9.3

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,580
Average Mileage:
126,750 miles
Total Complaints:
52 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace transmission (35 reports)
  2. not sure (12 reports)
  3. repair transmission, replace torque converter (5 reports)
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2001 Honda Odyssey:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Honda dealer.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #12

Dec 232010

Odyssey EX 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 171,407 miles

I own a 2001 Honda Odyssey. In June ’06, my transmission had to be replaced at 100K miles. At the time, American Honda (AH) replaced it free of charge under an Extended Warranty program as I was advised by Lancaster Honda. I was not told that this was the result of a class action suit. I never received a notice from Honda regarding this issue. In fact, when I initially began having trouble with the transmission not shifting properly and TCS light coming on, I took the car to LH and was told that I should just purchase a new gas cap to take care of the problem. In less than 3 weeks, I returned to LH with more transmission issues and finally I guess I got the right Service Tech who looked on the computer and saw a service bulletin for the transmission and extended warranty. I was relieved that I didn't have to pay any $$ out of pocket. Well the jokes on me. At the time the repairs were done we asked about the warranty on the new tranny and were verbally told that we had the same warranty as we had originally. So I presumed that my van would last me another 7 + years or at least 100K miles. American Honda (AH) robbed me of that fantasy on December 23, 2010. My father was driving the van returning from Los Angeles. In a matter of few short minutes & couple of miles the tranny on my van burnt up & I nearly lost my father in a senseless situation caused by AH’s misrepresentation of fact & careless disregard for human life. My father was driving NB Hwy 14 in Santa Clarita Valley when he began to experience trouble with the van. The van’s cruise control was set @ 65 MPH & he was driving in the # 3 lane. As he approached the grade he noticed the TCS and Malfunction lights on the dash. He attempted to merge to the right to pull off to the shoulder but was hampered by a truck-n-trailer in the lane to his right. Next, the engine began to make a screaming noise. As he still tried to move to the shoulder without any success, the screaming noise continued, so he turned off the cruise control, the noise stopped but at this point he noticed smoking billowing up the back of the van from the rear window. By now, he had reached the top of the hill, within moments of turning off the cruise control the van had lost power – he could not accelerate. Without power & riding on downhill momentum with heavy traffic speeding past my father @ speeds over 65 MPH he is still trying to get to the shoulder. Finally, the truck-n-trailer has passed my father & he proceeds to merge right & gets to the shoulder & he parks South of Aqua Dulce Canyon Road. Then, he is nearly hit by a Corvette using the shoulder to race a Mustang @ 100 MPH. My father called for a tow to Lancaster Honda (LH) where it still sits. LH wants $6K to replace something that was supposed to already be fixed. The “new” tranny in ‘06 should have lasted at least another 100K miles not only 70K. AH told me that the extended warranty did not apply since I was past the 93 mos. and beyond the 109K miles. As stated the van had to be towed to LH. I arrived to LH to pick up my father so I got there in time to witness a service tech look under the hood make a sarcastic comment to me and proceed to drive the van from the back lot into the shop ( approx 60 feet) to run a diagnostic on it. The fact the service tech could drive the van completely surprised my father since the last time he was in the van there was no power and he could not get it to move one yard. LH runs their diagnostic on the van, calls me to tell me that I need a new transmission but it’s their attitude. It is very accusatory. I am told that the transmission fluid is burnt - well duh! We explained what happened on the hwy - billowing smoke loss of power etc. etc. However, unless I can prove to their satisfaction proper maintenance there is nothing they can or will do for me. Which means since I do not always take my car to Honda for service I'm screwed. One thing really bothered me when I asked the service writer for a copy of the repair quote - under the comments it states that the transmission fluid is burnt and that they could NOT get the van out of Park. Now how can that be true when I watched them drive it inside their shop? The van still sits at LH and they want me to decide to let them put in a new tranny. But I brought up that point and suggested that we witnessed the service tech drive the van. No comment from "Kelly". I am hesitate to let LH or any dealership put in another 'new' or 'rebuilt' transmission in my van because who is to say that the same thing will not happen in another 40-70K miles. Since Christmas I have read so many stories on the forums. And my story is like one of thousands of consumers who own Honda Odysseys that have had to replace their transmission 3 – 4 – 5 times. I am anger. I have owned Honda products for over twenty years and swore by them until now. Honda put my family in danger & they have done the same to other Honda owners who were once very loyal. This cannot continue. They have to be made accountable.

- ashley9cm, North Edwards, CA, US

problem #11

Jan 132011

Odyssey EX 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 160,000 miles

Its been two years since they replaced the first bad transmission on a class action extended warranty, now it needs another transmission and it is not covered!

- atlastech, Leesburg, VA, US

problem #10

Dec 052010

Odyssey

  • Automatic transmission
  • 108,500 miles

Just bought the car a little over a year ago. 1 year warranty! Extended warranty doesn't cover because too many years have gone by.

Murphy's killing me on this one.

- Kevin C., Pittsburgh, PA, US

problem #9

Nov 172010

Odyssey LX 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 173,798 miles

Transmission began to slip when accelerating, took to transmission place and they said it cost at least 2500 to fix so im getting rid of it.

- Evan D., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

problem #8

Nov 282010

Odyssey LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,000 miles

I purchased this vehicle in 10/2000.

