9th Jul 2006, 16:59
Bought a new 2000 Honda Odyssey EX in July 2000. Never towed anything and kept it well maintained on a consistant maintenance schedule in accordance with dealer recommended schedule. Transmission fluid changed once. Within 3 years had noticeable noise and roughness at 50-60mph range. Since my wife drove it primarily I didn't act on it right away. I had it checked out in May 2006 (it only had 43,000 miles on it) during a routine oil change and my local Honda Service Center said they had to replace the transmission. They were quick and efficient on the change, however, I have noticed a recurring roughness at 50-60mph only two months later. I need to bring it back for another look.
13th Jul 2006, 00:51
Looks like I too may be in the same boat as all of you. I got the check engine light on (and the TCS turing on after driving a few miles each time). Just got the van back from the dealer after they found the on-board-diagnostics saying the EGR and 3rd gear presssure switch need to be replaced. Paid $650 (also included the 3-step fuel system clean-up). I guess I will have to expect that the light will come back (as with most you guys).
25th Jul 2006, 14:58
I have a 2001 Honda Odyssey, and like the other readers' comments, have had numerous problems with "check engine light" and TCS light. I have had the car into the dealership or mechanic at least 6 times for the check engine light. It has been everything from "no codes come up" to replacement of the EGR valve, to tightening the hoses to the gas cap is not fitting tight enough. Now they say it is my catalytic converter, even though 3 weeks ago it was loose hoses. I will never buy another van from Honda - I think this is an inferior car.
26th Jul 2006, 13:59
If you must not have the best van, then at least get a Toyota. I am tired of people here buying unsafe (Chevy Venture/Montana), unreliable (Ford Windstar-GM-Daimler) and touting them as something excellent. The Toyota does all the Honda does except drive like a Honda (meaning like a car and sports car handling together), which is the distinct thing the Ody does that no other van can touch.
27th Jul 2006, 21:12
Gee, I guess everybody should get your permission before buying what they want. But all of these folks bought the precious Honda Odyssey that you love so much and have had nothing but problems with it! If there are four pages of people saying they've had problems with a car, then maybe this isn't the greatest car.
28th Jul 2006, 19:28
I like your fighting words. Buy the Ford and have reliability problems. Buy GM vans and have reliability and a dangerous ride. The Chrysler vans are pick and choose, but many have problems. I guess the only safe bet is to buy the Toyota. This is comparing 99-03 vans. The only shortcoming of the Ody is the tranny which is a widespread problem especially with newer ones that got the 5speed auto.
28th Jul 2006, 19:31
Maybe they do need my permission and how to drive their vehicle. You know, I have gotten 130,000 miles out of my Honda V6 tranny so far and it is supposed to go out every 40,000 miles. Maybe I only know how to drive it and others don't? Maybe I am just lucky. Well have fun selling your back stock of Ford Freestars or Caravans Sir.
29th Jul 2006, 11:33
Only 130,000 miles? You're not even in the ballpark, yet. I have 250,000 miles on the engine and transmission in my Dodge, with nothing ever done aside from routine fluid changes and tune-ups. So just keep telling me how American cars are so much less reliable than Toyota. But don't be offended if I ignore you and scoff.
Now on the other hand, the way I see people driving, I definitely think they are way too hard on their vehicles, regardless of brand. They don't understand that they are abusing them, and they don't understand the concept of routine maintenance. Perhaps you and I are more interested in taking care of our respective vehicles, so I would admit that it is certainly possible to get 130,000 out of this crap-box Odyssey, but not if somebody is hard on it. Let us know how your Odyssey is holding up when it's 20 years old, and then we'll talk about reliability of American versus Japanese.
29th Jul 2006, 18:34
130,000 is not a lot, but compared with the other V-6 Accords and Ody's of the 99-04 range, that is good. Plus my tranny runs very well, shifts well and I bet I can get at least another 70,000 miles out of that tranny. I have Honda's and Toyota's in the family with over 250,000 on their trannys and still work well.
29th Jul 2006, 18:36
Will there be any American car companies other than the Japanese ones in 20 years?
30th Jul 2006, 10:54
Sadly, that is probably a real concern. Although American car companies make good products, they are encumbered by pension payouts, health care costs, and retirement plans (and rightly so, because the auto industry represents the pinnacle of the blue-collar American dream, or at least it did). It doesn't matter how good a product you make if you can't turn a profit, and Americans continue to prove that they only care about price, not quality. In 20 years, it may well be that Japanese car companies will be in the same situation as American ones are now, after China floods the market with cheap cars built by slave-wage workers.
19th Jun 2006, 18:33
I have a 2000 Honda Odyssey EX, that we have owned for about 1 year. We purchased the van from the original owner. Within the last two weeks the check engine light came on. I took the Van to a Honda dealer and was informed that I needed to replace the catalytic converter. The cost would be about $500. The check engine light stayed off for about a week and then came back on along with the TCS light. I took the van to a local mechanic shop and was told the EGR valve had to be replaced. The mechanic replaced the valve, my wife drove the van home and when she went back to town later the check engine light came on again. We took the van back to the mechanic the next day, they replaced the EGR valve with a Honda replacement part this time. Picked the van up very late that evening and did not drive the van until the next day. Again the check engine light came on and after a few minutes the TCS light came. I reset the TCS light and it stayed off for a while. Took the van back to the mechanic again the next day, this time after consulting with the Honda dealer, he had to drill out the port and inserted a new replacement tube. That is where we stand at this time. My wife drove the van this evening to a community about 35 miles away, hopefully if the problem still persists this will cause the lights to reappear. At this time I am hoping that by contacting Honda Of America I will receive some type of financial compensation for the costs of these repairs, as they seem to be prevalent in their product.