8.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,800
Average Mileage:
128,850 miles
Total Complaints:
9 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (7 reports)
  2. replace tranny (2 reports)
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Honda Odyssey:

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

problem #9

Sep 082013

Odyssey EX 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

3rd gear started slipping intermittently. Then, just wouldn't engage. Had to start manually shifting; starting in second, winding up to 35-40Mph, then shift up to Drive, wait about 3 seconds for 4th to engage.

Occasionally a blinking "D" light on the dash. Really scary on the highway with your family in the car.

Two years I've been driving the van like this. AND THEN:

NOW 2nd is slipping! Now I have nowhere to go. 200k miles ... was hoping to make it to 220k ....

I'm so done with this stupid piece of crap. I have no choice but to get rid and take on another note. One year after payoff!

- Michael M., Memphis, TN, US

problem #8

Jan 082014

Odyssey EXL Standard

  • Automatic transmission
  • 213,000 miles

Getting repair appraisals this week. Value of vehicle is $1500-3000 at this time. Decisions decisions...

- Stuart Z., Cedarville, OH, US

problem #7

May 012012

Odyssey EX V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 250,000 miles

I guess I should consider my self lucky that we made it to 250,000 miles ..we replaced with a rebuilt transmission two months ago. Yesterday tried to go on vacation..living in Arizona ..not may mountain grades in the valley. Of course I decided to go North to the mountains on vacation. 35 miles out of town..transmission begins to smoke and struggle shifting into 2 and 3 gear. This is a rebuild..my concern is if the transmissions in these are failing and they are replaced with other Honda transmissions that are FAILING..there is not a solution. I am going to try and hang on to this until end of year, and then NO MORE HONDAS.

- Yolanda E., Mesa, AZ, US

problem #6

Dec 082011

Odyssey EX-L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,000 miles

This is a P.O.S. car, Honda knows that there is a huge problem with this and they will not ever help you

Get rid of your Honda's!!

Update from May 24, 2012: Well, I finally contacted Honda, what a bunch of zero's. They try to tell me that they would install a "new" transmission not a "rebuilt" When I asked what they described as "new", they said all the parts except the housing are brand new, Right. I asked if the used any parts whatsoever, like the valve body, and they could not answer that. Told me $5000.00. And they would only give me 25% off on this "new" transmission. Asked if I could get it rebuilt with the same discount, they said no.

I asked for the Supervisor several times and he will not speak with me.

I have come to the conclusion, Honda really does not care about their clients and really does not care about its reputation.

I will never ever buy another Honda product as long as I live. There is much more to this story, but I am tired of typing.

- bigguynh, Salem, NH, US

problem #5

Sep 262010

Odyssey LX v6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,560 miles

9 year old Honda with 89,000 miles has a failing transmission!

This car has had every scheduled maintenance. Last transmission fluid change 15,000 miles ago at Honda dealership.

Has never towed anything, I do not beat the engine, had all recalls performed ASAP when I received notification.

I bought this car to drive my family around in...now I'm petrified to drive it anywhere knowing the the transmission could stop at any moment. 450+ reports of this problem happening at highway speeds on the NHTSA website and nobody has done anything about it?

Car is worth $3,000 and it will cost me a minimum of $2,200 to fix it.

WTF Honda?

- Gretchen C., Andover, MA, US

problem #4

Jul 242009

Odyssey LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 118,000 miles

We are the owner of a 2002 Odyssey minivan with mileage at about 119,500. Van has been well maintained and have had no major problems. Received recall notice on transmission in 2005 and took van to dealer to correct problem. (Right!!!!) (August, 2009) Recently started having problems with vehicle shifting from first to second gear and seeming to be stuck, especially on roads with an incline. One day while driving, engine light came on and D light was flashing. Called my local dealer and was told it could be bad gas and to put gas cleaner in tank. That did nothing. I took the van back to the dealear to see why the engine light remained on and was told that the transmission was failing and I needed a new transmission. And guess what, my vehicle is past the extended warranty period. So Honda America thinks they are graciously extending their "good wiill" by offering to to replace the transmission and computer module for $2,700. I do not have that amount of money into this vehicle, especially after just having the timing belt replacement replaced. This is my first Honda and my last. I felt confident that Honda was dependable and would ensure that my family and I were safe on the road. Now, I have to worry that we may break down. I will never purchase another Honda automoble again. We have owned Toyotas in the past and have never incurred any recall notices or had any problems. Honda!! you should be ashamed that people like me cannot depend on your product to get our families where we need to be when we need to be there. I just hope and pray no one is killed by this inferior transmission, which you knew there were problems with but only put a "band aid'" on it. I will never purchase another Honda product and will spread the word to everyone I know that Honda produces and inferior product and does not stand by their name as being one of the best.

- Faye D., Chesapeake, VA, US

problem #3

Sep 012008

Odyssey

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

My four grandchildren had to move in with me and I needed a vehicle to drive them to school for the 2008/2009 school year. I went to the Honda dealership to purchase an Odyssey thinking that I could resell the vehicle without too much loss when the grandchildren moved out in June 2009. In August of 2008 I bought a 2002 Odyssey with 82,000 miles on it for 10,000.00+. I parked the car in the garage until the kids started school. Almost immediately there was a problem with the transmission shifting between 2nd and 3rd gear. It doesn't happen every time, but about once every other day. The car just loses power and the RPMs rev way up. I'd have to take my foot off the gas and start over and eventually it would clunk unto gear. It's somewhat dangerous feeling when trying to accelerate on the freeway, but I didn't take it in to be checked until June since I really didn't have the money to do anything about it. The the service center at the dealership wants $6,000 for a new transmission. It's done some dealing with Honda corporate and I guess they've agreed to pay 1/4 of the cost or something like that. It's very disappointing and I will never purchase another Honda or any car from that dealership. Obviously, this is a known issue and it should have been disclosed.

- Glenda L., North St. Paul, MN, US

problem #2

Jan 052009

Odyssey EXL 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,000 miles

I have 2002 Honda odyssey and has 83,000 miles. Trany went bad last week and Honda

will give a 50:50 deal. I need trany and computer. They say it's 4000.00 job and i pay 2k.

I don't think that's fair but do we have any choice? Call Honda of America and ask for help.

That's only solution.

- Nelson S., Los Angeles, CA, US

problem #1

Oct 202008

Odyssey EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles

This morning when I brought the children to school and I noticed that the D light does not come on. On top of that I also noticed that I cannot shift the gear to 3, 2, or 1. I still feel that the car is changing gears because the RPM gauge increases and decreases after applying constant gas pedal pressure. I can also hear the sound of the engine change.

- ksanchez, Fresh Meadows, NY, US