10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
116,140 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Honda Odyssey:

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

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #103

Jan 052013

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
Consumer was experiencing jerks while was driving in D gear(automatic transmissions). On 01/05/2013, when consumer was driving on normal city roads, the check engine light and tcs light came on and the vehicle was giving lot of jerks. Consumer drove it back home and on 01/07/2013 took it to dealer. Dealer says it is incorrect gear ratio error code : P0730 and vehicle needs new transmission. Consumer saw similar complaints posted online in a lot of forums. Honda says vehicle is beyond warranty and will not pay for repairs. The manufacturer needs to be looked into why they will not identify this as a common issue and why should consumer pay thousands of dollars for transmission rebuild. Need help in following this up.

- Ashburn, VA, USA

problem #102

Sep 102010

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 67,000 miles
Transmission was replaced at 67,000 miles and again at 99,500 miles on my Honda Odyssey. My first replacement was covered under an extended warranty, but the second was out of my pocket because I was told that the first transmission replacement had a 2 year or 20K mile warranty. I would like to know if there is any way to get compensated for the second replacement. Why isn't there a better solution? I would think any replacement should have a longer warranty, and a better, long lasting part. The Odyssey was purchased used by carmax, with no mention of any potential problems, and mechanics have never mentioned this was a bigger issue until my second replacement. Odyssey between 1999 and 2004 have a known transmission problem, but it seems that since the recall, there has been nothing to remedy this problem for current owners. This seems serious and could potentially be causing injuries or fatalities, especially since it is specifically purchased by families with children.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #101

Nov 232012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 92,000 miles
I was sitting at a traffic light and as the light changed I mashed the accelerator to move forward the car started to rev up but wouldn't move. I put the car in park and then back in to gear. The car jerked and then started forward with engine still revving. The car finally slipped into gear and took off but kept going in and out of gear.

- Corinth, TX, USA

problem #100

Nov 072012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Odyssey.the contact stated that while traveling 60 mph the transmission failed. The contact stated that the engine continued to run, but the vehicle would not move. The contact stated the vehicle was taken in for recall campaign id number: 04V176000 (powertrain auotomatic transmission) for the second gear getting hot and the gears breaking. The contact stated that the recall repair was made in 2004 when the dealer placed the oil jet kit on the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle inspected by the dealer and they stated the transmissions failure was not connected to the recall. The manufacturer stated they would not replace the transmission. The failure and current mileage was 80,000. Updated 12/13/12 updated 1/10/2013

- Kensington, MD, USA

problem #99

Sep 192012

Odyssey

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that when driving various speeds and the transmission was shifting from first to second gear, there was an abnormal shutter. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis where he was informed that the transmission would need a revision to the oil cooler return line to increase lubrication to the second gear. The contact was informed of NHTSA campaign id number: 04V176000 (power train:automatic transmission) and consulted with the dealer. The dealer advised that the recall was performed on the vehicle eight years prior. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was awaiting a return call. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 65,000 and the current mileage was 68,000.

- Manchester, NH, USA

problem #98

Oct 012012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 81,500 miles
Vehicle was parked in a parking lot, light downhill. Vehicle was left and found 5 minutes later 12 meter further down, after a small crash with another parked vehicle. Bumper got scratches. The key can be removed from the ignition when the vehicle is in the N position.

- Plymouth, MI, USA

problem #97

Sep 012012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
We were driving on a freeway in a hilly area between san jose and sacramento, ca. 2003 Odyssey mileage was ~120K and speed was 60 miles/hr. All of a sudden the vehicle became jerky and gears wont engage and speed dropped tremendously. I narrowly averted a rear end accident and pulled the vehicle aside. After sometime, I was able to drive but still could notice the gears slipping and drove on the last lane. I search on net and found lots and lots of Honda Odyssey have transmission issues, but no recall has been made. I feel Honda should take moral responsibility on their part and replace the faulty parts. And more importantly I request NHTSA to prevent further accidents/loss of lives on our highways due to transmission failures of 2003 Honda Odyssey which imo are a ticking time bomb.

- Sunnyvale, CA, USA

problem #96

Oct 012012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 240,000 miles
The car was in park with no keys in the ignition and my six year old bumped the shifter out of park and the vehicle rolled down the driveway with him inside. We were right next to the car and were able to jump in and hit the brakes. In a controlled setting, we have replicated this several times.

- Milford, CT, USA

problem #95

Oct 272012

Odyssey

  • 123,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while traveling 55 mph, the vehicle erroneously shifted into a lower gear. The contact was able to merge to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was confirmed that the transmission failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the issue. The failure and current mileages were 123,000.

- Morgan Hill, CA, USA

problem #94

Oct 152012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 97,600 miles
My husband parked our 2003 Honda Odyssey in our driveway, alongside the main entrance to our home. He removed the key and went inside, placing the key in the usual location. He changed his shirt, intending to remove from the car the 4' X 8' sheet of exterior plywood he had just purchased. When he went back outside, the car had rolled backwards down our driveway and across the road, and was floating in the lake directly in front of our home. The car slowly sunk to the bottom of the lake. A tow truck was called and a diver located the vehicle in the 15 foot deep water. The insurance company "totaled" the car, and said the incident was the fault of the driver, for not putting the car in "park", even though the key had been removed. The car was not stopped on a sloping surface, but the weight of the plywood probably caused the car to roll backwards onto the sloping part of our driveway. Since there has been no recall based on this defect, the insurance company places full blame on the driver. How can I get them to not charge this incident to driver negligence? he has never had a chargeable accident, and this should not have happened, with the key removed from the ignition.

