We bought a 1999 Honda Odyssey from carmax and the first week that we got the car the check engine light came on and we took it to carmax. According to them they fixed the problem and everything was fine the engine light went off. Then when it came back on for the same problem they apparently fixed it again. This happened a few times. Now we didn't have warranty and our van was acting up. The transmission would give a jerk when going from 1st to 2nd gear. The egr ports were clogged and the catalytic converter was messed up from day 1. we took it to our Honda dealership and they said it wasn't the transmission, but it was. About a 4 months later it got really bad and we had to get our transmission rebuilt, the ignition switch problem started also (the car engine would stall randomly and it we would have to stop the car on the shoulder of the freeway and restart the car going at 60 mph+), now we spent 2500 bucks to get everything fixed. But now our electrical system is bad. The in dash lights don't work and the back lights don't work. The doors just died for some reason. One second the handles would work and the next second the handles are dead from inside. Our alarm system doesn't work either because of the electric problem. All we want is our car to be fixed. We've been lied to by carmax and the Honda dealership over and over. Can you guys just help us fix our car?

- Magnolia, TX, USA

Beginning in 2000, when the car was less than one year old, we have experienced major equipment failures. First, the egr valve malfunctioned; it was eventually repaired at Honda's expense. Next, one of the motors for the side power doors failed. That cost approximately $800 to repair. Then, the transmission failed, and Honda eventually covered the full costs under an extended warranty. For at least four years, we were plagued with an erratic "check engine" light, and sometimes the computer code was inadequate to direct a repair. In 2003 the radiator rotted out, and the replacement/repair cost us $800. In 2004 the catalytic convertor failed, and that replacement/repair cost us $1400. On July 22, 2005, the rear A/C vents failed to cool, and I called for an appointment at our local dealer to have that checked and repaired. The repair was scheduled for July 25, 2005. When I was driving the car on July 23 with the A/C turned on (the front vents continued to cool), the engine died while I was driving at a speed of 45 mph on a local highway. I managed to pull off into a nearby parking lot, and I was able to restart the car after turning off the A/C. it is now at the dealer's shop, and the labor costs alone to determine the cause of the A/C failure will cost more than $350. After inspecting the system for more than three hours July 25, the dealer's mechanic still could not locate the source of the problem. Needless to say, I hate this car! I have had many more problems than I ever expected, and the responses from american Honda and from the local dealer have been disappointing. Neither establishment knows how to relate successfully to customers. This car has been a real lemon, and I am struggling with my decision about what to buy to replace it. Although Honda has a good reputation, I have not found this car to be reliable. In fact, it is a major source of stress in my life, causing me to gnash my teeth when I am driving it, for I have no confidence in it at all.

- Red Bank, NJ, USA

Well, the check engine light did come back on less than one month later. This is the third time in three months. On 01/07/04, they checked the car again and said that it was the converter and that while they were in there I should also replace the O2 sensor. I agreed to it and my estimate (for parts) was now $742.83. After ten days, I called the dealer to see if the parts were in and they were, but no one bothered to call me. On 1/21/04 with check engine light still on and at 88,846 miles, my converter and sensor were replaced for a total of $857.81.

- Monroe, LA, USA

On 12/17/03, I brought my vehicle back to the Honda dealer because my check engine light came on again. This is the second time in 2 months that the check engine light has come on. I told them that I am still feeling some hard slippage on downshifts. With approximately 82,500 miles on my car, the technicians believed it was the catalytic converter. The estimate was $701.90. They said they would have to order the part and I would have to prepay. I was uneasy about this (and not to mention the amount of money), so they reset the indicator and said that "it wouldn't do any damage to the car if I didn't fix it now. All that would happen would be that the light would continue to come on.

- Monroe, LA, USA

My check engine light came on with the tcs light one year after having my entire steering rack replaced. On 10/06/03 (and 81,372 miles), I took my vehicle to the local Honda dealer. I told the technician that again I felt my car driving rough and sluggish on accelerations. They asked me what kind of gas I was using.(?) found code P0420 "catalytic efficiency below threshold. Intermittent code". the dealer reset the light.

- Monroe, LA, USA

At 54,700 miles (July 2001) the car made a clunking noise when put into gear. Tcs light and check engine light came on. Service couldnot reproduce clunking problem. Since the transmission was out of warrenty I kept driving making sure to have regular maintenance. It continued to "rev" when starting to move or excellerating quickly. Tcs light and check engine light came on again at 100,000 (Dec 2002). I questioned them again about the transmission but was told that it was a catalytic converter/ engine control system.( out of stock until February). Tcs and check engine lights again in June 2003 at 117,900. Code showed a transmission PO740.transmission "smelled burned." Sept. 2003 tcs and check engine light indicate trainsmission needs replacing. The dealer nor manufacturer had told me that the warrenty had been extended to 100,000. This transmission problem in the Odyssey, and other Honda, is so wide spread that I can't believe nothing is being done for the consumer. My cousin in Missouri owns a 1999 Odyssey and she has had to replace both the trainsmission and catalytic convertor as well. A pretty big coincidence. I could name other parts we have both replaced. Could it be that some parts of the Odyssey are lemons? calling Honda coporoate is a joke. They put you on hold, have a good laugh and then tell you they can't do anything because the car is over the mileage limit. They should be made to do the right thing. An investigation might change this arrogant company.

- Rockford, MI, USA