Problems · by component

2004 Honda Accord engine problems

28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Honda Accord cite engine, 3% of all 1,018 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
28
3% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“While driving, the car’s engine suddenly shut off, and the brakes were barely responsive, making it extremely difficult to bring the vehicle to a complete stop despite continuously applying the brakes. This was a very serious and frightening safety issue that nearly caused me to crash into another vehicle or an object. I am very concerned about the safety and reliability of this vehicle and believe it needs to be inspected immediately.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 19, 2026Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11765462
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY ROAD AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND IT DID NOT WANT TO SHIFT GEAR. I WAS ABLE TO APPLY BRAKES BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO VERY HIGH RPMS. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TURN THE SHUT OFF THE CAR MIDWAY AND PULL-OVER. WHILE STATIONARY AND CAR SHUT OFF ON SIDE OF THE ROAD I TRIED TO TURN IT BACK IT AND IT AUTOMATICALLY JUMPED TO HIGH RPM AND WAS NEVER ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR ANYTHING BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD TAKE OFF. AFTER 45 MINUTES OF LETTING THE CAR FIGURE ITSELF OUT, IT STOPPED REVVING TOO HIGH RPM AND WAS ABLE TO GO BACK HOME. THE ISSUE HAS STOPPED BUT NOW WHEN I START THE CAR UP AND SWITCH FROM PARK TO DRIVE THE CAR HAS A DELAYED ENGAGEMENT. ALSO, NOW MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP EVER ONCE IN A WHILE AND WHEN MAKING TURNS RANDOMLY. I HAVE CHECKED POWER STEERING AND NO LEAKS OR ANY SIGN ON A REPAIR THAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2020Steering, Power train, EngineODI 11299657
“MY VEHICLE DIED GOING UP A SMALL HILL FOR NO REASON.... LIKE IT STALLED BUT I HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE... ALSO THE STEREO DOESN'T WORK I THINK IT COULD BE ELECTRICAL OR THE IGNITION SWITCH? SEEN ON YOUTUBE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO. IT STALLS ALMOST AND DOESN'T PROPEL IN FIFTH AT I HAVE TO DOWN SHIFT AND GO BACK TO 5TH AND TEI AGAIN... SOMETIMES IT WORKS OTHER TIMES I TRY 2 OR THREE TIME TO KEEP IT ACCELERATING. THE HILL THING WAS SCARY. WHAT DID IT MEAN?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2019Electronic stability control (esc), Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11280200
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 23, 2018EngineODI 11089568
“I'M DRIVING 427 SOUTH (TORONTO) LATE EVENING, AND I APPROACH SOMEONE WHO IS DRIVING 80 KM/HR, SO I DECIDE TO OVERTAKE THE CAR. I CHANGE A LANE, ACCELERATE FOR COUPLE SECONDS, AND WHEN I RELEASE A GAS PEDAL, MY CAR DOESN'T SLOW DOWN, IT CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN, AND ENGINE IS RUNNING VIOLENTLY, IT REACHES MAX RPMS (I THINK IT'S 5000 RPMS), AND THAN A COMPUTER DROPS RPMS DOWN. SO, NOTHING IS PRESSING A GAS PEDAL, AND THE ENGINE PULLING LIKE CRAZY, CAR IS ACCELERATING, AND HIGHWAY IS OVER IN 5 SECONDS. I TOUCH A GAS PEDAL - IT IS SOFT, BUT IT'S SPRINGING BACK WHEN I RELEASE IT, AND THERE IS NO A BOTTLE OR A CARPET STUCK IN BETWEEN, I CHECK CRUSE CONTROL - IT IS NOT ON, SO I PRESS BRAKES AND TRY TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR WITH BRAKES WHICH IS NOT EASY BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING ON MAX RPMS AND PULLING A CAR, YOU CAN FEEL IT. SO, I STOP EVENTUALLY AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. THE NEXT DAY I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD FOR THE PROBLEM, AND I DISCOVERED THE NEXT. THERE IS A PART OF A CAR CALLED A THROTTLE, THAT REGULATES AIR INTAKE IN THE ENGINE, AND THIS WAY SPEED OF ENGINE IS REGULATED TOO. THE THROTTLE IS REGULATED BY TWO CABLES. ONE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 13, 2017Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10994932
“I DID TUNE UP MY CAR BECAUSE IS RUN NOT GOOD. THE BALL JOINT BROKE GOOD THE HAPPEN ON STREET IN REPAIR GET NEW BALL JOINT AND NEW AXLE BOTH THING FOR DRIVERS SIDE USED CAR HAD A GOOD ON GAS MILEAGE BUT AFTER START GIVING BAD MILEAGES. MANY TIME TUNE UP. AFTER THAT CAR NOT PICK SPEED. ONE DAY I DID GOOGLE SEARCH. I FIND HONDA RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION OVER ONE MILLION. I CALL HONDA DEALER ABOUT TRANSMISSION RECALL HE SAY NEED UP DATE SOFTWARE BUT THEY DON'T HAVE RECALL ABOUT THIS YET . BUT THEY HAVE RECALL AIRBAGS WAS WHICH HAVEN ALREADY DONE. NOW MY CAR HAVE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION ,BALL JOINT AXLE ,SMOKING. RADIO NOT WORKS ANOTHER I HOPE. I GET RECALL SOON . I WASN'T KNOW THAT TO FILE COMPLAINTS. NOW I KNOW AND I HELPS OTHER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 19, 2016Suspension, Power train, EngineODI 10936183

Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.