This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The Honda Odyssey & Prelude transmissions have experienced many early (and late) failures due to higher than normal problems due to defects in material or workmanship. (higher than normal defects due to workmanship in material... are exactly the words used in the warranty extension noticed I received a few years ago. The warranty was extended to 7 years or 100,000 miles however many customers like me are conservative drivers, not pushing their vehicles to extremes, so failures often occur after the extended warranty. I called Honda to ask for assistance (discount or whatever) however they have declined. Case numbers [xxx] & [xxx]. I would like to file a complaint and ask for assistance getting Honda to own up to the issue beyond a simple warranty extension and assist with repair expenses at a Honda dealership. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2001 Honda Odyssey automatic transmission failure on 3 separate occasions as follows: First transmission failure on 20 May 2003 at 37,531 miles. Second transmission failure on 14 May 2007 at 119,849 miles. Third transmission failure on 23 April 2012 at 193,820 miles. These failures are due to a defect in the material or workmanship of the transmission for this vehicle as acknowledged by the american Honda motor company in their letter titled "automatic transmission N warranty extension" in the winter of 2002. The transmission was replaced with Honda financial assistance for the first and second transmission failures; however Honda will no longer provide assistance in the case of the third transmission failure. The failure of this transmission on the open road will cause the vehicle to come to a stop. The latter condition is hazardous on roads with heavy traffic and high road speeds. Your assistance is requested to encourage Honda to fix this defective transmission.
My husband and I bought a used 2001 Odyssey with 104,000 miles. Within a month the transmission began to slip. We looked on line and saw that the transmission for this year was on recall. We took it to the dealership who informed us that we had exceeded the recall limit by 3000 miles (we were then at 118,000). We could have a rebuilt transmission installed for $4000. We told them that was insane considering it was only a 3000 mile discrepancy for the recall.....they shrugged. We took it to aamco, who rebuilt it for $2600, a substantial savings. However, here we are, two years later and it goes again....suddenly! I was driving in tampa rush hour traffic with my two children in the car, when my tcs light comes on, and my D4 starts flashing. I felt the transmission drop when I pulled to a stop at the light. When I began to go again, it barely crawled, though registering 2500 RPM. I stopped at an auto parts store, whose computer read various codes: Driveshaft, O2 sensor, solenoid, and two others which he said were transmission related. So I begin to drive the car to aamco which is 1 mile away. I had to make a U-turn, and two lefts with the car barely moving with both of my children in the car. I get to aamco, and he tells me that I passed my warranty with him 7000 miles ago and I'm out of luck. So I dangerously chug this thing and my children home, hoping we make it. We did, but now what?
I purchased our 2001 Odyssey van in November of 2000. I used the van only in the city with low mileage about 83,300 miles. Recently, I had my check engine light go on, and sometimes the tcs light to go on and D4 light flashing. I felt the van was slipping in/out of gear and not under control. I had my local mechanic checked the van and told me that is the problem with the transmissions and probably need a whole new transmission. After researching Honda complaints for 2001 Odyssey there is definitely a design problem with transmissions.
- North Potomac, MD, USA
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The transmission first failed while my wife was driving on the freeway with my 4 children as passengers. The car started shifting irradically and becoming very unpredictable and put her in a very dangerous situation in traffic. Honda replaced the failed transmission under warranty but did nothing to prevent what was to come. Now on 2/25/12 at 108622 miles, the second transmission failed again while she was driving it started shifting to a neutral state between gears and jumping from one gear to another and emitting a loud whining noise. Again, a very unpredictable behavior on the road with my children in the car. This time there is hassle coming from Honda to honor a replacement. I also fear that the replacement won't be performed with a corrected unit as per my previous experience. This is an unacceptable safety issue knowing that this vehicle could fail at any time on the road.
The transmission began slipping between the 2nd and 3rd gears. The vehicle would slowly move forward with very little apparent thrust then would suddenly "kick" into the next gear and lurch forward, then slowly move into the next gear. Also the tcs light came on and stayed on and the green drive (D) indicator began to flash. This problem is primarily with the drive gear and not so much the reverse gear. The check engine light came on two weeks ago and has remained on. An obd code reader on 22 Feb 2012 indicated 3 different fault codes -2 generic and 1 manufacturer- with the majority of explanations indicating specific transmission faults and one- a tcc code -electrical.
While driving back from vacation in nashville, tn on I-65N the transmission began slipping and the vehicle began to slow down rapidly. The particular area in nashville did not have much of a shoulder to pull off on. My family and I were very fortunate to find an off ramp soon and exit the interstate. I found a Honda dealer in nashville and was told I would have to wait three days to wait for any kind of service. We were able to make it home to indianapolis. The transmission had to be replaced. This has happened at 43,865 miles, 85,069 miles, and just recently at 152,000 miles.
