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Honda Odyssey Transmission Problems

px260px260 Member Posts: 42
edited November 2018 in Honda
I have an '03 Honda Odyssey at 58k miles. Lately I've been having problem shifting/moving the gear selector out of "P" Park position. It takes a few times to get it to move. At first, I thought maybe I wasn't stepping on the brake pedal hard enough - but that wasn't the case. I always park on a flat surface so there shouldn't be any issues with a "transmission lock-up". Does anyone have any similar experience?
Thanks in advance for your comments.
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Comments

  • smat5smat5 Member Posts: 1
    I have an 03 ody w/ 53000 miles and just had the same problem. It happened off and on for a while then one day would not go out of park at all. It is not a transmission problem though it is the brake switch. The gear shifter is controlled by the break switch and when the small plastic bearing that triggers the switch breaks you can't get out of park. If you get stuck there is a small "cap" on the top of the steering column on the key side pop that off insert the key then you can release the gear shifter into Neutral start the car and get to the dealer.
    Good luck! I would takt it in before you get stuck though.
  • px260px260 Member Posts: 42
    Thank you, smat5, for the insight. Can you tell me roughly how much did it cost to replace the switch/bearing?
  • hondalover10hondalover10 Member Posts: 3
    On a recent quick family trip to San Diego, my 2002 EXL suddenly begain to shift un-naturally from 2nd to 3rd gear. Fwy traffic was stop-go & the tranny would shift 1-2, then in 2nd gear would suddenly soar to about 4000 rpm, before clunking quite loudly into 3rd gear. It repeated & appeared to be getting worse, so we turned around, went home and dropped the car off at our local dealer who had always given us exceptional service. At 73K miles and out of warranty, I was needless to say worried about the possibilities of a $3000++ repair bill.

    I looked through my repair records and noted that I had taken the car in a few years earlier for a transmission recall, where they installed an "oil jet kit" to put more lubrication into the engines 2nd gear area, to help keep it cool, a known 5 spd odyssey tranny problem & what seemed like a responsible thing for honda to do to recall all odysseys to check for existing damage and as a precaution, do this free service. Searching on the web, I found was alittle upset to find alot of discussions regarding Odyssey tranny problems at the National traffic Safety administration (apparently some people had even worse experiences of them locking up - a safety hazard) and there was even a stop sales order from Honda to all its dealers for all 2002 odysseys until they could all be fixed with this kit in april 2004. This was not an isolated incident.

    My dealer was somewhat non-committal when I brought it in, but eluded to the fact that Honda had often "gifted" repairs on these cars (he admitted honday was not happy about how many cars had problem!). I was very happy when a day later, my dealer called, saying honda would replace the transmission with a new model, which had all the latest fixes, at no charge (parts or labor). Although this may sound like a "gift", its something I personally expect from honda or toyota, given the premium we pay for their products and their strong reputation and committment to quality. I have my car back, it drives like new, Im alittle uncertain as to what whether they will "gift me again" if I have problems in say another 15K miles (my next door neighbor is on his 3rd or 4th tranmission on a 2001 Acura - "all gifted"), but my confidence in honda is once again maintained by how I was treated. I also love my local orange county dealer, who has never let me down now for many years. I urge anyone in similar situation to use their dealer, then if they dont get proper resolution, call honda directly and complain quite bitterly. I do believe they understand the value of repeat business, of the power of the consumer network regarding these things, and especially with honda, have an incredible pride and desire to be recognized as an ultra high quality manufacturer. The web is also a great resource to see whether you are truly the 1 in 1000 or whether your problems are systemic and something which a manufacturer has a responsibility to resolve.

    I do wonder why honda did not simply extend the warranty on the transmission to 100K for the 2002 as they did for the 2000-2001. Unless people are making things up on the web, 2002's and even 2003's still have quite a few transmission problems, but they appear resolved to work them one by one after people complain. The only thing that could have made my experience better is not having to worry that Id be taken care of (which a simply warranty extension would have done). Im also slightly miffed about the lack of information about what actually was wrong. My cars engine light code was P1750 (clutch pressure failure)and of course I was told, my problem wasnt the same as those I cited to them as reading about so widely. I am an engineer though and dont believe that one bit. Im sure the dealers have strict rules with Honda Corp reg what to say to consumers.

