Honda Accord Transmission Problems & Cost | B7XA / BCLA / BB7A / BAXA

The Honda Accord was equipped with various variants of the H5 transmission, including the B7XA, BCLA, BB7A, BAXA, B97A, B90A, B0YA and BAYA. In pre 1992-models the PX4B. But they aren’t without their problems though, so let’s look at some of the most common Honda Accord transmission problems, look at cost estimates and figure out what you can do about them.

Need a replacement transmission? Get an estimate for replacement transmissions and local installation. Look up your transmission model by vehicle make and model.

What Transmission Do I Have?

Honda Accord Transmission Models

1992-Up Honda Accord: B7XA, BCLA, BB7A, BAXA, B90A, B97A, B0YA, and BAYA Transmission

Honda Accord Transmission Replacement Cost Estimate

Pricing varies by exact engine size and year. To be 100% sure on pricing, have your VIN# handy and use our Get An Estimate feature to look up your transmission by VIN#.

What are the DTC codes related to Honda Accord transmission problems?

P0766 – Failed Shift Solenoid D – This DTC can be stored when there is a problem with a shift solenoid or the valve body.
P2703 – Failed Friction Element D – This trouble code can be triggered by a failed friction element like a clutch disc.
P0720 – Failed Input Speed Sensor or Output Speed Sensor – This trouble code is caused by a bad speed sensor on the transmission.
P0730 – Incorrect Gear Ratio – This issue could be caused by a number of problems, including a fault in the transmission control module, dirty transmission fluid, or a bad transmission solenoid.
P0657 – Voltage Problem in the ‘A’ Circuit – This transmission problem is often caused by a short, or bad ground on the PCM or PCM wiring harness.
P0700 – Malfunction in the transmission control system – This DTC is often triggered when there is a problem with the TCM, a wiring harness, a solenoid, or the valve body.
P0715 – Input/Turbine Speed Sensor Malfunction – This code typically gets stored when the input sensor cannot read the engine RPM, which can prevent the transmission from appropriately shifting gears.
P0717 – Input/Turbine Speed Sensor No Signal – This trouble code is generated when the PCM does not get a signal from the input speed sensor, which will prevent the computer from being able to determine when the transmission needs to shift.
P0791 – Intermediate Shaft Speed Sensor ‘A’ Circuit – This error can occur when there is a problem with the intermediate shaft speed sensor, most likely due to a bad sensor, wiring problem, or a failed shift solenoid.
P0793 – Intermediate Shaft Speed Sensor Circuit No Signal – The computer will generate this DTC when it cannot communicate with the intermediate shaft speed sensor.

Honda Accord Transmission Recalls

2005-2010 Honda Accord – Automatic Transmission Control Module (TCM, PCM) (NHTSA Recall: 11V395000)

Summary
In 2011, Honda recalled 2005-2010 model year Honda Accords, equipped with the automatic transmission. Manufactured between July 1, 2004 and September 3, 2010, these cars had a faulty secondary shaft bearing that could fracture and cause all sorts of damage.

Consequence
According to the recall, “certain driving styles” (see: driving it like a teenager) could cause the outer brace (the round metal band that contains the ball bearings) to fracture. If this happens:

a) The engine could stall/the Check Engine Light could illuminate, if a piece of the broken bearing gets lodged between the idle gear and a sensor housing, or:
b) Part of the bearing could become lodged in the park prawl (the metal piece that engages Park), causing the car to roll away after it’s shifted into Park.

If the latter happens, your Accord could endanger everything from pedestrians to garden gnomes.

Remedy
Honda dealers were instructed in 2011 to reprogram the transmission control module to keep this from happening. If you’re unsure if the fix was performed on your car, you can call Honda Customer Service at 1-800-999-1009. Be sure to have your VIN number handy, and refer to Honda recall #: R89

1998 Honda Accord – Automatic Transmission Bearing Failure (NHTSA Recall: 98V018000)

Summary
Back in 1998, Honda had to recall 33,966 units of the Accord Sedan and Accord Coupe, to fix a problem that prevented the automatic transmission from fully engaging Park.

