2001 Honda Odyssey review from North America

First, a little about myself. I have never towed a boat, trailer, small homes, or anything else with my 2001 Honda Odyssey. I have never used my minivan to go drag racing. I am not an aggressive driver. I can be found puttering in the far right lane at the stated speed limit. As proof of my superior driving habits, we routinely have squeezed 26-27 miles per gallon out of our Odyssey. I've changed the oil every 6,000 miles and ALL preventative maintenance has been performed.

Despite all of the above, the transmission in our Odyssey has failed four times, requiring a replacement. I am now contemplating whether to pay for a fifth transmission. Our van has 140,000 miles on it.

The first transmission went at 25,498 miles (August 2002). The second died after 17,364 miles (September 2003). The third died after 32,481 miles (October 2005). The fourth died after 68,657 (January 2009). The part is clearly badly designed and/or badly manufactured.

Despite this, Honda has only offered to provide me with another complimentary refurbished transmission and left me with a $1600 repair bill for labor and shipping. Do I invest the money knowing full well that the newly installed transmission will last only a couple of years? Or do I cut my losses and count the quarters in the couch to determine whether I can afford a car payment for a replacement vehicle (definitely Toyota this time)? I'll let you know.

We were deeply impressed by the comfortable interior, fuel economy (for a vehicle this large), maneuverability, and safety features of this mini-van.

However, it has been the least reliable vehicle my wife and I have ever owned. Unfortunately, in my mind, Honda has not done enough to stand by a product which is clearly flawed.

I have been a loyal Honda customer for 25 years. This is my 7th Honda. It will be my last.