8.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,410
Average Mileage:
113,550 miles
Total Complaints:
4 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace transmission and computer (2 reports)
  2. diy (1 reports)
  3. replace transmission (1 reports)
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problem #4

Feb 142018

Odyssey OS 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 154,002 miles

I am SO disappointed. I had Hondas/Acuras all my life and the last car I got before this one was a Buick Terazza. After dumping $8,000 into that car, I said I'd NEVER buy anything other than Honda again.

Well, last month, someone totaled my Buick and with a special needs kid, I needed something reliable and NO car payment. We got $3300 for my Buick and we went searching for an older Honda van. We didn't need something with all the bells and whistles, just something reliable. We found one in the price range, it had 153,950 miles on it--which considering all my other Hondas went well into the high 200,000 range, still has a lot of life in it.

It was inspected, we drove it 3 separate times, the transmission was PERFECT. Not even the slightest hesitation, no kicks, no flaring, no slipping, nothing. Literally driving it home on the same day we bought it, AS SOON AS THE METER HIT 154,000 MILES, the Engine light came on and the TCS light comes on simultaneously.

Seriously, what are the odds? I truly could not believe it was the transmission. Separate test drives, NO issues, as soon as we buy it and it goes to 154K miles, it suddenly has transmission issues? I read online in many forums that a lot of the transmission issues were actually solenoid failures, so we had them replaced and NO luck, it's absolutely the transmission.

We contacted Honda, they won't do anything, even though they did admit trans issues. And, of course, the person we bought it from won't do anything. Talking to multiple transmission mechanics, they all say "Yeah, Hondas have terrible transmissions. We're rebuilding 1 or 2 a week at least."

So now we're stuck with an unreliable van that we can pay $3500 to have the trans rebuilt, which is MORE than what we paid for the van in the first place!

I am SO upset with Honda. They're no longer the reliable cars I remember.

- dhampir, Westminster, US

problem #3

Jun 142011

Odyssey 6 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,000 miles

I've been smoking the Honda weed for years and when my shop told me the tranny was blown (I love saying that!), I thought it was just our bad luck- what else could it be; Honda makes good stuff??!! Now I see that the fact that I had the exact same problem on my 2001 MDX was no coincidence. I'm detoxing off the Honda chronic and ready to go to another brand.

How it is that Honda has escaped public scrutiny on this is a total shock. I apologize here to all the UAW folks I bad mouthed over the years. It appears Chrysler never had an exclusive on trashmissions. Honda appears to have been frozen in between decisions to fix it and preserve their reputation and loyal customer base at considerable expense or....go through the motions, save the coin and hope the noise stayed low until we all forgot about it. I won't forget that Honda has made a bad transmission and a worse business decision by not owning up. The worst of this is how Honda acts as if they have no prior experience with any of this and then makes you go through the motions to have a Honda dealer do the work for 25% more.

I'm done with Honda. I may have to get rid of the lawnmower too on general principle but they do make good small engines.

- Kevin W., Naperville, United States, US

problem #2

Jun 012010

Odyssey EX 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,000 miles

2002 odyssey shudders and sometimes missed 3rd gear all together. Slipped (slow shifting)

going into 4th gear. Impeccable maintenance. Drove for a number of months like this. Vehicle became unreliable. Never wanted to wander too far from home so I decided to take it to the dealer. Was told transmission need to be replaced. Service manager was able to get honda to pay for half of the $5000 bill. $2500 is still a lot of money.

Paid more up front when I bought this van for the Honda quality I've heard so much about. If I had only known what I was in for I would have skipped it all together. This is my first and last Honda. I'll stick with a Toyota from now on.

- David S., Saratoga Springs, NY, US

problem #1

Sep 152008

Odyssey EX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 127,000 miles

Spend $200 on parts, $200 on tools, 6 weeks of research (Service manuals, planning, and execution). Done!

Knowing I don't have to pay $4000 for re-manufactured transmission . . . priceless.

- hespiritu, Hickory, NC, US