Consequence
It seems that a die used to cast the transmission cover, caused an irregularity on the right-side of the cover, which prevented the park prawl (the metal piece that engages Park) actuation lever from properly engaging Park. If this happens, America’s favorite family car would roll after being put in Park – endangering many people, places, and things.

Remedy
At the time, Honda instructed its dealers to install a collar on the park prawl, which would allow the actuation lever to move freely. If you’re unsure if the fix was performed on your car, you can call Honda Customer Service at 1-800-999-1009. Be sure to have your VIN number handy.

2003-2004 Honda Accord – Automatic Transmission (NHTSA Recall #: 04V176000)

Summary
A 1 million+ vehicle recall was issued in 2004, because the automatic transmission that was installed in the 2003-2004 Honda Accord seemed to be prone to early failure. Severe gear damage/breakage could cause the transmission to unexpectedly seize, which could obviously lead to an accident.

Consequence
Due to insufficient transmission fluid flow, excessive heat can buildup between the countershaft and the secondary shaft second gears (ATF absorbs heat and carries it away from moving parts), which can result in decreased material strength, chipped gear teeth, and in extreme cases, complete gear failure (i.e. it breaks). Unusual noises will typically signal a problem. However, a broken gear can cause the transmission to completely lockup, which would bring the car to a sudden halt.

Remedy
When the recall was announced, Honda instructed its dealers to do one of two things: 1) Vehicles with less than 15,000 miles received a special ATF oil jet kit, which was installed on a fluid return line. This kit was designed to prevent the problem by injecting cooled transmission fluid directly onto the second gears. 2) If the vehicle had more than 15k miles, the dealer would inspect the gears and either install the jet kit, or install an entire remanufactured transmission. If you’re unsure if the fix was performed on your car, you can call Honda Customer Service at 1-800-999-1009. Be sure to have your VIN number handy, and refer to Honda recall #: P38

 

Honda Accord Technical Service Bulletins (TSB)

None Found

Common Problems with the Honda Accord Transmission

Lack of Response
Leaking Fluid
Low Fluid
Burning Smell
Grinding or Shaking
Whining, Clunking or Humming
Refuses to Go Into Gear
Torque Converter Issues
Valve Body Issues
Transmission Noisy in Neutral
Gears Slipping
No 3rd or 4th Gear
No 1st or 2nd Gear
No Reverse
Dragging Clutch
Trouble Codes / Check Engine Light

Can I drive with a transmission problem?

If your Honda Accord can still make it up and down the road, you might say “It’s fine, I’ll just drive it until I can get it fixed”. But that is not always a good idea, depending on the symptoms. You see, there are a lot of (very expensive) moving parts inside of a transmission, and if something isn’t right, continuing to drive with a transmission problem could damage something else.

How often does a Honda Accord transmission need to be replaced?

The overall lifespan of a Honda Accord transmission largely depends on how well it was maintained. Factory design flaws also factor into this equation, along with how/how hard you drive. But on average, we’ve seen the Honda Accord transmission last for between 130,000-180,000 miles. A high quality replacement transmission however, can last considerably longer if all of the factory design flaws have been addressed and the vehicle has been maintained.

How are Honda Accord transmission issues diagnosed?

It is fairly easy to guesstimate what the root cause of your Honda Accord transmission problems might be, but you won’t truly know unless you have the right tools and experience. A good mechanic or transmission repair center will be able to connect your truck to a computer and find out which diagnostic trouble codes (DTC’s) have been stored. Once they know what to look for, they can perform a visual inspection to verify the problem.

How is a Honda Accord transmission replaced?

In order to replace your Honda Accord transmission, the truck has to be lifted from the ground in order to gain access to all of the parts that will need to be unbolted. Then the transmission can be lowered to the ground (typically with a transmission jack), so the new transmission can be installed.

Recommendations for Honda Accord transmission issues?

