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Honda Odyssey: Problems & Solutions:(1995-2004 Models)
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Comments
To answer your question the 98 Odyssey is a fine vehicle but you should still take all the usual precautions when buying a previously cherished car, even when that car is a Honda.
http://www.edmunds.com/used/1998/honda/odyssey/4drexpassengervan/overview.html?id=lin0056
Troubles so far:
- Clunking from rear brakes while reversing (Honda has no fix but applying brake disk quiet to back of pads will fix);
- Phantom sliding doors (power system gets confused if someone grabs handle to open door at nearly the same time the key fob is used - they periodically also just close part way and stop. All seems to fix after a routine service call);
- Shimmy in driver's side mirror (replaced one with no measurable improvement);
- Rubber grippers in front tray cupholders dried out.
This pales in comparison to my 97 GC that I had to "dispose" of because of an electrical problem which drained the battery after a few minutes of use. Chrysler refused to fix under warranty and told me to sue them if I didn't like their answer. Skipped the suit and bought my third Honda.
Improvements I made:
Bought 2002 rear cupholder inserts (2000 didn't come with inserts).
Improvements I would like to make:
Replace tailight unit with 2002 unit? 2000 ODY has red rear turn signals...I prefer Amber which I believe are on the 02.
Improvements Honda could make on future models:
Less wind noise in cabin.
Adjustable lumbar support in front seats.
Power Sliding Sun Roof (Moon Roof to some).
Overall...a damn good buy. Ride remains excellent. Michelins are just beginning to wear. Front brake pads will be replaced at 45K service. Interior is holding up very well (I have two small children). Fuel economy seems to be holding at 25 combined (we live in a mostly rural area). 0 non scheduled down-time. Even scheduled downtime has been kept to less than half-a-day at a time. Bought the extended warranty (mostly because this is Momma's car and if Momma ain't happy no-one's happy).
Bottom line-I look forward to buying the 05 Oddysey (I also plan on trading my other car in on the 03 Pilot).
Just a thought here but why is anyone complaining about getting 80% of their transmission paid for? If you don't have the extended warranty you should be liable for 100% of the cost. If you end up paying $1000 for a "new" tranny and the extended warranty is about $800, you're really only paying $200 for a $4000-$5000 repair. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me...
Scott
In a different formu somebody else had the same problem and their alternator itself was loose on it's mounts and it was causing the problem.
Good Luck!
Scott
I have owned my '01 GG EX since April and have 15K miles on it. The oil has been changed every 3-4K miles and the tires rotated on alternate oil changes, including 2 weeks ago. Last Wednesday, I was taking the family on a trip from Cincinnati to Myrtle Beach. While driving south on I-77 in Virginia around 9:40pm, I started to notice wheel vibration on the right side. At first I thought it was road conditions, but after about 3 minutes, it did not go away. I changed lanes to verify that it was or was not the road. The vibration did not go away and started to get to the point where my wife noticed it as well from the passenger seat.
I said I was going to get off at the next exit (about a mile) to investigate. Just as I let up on the gas at 65MPH, the right rear tire blew out. Fortunately, there was no sudden change in direction and I got over to the right shoulder within a couple hundred yards. When I got out to inspect the damage, I was surprised to see that the blowout was on the inner sidewall. Between the gravel shoulder and the lean of the van, the included jack was not sufficient to raise the vehicle to remove the tire. I called AAA and they installed the temp spare.
I inspected the tire for signs of puncture, but the tread shows no damage, nor does the sidewall that was on the outside (aside from wear from running on the flat for a short distance). The alloy rim also had no damage.
I got the tire replaced the next morning at Wal-Mart with another identical Symmetry and continued onto our destination.
I understand that Michelin warranties the tire against defects, but has anybody ever tried to make a claim? I still have the tire in my posession.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Has anyone tried to get a tire covered by Michelin under warranty? I'd like to be armed with the information before I try to take them on.
1. As I'll be purchasing a used Honda I'm concerned about these transmission problems. Any problems past the 2000 model year? For those that have had the transmission replaced, have the new transmissions held up?
2. The earlier models also seem to have problems with the front end/shimmy. Does this problem manifest itself immediately or did it develop over time?
Thanks in advance for any advice. Have done much searching and keep finding stuff I don't like on every van out there:
- Toyota S. don't like the rear seating, expensive,
- MPV, liked it until I found out it had a Ford engine
- Ford, Dodge, GM--reliability--need I say more
- Nissan right now probably my second choice
- Kia unproven
After reading numerous postings about the transmission problems owners have been having with the Ody and the raw treatment at Honda dealers, I changed my mind about buying one. A $4500 transmission bill (unless you work out a deal and grovel with the dealer and get the factory to pick up up to 80%) is not enticing; the other more minor problems don't help. This is about reliability too isn't it? How the Ody can be in a sellers market is beyond me.
If I could get a separate 100K mfr's warranty on the trans I'd consider the buy. I don't think there's much chance for that happening...and I'm not going to pay $900 for an extended warranty covering what can be viewed as defective product to begin with!
In the mean time I was looking at Toyota, but have read that their engines have been blowing out. In their case though I understand regular oil changes will prevent the problem, but it has to be on schedule and timely.
Last but not least, friends who own the Chrysler Town and Country are pleased. I haven't researched them yet. Other friends like their Chevy van. Does anybody make a good reliable van?
I'm really sorry to read that the venerable Honda name has now been trashed. Ironically the consumer reports on the Ody have been glowing, the opposite of reality. Looks like the Japanese have met their Waterloo . Just goes to show you reality is found on sites like this.
Paul
Honda's liability is limited to the failed component so I doubt you will convince them. Even if Honda won't pay for it, if it were me I'd replace them both at the same time.
Honda warranty is 3 yrs. so extended warranty only has value for years 4-7. Major components usually fail in first three years if they are defective. If you keep your cars more than 7 years you are on your own!
I would agree except that I own a EX-Navi and I will buy the warranty because I'm sure those doors will fail sometime in the first 100k. Also I just bet the Navi system would cost a pretty penny to fix.
The good news is that statement is completely false.
I serious looked at four different minivans prior to making my purchase. Since I plan to keep the minivan well into the third kid (I have two now), I was going pay for a 7/100 warranty no matter which car I choose.
It seems that all minivans do worst than cars as to breakdown and repairs. Add the fact that the wife (and me) likes bells and wistles, it does not make sense not to extend the warranty. What is the cost to replace one seat heater or a power sliding door motor? Its not just about ABS computers and drive train any more.
Even with DC's powertrain pledge, to extend the coverage to the whole vehicle costs about $1,300 after barganing.
Don't buy the Honda if you don't like the ride or the plainjane styling. But $900 warranty??? Its the best out there.
The tranny is a Jatco, not a Ford unit, and the rest is all Mazda. It's a nice van, with reliability scores better than the Odyssey in CR. You should at least consider it.
If you still choose Ody, at least you'll be glad you considered all your options.
-juice