8.9

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,510
Average Mileage:
125,750 miles
Total Complaints:
58 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replaced transmission (20 reports)
  2. not sure (14 reports)
  3. replace transmission (9 reports)
  4. must replace but honda won't pay (7 reports)
  5. destroy car (3 reports)
  6. Honda replaced transmission at no cost (2 reports)
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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #38

May 122008

Odyssey V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 137,241 miles

Third time is the charm! This incident stranded me on the NJ Turnpike! At first the dealer did not want to cover the repair said it was out of warranty. But they did cover the expense. This repair was a transmission and torque converter kit same as before. There seems to be a pattern here. United we stand urbanteach@yahoo.com

- Charles F., Philadelphia, PA, US

problem #37

Mar 222010

Odyssey V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 175,746 miles

This is unbelievable when I called Honda they said the car was too old to fix. They know that they have failed to fix the problem but hold to the terms of the extended warranty. They were no help at all these people are useless as tits on a bull! I have had it I would never buy another Honda or any other car for that matter. I plan to protest the dealer I've had it! United we stand urbanteach@yahoo.com

- Charles F., Philadelphia, PA, US

problem #36

Feb 212005

Odyssey V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,933 miles

The dealer replaced the transmission with a rebuilt one as well as the torque converter, but not the mounts. I had to go back and have them replaced. Who puts in a new transmission and not replace the mounts when one of the problems stated was the car bangs into gear. This was the second transmission issue. United we stand urbanteach@yahoo.com

- Charles F., Philadelphia, PA, US

problem #35

Oct 012009

Odyssey EX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 114,000 miles

I purchased the my 1999 Honda Odyssey EX new. We loved the van. Over the years we've had some work on it. The auto doors had an issue once, catalytic converter, and normal brakes and tires. I was hoping to get 200K miles out of it as I did my CRX. Unfortunately, the check engine light came on and when we had it checked the dealer said a new transmission was needed. we had 114,000 miles on it. I now realize that there were transmission defects from 1999-2002. Transmission would be $3500. Decided not to fix because that was more than half the value of the vehicle. Overall it was a good van, but very disappointed with the transmission going out. They don't build them like they used to. However, my brother purchased a Caravan of the same year and he had problems through out his ownership and ended up selling a couple years before. So I won't complain too much...But as a long time Honda owner I'm disappointed.

- toddnc, Apex, NC, US

problem #34

Mar 012010

Odyssey LX 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,000 miles

My check engine light came on. I took it to my local shop for a oil change and tire rotation and they pulled the check engine problem and they told me that it was a transmission problem. I take it to "wesley chapel" honda in florida and told them that my mechanic told me that I had a transmission problem and $93.00 dollars later they tell me the same thing that I told them!!! This asshole charges me full price and says that I need to get a new transmission for $4,700. I have just 71k miles on it! This is why I bought a Honda so it will last and not sh*t the bed on me. Honda is not what I thought. It's loosing it's reliable name, F*CK HONDA!!!! AND WESLEY CHAPEL HONDA... SCUM BAGS....

- massaro, Land O Lakes, FL, US

problem #33

Oct 032009

Odyssey LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 208,000 miles

The van, which we purchased used, 4months ago was suppossed to have had a new transmission from a recall. Oh it was installed by Honda and everything. Weve put maybe 20,000 miles on it and now it failed today. Pulled the transmission oil check stick and it smells burnt. Sort of a shade tree mechanic and I can tell you that it is burnt. I am pissed off especially since the car dealer was so insistant that it was a new factory Honda transmission.

- Chris A., Elton, LA, US

problem #32

Sep 192009

Odyssey EX 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,230 miles

hey guys its me again with an update on my situation....Looks like im S.O.L. this time the extended warranty on this year and model only covers up to 109,000 miles so if your at 109k or under your odyssey should be fully covered for the tranny under the extended warranty, just talk to your honda dealer about that and you should be alright

- forgetfull, Anaheim, CA, US

problem #31

Sep 232009

Odyssey EX Unknown

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,905 miles

My stepmom has a '99 Odyssey EX with an automatic trans. It's had transmission problems for a while now which is pretty much thunking in the trans. It's been getting worse and worse as time went on. Yesterday (9/23/09), it got to the point of bad. Reverse wouldn't work sometimes and then it would work other times. If you tried shifting from 1st, 2nd, D3 or D4, it wouldn't shift at all. The only drive gear I think was D4. Driving it, the RPM's were high and instead of normally being at around 2200-2500 while driving, they were about 4,000. Anyways, apparently there is 5 sensors in the transmission, one of them is a "Shift Sensor". We're going to try changing that and see what happens.