In 2005 the original transmission was replaced at 42k miles under the Honda warranty extension program.

Now, at 130k miles, the replacement transmission has failed with 88k miles on it.

Honda World in Downey(service manager) was contacted and he stated that he has "made several calls to Honda corporate about this same issue on behalf of other Odyssey owners with replacement transmissions going bad" and getting no support from Honda Corp. to repair/replace them.

IMO, it appears that Honda did nothing to correct the design flaw in the transmissions. Sure, they replaced bad transmissions and extended the warranty but since they didn't fix the design flaw, it was only a matter of time before the replacement transmission would go out.

Seems to me that another class action suit is necessary.

- stumbo, Whittier, CA, US

problem #7

Oct 012010

Odyssey LE 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

Sucks......My Honda transmission failed at 100,000 miles but lucky than it covered under recall warranty. But it failed again at 158,000. Means there transmission is a big problem. Well,no sense crying. American car manufacturer did not pay attantion to their workmanship. Gone down hill. I am sure Honda is out of my list. New buyers should keep this in mind.

- Mukesh S., Sandwich, MA, US

problem #6

Nov 052010

Odyssey V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 127,000 miles

Lynnwood Honda sold and installed a rebuilt transmission for $3600.

The rebuilt tranny failed in less than a year at 37000 miles later. Honda says they won't assist me. The worst customer service ever. They are not reliable and won't stand up behind their product.

Results: I lost $3600 dollars on the repair. Plus I have a van worth $7000(KBB) that doesn't work. Total loss $11000 plus I have to scrap the piece of junk because it not worth fixing if its going to fail again.

If honda will not stand behind their product and service I will NEVER buy another Honda and I will tell everyone I know of my experience.

I recommend buying a Toyota.

- Ryan K., Seattle, WA, US

problem #5

Aug 012010

Odyssey

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles

Honda is not taking responsibility for transmission failure while driving in I-25 Highway with my Family the car was stopped and due to less traffic I was saved. I called up the Honda America on the next day and their support person told me that they don’t have procedure in place to figure out transmission failure and they cannot help in terms of even goodwill repair. I have also told the nightmare of transmission failure and we all have been killed on highway. The people in Honda said--sorry to hear that but we won't help you neither we are supposed to give you any explanation. This is a great surprise to me that they have 100% failure in customer service and they lack really a transparent information system. I want really make Honda accountable for their manufacturing defect or they should give a reason of transmission failure. They cannot simply say they are not suppose to do this. This is my very frustrating experience with Honda America people--you can't even talk to somebody to help. This is not acceptable.

- jha, Fort Collins, CO, US

problem #4

Sep 252010

Odyssey EX 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 87,650 miles

Had the recall issue for Honda Transmission (D4 Light flashes, car stops) in 2008. Took it in, and was covered under warranty; Honda repaired the problem. In 2010, transmission started slipping again - last weekend the TCS light came on (as well as 'check engine' while I was going uphill to take the family to church. Car then acted as if I'd shifted into neutral - no gear worked, and I was starting to roll backwards on the hill with traffic coming at me.

Towed vehicle to dealer - call from dealer today has a $5K price tag to replace transmission. Investigated issue, pulled up my old receipts from the dealer on the previous repair - it appears that there's a secondary filter in the transmission that can clog, and if it does, then the ATF doesn't get onto the 2nd/3rd gear area well, and transmission starts to slip. Previous work done on the 'warranty repair' (not a replace, but a 'repair' shows no record of the filter being replaced (dealer today confirmed that).

Called Honda America to complain, got no help at all - basically the rep towed the party line of 'you're past the 7 year period for the warranty with this car.' Will not assist in any way even though their warrarty repair didn't fix the issue.

Ridiculous. I was planning to buy another car in a few months, and told the Honda America rep that based on this, I likely won't buy another Honda if they don't stand by their repair. The rep didn't appear to care.

- wamphyr, San Diego, CA, US

problem #3

Jul 222010

Odyssey LX 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 miles

I'm an original owner of 2001 Odyssey. At 66,000 miles the check engine light came on and Honda service told me that my car needs a new transmission, will cost me $4000! I am trying to talk to the dealers to see if Honda will cover any part of the cost. It sucks! I'm thinking just to trade in this junk for new van. No more Honda, maybe Toyota Sienna?

- Shoukhrat M., Beaverton, OR, US

problem #2

Oct 112009

Odyssey LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 161,557 miles

Because this was now our 5TH TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED IN 8 YEARS. We decided that because of Honda's lack of concern or consideration of this problem tranny that we decided to go to the Mr. Transmission (franchise) here in Canada to get yet another one in the vehicle. Another rebuilt ...just not sure when this one will go. I feel guilty selling the damn thing even to someone else. Extremely dissapointed. We bought the Honda because of its excellent rating. Will never ever buy a Honda again.

- kmary, Dundas, Ontario, Canada

problem #1

Aug 232008

Odyssey EX 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 169,000 miles

I have a 2001 Honda Odyssey EX with 169,000 miles. I have had two transmissions replaced, one EGR valve replaced, the back hutch, and not to mention the automatic sliding doors repaired several times.

I am now experiencing my Honda running rough. It shuts off when I put it in reverse and tries to stall-out when I am driving less than 10 mph. It just started experiencing this problem.

- gailfl, Jacksonville, FL, US