The 2004 Honda Accord has 14 recalls, the most serious being the Takata airbag inflator defect affecting both the driver and passenger frontal airbags, where the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
Several additional airbag concerns round out the safety equipment picture. The driver's frontal airbag fabric can tear when it contacts the inside of the airbag cover during deployment, reducing the protection it offers in a crash. A seat position sensor that adjusts airbag inflation pressure based on how close the driver sits to the steering wheel may have a wiring harness attached incorrectly, causing the sensor to fail and the airbag to default to full inflation pressure regardless of seat position. On certain vehicles, the front passenger airbag may have been installed incorrectly during a prior replacement, meaning it can deploy improperly in a crash, and some vehicles may carry a passenger airbag module that does not meet advanced airbag requirements at all.
On the mechanical side, the automatic transmission can build up heat between internal gears under certain driving conditions, eventually causing gear teeth to chip or break and the transmission to lock up. V6 models also have a recall for a power steering fluid leak that can drip onto the catalytic converter, producing smoke and potentially an under-hood fire.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front airbag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front airbag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The driver frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Driver air bag inflators installed during previous recalls or as service parts may explode during a crash when the air bag deploys due to a manufacturing defect.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator with a different inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement, potentially affecting its ability to deploy properly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the passenger air bag and replace the module assembly if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag module may not meet advanced safety requirements and could fail to deploy properly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the air bag module at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Moisture can enter the passenger side front air bag inflator, causing it to rupture when the air bag deploys.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver air bag inflator may rupture due to moisture and manufacturing variations that develop over time.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger side front air bag inflator may build up excessive pressure and rupture when the air bag deploys in vehicles registered in high-humidity areas.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
High under-hood and power steering fluid temperatures can cause the power steering hose to crack and leak fluid prematurely.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a new heat-resistant power steering hose at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat position sensor harness is incorrectly attached to the power seat frame. Over time it can break, causing the sensor to fail. When this happens, the airbag deploys at full pressure regardless of driver size, increasing injury risk for smaller drivers.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the seat position sensor wiring harness.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat position sensor wire harness was fastened to the seat frame incorrectly and over-tightened, causing the wire to break. This prevents the sensor from detecting your seating position and adjusting airbag pressure, triggering the airbag warning light.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the seat position sensor wiring harness to restore proper airbag function and sensor operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's front airbag fabric can tear when it deploys and contacts the inside of the airbag cover. A torn airbag reduces protection in a crash, increasing injury risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a protective fabric flap between the airbag module and cover to prevent tearing during deployment.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's front air bag fabric can tear when it contacts the inside surface of the air bag cover during deployment.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a protective fabric flap between the air bag cover and module to prevent contact and tearing.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Heat builds up between certain gears in the automatic transmission under certain operating conditions, causing gear teeth to chip or break.
What the fix does
Dealer updates the oil cooler return line to improve lubrication to the second gear. If transmission shows heat damage, it will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