Transmission failure @ 143,169 miles on 2001 Honda, Odyssey ex van. Transmission had all required maintenance performed on the unit prior to failure. I believe this transmission was defective due to a poor manufacturing design. Honda wouldn't do anything regarding this problem due to being out of warranty even though they had extended the warranty on these transmissions because they knew there was a defect with these units. A transmission properly taken care of should last a minimum of 200,000 miles not any less and many A/T go to 300,000 miles without any problems. This transmission problem could have been life threatening if the transmission had gone out on a major interstate at high speeds.
** not buy a Honda**** purchased a Honda Odyssey on 9.22.09, had nothing but problems with the transmission a week later, trusted Honda dealer to fix the problem, problem still exists, still having problems with the transmission, its been costing me time, more time, money, aggrevation, quality of life, Honda just dont care.they cant build transmissions but they are allowed to sell cars in America!!! when will somebody do something about this!! I never owned a care like this ever!! they just cant build transmissions !!
The contact owns a 2001 Honda Odyssey. The contact was driving 60 mph when the transmission failed and caused the vehicle to stall. Smoke was released from the engine and the contact called the fire department in case of a fire. The contact also called the manufacturer and filed a complaint. The vehicle was neither diagnosed fro the failure nor repaired. The failure mileage was 145,000.
I am the original owner of a 2001 Honda Odyssey. In October, 2007, the transmission failed at 99,860 miles. The vehicle was brought to the dealership of purchase, where I was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced at a cost of approximately $4500. I gave the dealership acknowledgement to proceed with the work.the next day I was informed by a private mechanic that american Honda had entered into a court settlement which recognized the deficient transmission design and that my vehicle should be covered under the settlement. I contacted the dealer and they registered no knowledge of such a settlement. Upon my insistence they agreed to check with american Honda. My claim was substantiated and I received a replacement transmission at no cost. Unbeknownst to me, the replacement transmission contained the same design faults and failed this week with 57,000 miles recorded. The dealer and american Honda has refused to compensate me for a second replacement transmission in spite of their awareness of continuous design flaws which continue to lead to inevitable transmission failure. I believe that Honda should acknowledge that the continuous transmission failures are due to a design and manufacturing defect and take full responsibility for its replacement. To do otherwise would represent a total lack of concern for complete customer safety and protection, particularly considering the extended period of the known defect and safety hazard of a transmission failure.
1st transmission failure of my 2001 Odyssey came at 73,900 miles. Got warranted new transmission. At 84,000 miles 3rd gear pressure related to transmission had to be fixed. Not warranted. At 107,443 internal failure of transmission. Full replacement required. Service manager said that second transmission was out of warranty but agreed to charge me 50% of the $4800 dollar cost so I ended up having to pay $2410.35. Imagine, there have been numerous Odyssey transmission failures especially from my research, for the years 1999-2002. Many Honda Odyssey owners, including myself had to replace multiple Odyssey transmissions. Imagine I have only gone 107,443 miles and I'm on my third transmission. Honda has to know there was a design flaw etc., in those transmissions, but didn't recall them as they should have. I think there should be a recall of the Odyssey transmissions for the years 1999-2002. I shouldn't even have had to pay half the cost of my third latest Odyssey transmission. Honda has gotten away with murder. At least Toyota recalled the many cars that seem to be defective. Honda should be doing the same thing for its Odyssey customers.
Transmission failed unexpectedly while in traffic. This failed transmission was a replacement for a transmission that had already been replaced. Unusual to have 2 transmission failures in 150,000 miles.
2001 Honda Odyssey transmission failed March 19, 2007 at 80,726 miles for the first time. Replaced by Honda under class-action lawsuit warranty. The replacement unit failed at 137,084 miles on January 02, 2012. Thus the warranty replacement unit lasted only 56,358 miles which is substantially less than the original unit. Called Honda January 05, 2012 and asked if they could pay for the transmission and I'd pay for the labor and shop supplies. Honda rejected the request and said they were unable to assist. Not sure it was it was ever the intention of the court in finalizing the class action law suit that failure of the replacement units would follow in such short order. It's unreasonable to expect that a warranty replacement unit should last less that the 109,000 miles the court agreed to. Honda customer care reference number[xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Transmission started slipping at 116,000 miles. David hobbs dealer (milwaukee) could not duplicate. Complete failure at 178,000 miles. Rebuilt at my cost of $1900. Failed again. At 231,000, rebuilt again. At 237,500 miles slipping again on 1/3/12. Honda should have acknowledged problem and provided a free replacement trans at original start of problem.
2nd incident occurred 2 years and 8 months later. Same problem, a bad transmission at 172,868. 55,781 miles on 2nd transmission which was replaced by the dealer. Not covered because of 3yr/36K warranty.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Prior Lake, MN, USA