To save time and get back on the road faster, have your 17-digit VIN# handy and you can get an online quote for a reman Honda Accord transmission here, then find a local shop using our Find a Shop guide to install it for you.

How to Solve Honda Accord Transmission Problems

Solution A: Buy a Used Honda Accord Transmission

The quickest way to fix your transmission problems is to simply buy a used transmission or used transmission. These can be found at most junk yards, and they often come with a 30-90 day warranty. However, there’s no way to determine the actual condition of the internal components, so you could be spending a bunch of money to have the exact same problems. Plus, that warranty only covers the transmission if it’s defective, not the labor costs that you’ll have to pay.

Solution B: Buy a Rebuilt Honda Accord Transmission

Another option would be a rebuilt transmission or rebuilt transmission. A local repair shop will remove your transmission, then install a bunch of new parts during the rebuild. The problem here is, the skills and experience of each transmission rebuilder will vary widely from shop to shop, so you could have problems from something that wasn’t adjusted properly. And the 1-2 year warranty might only cover you at certain transmission repair shops, in a specific geographical area.

Solution C: Buy a Remanufactured Honda Accord Transmission

Many owners depend on their vehicle to commute and get things done. Their gasoline engines are designed to go 100’s of thousands of miles, so it makes sense to invest in a remanufactured transmission.

What Problem Does Your Honda Accord Have?

Let us know the year, mileage and problem you’re having as well as any trouble (OBD) codes you’ve found. If you’ve been given a quote or paid for a repair, we’d like to hear about that too!

Need a replacement transmission? Get an estimate for replacement transmissions and local installation. Look up your transmission model by vehicle make and model.

What Transmission Do I Have?

In production since 1976, the Honda Accord has been one of the best selling cars in the US since 1979 and was the best selling Japanese car for 15 years between 1982 and 1997. It was the first Japanese car to be manufactured in the United States when production started in Marysville, Ohio in 1982. It has been consistently rated as one of the most reliable vehicles on the market by many road tests over the years. However, a few years have suffered from transmission issues – some of which required recalls. The name “Accord” has been used on a number of different vehicles including crossovers, wagons, coupes and hatchbacks, but the mid-size, four-door car sold in the US is most well known version of the vehicle.

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Brad
6 years ago

I got a 96 accord 278000 miles with not one problem still same fluid from factory still working as if it justed rolled off the assemble line

Josh0
6 years ago

I have a 2007 Accord sedan, and I lost my reverse for no reason, or warning. The car drove fine, shifted fine and have driven it over 1500 miles since losing the gear. I have had two other transmission failures with previous vehicle, not Honda cars, and I could tell months in advance when things were going bad. This car, nothing, no warning, just gone.
At first I could go from park to reverse, but not drive into reverse, eventually it failed. My car was not part of the recall for this year model.
I am wondering if there is an underlying issue that can be causing this? Because there was no warning, the car drove fine and I’ve had it for only 40,000 miles and could not have put more than 2 or 3 miles on the reverse gear in that time.
I am currently in the process of replacing it, and would like to know if there is anything extra that should be done to prevent this from happening again.

Mavrick
6 years ago

I have a 2002 Honda accord baby boy, when ever the engine is cool the auto transmission works pretty well but after going a few distance it jerks when taking a stop or slowing down . When the gear is back counting to 1 and makes a grinding sound while trying to make with speed

Dakota
6 years ago

I have a 2000 Honda Accord. Drove it for a hour and it started idling high then low over and over. It wont go into gear. What could it be? Its my first Honda. It was running fine then this happened all of a sudden.

Lacey
6 years ago

2010 Honda Accord
148000 miles
Just started noticing that while on freeway it sounds as if straining to shift into over drive
Winds out before shifting in worried I still owe on this vehicle

Mike
7 years ago

Hi
I have a 1992 honda Accord. After I drive on the highway and get off an exit and come to a stop sign, the transmission will not shift and then I have to turn the car off and wait about an hour for it to cool down. Then I restart and the tranny shifts as it should for a while. Then I drive locally for a while and it happens again. Is there anyone who can tell me what this could be? I really need help as I have become unemployed and cannot afford to purchase a new car, but possible if it is something that is repairable I can manage it and have transportation.
Thanks
Mike

Miguel
7 years ago

I have a 1991 Honda Accord when I shift into park it’s stays stuck in park. To shift in gear I have use the shift lock to out of gear.

