. Car failed on the 15 fwy outside of barstow, ca and had to be towed to the los angeles area. When I contacted american honda I was told that my VIN was not part of the recall. My car, though 11 years old, had only 89.5k miles on it. It had been serviced at all times by my honda dealer, including transmission service 3 times, including january of 2015. I have all documentation. Honda quoted me $5,642.40 for the repair, and also in a letter dated 6/24/15 confirmed that I need a new transmission assembly. I "escalated" my complaint to american honda and was offered $250 "customer loyalty card" which I initially declined. I then contacted american honda again and received a $300 card for the inconvenience that when my car was returned to me by honda the entire air intake system was missing!! It took the honda dealership 3 days t contact me and return the air intake system. I bought this honda accord brand new from the honda dealer and am the only owner/driver. I still am without a reliable vehicle and there is no reason that a transmission, which has been consistently serviced by the dealership, should fail with less than 90,000 miles on the vehicle. Had I not been in the desert with lighter traffic, I would have been involved in an extreme crash with other vehicles. Honda should repair my vehicle and acknowledge that the current recall fails to include additional VIN that were affected. They focus their ad campaign on "helpful", yet they do not help their honda owners. Shame on honda and I would like some results.

Filed Jan 16, 2016 · Transmission · 97,000 miles · CA

While driving home from dental appt, vehicle started to lose acceleration all of a sudden; driving normally in traffic then car started to jerk/ and rpms started to get higher before slowing down. Car then slows in traffic and does not accelerate even though shift is engaged in drive. Was able to nurse my car to mechanic's shop, determined transmission failure $4100 to rebuild!! Called honda, was told car is not covered by recall, plus since it has 97k miles and 12-years it is not covered by extended warranty. Thanks honda for standing behind your products...will be looking at new fords this week.....thank good this failure occurred at a relatively safe side street. Could really cause a major accident!!

Filed Jan 14, 2016 · Transmission · 76,000 miles · NC

Car is serviced as specified, no issues (second owner for 5 years). Without warning, transmission failed. Vehicle was being driven on surface streets, made odd sound and stopped operating.

Filed Jan 5, 2016 · Transmission · 90,000 miles · WA

I am original owner of this car purchased at beginning of 2004. 12 years later we are having transmission failure at 90,000 miles. I called honda because their website listed the recall for my year and model but when I searched it by VIN no recall applies. They told me that the recall doesn't apply to my VIN. I asked them how they determine that. Is there a serial number cut off after which honda made changes and they can prove my car is not effected? The answer was "all I can tell you is your VIN is not included in the recall". Well, I did some research as my vehicle was having the exact same problems as described in the recall. The federal safety agency recall number 04v‑176 has related documents on file and one of them being a letter dated june 28 2004 from american honda motor co. Inc. Signed by a william r. Willen. This letter clearly identifies my car as being included in the safety related recall and I should have received a notice of recall in late 2004. I never received any notice. Some how my car experienced no issues until 2015, but the issues did eventually show up. Now today my car was failing to accelerate on the highway and also trying to downshift to low gears at highway speeds and then suddenly failed to drive at all. We had some indications in the past couple weeks and had the transmission drained and filled 4 times to try to remedy this problem. I talked with two certified honda mechanics who both told me the transmission was going to fail and nothing could be done. Well, they were right, but here I am in this situation now because honda failed to recall my car in 2004 as it should have been. For years now we have unknowingly been driving a car that could have caused the driver to lose control and crash. Honda did not fulfill their duties in this recall. I suspect there are many more like mine still on the road. Honda should fix all the cars effected retroactive.

Filed Dec 17, 2015 · Transmission · 123,332 miles · NE

Transmission failed while driving on highway with no warning.

Filed Nov 3, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 120,056 miles · CA

As I merged into a freeway lane, my 2004 hondas transmission failed causing me to nearly be rear ended by an oncoming vehicle.