    Best of luck to others in similar situation :)
  • mechacknicmechacknic Member Posts: 2
    I have a 1999 Odyssey with 122K+ miles on it. The transmission recently started having trouble shifting and I (brazenly?, foolishly?) decided to rebuild it myself. I bought a rebuild kit from Makco and am ready to go.

    I have the transmission off from the car and have removed all of the various outer parts and the torque converter. I have taken off the back cover and removed the shift rod linkages on the back. I have removed the bolts around the perimeter of the case and I can separate the front section from the mid-section of the case by approx. 5/8" but that is as far as it will go. It seems that it might be hanging up on the main shaft somehow but I don't see how.

    Can anyone tell me the magic key to finish opening up the case so that I can get to the clutches, bands, etc. inside?

    I appreciate any advice. :confuse:
  • heatherzgheatherzg Member Posts: 2
    We bought a '99 Odyssey EX with 70K miles on it in 2002 having had great luck with Hondas in the past. 45 days after we bought it at CarMax we were told it needed a new transmission. Had it replaced and paid labor only, then the recall came out and they paid us back for the labor. Fast forward to last week, the lights are on again and now it is making awful noises. It has about 125K miles on it now. We are afraid that the replaced transmission needs to be replaced again and that its not worth the money to do it at this point, were planning to trade it in for a Civic in 9 months or so anyway. Any experience with having the replacement transmission fail? Any advice for dealing with the dealership?

    Thanks.
  • sal75024sal75024 Member Posts: 2
    I bought (brand new at the time) a 2000 Honda accord coupe. At 32,000 miles I noticed that I was having problems with the transmission. The dealership replaced it for free under the original 36,000 mile warranty. Since 2002, I have replaced 4 transmissionsunder the recall. The dealership took care of me but what about all the hassles for me and wondering if this will continue. I decided to call the Honda plant in Ohio and get this resolved. They agreed 4 transmissions was ridiculous and offered to put in a brand new one if it happened again. (not reconditioned)
  • sal75024sal75024 Member Posts: 2
    I own a 2000 Accord coupe that is under the transmission recall. Since 2002, I have replaced 4 transmissions under the warranty. Your new transmission should be covered and they should continue to replace it until your issue is resolved. The problem is-the replacement transmissions are not new and all reconditioned through Honda....
  • ody02tjkody02tjk Member Posts: 66
    HondaLover10:

    We are in a similar situation as you have detailed. We have a 2002 EX-L, bought new, serviced always at Honda Dealer, with 61750 miles. Transmission started slipping a few weeks ago. This past Monday, we had the 60K service done (including another tranny flush and fill). Yesterday, it was slipping in 2nd gear almost constantly. Took it in today, and they are telling us new transmission (at $4500), and will NOT be covered. We did not buy at extended warranty, as we did not think it would be needed. What were you able to do to get your dealer and/or American Honda to cover the cost of your repair? Any idea on what needs to be said in order to get them to "gift" the repair? Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
  • heatherzgheatherzg Member Posts: 2
    We just got ours back today having had the rebuilt transmission replaced again. Honda footed the bill for the transmission, we paid for labor ($700). The first time my husband went in armed with information from the web that Honda was offering a "good will" warranty on the transmission and they were willing to go along with it. This time there was little discussion, we have been working with the same service advisor so he took care of it. Best of luck!
  • ody02tjkody02tjk Member Posts: 66
    I heard from the dealer on Friday, and they offered at rebuilt transmission, with Honda paying for the parts, and we need to cover the installation. I was quoted $750 for the work. Do you know if any one is getting Honda to cover the entire cost on any of the 2002 Odyssey's? What exactly is their "goodwill" warranty? Was there any warranty for the rebuilt transmission? If so, for how long? This is our first transmission rebuild....how many have you had done?
  • gobears75gobears75 Member Posts: 5
    My 1999 Ody with 118,000 miles is giving me fits.
    The tranny is acting up and missfiring - Dealer replaces the tranny (we pay 25%), the car runs good.

