Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
UNKNOWN - I have a 2004 Honda Accord which indicates an airbag issue. The seat belt buckles but the light stays on. Many 2004 Accords were in a recall over SRS but my VIN did not show as part of the recall. The dealer says the seat sensor is bad but they are not making the part any longer. What should I do. I guess the maker should replace with a new system.
I was driving to meet a friend and notice an awful smell in the car. I parked car at her home and was gone about 3 hours. As I was driving home notice that the front passenger seat bottom was melted. I have heated leather seats. There was also a small melted area on the seat back. My husband disconnected the fuses upon my arrival home. He looked it up on the web and saw reports of this happening to others, but when he called a Honda dealer he was told that this was unheard of. We were very lucky that there was no one else in the car at the time. Could have been a lot worst if my grandson or someone else was in the passenger seat. Updated 10/9/15 updated 12/06/2017
Sometime back in September of 2015, it was noticeable that the driver's seat would jerk forward (it began as a jerk to half an inch and as time passed the jerk increased to an inch forward). Specifically this occurs during an abrupt stop (I.e. At a stop light, stop sign, traffic stop, etc.). I believe this could be due to a manufacturer's defect. It is concerning that an accident could occur due to the lack of safety from a maneuvered driving position as the seat jerks forward and could just as well be a distraction. I am also experiencing a discomfort in my neck and shoulder area due to the constant jerking forward.
SRS light comes on intermittently when I am driving. According to NHTSA campaign number: 07V001000; component: airbags. The driver's seat position sensor harness was improperly routed. I need to have the dealer replace and reroute the driver's seat position sensor.
2004 Honda Accord-ex (cloth); bought new at Honda dealership. From the purchase date to present, problems with the following: conditioner/heater: water dripping from vents and window area; musty/moldy smell. *driver's seat: only one-way power is up; extremely uncomfortable. *stereo/entertainment: display goes on and off; cd's are burning hot when removed after playing for short time; whole area around system and panels are hot; sound is muffled from speakers. *front driver door: latch not functioning properly; doesn't stay open when it should and closes on person in driver seat when getting in/out car. *brakes: grinding. *trunk: after snow or rain and after brushing off snow from vehicle or after rain has stopped-- when trunk is open, water/snow gets into trunk (not designed well...needs better weather-stripping.)
Ever since the car was purchased I have had a problem with the front driver's seat (automatic seats) moving in a sudden stop. The dealership replaced the seat track which seemed to fix the problem for a few months but the problem has returned. The past two times I've taken the car in for routine maintenance I mentioned the seat feels loose again but they say there is nothing wrong with the seat and have done nothing further to correct the problem. I am very worried about what could happen in an accident.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. The contact stated that after six months, his legs would become numb and he felt pain while driving the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the issue, but did not assist. The contact bought a therapeutic pillow for the driver's seat, which resolved the pain. He also stated that there was no tint on the windshield to block the sunlight. The current and failure mileages were 36,000.
I took my car to a local Honda dealer for a recall to be repaired. After getting the car back, I still get a dashboard warning light indicating that the part May still be defective. The part in question is the passenger side power seat wire harness (seat SRS sensor). I was not aware of this recall, but the dealer was kind enough to inform me, but I just don't feel the issue has been corrected.
To whom it May concern: there is a huge safety problem with the passenger air bag sensor in my car. The passenger seat airbag indicator lights comes on intermittently when no items are in the seat, and occasionally comes when items are in the seat. The seat definitely has a short in it and I am concerned about it not working properly if I am involved in an accident. ## VIN passed ##
Ball bearing fell out of seat track at 50,000 miles. There was no trauma to the car. The seat now moves 1/4 to 1/2 inch upon starting and stopping. The safety concern is whether the seat is more likely to break free if an accident occurs or if there could be a spontaneous further failure of the seat. Negotiations with Honda for repair are in progress but have been unsatisfactory.
Seat complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2004 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the seats of the 2004 Honda Accord, 2% of the model year's 1,018 complaints. The component named most often is front assembly › power adjust (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Honda Accord seat problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seats recall for the 2004 Honda Accord, though it has 13 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Honda Accord seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 112,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries to seats problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.