2004 Honda Accord Visibility Problems

Rear window shattered, spontaneously, parked. Mostly 1/4 to 3/8 inch pieces, no impact center or chips anywhere. Cause UNKNOWN. With slight vibration the rear window fell into the car, except around glued edges, also including tiny slivers. While the shattered rear window held, it created a huge blind spot behind car, which is a large safety problem. Also driving could leave a trail of glass on public streets. Rear window was vacuumed up and replaced by Glass America, who also had no idea why it shattered. Vehicle was inspected and passed by Colorado vehicle inspectors on January 31, 2024. No warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure found on April 13, 2024. Car had not been driven for 10 days, parked.

NHTSA ID

11583868

Incident

Apr 13, 2024

This is a followup on Incident 11113944. The problem was actually an aftermarket Ipod adapter connected to the car stereo, it was draining the battery even when the car was off. Also, simply driving the car for a while (like to the mechanic) would always make the problem go away, because the battery eventually recharged. After removing the Ipod adapter and replacing the battery again, I have not had the wipers fail in ~3 years. I think Honda should provide some alert if the battery is at insufficient voltage to run the wipers, however.

NHTSA ID

11512465

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

BOTH FRONT WIPERS STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY DURING A RAIN OR SNOW STORM. NOTHING SOLVES THE PROBLEM - E.G. CHANGING FROM ON/OFF/HIGH/MEDIUM/INTERMITTENT. TURNING LIGHTS AND FAN OFF DOESN'T HELP. THE WIPERS STOP MOVING AT RANDOM POSITIONS, SOMETIMES STOPPING FOR A FEW SECONDS, TO MINUTES. NOTE THAT BOTH WIPERS STOP WORKING TOGETHER; THEY EITHER BOTH ARE MOVING OR BOTH STOPPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED DURING DRIVING (ON HIGHWAY AND CITY) IN AT LEAST 2 RAIN STORMS AND ONE SNOW STORM, WITHIN THE LAST 5 YEARS. MY ONLY RECOURSE HAS BEEN TO TRY TO LOOK OUT THE SIDE WINDOW, BECAUSE I HAVE ABOUT 10% VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I AM VERY LUCKY TO HAVE NOT CRASHED. NOTE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS HARD TO REPRODUCE - THE WIPERS NORMALLY WORK, EXCEPT WHEN I ACTUALLY NEED THEM. I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH RAIN OR SNOW IN THE FORECAST. 2 DEALERS HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED.

NHTSA ID

11113944

Incident

Jan 10, 2017

Mileage

40,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK

NHTSA ID

11112153

Incident

Jul 16, 2018

Mileage

74,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED AND UNEXPECTEDLY BECAME INOPERABLE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2003 ACCORD MODELS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 08V169000 (VISIBILITY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,475.

NHTSA ID

10795043

Incident

Nov 19, 2015

Mileage

41,475 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT STARTED POURING RAIN. I TURNED ON MY WIPERS. WHEN THE WIPERS WERE IN A VERTICAL POSITION THEY STOPPED. I IMMEDIATELY LOST VISIBILITY BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING SO HARD. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I PUT THE WIPER SPEED LEVER IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT POSITIONS BUT NOTHING WOULD MAKE THEM WORK. I CHECKED THE FUSES WHILE I WAITED ON THE RAIN TO STOP. ONCE IT STOPPED RAINING, I RETURNED THE WIPERS TO THE DOWN POSITION AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WIPER MOTOR AND ALSO THE WIPER SWITCH. THE WIPER MOTOR WAS RECALLED FOR THE 2003 ACCORD. I FEEL LIKE A SIMILAR RECALL SHOULD BE DONE FOR THE 2004 ACCORDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701972

Incident

Mar 26, 2015

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDOW FAILED TO OPEN OR CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED WITHIN THE MOTOR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR TO PREVENT THE DRIVERS SIDE SWITCH FROM FAILING TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V260000 (VISIBILITY). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10523235

Incident

Apr 23, 2013

Mileage

10,000 mi

LIGHT DISPLAY WENT OUT THAT CONTROLS RADIO AND HVAC COMPONENTS 2 YEARS AGO. DARK AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN THE WINDOWS GET FOGGED UP YOU CAN NOT SEE THE SWITCH TO TURN ON DEFROST BECAUSE THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD HAS STOPPED WORKING, SO IT REQUIRES YOU TO TURN ON INTERIOR LIGHT TO FIND THE DEFROST BUTTON, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. AFTER RESEARCHING LAST NIGHT I FOUND HONDA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS UNTIL 2011 OR 100,000. SO I CALLED HONDA AND I WAS TOLD I'M PAST THE WARRANTY IT'S WHICHEVER COMES FIRST (I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HONDA OR IT WOULD HAVE WENT IN TO GET FIXED) THIS IN MY OPINION SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE DEALER AS IT COULD CAUSE A FATALITY WITH SOMEONE FUMBLING WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS JUST TO GET THE DEFROST BUTTONS ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10482147