    8 weeks later it is missfiring again - Dealer says cat convert, valve job, and finds other problems, we don't do the cat converter, or valve job, runs good leaving shop

    4 weeks later, missfiring again, take it to my local shop, bunch of codes, but they can not figure out what the problem is, they don't believe the cat converter is causing my problem
    All they do is clear codes, car runs good leaving shop

    I borrow a friends code reader, I drive the car (usually my daugher drives it) after awhile I detect slight missfiring, over several reading and resets, P0300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 420, 1399. Can not find any info on P1399. At first the reset would help for awhile 50 to 100 miles. Now it only turns off the check engine light, soon the symptons come back. Oh yes, the TCS light comes on some times. Turning the engine off a stop light and turning back on will turn off the TCS light. :sick:

    Anyone have any ideas. Anyone think the EGR has anything to do with this.
  • kalody2002kalody2002 Member Posts: 2
    I have 2002 Ody with 74,000 miles on it. Lately, I have notice that once in while engine drops power and RPM goes 3500 to 4000+ to just change 1 or 2 gear. Has anyone seen this problem? I called Honda for warranty and of course it is expired, but they are willing to look into. But what she, Honda customer Service person, told me that they need all maintenance records. I get my maintenance done at my own mechanic shop not at Honda dealer. She said they may not cover it even if its transmission problem.

    Question is Any one is experience this?

    I would appreciate for any help or advice on how to convince dealer? I know I will have hard time to convince them.
  • nzorronzorro Member Posts: 3
    I had this same problem with my 1999 ody. The problem i had only happens when the car is very cold (early in the morning), it would not shift gear and the RPM goes very high. I engine light came on, they determined the code was P730 which was transmission problem. They say this could be caused by driving in D3 for a long time and over 80 km/hr.

    Honda extended the warranty on the transmission for up to 16000km.
    Do not let them get away with it?. The Honda odyssey (1999 -2003) had transmission problems and they know. They should fix it period.
  • steelers0118steelers0118 Member Posts: 3
    I purchased a used 2001 EX (from friends), knowing that they had gotten it from a broker and that it came from Canada, but had no idea what a mess that could lead to. Now my transmission has failed, my local dealer can't get any warranty coverage because American Honda says it's a Canadian, which they don't cover, and even my extended warranty company (Heritage) says they won't cover it because Honda issued a warranty update! Does ANYONE have any suggestions? I am unemployed and don't have $3000 for a new transmission.
  • gobears75gobears75 Member Posts: 5
    Honda has extended the warranty to 100K, at least my 1999, and I just got a class action deal in the mail the other day, looks like it is now 109K miles. Check on Honda website Owner link. It should tell if your Ody is covered. My mechanic told me the tranny was bad, when I took it to the dealer, they said no at first and then said yes it is.
  • pgnagelpgnagel Member Posts: 60
    Replying to: mechacknic (Oct 29, 2006 7:38 pm)
    Have you had any luck getting the tranny open? I also have a 1999 Odyssey with 121,000 on the clock. The TCS and engine check lights came on last week and it's shifting 'funny', much softer than usual. Those seem to be the classic failure symptoms, so I figure it's time to rebuild or replace the transmission.

    The best price I can find on a rebuilt unit is $1,250 from an outfit in Phoenix, with a 12 month warranty. I was thinking about just rebuilding it from front to back, but I'm limited on the amount of time I can take for the project. The family will probably only tolerate about 4 days start to finish.

    I'm pretty mechanically inclined and I've been doing my on maintenance for about 15 years. I typically do oil changes, brake jobs, suspension, clutches, etc. so I feel kind of comfortable, but I also know that an automatic transmission rebuilt is a daunting task to say the least. I would be interested to see how you are doing on your project.

    Thanks,

    Paul N
  • ody02tjkody02tjk Member Posts: 66
    We have a 2002 also, with only 61500 miles. Please see my prior posts for all the gory details. The best thing I can recommend is that you get it checked at the dealer. IF it is the transmission, I suggest you go through the dealer to the zone manager for covering the cost of at least part of the transmission. Ours was not under the extended warranty either, but the dealer and Honda NA offered to cover all parts, and we only needed to cover the installation. While the offer is not ideal, at least they are covering a large part of the cost. IF you have problems with the dealer, or they refuse to pay for any of it, call Honda US Customer Service at 1-800-999-1009. It was helpful if you have has your service at the dealer, but in lew of that, be ready to forward most of your maintenance records.
  • bimmerangbimmerang Member Posts: 9
    I recenlty changed tranny fluid myself. After that I tried to shift through all gears to see how it feels and found out it doesn't shift to D1 and D2. However, I never tried these two gears before so I am not sure if I did something wrong in the process of fluid change or it's always been like that. My transmission apparently had the recall done since I saw the oil jet mounted on it. Any idea why I am having shifting problem with D1 and D2?
  • blackexv6blackexv6 Member Posts: 503
    Your tranny is failing. My 2000 Odyssey did the same thing & then the TCS & check engine light came on.