- Cody C., Surrey, BC, Canada

problem #30

Aug 052007

Odyssey EX 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,330 miles

click to see larger images

transmission failure

I had this problem in august 2007, two weeks prior to the tranny going out i had received this in the mail...stating the folowing (Chris Collins, Ernest Galang, and Mark Rutledge plaintiffs,vs. American Honda Motor co.. inc. and, does 1 through 100, defendants). so with this bit of info i hope some of you can do something about your tranny issue as for me...im not sure as this would be my second tranny failure. This was supposed to have been a brand new tranny and only 30,000 miles after having the tranny replaced it happened again no warning or anything just the tcs light coming on for a bit then turned off followed by the check engine light and then total lose of power, the tranny just slipped out of gear. So this is my sad story. So now I am left wondering what to do next. I posted a copy of the class action hopefully and can help some of you...

- forgetfull, Anaheim, CA, US

problem #29

Sep 032009

Odyssey EX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

The Transmission in my Honda Odyssey failed and the dial is only 104K Km. Honda odyssey is giving me the run around instead of acknowledging the problem and helping out with the transmission.

They want me to spend 5K on their Transmission or rebuild the same. We are really shocked that they can build such poor quality and not take responsibility for the same. All they have is a telephone number and they are not available on emails or any networking sites where customers can report problems - such poor efforts to help customers . Customers cannot be only for purchasing their vehicle and after that forget them - this is not how to behave socially responsible. It is important to stand behind your vehicle and have people available and solve customer problems , not treat them shabbily and not care about customers...

Jayaprakash

- jayaprakash, Delta, BC, Canada

problem #28

Sep 012009

Odyssey EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 182,000 miles

The tranny was replaced at their cost under a recall in 2005. Well it just went up in smoke again this past weekend.

Now that I'm on it, the automatic doors have been glitchy for many years, as well as the bad brakes (replacing rotors/pads every 2 years).

I feel as if I've played the fool for having not dumped this vehicle much sooner. Live and learn.

- Randy S., Des Moines, IA, US

problem #27

Aug 032009

Odyssey LX 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,000 miles

I have a 1999 Honda Odyssey at 104,000 miles. I have had this car religiously serviced regularly and it has been great. Today the check engine light went on and while on the freeway it slammed from gear and the transmission seemed to disconnect. When I got off the ramp, the car would not go into gear, and it slammed into 1st, then 2nd and seemed to work only if and when it managed to get into 3rd and 4th gears. I barely got home with it. This is an automatic transmission. I am surprised to read now about all the trans problems with this '99 Odyssey. I hope to take it in tomorrow and find that this is somehow covered by the recall that I keep hearing about regarding this issue.

- Rick R., Canton, MI, US

problem #26

Jun 222009

Odyssey EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

Our Honda began acting up on the freeway. It lunged forward and the lights starting clickering on and off. We took it to be serviced. They quoted me approximately 4,000 for the transmission and a few other problems. After I was told that my '99 ODY would need a new transmission, I began researching the car on the internet. Much to my surprise I am not alone in the transmission nightmare!

Honda will not own up to the problem of the faulty transmission. I have had the misfortune of dealing with Sergio at American Honda. After the conversation with Sergio, I learned of the extended warranty of the transmission. I never knew about it (2nd owner - it was a car in my family). Our ODY had the best care. Always had the oil changes, and scheduled maintenance. I have had a Honda vehicle for the passed 20 years (8 vehicles). Sergio at American Honda had no compassion for our plight. We were asking them to meet us 1/2 way on the expenses. He said we were out of the warranty by years - not miles. He even said that we took great care with the car. But, they weren't going to help us.

We got NOTHING!!!!!!! except an "oh well!". Now we have a car that is worthless, can't trade it in, can't cash it in on Obama's clunker plan! We are now looking for a new car from Toyota! We told Sergio that we were going to leave Honda because we were dissatisfied with their lack of owning up to the transmission problem and not offering anything to make it right. He didn't care! So, they have lost our business. Word of mouth is a powerful thing. We are not going back to Honda!!

We thought in today's economy that businesses wanted customers, but not American Honda. They take your money and then drop you! They don't care.