Incident

Jan 3, 2010

Mileage

64,000 mi

THE PASSENGER WINDOW BEGAN ROLLING UP AND STAYING UP ALL ON ITS OWN, AT ANYTIME IT WANTED. IT WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL WORKING ORDER AFTER I RESTARTED THE CAR. THEN ONE DAY- IT ROLLED DOWN, AND WOULD NOT WORK AGAIN. I FOUND OUT I COULD OVERRIDE WITH THE KEYS TO ROLL UP. BUT ID HAVE TO WINDOW LOCK TO STAY. THEN ONE DAY WE SMELL BURNING- WE TRACED IT TO THE DOOR- AND THE OVERRIDE NO LONGER WORKS. NOW THE DRIVER WINDOW IS BEGINNING TO DO THE SAME BEHAVIOR. SO FAR I'VE REPLACED DRIVER SWITCH= 325.00 --QUOTE FOR MOTOR= 400.00--I KNOW IT WILL NEED THE SWITCH TOO... THAT IS OVER 1000.00 JUST TO GET THE WINDOW UP??? THAT IS ABSURD! *TR

NHTSA ID

10478937

Incident

Jun 22, 2012

Mileage

33,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WITH RAIN, AND THE WHOLE FRONT PANEL (WHERE THE STEREO, A/C, EMERGENCY LIGHT, WENT OFF. AS I WAS TRYNG TO FIND THE EMERGENCY LIGHT( CAUSE I WAS GOING SLOW IN THE RAIN AND FIX THE TEMP. TO CLEAR DE WINDOW I ALMOST CRASH WITH ANOTHER CAR. THIS SHOUL BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUS. I CALLED AND HONDA SAID I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. IVE BEEN GOING TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY ALMOST A $1000, I CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY INSIST I VE BENN OUT OF WARRANTY.THIS AFECT THE CONCENTRATION AND VISIBILITY ON THE CAR .I'VE BEEN READING AND ITS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10477016

Incident

Apr 20, 2010

Mileage

95,000 mi

AUDIO-HVAC DISPLAY MODULE IS DIM OR DARK: THE AUDIO DISPLAY AND CONTROLS (KNOBS, BUTTONS, BARS) OF THE AUDIO-HVAC DISPLAY MODULE ARE DIM OR ARE DARK. THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE HONDA ACCORDS 2003-2007 WHERE ONE OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD ( PCB) WHICH CONTROLS THE CENTER AUDIO CONSOLE FAILS AND THEN THE WHOLE AUDIO CONSOLE GOES DARK. SO WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE CAR, YOU CANNOT SEE ANY BUTTON OR KNOB ON THE CENTER CONSOLE. IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE THE HEAT / COOL , THE FAN SPEED OR ANY FUNCTION THAT IS CONTROLLED BY THE COUNTER CONSOLE. HONDA INITIALLY SENT OUT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE AUDIO CONSOLE TO 7 YEARS /100, 000 MILES. BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS IN A LARGE NUMBER OF CARS. THIS IS NOT LIKE A TRANSMISSION OR A BRAKE ISSUE WHICH CAN WEAR DOWN OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONICS ON THE CAR AND SHOULD BE ESCALATED TO A RECALL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS THE CONSOLE LIGHTING DOES COMPLETELY DARK AND THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE OR LOCATE ANY CONTROLS WITHIN THE CAR. THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. HONDA HAS ISSUES A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 04-027. THIS BULLETIN IN THE PROOF THAT HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT HONDA HAS OFFERED IS OF NO USE BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ARE OUT OF THE WARRANTY TERMS ( 7 YEARS // 100,000 MILES) THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY INSTITUTE SHOULD FORCE HONDA TO REPAIR THIS COMPONENT IN THE CAR IRRESPECTIVE OF THE MILES OR THE NUMBER OF YEARS. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND IS NOT RELATED TO BREAK DOWN OF A COMPONENTS BECAUSE OF MILES OR YEARS. THERE IS NO WEAR AND TEAR INVOLVED WITH PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS. ( PCB) *TR

NHTSA ID

10474495

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID

10465969

Incident

Jul 10, 2012

Mileage

58,000 mi

CLIMATE CONTROL DISPLAY AND LIGHTING GOES OUT(ALSO RADIO DISPLAY) WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN ON DEFOGGERS OR OTHER ITEMS AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING WELL KNOWN DEFECT THAT SHOULD CAUSE A TOTAL RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10464824