    Get the tranny for free from Honda. Make sure you let them know that you are well informed on the Honda V6 transmission failures.

    If your car has over 100k miles then just pay for the labor or parts whatever is cheaper.
  • bimmerangbimmerang Member Posts: 9
    Thanks for the info. I did a quick search on the board today and was shocked to see so many posts complaining about oddyssey tranny. With the problem of this scale, I am wondering why Honda is not replacing every transmission for fee, instead, I saw different outcome to the complaint. Based on your experience, what's the best way to approach my dealer for this problem? My car has only 26k miles on it.
  • user777user777 Member Posts: 3,341
    if you changed the tranny fluid yourself, you didn't run the shifter through it's paces?

    before thinking all is lost, bring it in and have it looked at. possibly a shift lever/cabling issue.
  • bimmerangbimmerang Member Posts: 9
    No, I couldn't shift through all gears in the process of refilling because the fluid will splash out of the fill hole when the engine is running. I tried to cycle through all gears after the refilling that's when I found out the problem. Is it necessary to shift through when refilling? Also, where is the shift lever/cabling located so I can take a quick look before bring it in. Thanks.
  • blackexv6blackexv6 Member Posts: 503
    link title

    Looks like there is a class action law suit against Honda with the transmission failures.

    It's about time...a tranny failture on the highway can be dangerous. I know first hand...2003 Accord V6, 40k miles (bought new) failed uphill on I-78 in New Jersey, barely moved off the road in heavy truck traffic.

    Also, my 2000 Odyssey with 135k is on its 3rd transmission (all free replacements). Instead of putting another defective tranny in the cars, Honda should have sued their supplier & demanded an engineering solution to the problem.

    Now I'm dealing with the 2000rpm drone on my new '06 Odyssey. Some say I'm a glutton for punishment.
  • blackexv6blackexv6 Member Posts: 503
    link title

    Looks like there is a class action law suit against Honda with the transmission failures.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,384
    You're a glutton for punishment.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • rafe82abnrafe82abn Member Posts: 1
    Same here, 2002 Ody with 60k miles. It cost me $3,100 to have the transmission and motor mounts replaced at a local transmission specialist (excellent reputation). I wish I could have found this forum earlier and at least tried at the dealer. I have called Honda and two local dealers and they all said I am out of luck because I already had the transmission replaced.

    I guess I will have to wait and see if there is another class action to include the 02's and 03's.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,384
    Man, that brings up an issue I debate with myself. My 02 is now up to 110K and is on its second transmission (replaced around 65K). My question will be what to do should the current one fail. If Honda will do something for me that would be fine, but otherwise I;d take it to local transmission guy who would rebuild it himself for a lot less than an out of warranty Honda repair.

    I plan to keep the van to 200K and am basically making car payments to myself so I'll be ready when the time comes.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • bimmerangbimmerang Member Posts: 9
    Can anybody confirm my problem is or (is not) a result of fluid change I performed myself? I don't go to the dealer for regular services and may have tough time arm wrestling with them.
  • bg18947bg18947 Member Posts: 184
    I just had the tranmission changed on my '00 Odyssey with just under 60K miles, under the extended warranty. I've driven two tanks of gas since then and it appears that my gas mileage has dropped. It seems like the new tranny has problems shifting from 3rd to 4th. The old bad one had trouble going from 1st to 2nd with a thunking sound and also experienced slippage. I hope this replacment tranny isn't going to give me problems.
  • mstrangemstrange Member Posts: 2
    I purchased the van NEW from a local dealer. They told me that they had purchased the vans from a Canadian dealer (because of the demand for these at the time) and converted them (instrument panel, exhaust etc.) and that this were made on the same assembly line. They also had a third party warranty on the van. I have 110,000 miles on it and am getting a P0740 error code which is "The PCM has determined that a malfunction exists in the electrical circuit for the torque converter clutch." This is a sign of needing a new transmission!

