CarComplaints.com Notes: The entire 2nd generation Odyssey (1999-2004) is just one giant transmission problem waiting to happen.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,049 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2002 Honda Odyssey engine problems

engine problem

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2002 Honda Odyssey Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #30

May 012023

Odyssey

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I've noticed that while driving the vehicle maintains speed/accelerate (without gas pedal pressed, and with cruise control off). I have to constantly fight the vehicle's constant acceleration with brakes. While idling, it keeps going to high RPM and then reduce and then high RPM.

- San Ramon, CA, USA

problem #29

Apr 042016

Odyssey

  • miles
The 2nd and 3rd gear slips..... speedometer is off the clock

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #28

Oct 122015

Odyssey

  • miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Odyssey. While driving approximately 15 mph, the vehicle accelerated independently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic were it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Willow Street, PA, USA

problem #27

Oct 122015

Odyssey 4-cyl

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2002 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle independently accelerated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 04/06/16

- Union Springs, NY, USA

problem #26

May 012015

Odyssey

  • 146,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Odyssey. While shifting into drive, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact crashed the vehicle into multiple objects before coming to a stop. The contact stated that the engine revved even while the vehicle was stopped. A police report was filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the insurance company deemed the vehicle totaled. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 146,000.

- Boise , ID, USA

problem #25

Apr 102015

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 79,000 miles
The car is S stalling and bubbling. It is like im in nuetral all the sudden.

- Fishers, IN, USA

problem #24

Sep 102014

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 69,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On 9/10/14 I started noticing transmission slipping/down-shifting at 40mph/2K RPM many times during a less than an hour drive. RPM would suddenly jump to 4K, and then comes back while the car suddenly jerks/slows as if it's put on engine brake. Vehicle is 2002 Odyssey and has 69K miles. Took the car to Honda dealer where the car has been serviced for years and they were able to reproduce the issue, and I was told it requires a new transmission which would cost $3700 for a reman transmission with 3-Y/36 kmil warranty. Talked Honda America and tried to "seek goodwill assistance for transmission" per some recommendations. They took my info, and details, and eventually told me they reviewed their parameters, and decided this is not a case they are willing to assist. Checked my maintenance record and was able to find a recall repair performed many years ago. I searched online and found there are tons of such transmission issues reported on Honda Odyssey. In some cases, there seems to be require a transmission replacement every 50K miles or so. Apparently Honda has been knowingly selling such defective transmissions for many years w/O telling the customers. I'm disappointed to say the least at Honda America, and the so called Honda quality which is proved to be a costly myth. I have a Hyundai with close to 90K miles and so far I don't have any transmission/engine issues. I think I'm done with Honda.

- Superior, CO, USA

problem #23

May 022012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 58,000 miles
When slowing the car (pulling into the garage and pulling into a parking spot) the car has accelerated when I have applied the brake pedal. This has happened multiple times. The incident was reported to our local Honda dealer. They said they were not aware of any problem.

- Ft. Collins, CO, USA

problem #22

Aug 142013

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 169,000 miles
I was entering an interstate on a crowded day with construction cones on the side of the road. I had to accelerate quickly to get into a lane, and hit the gas pedal. I let up on the pedal once I was on the highway, but the pedal was stuck. I tried to pull it up, but it would not move. I could not get over, as the shoulder was blocked, so looked for an exit. I tried to shift into neutral, but it did not slow the car when I did. The only success I had at all in slowing the car (I was going 70mph when it stuck) was in holding the brakes, which I did. I finally saw an exit where I could get off, and I did, holding the brakes as hard as I could while throwing the car into park and killing the engine. It was only by turning the car off that I was able to stop it. When we started the van later, there was a horrible smell (probably the brakes), but the pedal came unstuck. My mechanic discovered that the cruise control had gotten stuck, and he disconnected it. It is the most terrifying car experience I have ever had, and I am only thankful that I was alone in the car, and not with my children. I was incredibly lucky, was completely traumatized, but have had to get over it because my job requires a great deal of driving. I don't trust my van, even though I know the cruise control is not connected. What else will it do now!? I have been unhappy with visibility in this van, already, and this confirms that I will never again purchase another one.

- Framingham, MA, USA

problem #21

Aug 012013

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 74,560 miles
When we are going uphill from full stopped it seems the transmission is not picking up and it sounds like slippage of the gear. Then the yellow check engine indicator lights up and when we got home I grabbed my code reader and says P0730 incorrect gear ratio and P0505 idle. There is no crash but almost because the car behind us are really fast going uphill and because im not pressing the brake so most likely he didn't see that were are not moving with the current flow of traffic plus it happened at night at around 11:05 pm after I dropped off my wife to work. My foot is in the gas pedal when I noticed we are not accelerating no matter how much you press the gas pedal. All you can hear is slippage of gear but idle is going up without power.