Incident

Jul 6, 2012

Mileage

95,200 mi

MY RADIO AND A/C DISPLAY WENT OUT. I HAVE TO TURN ON MY INTERIOR LIGHTS AT NIGHT TO ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE IN MY CAR. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF MY WINDOWS GET FOGGY AND I CANNOT FIX IT WITHOUT PULLING OFF OF THE ROAD. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY $1000 FOR A PROBLEM THAT ALL OF THESE MODELS ARE HAVING. *TT

NHTSA ID

10459325

Incident

Sep 21, 2011

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE DEFROSTER TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD BUT IT WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ROADWAY AND CRASHED INTO A MAIL BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CIRCUIT BOARD BUT THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ID

10458585

Incident

Apr 24, 2012

Mileage

103,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WOULD OPEN AND FALL INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN ABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOW BY INITIATING THE WINDOW CONTROLS, BUT EVENTUALLY HAD TO LOCK THE WINDOW SO THEY WOULD REMAIN UPRIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ID

10455062

Incident

Apr 11, 2012

Mileage

94,000 mi

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ONE AFTERNOON AND IT BEGAN TO RAIN. WE TURNED ON OUR WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. WE WERE FORCED TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO WAIT OUT THE STORM SINCE WE HAD ZERO VISIBILITY WITHOUT THE WIPERS. OUR WIPERS HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE THAT POINT. I HAVE NOTED THAT THE 2003 HONDA ACCORDS HAD A RECALL FOR A DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND THIS SEEMS TO FIT THAT DESCRIPTION THOUGH HONDA HAS INFORMED ME THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE 2004 ACCORDS, DESPITE THIS BEING AN IDENTICAL ISSUE THAT IS NOT COMMON OUTSIDE OF THIS DEFECT AND IS ON A SIMILAR MODEL. IT IS A RATHER DANGEROUS SITUATION TO OCCUR SINCE ONE WILL ONLY NOTICE THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING A RAINSTORM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448995

Incident

Feb 18, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD EX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED AND BECAME STUCK IN MID-OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE MOTOR FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISES THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10440011

Incident

Aug 15, 2011

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. ALSO, THE WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN OR CLOSE THE WINDOWS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE RADIO. A PRIVATE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RADIO AND TWO DAYS AFTER THE RADIO WAS REPLACED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 207,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10437610

Incident

Jul 1, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK WHILE IT WAS RAINING AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED SUDDENLY I WAS UNABLE TO SEE OR USE THEM AND HAD NO PRIOR INDICATION THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. JUST SO HAPPENED I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE NOT ONLY FOR ME BUT OTHER DRIVERS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10430863

Incident

Oct 18, 2011

IN EARLY 2011, I NOTICED THAT THE BACKLIGHTS FOR THE HVAC CONTROLS, RADIO, AND GEAR SHIFTER ALL WENT OUT. THE CABIN IS COMPLETELY DARK WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. WHEN I CONTACTED HONDA, THEY SAID THAT THIS IS AN IDENTIFIED PROBLEM ON SOME 2003-2004 ACCORDS BUT THAT MY CAR IS EXCLUDED FROM THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE REPAIR IS $1,000 WHICH IS NOT A REASONABLE COST FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT WITHOUT A PROPERLY LIT CABIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10430240

Incident

May 2, 2011

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WENT OUT IN MY 2004 HONDA ACCORD. I HAVE HAD OLDER CARS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. NOT TO MENTION, I LIVE IN THE DESERT, SO IT WASN'T DUE TO OVERUSE. AFTER REPLACING THE MOTOR, IT WENT OUT AGAIN WITHIN 2 WEEKS! THE 2003 ACCORD HAD A RECALL ON THE WIPER MOTOR AND I FEEL THEY ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE 2004 MODEL. THE 2004 WIPER MOTOR SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL. *TT

NHTSA ID

10427877

Incident

Aug 12, 2011

1. NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE. 2. DRIVING HIGHWAY IN RAIN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY FAIL, CONSEQUENCES ARE SEVERELY DECREASED VISIBILITY. 3. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IS DETERMINED TO BE THE FAILURE. REPLACEMENT COSTS ARE $500. *TR

NHTSA ID

10412278

Incident

Jul 14, 2011

Mileage

111,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10410002

Incident

Nov 11, 2009

Mileage

90,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. NO PREVIOUS INDICATION OF FAILURE. FUSE IS GOOD, WIPER MOTOR WON'T TURN ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10403801

Incident

May 31, 2011

Mileage

96,000 mi