    If I would have wanted a Hyundai or Kia I would have bought them. They are offering a 100,000 mile warranty and I could have saved a bundle of cash. Instead I went with a reliable name and now feel like I am getting burned. I have not talked to the dealer yet, but think Honda should replace all of these that need it regardless of miles, due to a fault of this transmission.

    Now that I have treated the car well and been able to get 110,000 miles from a defective transmission I get punished. It also looks like I will get the double shaft according to what I have seen others posted with Canadian versions - Honda America says we can not touch it and Honda Canada says you have it registered in the US. Can Honda not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing!?

    Someone from Honda should be on these boards and giving some feedback. Another option is to give this a LOT of publicity (local news, letters to editors etc.) and see if they will step up to the plate. I love this van, but I do expect it to run well into the 200,000-300,000 miles if not why buy this and pay the extra?

    Mike
  • blackexv6blackexv6 Member Posts: 503
    There is a class action settlement suit against Honda for the defective transmissions. They are extending warranties to 109,000 miles in V6 equipped Honda & Acuras from '99-'03.

    You are entitled to a free transmission replacement. Many people are reporting "goodwill" consideration from Honda well beyond the mileage warranty. I heard many are paying for the labor & Honda will buy the parts. If you have over 110k.

    Here is a link for the settlement link title

    With your case, don't pay anything!!!!
  • bobber1bobber1 Member Posts: 217
    My goodness. The car has 110,000 miles on it! I'm not saying it should be going bad, but to expect Honda to foot the entire bill for a tranny with that many miles on it is unreasonable. I don't know of any manufacturer including the likes of Cadillac, Mercedes, BMW who will warrantee their tranny that long.

    Before you get mad, contact Honda and see what they'll offer to do. As other posters have noted, they know they have a problem and have offered to do more then most manufactures would.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    I can understand your frustration but in reality I have little sympathy.

    Back when you bought this Odyssey, there were waiting lists and over MSRP pricing - I know as I was on 2 of them for 12 weeks. You bought this gray market vehicle and knew exactly what you were getting into. It was a "used" car and came with an aftermarket warranty - you knew Honda wasn't covering it. You probably didn't have to deal with a waiting list and didn't pay over MSRP. You probably felt you were getting a better deal than the rest of us.

    Now it's come back to bite you. You realize the only people who made out on this deal were the two dealers who were involved in this cross border trade. Back then with the exchange rate, the MSRP in US$ was less in Canada - hence Honda actually made less money on units sold in Canada.

    Canada is considered a separate market from the US. Honda Canada is a different company than Honda America. All auto manufacturers clamped down on warranty for these gray market vehicles. And NAFTA doesn't apply in consumer purchases - it's designed to make B to B cross border transactions easier.

    I wish you luck but when a deal is too good to be true...

    Flame suit on.
  • blackexv6blackexv6 Member Posts: 503
    My goodness. The car has 110,000 miles on it! I'm not saying it should be going bad, but to expect Honda to foot the entire bill for a tranny with that many miles on it is unreasonable. I don't know of any manufacturer including the likes of Cadillac, Mercedes, BMW who will warrantee their tranny that long.

    As you are aware, Honda vehicles are more expensive to purchase than equivalent American models. I pay more money therefore I expect more.

    If you can get 200k miles on a $18k Chevy Venture transmission. One would expect a $30k Odyssey to last just as long or longer.

    Most people buy Honda for reliability. Just look at one of their recent sales brochures "Every Honda is a model of smart value, thanks to timeless design, loads of standard features, legendary reliability, and extended maintenance intervals".

    My old beater was a '94 Ford Tempo & it ran well over 250k miles with the original engine & transmission.

    100k miles is a premature failure for a transmission in today's market.
  • bobber1bobber1 Member Posts: 217
    I disagree..

    All makes profess to be reliable.

    Statistically you're going to have breakdowns that will occur anytime with any vehicle. When you pass 100,000 miles mark you're well into the period of increasing problems and that's why most manufacturers stop warrantee's on vehicles well before that threshold(Hyundai's only offering it to buy market share and to overcome a lot reliability issues they've had with earlier models.). Throw in drivers who tow more weight than the transmissions are designed for and the reliability question becomes even more murky.