Bruce
6 years ago
Reply to  Miguel

It is probably your brake light switch…..easy to replace.

Steve
7 years ago

we have a 91 accord, the automatic trans slips when in drive but if you manually shift the car it shifts fine, we were just wondering if there was some way to find out what the issue could be. My roommate said hes changed the shift solenoid and that did not fix the issue. but I think it could be something else, since if you bypass and manually shift the car there is no slipping. Thanks in advance.

Mike
7 years ago

Don’t buy honda.. this is a known issue they keep putting the flaws to generate revenue.

I have had a Honda DX civic, Honda coup, accord 97 4 cylinder , 2000 accord.
I changed the engine and transmission twice..
Spent over 9 grand for nothing. Going to sue honda. Anyone want to join me…email me..
I am in Canada..

Randall
7 years ago

I have a 1998 Honda Accord v-6 automatic it shifts fine until it gets up to temperature the it acts like it is down shifting to 1st gear while at the speed limit. thanks for any advice you can give.

jeremy
7 years ago

i have a 2000 honda accord ex 2.3 4 cyl vtech auto
i bought guy said needs a new transmission and its been sitting a lil over a year put a new transmission in it and it starts but when i give it gas it spits and sputters and wants to die i bought a new fuel pump and screen an a new throttle position sensor no vacuum leaks what else could it be

jason
7 years ago
Reply to  jeremy

check the timming and the fuel injectors

Robert Tippin
7 years ago

1997 Accord Coupe auto trans occasionally slips going into high gear. Approx. 164,000 miles.

mark gatehouse
7 years ago

my 2006 3 litre v6 Honda can run for approx thirty minutes before the transmission begins to fail and slowly looses momentum . after an hour or so it can continue and repeat all over again. I have a question. Is there an oil pick up in the transmission made of plastic that could melt under heat and prevent fluid being transferred around the box causing poor performance? PS I ask this because I recently learnet of a problem conserning the new mazda bt50 and Ford ranger. I am not mechanically minded so I could use some help. Thank you. Mark Gatehouse

Keith
7 years ago

I have a 1991 Honda Accord Ex that’s a automatic. It does not like to shift so I have to manually shift from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th gear. Any opinions?

Joe Sanders
8 years ago

Hello Honda enthusiasts Nearly traded my 2004 Accord with 27000 k Bad shifting through first and second. Spotty cruise. Then hard into park, locks in park,and won’t let go the key or start. Screw driver to the park release got me

Jason
8 years ago

I gave my car (Honda Accord) for repair yesterday as there was something wrong with the starter and the car would not start. They fixed that for me today. But I have a new problem now. I notice that as soon as I shift the gears from PARK to DRIVE4 (D4), the car would not move on it’s own and I would have to hit the gas pedal a great deal before it starts moving. This was not the case before.
Also, if this is relevant at all, the light that indicates D4 keeps blinking whether the car is on drive, park or reverse mode. This again was not the case until yesterday.
Also, the car stereo which was working until yesterday, is not working now.
The car service guys say it’s nothing that they have done and could not troubleshoot it. But the coincidence with all these happenings cause me to think otherwise. Unfortunately, my knowledge with cars is extremely poor and I humbly seek help from all you knowledgeable people out there. Any input would be highly appreciated. Hoping for the best.
Thanks,
Jason

Mike
7 years ago
Reply to  Jason

Hi Jason,

Wish I was replying to this with answers but unfortunately I am in the same boat as you. My D4 light is blinking and I have to manually work my automatic car through the gears to drive ,as it won’t drive if I go right into D4 from park (without putting my pedal to the floor). Were you able to resolve this problem with your car? If so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Mike