- Port St. Lucie, FL, USA

problem #93

Oct 132012

Odyssey

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the vehicle was engaged in park and the engine was turned off when it rolled away and crashed into a neighboring home. The contact was slightly injured while attempting to stop the vehicle. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired for the failure. The failure and the current mileages were 115,000.

- West Yarmouth, MA, USA

problem #92

Oct 042012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 115,000 miles
Our neighbor came over and asked why our Honda Odyssey was in the center of the street? luckily it had rolled down the sloping driveway backwards barely missed two parked cars in the driveway, the mailboxes, pedestrians and traffic on the street without hitting anything or anybody. Upon examination we found the transmission was in neutral and the ignition key could be removed while the transmission was in neutral. We also found that due to the design of the shift mechanism it is very easy for us to leave the Odyssey in neutral and remove the key. I see that Honda had a recall on ignition switches for this problem but this did not include the Odyssey minivans that to my knowledge have the same type ignition switch assembly.

- Cassopolis, MI, USA

problem #91

Oct 092012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 152,000 miles
Indeed I can remove the ignition key from my 2003 Honda Odyssey van in any gear. If on a slope, the vehicle will roll away.

- Sebastian, FL, USA

problem #90

Sep 032012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 123,000 miles
The transmission/ignition key interlock failed, allowing the car to be left in "D" while the ignition key was removed. The car rolled partly out of our garage before it was stopped.

- Chapel Hill, NC, USA

problem #89

Oct 052012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 141,057 miles
I purchased this vehicle new in May 2003. In 2004, an oil cooler was installed by the dealership as a result of Honda America recall (NHTSA campaign id: 04V176000). On 10/05/2012, engine and tcs lights came on. I took the vehicle to repair shop the next day. They informed me the codes on the computer were P0700 - automatic transmission fault and P0740 - torque converter clutch malfunction. The codes were cleared and they test drove vehicle and lights did not come back on nor were there any symptoms of any transmission failure. They suggested that I take the vehicle to a transmission specialist for diagnosis. The next day the same lights came back on and shortly thereafter the transmission failed completely.

- Eustis, FL, USA

problem #88

Aug 302012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
I can take my key out of the ignition while in drive. Because of the setup of the shifter, and the short space between gears, it's not apparent that the car's not in park, and fairly common for me to remove the key while in drive. I've not had this problem with other cars. Several times I've taken the key out and the car started rolling a little before I stepped on the brake and put the key back in and shifted to park. About 4 or 5 weeks ago I parked at a strip mall in front of a store, and when I came back out my car was backed up against the car on the other side of the aisle, having rolled back about 15 feet. Fortunately there was no damage. Another time my wife went shopping and came out and the car had been in drive the whole time (about an hour) but fortunately the parking lot was flat.

- Yorba Linda, CA, USA

problem #87

Aug 302012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
I parked the car in the driveway to pick up my 4 yr grandson. I left the car, with keys in hand, but left the car door open. I turned my back to the door to walk around the back of the car, and noticed the car was rolling backwards toward the street. I turned quickly in the direction of the steering wheel attempting to insert my right leg to press the brake. I hopped a few times on my left leg, as the car door was pushing me backwards. Unable to reach the brake, the force of the car door slammed me to the ground on my right buttock and right side. The bottom of the door scraped over my left knee, leaving two gashes and bruised knee, scraped up over my left arm and shoulder, compressing my shoulders, clavicle, chest cavity and base of skull (shoulder to shoulder measuring 19") so they would fit beneath the door (12" clearance).the bottom of the car door is crimped where "it gave" into the pressure of pushing my body into the ground. The car continued to roll across the street, up over the curb, and finally stopped with the rear wheels on the sidewalk and the front wheels still in the street against the curb. No tires rolled over me. When my daughter entered the car to reposition and park it, she found the car in reverse, and I had the keys in my hand. A neighbor had difficulty inserting the key, but was able to start and park it. I drove the van to mohawk Honda, with blood dripping from abrasions. They gave me a ride home while they replaced ignition cylinder, gave me 2 new keys, told me there were no recalls, and charged me $555. When I asked if this should be reported somewhere, I was told no. I saw the NHTSA article in the newspaper today 10/6/12. I have a no fault claim, head ct scan, continuing pt and therapy dealing with ptsd and constant head and neckaches.a brother of my son's classmate was killed 4 days ago as a Dodge Caravan rolled over him in his driveway. He was 11 yr.

- Glenville, NY, USA

problem #86

Apr 132012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 145,614 miles
I parked my van on my sloped driveway, setting the emergency brake. As I was getting out, the van started rolling backward. As I was trying to stop it, I tripped and my left leg was run over by the front left tire. I had an open fracture of my fibula and crush injuries on my shin area (and multiple bruises and pulled muscles elsewhere). I realized later that the van was still in "drive". I had been able to get my keys out without putting it in "park". [I have tested it since then and I still can remove my keys while the van is in "drive" or "neutral"] on testing the emergency brake, I found that it would not hold unless it was pushed all the way to the maximum position. Even though it sounded and "felt" engaged, it did not hold.

- Temecula, CA, USA

problem #85

Sep 032012

Odyssey

  • 98,000 miles
Transmission oil overheating while driving in the freeway causing it to leak and burnt the transmission on all gears and a costly repair of $2400.

- Elk Grove , CA, USA

problem #84

Aug 282012

Odyssey

  • 170,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph the RPM increased excessively causing the vehicle to stall. The vehicle was towed to a transmission shop who inspected the vehicle and stated there was a recall and it should go to the dealer for the repairs. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer who stated the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 04V176000: (power train: Automatic transmission). The manufacturer was notified who stated the recall was repaired back in 2005 and they offered no other assistance. The failure mileage was 170,000.

- Seattle, WA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »