2001 Honda Odyssey from North America

Summary:

Don't buy the older Honda Odyssey, asking for problems

Faults:

I got the Honda Odyssey because of the name Honda. Got it for a great price used. Van was great for the first year I had it, but it has been a nightmare since then.

The second year I owned it, the catalytic converter had to be replaced for $1200.

Motor mounts $400.

Retainer spring for the brakes $300.

The air conditioner $800. The gas cap $250.

The traction control light started acting up, so another $287.

I've done all the work with the Honda Service and have spent more than $3200 on repairs. And now in the third year of my ownership the transmission is acting up. God only know what that is gonna run me.

General Comments:

The car has a lot of space and looks great, but I would not recommend it. I went foreign after owning American, and the problems still happened.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 15th January, 2009

2001 Honda Odyssey EX 3.5 from North America

Summary:

I am not going to buy another Honda

Faults:

Catalytic converter need to be replaced.

General Comments:

It is relatively reliable, but there are some potential problems such as transmission and catalytic converter. Do Internet research on those problems before you purchase new Odyssey. There are too many people complaining about catalytic converter to be coincidences. And it is over 1000 dollars to fix. Buyers be aware! Honda will not do anything once your warranty is up.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 7th January, 2009

2001 Honda Odyssey from North America

Summary:

This is the last Honda I will ever buy. I have owned three

Faults:

Defective EGR valve.

Car revs loudly while idling.

Automatic car doors get stuck open.

TCS light and check engine light came on at 80,000 miles despite pampering. Dealer says it needs a new transmission.

General Comments:

This car handles very well. The interior is very well designed and comfortable.

However, I have had some problems that warranty action from Honda. I feel that I have not been treated like a valuable customer despite my loyalty to Hondas.

For example, at about 60,000 miles, I had a problem with the engine revving while the car was idling, so I went in to the dealer and had work done. They told me it was not the defective EGR valve that was under an extended warranty I was recently informed about. After the repair, the problem returned in a few days. I returned the van and had work done again, and was also told that it was "not the EGR valve." The problem returned again. This time I insisted that they do the work on the EGV valve, which they did. Consequently, the problem went away and did not return.

Recently however (at about 80,000 miles) the TCS and check engine light came on. The dealer told me that the transmission needs to be replaced. Coincidentally, the TCS light only comes on when I am driving over 60MPH with a cruise control (I have checked this theory for several months). The van is not performing any differently so I am reluctant to spend $5,000 on a new transmission.

In disbelief, I called the Honda corporation and asked them about the problem. The person I spoke to admitted that the 2001 Honda Odysseys have had some transmission problems. Today, on this website, I am reading about a class action lawsuit resulting in an extended warranty with the transmission of 2001 Honda Odysseys. Why have I not been informed? Would the dealer have made me pay $5,000 to have work done even though it should be free? If I replace the transmission, will the problem come back like other people say? Honda owes me an answer.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 11th October, 2008

17th Dec 2008, 18:42

You have had a misfortune. Always Google it first! Search for an answer. Today my Honda Odyssey had the same symptoms as yours. At first I was baffled. When I started it to warm up - it's winter - it started revving up/down by itself. I thought it would stop after it warmed up. Then the TCS light came on and then the engine light followed. Ut oh... I had filled up - maybe it was bad fuel...? I called for a check up -- $67.00 just to diagnose. I had been a mechanic for years on big equipment. I decided to first Google it and call a local parts store for a code reader. So, I went to the parts store and the reader said something was up with the idle sensor. Maybe a vacuum leak. After some part store feedback I learned the TCS (Traction control system which I had been using in the snow and ice) is a vacuum engage system. This means every time the TSC system button is pressed and then engaged a vacuum throws the mechanism in and out of engagement. I realized mine was stuck half way open or closed. This open mechanism was allowing a vacuum leak which affects the entire vacuum system - including the car's idle. I went out of the shop and burned rubber out of the parking lot. Doing that put enough tork on the TCS mechanism to throw it 'out' of its stuck position. The TSC light went out and the car immediately began to idle correctly. I fixed it. It operates normal now - TSC system does as well. Don't get a new transmission!

Little quirks like this give a car character.

Hope this helps someone!

Marc in WV.

26th Dec 2008, 18:01

Learn something new every day. We've had some really lousy roads in the Seattle area due to the unusual cold weather with snow and ice. Our TCS has always worked well, never heard or felt anything unusual until today. When just starting out with TCS and starting to get the RPMs up a bit to get started on a slick road, there is a lot of clicking and one tire spins and the other is still.

If what you say is true, then a vacuum leak may be a possible issue I have, as it would not allow the TCS to engage completely.

The above comment about it coming on at 60 miles an hour, sounds familiar, as I've had a van in which the air conditioner will all of a sudden change over to the defroster when under a load on a hill. Turned out to be a vacuum issue and defective part. Sounds like a similar issue with vacuum and the TCS.

Thanks for the info on the TCS and vacuum relationship.