Joseph
6 years ago
Reply to  Jason

my 1998 did that its grounding out somewhere if im not mistaken its a positive ground

Vick
8 years ago

Hey,
I have a 2000 Honda Accord Ex 4Cyl. the car seems to run good when on Drive. the problem comes in when i put the car in reverse and start to back up slowly, it’ll roll back for a second or two, but it’ll stop rolling back and sits there. If i place the car on (N) and place it back on Reverse and feed it gas quick the car backs up fine like as if it doesn’t have any problem. What could be causing this problem? can any one tell me?

bianskie
8 years ago

I have 02 honda accord coupe 4 cyl. problem the transmission jerks of only when it goes to first gear all the time. whenever i start from park to drive and come to a full stop the car jerks off also reverse to drive it jerks off. everytime i come to stop i always keep distance from vehicle in front of me because of the jerking effect of the car, no check engine light other than that car drives fine . do i need to replace or fix the transmission . any advice will help . thank you

Michael Halbert
8 years ago

2002 Honda Accord 4 cylinder Automatic transmission slips / jerks while accelerating to pass another car. Just started 2/2/16. The car has 221,000 miles. Transmission solenoids? Or other issues?

mstern001
8 years ago

Can you tell me this? Did you let the dealership know that there’s an open recall on the car that has never been applied? If so, they are bound by legislation to fix it on their nickel, not yours.

Any time there is an open recall a dealer has “to inspect and repair” the problem, if it exists in your car, free of charge. There are no way around and and there’s no way “it’s outside warranty.” The dealer has to fix it.

If they continue to hold you off, contact Honda consumer affairs and asked them to intervene on your behalf. Remind them of the fact that the manufacturer has to honor an open recall on a vehicle no matter when it comes in for repair. As I noted, this isn’t just my opinion, it’s federal law.

Eugene Contreras
7 years ago
Reply to  mstern001

So it there a open case on the 98-00 accord transmission because mine just went out today on my way home I have 1&2 can only go about 40 miles and a new transmission is expensive

mstern001
7 years ago

Eugene,

You are 100 percent correct. There is still an open case on this. And, since there is, if you can do it, get your Accord over to your nearest local dealer. Be sure you have the paperwork with the Technical Support Bulletin information with you. When you get there, talk with the Service Manager, not a Service Writer, because the chances are good the Writer will only refer you to the Manager, anyway.

Sometimes, it may seem like there is a lot of back-and-forth between you and the Manager, but hang in there. From what I have observed of Honda dealerships — I have extensive experience with Honda — they will go out of their way to do the right thing. In this instance, they will honor the TSB and your Accord should be fixed on Honda’s nickel, not yours.

Good luck and let me know what happens.

Jim
8 years ago

I have a 2000 Accord EX-L that has started to slip when shifting from 1st to 2nd and a little bit from 2nd to 3rd. Once in a while, especially when it’s cold, the transmission won’t shift at all and the check engine light will come on.

To get the car to shift again, I have to put it in park, shut it off and then start it up again. I looked up the problem and found that there had been a recall notice from Honda. I called the previous owner and he said he never received the notice.

In this case, is there any way to get financial assistance for the cost of repairs? Honda essentially told me that they couldn’t do anything for me since it’s outside warranty.

John
7 years ago
Reply to  Jim

I have the same problem on an ’01 LX, I am looking into the shift control valves… I am going to figure this out and make this car more viable. As of now I just let it warm up and then only push it to 2k rpms (and back off for shifts from 1-2) for first 10 miles of shifting. After it gets in 4th it is fine and after some shifts it seems to stiffen up. The shop is clueless beyond a 3k replacement even though I can get a re-manufactured one for $1000 with a 1 year warranty and $700 for labor at the same shop. Even better online there is a rebuild kit for 100 and a shift kit for it for 120, so may just buy a spare to tear down and make new again. If they figure out what it was on your car let me know as it may speed up my process.
Thanks!!

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