Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I had my car taken in for the airbag recall and the SRS light remains on. I also have the check engine light on constantly. I do not believe they fixed my recall completely and believe my vehicle has several other recalled issues at hand. Including the transmission not working properly. The headlight s do not give proper lighting and visibility is horrible at night. The seatbelt on my driver side locks all the time when I try to look over my shoulder. The TCS light sporadically comes on when the road conditions change and I do not feel safe but I don't have the finances to get dealership autoshop work performed. So if I do get into an accident due to these defects being faulty to begin with don't say I didn't try and get help.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Honda Accord. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the instrument panel failed. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the mulitplex control unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V256000 (interior lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 150,000.
side air bag light comes on and off randomly when driving no more than 25 mph and lights get brighter when i press the gas but doesn't move immediately.
A few months ago we began experiencing intermittent failure of the lighting on the instrument panel. We took the car to our local repair shop, who determined the dimmer control for the instrument panel lights was failing, and they replaced it with a genuine Honda part. This did not fix the issue. Instead, the instrument panel lights are now non-functional, causing the whole cluster to need to be replaced. I was searching the NHTSA website and found NHTSA campaign number 04V256000. Which states, 'on certain passenger vehicles, the dimmer control for the instrument panel lights could fail due to heat buildup. Consequence: if this occurs, the instrument lights May fail and, at night, the driver May not be able to see the instrument panel gauges, such as the speedometer'. I phoned Honda and was told our car was not included in the recall. …
Instrument panel lights go out and at night I can't see some of the gauges like the speedometer or gas gauge. But other lights like, check engine, maintenance required, TCS lights work OK. I have read what NHTSA considers a safety hazard and lighting is one of them. There has already been a safety recall on other 2001 Honda v6 models with the same problem as I am experiencing. Yet, there is no investigation being done on my problem. NHTSA representatives won't even talk to me, I get a person on the phone and the only thing they keep repeating is " there is no investigation being done on your vehicle at this time" I feel like im talking to a machine. I would like some feed back from a person at NHTSA as to why this problem is not being addressed. What is happening to the hondas? I've already gotten two other recall notices of other problems. I am very discouraged with what's going on. …
There is currently a recall on Honda Accord ex 2001(which is the year make and model of my car) for dimmer control lights inside the car not lighting up. My car has this exact problem / periodically the dashboard lights go completely black and do not work. I cannot see how fast I'm going, I cannot see if I am almost out of gas, cannot see if the car is overheating, cannot see anything on the dashboard. This is very dangerous when it is dark. I checked the recall and noticed that my year/make/model does have a recall for this problem but when I called Honda they did not include my VIN# so they won't fix it. My mechanic told me my car is way to new to be having this problem. I am requesting that this be researched because I feel my VIN# needs to be added to this recall list. When it is dark this is very dangerous. …
The instrument panel backlighting fails intermittently for days at a time. When it's out, I cannot see the speedometer or any gauges on the dash at night. I have to use a flashlight or other external lighting to see the gauges. The backlighting never flickers -- it's either on or it's off. I am unable to discern any pattern or action that causes the backlighting to go out or to begin working again. The dash indicator lights still work. My 2001 Honda Accord ex-v6 sedan was not covered under recall 04V256000. My dimmer control works when the backlighting is working (and still dims the radio and climate controls even when the backlighting is not working). I replaced the multiplex control unit at my own expense in sept. 2009, but it has had no effect on the problem.
The axel that holds my tires on do not hold the bolts that are put on. I have had to replace every single bolt on all four tires once a month, if not more. The bolts come lose after replacing them and tightening them. The bolts keep cross threading after fixing them and putting them on correctly. My driver seat belt comes undone while driving down the road. The interior lights where the clock is and below come on and off randomly. This happens on a day to day basis, ever since I purchased my car. I will be driving down the road and hear a noise coming from my tires, pull over and a bolt or two has come off. This is unsafe for not only me but my family.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Honda Accord. 5 years ago the instrument panel lights failed to illuminate. The failure mileage was 10000. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the vehicle was operating normally. Recall campaign# 04V256000 is related to the contacts interior lighting failure. The manufacturer stated that the recall is not related to his VIN. The previous attempt to repair the instrument panel was unsuccessful; however, the radio was replaced. The contact has driven the vehicle at night for several years and is aware of the safety risk involved for him and his teenage driver. The current mileage was 133000.
The customer contended the brakes were sometimes inoperative/noisy/rubbing and did not stop the car. The customer also had multiple complaints of service at the dealership. The transmission did not shift properly. Dealership was unable to duplicate abnormal shifting operations. The engine ran rough and the engine check light illuminated, engine had normal noise. Other complaints included the TCS light on, door ajar light, brake light and seat belt light all illuminated while driving. License plate bracket came off. Twisted seat belts, rear door, bumper and dash panel replacement.
Related recalls
Interior lighting
On certain passenger vehicles, the dimmer control for the instrument panel lights could fail due to heat buildup.
Remedy: Dealers will replace a multiplex control unit for the instrument panel lights. Owner notification began June 16, 2004. Owners should contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Headlight complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2001 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the lights of the 2001 Honda Accord, 3% of the model year's 922 complaints. The component named most often is brake lights (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Honda Accord headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-256 (interior lighting, Jun 7, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Honda Accord headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.