- La Mirada, CA, USA

problem #20

Jun 192013

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 121,470 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vehicle started jerking around 40 mile per hour giving abnormal revolutions. The vehicle was moving at 10 miles per hour after a few minutes eve with the push of accelerator with sudden jerks.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #19

May 032010

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
Honda Odyssey vehicles apparently have a well known transmission problem. Models from multiple years (including mine: 2002) have short lives compared to any other vehicle I've seen before. Worse yet, Honda refuses to admit that this is a problem, nor will Honda offer any help paying for the very costly repairs. And worst of all, even if the transmission is replaced (ultimately, the only fix that Honda recommends), the new transmission will also fail prematurely! besides causing outrageous repair and maintenance costs, it's really a dangerous problem for the public besides. The transmission can fail unexpectedly leading to an accident.

- Fairview Heights, IL, USA

problem #18

Sep 112006

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Two transmissions replaced at the dealership, so far, on my Honda Odyssey mini van, one at 60,000, the other at 162,000. The most recent failed transmission (6/16/2012) happened while traveling 60mph on a freeway, it felt like it slipped into neutral because I had no ability to accelerate! it was terrifying! I felt it miraculous that I could 'coast' off the road without being hit.

- Carmichael, CA, USA

problem #17

Mar 102012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
I have 2002 Honda Odyssey ex car and saw a check engine light turned on my vehicle while I was driving. I went to nearby Honda dealer for a diagnosis and they told me its a transmission issue and needs to be replaced. Also about the Honda Odyssey transmission recall for this 2002 model.my car had only 82000 miles on it. Honda rep. Told me it will take $4600 to fix the problem in their concern. I have 2 infants and I am scared to accompany them in this car because of the transmission issue. Also Honda is not helping to fix their own problem.

- Edison, NJ, USA

problem #16

Sep 282011

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 124,000 miles
Failed on interstate @ 50mph.

- Osceola, IN, USA

problem #15

Feb 212011

Odyssey

  • 35,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that over the course of years, the vehicle experienced sudden acceleration. The engine would rev even while in the neutral position. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer several times but the failure could not be duplicated. The last time the vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, the contact was informed that the idle control module was broken which caused the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000 and the current mileage was 104,000.

- San Jose , CA, USA

problem #14

Jan 082011

Odyssey

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that after pulling into her driveway, the vehicle suddenly accelerated after the brakes were applied and crashed into the garage. The driver sustained injuries to the foot and later went to the hospital. The vehicle had not been inspected by a dealer nor had it been repaired. The manufacturer was also contacted and they informed him that they will have an investigator come out to look at it. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

- Spartonburg, SC, USA

problem #13

Oct 262010

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact pulled over and noticed that the engine was still revving. She turned the vehicle off and restarted it. When she restarted it, the engine continued to rev. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that someone would get back with her. The dealer called and stated that she would be responsible for the diagnostic fee. The current and failure mileages were approximately 120,000. Updated 11/08/10 the dealer diagnosed the problem and stated the idle air control was bad and the power steering pressure switch wire was broken. Updated 11/2210 updated 11/23/10

- Danville, CA, USA

problem #12

Aug 072010

Odyssey

  • miles
My 2002 Honda oddysey had sudden unintended accelerated twice this year. Both of them occurred when I stopped it on a red light. About 5 seconds, it accelerated by itself, and stopped for about 1.5 second. I beleived this is a very dangerous failure that will lead to an accedent and human safety. I called a local Honda dealer and asked if he was aware of the problem, or if there was a recall associated with this problem. He said he's not aware of that, and nothing he could do. So now I hope the NHTSA is aware about this and passes this message to the Honda company. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Layton, UT, USA

problem #11

Mar 112010

Odyssey

  • 57,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving in reverse the vehicle suddenly accelerated out of the driveway across a two lane road, over a curb and into a neighbors yard where it crashed into a tree. There were no injuries. The police were not notified. The contact was able to continue driving the vehicle and it functioned normally. A month later she was driving into a parking space with a sidewalk in front of it when the vehicle accelerated again without driver intent. When the vehicle accelerated onto an elevated sidewalk, the vehicle stopped accelerating. No injuries were reported and there was no police involvement. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that they test drove the vehicle and there was nothing wrong with it. Honda was notified and stated that they trust their mechanics at the service centers; therefore, there was nothing wrong with the vehicle and offered no other options or solutions. She called the dealer again and told them that there was a failure and asked them to inspect the vehicle thoroughly. On July 27, 2010 the dealer stated again that nothing was wrong with the vehicle and it was driver error. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000. The current mileage was approximately 60,000.

- Chandler , AZ, USA

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