    Chevy's are a poor comparison because while they have some issues; there power train isn't one of them. The GM 4 speed transmission gets critqued for being old, but it's darn reliable and shifts fairly smooth. I've owned a lot of them and 200,000 to 300,000 miles is very easy to do. Now they have problems with intake manifolds and electronics, something the Honda doesn't.

    I'm not saying your transmission should be failing. I am saying it's unreasonable to expect Honda to foot the whole bill on a vehicle with that many miles. Besides while the light has come on, I think you said it's still working. If you think you can't live with it, trade it while it's still working, get the legendary Honda resale value, and buy that Chevy Venture. :shades:
  • blackexv6blackexv6 Member Posts: 503
    bobber,

    I agree with most of your points. Manufacturers can't warranty a car forever for free. However, the Honda V6 transmissions were defective with very high failure rates. I had 2 replacements in 100k miles on my 2000 Odyssey.

    What people don't know is when Honda replaces your transmission, you get back the same defective design. Problem not solved just delayed again for another early failure.

    I can't comprehend why Honda didn't force Aisin (transmission supplier) to come up with an engineering fix for the problem. This class action suit may not be the last we hear of this debacle. People are going to be upset again when their "replacement" transmission fails agiain after 30k miles.

    The fact that Honda took responsibility for a design error shows great integrity. They extended the warranty to 100k before the class action suit. Other manufacturers probably would wait until a law suit occurred before fixing a design error. Hence, why I still buy Hondas after having tranny failures on my Odyssey & '03 Accord.

    Tell a prospective Honda buyer that the transmission in their new Odyssey/Accord/Pilot will probably not last much past 100k. You would see a dramatic drop in Honda sales - guaranteed.

    Also, The Hondas of the past ran 200k miles usually without major mechancial problems. Hence how they built their reputation. We started buying Hondas for this very reason.
  • veenstra56veenstra56 Member Posts: 1
    After reading all these posts about the transmission problems on Odysseys, I'm not so sure that I want to bother, but would I be covered by Honda's 109k tranny warranty if:

    1) I buy used '03 Odyssey
    2) I buy from a NON-Honda dealership
    3) I don't go to a Honda dealership to have tranny fluids
    changed

    Also, is there a way to determine if one particular Odyssey is problematic vs. another simply by looking at the VIN number? Or would Honda give me this information if I called them?

    Any opinions or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks.
  • blackexv6blackexv6 Member Posts: 503
    The extended 109k mile warranty covers the vehicle whether you buy it from a Honda dealer or private sale.

    I bought my '00 Odyssey used from a Toyota dealer & they replaced my transmission twice with no questions asked. It helps if you establish a repoir with a local Honda dealer & use them for service maintenance, oil changes, etc.

    Also, most of the transmission failures occurred on the '99-'01 Odyssey's with the 4-speed auto. The '02+ Odysseys have a 5speed transmission.

    My opinion you should buy the car if you like it. The '03 & '04's are probably the best Odysseys to buy. They hold their value so be prepared to pay $$$$.

    A new '07 EX costs around $26k so weigh it out. I personally think the '03,'04's are built much better than the new ones (I own a '00 & '06 Ody). My new one has a droning defect that cannot be fixed & it is truly a shame we have to live with an otherwise great car.

    If you have the VIN# you can check the coverage on the Honda transmission settlement webite.

    Here's the link link title
  • bobber1bobber1 Member Posts: 217
    Blackexy6,

    Good posts.

    I'm just curious why the heck you hung onto your Odyssey after the first transmission went out?? Especially since you know there is a design flaw. I would have dropped it like a ton of bricks after getting it fixed and moved onto bigger and better things(and yes probably would have switched to a Toyota who has had none of these problems)

    Knocking on wood, I'm glad I just bought a new 2007 Honda Odyssey EX.
  • panmaxpanmax Member Posts: 24
    "would I be covered by Honda's 109k tranny warranty if:
    1) I buy used '03 Odyssey"

    Comments for USA market cars only, not Canada, not grey market. For USA market, some were made in Canada. Here is a link about the class action lawsuit. http://www.hondatransmissionsettlement.com/php/login.php

    No. Not 2003 model. Original warranty 3yrs 36000 miles on 2002-2004. Or per extended warranty if bought at extra cost, time and mileage limits vary with price of extra cost warranty options. On 99-2001, 7 years, 100,000 miles extended warranty for free on transmission only. Class action lawsuit is 109,000 miles or 93 months on 99-2001 Odyssey and several other Honda Acura transmissions. Not for 2002-2004 Odyssey.