Update from Jul 2, 2009: I am now dealing with the Gen Manager of my dealership. I have to say that he is trying to bend over backwards to help us. I am not sure what the outcome will be, but at least he is willing to listen to our plight, and try to make a deal with us on our next car. I wish American Honda can take some pointers from their dealerships on how to talk and take care of customers.

I think we are going to get rid of the car, but it sickens me because I think the car has a lot more life in it.

Update from Jul 5, 2009: We went down to the dealership today. I must say that they took the best care of us. Dealing with the dealerships is so much better than dealing with American Honda. They went out of there way to get us a great deal on a new...... ODYSSEY. I can't believe I am saying it, but we got a "too good to be true" kind of deal. I have the utmost respect for our favorite dealership! They are top notch!

- leavin' honda, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, US

problem #25

Jun 012009

Odyssey 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

It is a shame that Honda keeps throwing so much money on advertising their product and not focusing on owning up to the problem and helping customers who have bought Honda. We will never ever buy a Honda if they don't take up faulty products they have put down , the 1999 Honda has the worst case of transmission problem , hiding behind expired warranty is not an approach a company like Honda should take- shame on them ....

- Jim P., Delta, BC, Canada

problem #24

Apr 202009

Odyssey

  • Automatic transmission
  • 113,000 miles

My transmission failed as well. 3 transmissions at 113K miles is not typical. Service rep said too bad. DO NOT BUY AN ODYSSEY

- M M., Pleasanton, CA, US

problem #23

Apr 012007

(reported on)

Odyssey LX 3.8L V6 VTEC

  • Automatic transmission
  • 126,000 miles

Transmission problems... went without warning. Unknowingly bought CANADIAN Honda Odyssey and American Honda dealers won't service. They said bring ot to a transmission place. So, after only 5 months, I have a hunk of metal sitting with no reverse and only 1st gear with estimates of around $4000 to fix. Also had ignition recall and multiple catalytic converter sensor malfunctions. This year SUCKS and I will never buy a Honda again! EVER!!! MAKE SURE that the Honda you are buying is not a CANADIAN HONDA. Totally different, and factory does not stand behind product.

- Bryan J., East Sandwich, MA, US

problem #22

Feb 032009

Odyssey ES 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

The transmission on our 1999 Honda Odyssey has now failed for the 4th time. The first one Honda initially refused to repair under warrenty but offered to pick up half the cost. Still is cost me over $1500. They also extended my coverage to 100K miles. During that time two more transmissions went out. Now with 120K miles it has gone out again and I have to pay $3200 to get it rebuilt!! They must have kept on replacing these with the same problematic transmissions. Does anyone know about a class action law suit?

- star57, Orange, CA, US

problem #21

Aug 152007

Odyssey LX 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

We had 120,000 miles on the Odyssey with no problems to report what's so ever. I had the transmission flushed twice once at 38,000 and again at 65,000. So at 120,000 the trans starts to rev very high in first gear and hesitates to shift into 2nd gear. I brought it into the Honda dealer for inspection ($85.00) to tell me the transmission needs to be replaced. Cost = $4500.00. They would not cover half of the expenses or anything! I met with the district manager and told him this shouldn't have happened. But he claims that the vehicle is out of warranty. So I took it to a local transmission shop and paid $2300.00 for a better trans with updated materials.

Just a note. If you use the dealer, you will get the exact same transmission that just failed!!!!

- sbeaver, Knoxville, TN, US

problem #20

Sep 192008

Odyssey

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,210 miles

This is the 2nd transmission since 1999 brand new! The first was fully covered by Honda, this time we pay 60% $1800 from the total cost. We have so many problem with this piece of junk from the 2nd week we bought it, the sliding door (automatic) was repaired 3x and the next time Honda wanted us to pay somewhere in $300+ for that keft door, forget it! our 2 cars are Honda so were in the past but with this experience I would never consider another Honda and would not recommend to anyone. My friends who have Toyota van are much much happier.

- Josephine W., Newhall, CA, US

problem #19

Oct 012008

Odyssey LX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,905 miles

I just got this Honda from a used car dealer at 157,000kms. After using this for 8 months, transmission problem started to appear specifically on the 1st and 2nd gear. I understand it will cost me another $2,5K so I will be stuck with this vehicle for life. The used car dealer gave me a basic powertrain warranty, but the deductible is worth $1,000 so its no use. Lesson to learn, never buy a used car it is just a waste of money. you are just wasting your money for fixing the unthinkable. Honda is good only for compact car, but for minivans forget it, the Honda Odyssey is purely hype.

- tfigure, Vancouver, BC, Canada

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