I have had the car for 2 months and since the drive home from the dealership it has been pulling to the right. I brought it back the next day to be detailed and brought it to the salesmans attention. He advised to make an appointment and should be easily fixed. I brought it in that week to be looked at they gave it a complete alignment. Yet on the way home it was still doing it. I brought it back the next week and did a ride along with the mechanic he advised they have been having numerous problems with the new Accords pulling to the right. He also advised me there was nothing they cound do, and to drive it a while then vring it in if it doesn't get better. So now it's been 2 months since I bought this car and it's still doing it. I have an appointment to take it back in tomorrow.
It pulls to the right.
It has a strong engine and amooth transmission.
Pulling to the right is the only problem you mentioned about this car; and yet you complimented the engine and the transmission quality. I know there have been a lot of complaints about the new accords, especially about pulling to the right, but most of the reviewers had several other problems with the accords giving them enough reason to lose respect for Honda! I don't think a car that is JUST pulling to the right is a reason to despise the whole company if that's the only problem. You might find yourself another car of another make that might also pull to the right and have a bad A/C and a bunch of other problems much worse than just pulling to the right!
I'd be pissed off too if my 2004 had problems that the dealer couldn't or wouldn't fix. That's a problem you live with in a 10 year old used car, not a brand new one that's still under warranty.
I'd also be extremely upset if my brand new car was pulling to the right. The reason it's being made a big deal is because Hondas are held to a higher standard, as a result of their reputation, and the way they are generally perceived. I'm not saying that it's acceptable for any manufacturer to produce a car that does this, but especially Honda, because most people feel that if they switch over to a Honda that they will get a vehicle that is pretty much trouble free. So, if one buys a Honda brand new, and starts having even slight problems at an early stage in ownership, they feel betrayed, and will most likely write them off for good.
Just because Honda has a good reputation for well built cars does not mean that you will NEVER get a lemon! They're machines, machines that are produced in large numbers which means that there is always going to be one out there that gives you problems! Looking for absolute perfection in a machine that has hundreds of moving parts is almost impossible. If you want to be picky, you can look at any brand new car at any lot and find SOMETHING wrong with it no matter how big or small! I'm sure pulling to the right must be annoying unless you can get used to it, and it's probably hard on the tires, but there are much worse defects that I could think of than pulling to the right! I would take a good engine and drive train with a not so great chassis any day than to have a great chassis setup and have a poor drive train! If it's that bad, see if you can't swap around and find one without that problem, or just get another make and model. (Writer of first comment)
Ditch the troubles and just get yourself a Camry. It's a much better car let alone family sedan.
I purchased a 2004 Accord EX as well. I too noticed that the car, brand new, pulls to the right. This is normal and not a wheel alignment problem. The car will pull because of the surface of the road. In most cases, the road slopes down to the right side of the road in the USA. A good way to check to see if the car is balanced is to take the car to an empty parking lot that is level in all directions. I tried this experiment and was relieved to find that the car traveled in a straight line.
I have to agree with "4th Feb 2005, 14:34", and add that when you move from a full size SUV to a sedan (Chevy Tahoe to Accord), the lighter weight and overall responsiveness might be alarming. I also notice on my commute, which includes a long stretch on I-94 with three lanes, that my Accord pulls right in the right lane, pulls left in the left lane, and relatively straight, sans tractor trailer potholes, in the middle lane. When I drive with a 10-2 grip on flat road, I feel like I'm constantly over-correcting. When I drive with my left hand or thumb at 7 o'clock, the car doesn't move. By the way, I went from a '89 Mazda 626 to the Accord Ex V6. For at least one of its 15 years, the 626 didn't have power-steering and my wife and I never noticed.
The inherent problem with selling extraordinary quality is that, when it slips, people take notice more. And should, really.
You might want to try either driving it in a level parking lot or bringing it to a reputable tire dealer to have the alignment checked. Another possible solution is to bring it to a different Honda dealer (perhaps the service department of your dealership is not up to par!) In addition, check the cold tire pressure on all four wheels and make sure that they are inflated to the correct psi.
My own 2004 Honda Accord EX V6 has been an exceptional vehicle thus far. We are extremely pleased with its comfort, handling, performance and reliability. For the money, it seems like a terrific car.
I hope you get your problem resolved soon!
My mom's Accord EX also pulls to the right. We got it checked at a local repair garage and they said to replace the front right stabilizer. My mom hasn't replaced it yet, but will it help anything? She isn't particularly annoyed about the problem though.
The Honda Accord is a very high-rated vehicle among several auto enthusiasts. Car and Driver said it was the 2005 best family sedan of the year, www. parents said it was a top pick, motortrend. com said it was a top pick, etc., etc. That is why I recommended the vehicle to my mom.
To the guy that said that the Acura TSX is the "real" Accord, the Acura TSX is the European Honda Accord and is sportier and slightly more upscale. The US Honda Accord is supposed to be more comfortable, larger and torqueier, as per many Americans' tastes, or what Honda assumes is Americans' tastes. Honda should be more unique, like the Mazda 6.
Honda still makes reliable vehicles, it's just that the Accords seem particularly plagued. All the other Honda vehicles on this site are getting very nice user reviews. But since the Honda Accord is Honda's best-selling vehicle in the U.S., this is really hurting Honda's reputation for reliability. As an alternative I recommend the new Mazda 6 or the new Chevy Malibu.
Other manufacturers are constantly making more reliable vehicles. One of the biggest improvemnts in reliability has been made by GM. They are rolling out some fine Chevy cars now. People should take a second look at Chevy. And Mazda too. And CERTAIN Fords (Ford and Mazda are related now). And Nissan. Good gosh, everyone seems to be making considerable jumps in quality.
ATTENTION everyone if you want to see what recalls have been made on your particular vehicle, log on to www.intellichoice.com.
I think that Honda representatives should be nicer with people who have problems with the Accords so they can maintain trust.
Accord pulls to the right, Camry pulls to the left, so what to choose? It is not a simple defect, it can be a safety issue or even danger in rain or on snow. These cars are overrated, guys, and it's obvious for many their owners, but not only for fools from Consumer Reports and Guides. Check government's sites about complaints and quality issues. Good luck.