    "2) I buy from a NON-Honda dealership."

    Possibly if it is within warranty or class action lawsuit.

    "3) I don't go to a Honda dealership to have tranny fluids
    changed "

    Maybe if Honda repair place believes you changed ATF by the recommended schedule.

    "Also, is there a way to determine if one particular Odyssey is problematic vs. another simply by looking at the VIN number? "

    Odysseys as a group for that year have problematic transmissions. Even if the recall repair was done.

    "Or would Honda give me this information if I called them?"

    Might deny everything. At least local dealer denied that any problem existed.
  • blackexv6blackexv6 Member Posts: 503
    The first transmission failed around 90k & the second around 97k. I'm not sure why the replacement failed so quickly but we have 136k on it now.

    Basically, we kept the car because it is paid off & couldn't trade in with 100k miles. So...we are running it for free except gas & oil changes. Actually, I like it better than my wife's new '06 Odyssey EXL/NAV/RES...much smoother & quieter engine.

    I am leasing next time because Honda runs great money factor specials & they have probably the best lease programs (for moderately priced cars).
  • mstrangemstrange Member Posts: 2
    Thanks for everyones input. The dealer told me that the van was Canadian and that they had converted it. They did say that they were selling me a third party warranty, but I understood it to be a "better" deal (third party warranty was longer than standard) as they had imported the van and converted it. I did believe the dealer (which is my mistake) that there was no difference. Also, I paid list price for this van. In 2000 there was a waiting list for these and they had an ad of new Vans in stock and I went over. So buying this allowed me to get the van instead of wait 3-6 months. Hind-sight says that I should have waited, but I listened to the dealer.

    I have not talked to the dealer as of yet since this happen just before Christmas and I thought that I need to be talking to the service manager and he may be out this week due to vacation. So my plan is to go just after the new year and see what they have to say. I will update this when I have additional info.

    Another question for all - I still love this van and would like to keep it. If I need to put a transmission in it myself, what are my best options (costs, dependability etc.) and how dependable are the new transmissions as I see some having two or three replaced? Thanks for your help!

    One other question is I see many from 1999-2003 vans listed having this issue. Was this fixed in 2004 and newer?

    Mike
  • post4edmundspost4edmunds Member Posts: 2
    I bought a new '00 Odyssey EX online from carsdirect.com.

    (An aside: Back in 2000, the EX was in high demand and there was a $5K market premium which I refused to pay to the dealer. Enter carsdirect.com. I ordered the car through the web site, chose my color, put down a $1K deposit on my credit card. Very cool. I paid MSRP but no market premium to carsdirect. When I took delivery of the minivan a couple of weeks later, I happened to see carsdirect.com's delivery papers and noted that online company had, in fact, paid a $3K market premium to the dealer from whom the Honda Odyssey was acquired. The cost of the premium was not passed on to me! Needless to say, the carsdirect does not directly sell cars anymore. End Aside.)

    Transmission failed at 108K in 2004 -> Took to a local dealer -> a repair rep was nice enough to whisper to me that this condition was quite common and well-known and if I raised a stink, Honda would cover the replacement. I did (create a stink), and they did (cover it 100%). Transmission failed again at 128K. Covered again, 100%. This one was tricky since, technically, the 12K/12 month warranty was expired. However, the dealer went to bat for me and Honda covered the cost 100%.

    Now the car has 158K and I am shopping for an '07 EX-L or Touring. Does anyone know if the transmission problem has been fixed definitively in the '07 Odyssey model? Or should I go w/ the Sienna XLE Limited AWD?

    Finally, I agree with the many previous posts which imply that Honda should be held to a higher standard than other automakers when it comes to quality. If a non-Honda tranny fails, on average, at around X miles, a Honda tranny should fail, on average, at Y miles, where Y miles is much larger than X miles.

