Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here.
Owners have filed 1,016 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Honda Accord, and it carries 22 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 289 | 28% |
| Air bags | 198 | 19% |
| Electrical system | 73 | 7% |
| Steering | 36 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 27 | 3% |
| Visibility | 27 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 27 | 3% |
| Structure | 26 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 22 | 2% |
| Air bags | 14 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2004 Honda Accord. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was approximat
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I have 22 recalls in my Jerry app and also on here. Have problems when first starting up and shifting just got from a dealer in Ohio. Maybe a year and a half ago my name is Tracy Harney my address is 702 Inverness place
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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 l
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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 prob
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
Second gear jumps erratically , loses power and won’t move until you shut the engine off and start again , second gear still jumps afterwards..
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while attempting to make a right turn, the air bags deployed independently. No warning lights illuminated. A dealer or independent mechanic was not contacted.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
2004 Honda Accord V6 178000k miles Car was just driving fine through all gears then out of nowhere as I was driving on the freeway going approximately 65 mph the car violently jerked because the transmission locked up
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 22 recall campaigns for the 2004 Honda Accord. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV
Risk: 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 dea
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer servic
Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain Accelerator Pedal Assemblies part numbers 699-114 and 825-5029-1, sold as replacement parts for 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2004-2008 Acura TL and TSX, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2007-2011 Honda Element, 2005-2008 Honda Pilot and 2006-
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman custo
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-213
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. The
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
| Reliability | 34 | below average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 61 | average |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 83 | excellent |
| Performance | 49 | below average |
| Efficiency | 47 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 1,016 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 289 of them (28%). There are 22 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 34/100 (below average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 61/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip, because the reliability record is poor enough to outweigh everything else here. Its overall ownership score is 61/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.