    After all, Honda automobiles command a price premium and Honda has successfully built a strong brand on the back of its reliability history. The Honda brand is a promise (for you marketing experts) to us consumers which the Company needs to fulfill. If it can't deliver on that promise, either the brand needs to step off its pedestal or the prices need to come back to Earth (or both)...

    So, is the transmission fixed in the '07 models?
  • blackexv6blackexv6 Member Posts: 503
    I think it is safe to say the transmission problems have been addressed in the '07 Odyssey. The '07 has a 4-shaft design shared with the Ridgeline & Pilot. If it were me, I would buy the '07 & not worry about a tranny failure.
  • rockdoctorrockdoctor Member Posts: 1
    I've got a 1999 Odyssey that is on its 3rd tranmision. The The first on went with about 80k on it and Honda replaced it free. The next time with 120k Honda said that it would cost $4,000 for a rebuilt transmition.

    I had it rebuilt for $1,800. The gentleman who did the work said that the problem was that metal was flaking off of the torque converter and clogging the filter screens, which caused low fluid levels and pressure.
  • brutscher1brutscher1 Member Posts: 1
    I just returned from Florida, w/o our 02 Odyssey because the second transmission failed at 101,000. The Honda dealership went to bat with Honda and got the 3rd transmission replaced for free (including labor). Basically Honda is using rebuilt transmissions of the same design, with the same flaws so I would guess that yours will fail sometime before 200K.
  • cgfcgf Member Posts: 1
    Mike,

    My situation sounds somewhat similar to yours. I bought a 2000 Odyssey in November of 1999. It is a Canadian "grey market" vehicle, which I bought in Washington from a non-Honda dealer with a third party warranty that has long since expired. About two weeks ago, the "check engine" light came on. After checking with Honda, they suggested that we drive it for a while to see if it would go off on its own. It did go off after about a week, but promptly came back on again. We then took it to a Honda dealership, who said that the error code for this problem (P0740) required that the transmission be replaced. We haven't actually had any problems with the transmission yet, so I was a little shocked. After doing some research, I've found that the transmission problems are fairly common after all. I was just wondering what happened in your particular case. If anyone has any adcvice, I'd love to hear it. Thanks.
  • mechacknicmechacknic Member Posts: 2
    Sorry I got quiet on this topic for too long.
    Yes, I did get the transaxel open, put in the rebuild kit, closed up, back in the car, and it seems to be working fine.
    Here is what I learned: It comes apart from the back, there are 3 large gears (in series) that have size 34 mm nuts holding them on to large threaded shafts. Those have to come off first. Beware: two of them are LH threads, and the other is RH. What makes no sense at all is that the one RH threaded nut is not the one in the middle. All 3 nuts are have flanges that are dinged into a flat spot on each shaft so they have to be cut with a cold chisel before they will come off. Once I had the nut flanges cut, I rented an impact wrench to give me the power to get the nuts off without using a long torque arm since it is hard to keep the gears from spinning.
    When the tranny went back into the car, it apparently had some serious leaks. By that time I had it taken to a (thankfully honest) transmission shop who said that there were just some loose "plates" and a bad seal. They took care of the leaks and the transmission worked.
    The only other note of interest is that the kit I bought (from Makco) did not have everything in it that I needed. Specifically I had to buy a filter and 3 replacement nuts for those 3 large gears (they have to be cut off with a cold chisel).
    Good luck if you decide to tackle this one yourself.
    Dustin
  • jkgreyhoundjkgreyhound Member Posts: 1
    Thank you HondaLover for your detailed description. Our 2002 Odyssey "torque converter/clutch system" failed. And the Honda Dealership was going to charge us $4480 to put in a re manufactured transmission.

    Based on your experience and after talking with local transmission places, I learned that this chronic problem. I called back the dealership and they reduced the price to just labor ($800). Much better...not a gift...but better.

    I wish others luck with this issue.
  • soterosotero Member Posts: 1
    Hi,

    I am in the same boat. With the 2000 ODY still at the dealers and renting a car until I figure out what to do. The dealer told me initially he would exchange it but took three days to tell me (today) that it would not be covered. When I bought the van I also got the 3rd party warranty from Heritage that served me for very little. In less than a year from getting the van it had a leak in the gas tank and I had to hop between three dealers to find one that would take that "good for nothing" warranty. I would also like to hear some advise in this matter.
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