12th Oct 2006, 15:10
Just thought I include a somewhat positive data point. I'm the original owner of a 2000 Odyssey with 217,000 miles. I never had any transmission problems - in fact very few problems with anything. I do have the check engine light/traction control light problem which was fixed by cleaning the EGR valve and it went away for about a year and came back on. I've since ignored it for about 2 years and haven't noticed any performance or engine problems.
13th Oct 2006, 00:14
To the above commenter, I am with you too. Mine is going to hit 200,000 miles without a hitch. Just plain ole maintenance. I have learned not to change the tranny fluid every 90,000 miles. more like every 30,000 miles, then it runs forever.
2nd Nov 2006, 15:00
We know it is not the engine. That is the best part of Honda and why they build some of the best. Sadly, the transmission is not as good as the engine.
9th Jan 2007, 08:52
I own a 2001 Odyssey that I have treated well and it has treated me well in return until now. It has 102 479kms on it and the check engine light and tcs light have come on lately. Initially, after checking the codes, the dealership said everything was fine because the van started up fine. The advisor said this even though the codes indicated a 3rd pressure switch failure and fuel too rich.
Luckily, my friend called the dealership and spoke directly to the technician who said the transmission was slipping and recommended a fuel system flush and replacing the transmission fluid. The work was done and five minutes after picking up my vehicle, the engine light and TCS light were back on. I wanted to cry.
When my friend spoke to the technician again the next day, the mechanic mentioned the problem with 2001 transmissions and the possibility that I would need to replace mine.
I am disappointed that initially the service department was going to let me drive a vehicle that needed service and that the transmission problem is hush-hush.
I am hoping and praying that the transmission is fine (although I fear the worse). But knowing Honda is aware of the problem encourages me to push for coverage under my warranty. Here`s hoping.
16th Jan 2007, 14:11
I just called the Honda customer service in CA. the representative told me that there was a class action settlement on dec 2006 so they extended the warranty coverage to 7 yrs/109,000 miles. She will send a DCS msg to our dealership so they will replace the faulty transmission. Thanks for this survey that I was able to find out more information on the 2001 Odyssey transmission problem. I hope our local dealership will honor what the Honda rep has told me.
19th Jan 2007, 23:29
The class action lawsuit and warranty extension by Honda is for the '99-'01 models. Unfortunately, I have a 2002 year model. I brought it in to the dealer and at first, I was told that I would have to pay $3500 to replace the transmission if needed, but later I was told that it is now under review by his manager and Honda may or may not pay for just the cost of the parts. I can't believe Honda have not learned a lesson from the long history of transmission problems and the class action lawsuit. I brought it in to another mechanic before bringing it into Honda and he told me that this is a well known design flaw that Honda has. My car has 50Kmiles on it. I bet for the newer models, the problem will not start to show until a little later on. No more Honda minivans or cars for me. I better go with a Toyota or a Nissan.
22nd Jan 2007, 10:23
I have a 2001 Odyssey, we bought it brand new (even had to be on a waiting list). The car was fine for the first two years (small problems with the sensors on the sliding doors, but nothing big). The all of the sudden my check engine and TCS light came on. My husband was out of town and I had a brand new baby so when he came home we took the van in. The service manager was very nice and told us about the recall for the tranny so that was probably the problem and since we only had 40,000 miles on it that, that it would be covered. Sure enough, it was the tranny and it was replaced on their dime (although I had to wait four days to get it back).
I was/am not happy with the replacement! It shifts horribly, especially from 1st to 2nd. I have taken it back three times in the past two years (it was replaced in 2004) and every time they tell me "that is just how the new trannies are". To me... that is not acceptable. Who is to say that when I go to trade my car in for a new one, that the other dealer I go to, will or won't think something is wrong with the transmission?
In the long run I have been disappointed with this mini van.
19th Apr 2007, 16:06
Hello Fellow Honda Odyssey owners. I just want to give everyone some hope. My attorney just got HONDA to re purchase by 2001 Odyssey. It took several months to accomplish this. It was on its 5th transmission and had over 95,000 miles on it. Hang in there and hire a great lemon lawyer who is on YOUR side.
25th Apr 2007, 08:03
Our 2001 van had 85,000 August '05. We took it in because we could tell the transmission was slipping. They couldn't find anything wrong. We left the next week for a 2500 mile vacation. Guess what? Transmission went out in Milford, CT. Major headache. Dealership in Milford, CT was extremely rude and unaccommodating. They replaced the transmission after having it 2 wks, but we had to pay to have the car delivered to us in VA. Honda Corp. was very nice in the beginning until it got down to the reimbursements. They turned into a major pain. They pushed us and lied as much as they could to get us to cave. We didn't though. No more Hondas for us.
1st Sep 2006, 23:40
I bought a 2000 Honda Odyssey in November of 1999. Everything was working fine until 40,000 miles. I had routine maintenance done on this vehicle regularly, but suddenly the transmission was stalling and the TCS light came on. I called the local dealership, and they told me to bring it in. I left the car with them for a full day, and when I called the next day they told me that they couldn't duplicate the shifting problems I experienced, therefore there was nothing they could do. I explained to them that the car didn't experience any shifting problems until the car was driven for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The service manager stated that they didn't have the time to drive the car around for that long, and to wait until it happens again and then bring it in immediately.
I didn't have to wait very long. The very next morning I had severe shifting problems, the transmission would not "catch" right away after I was stopped at a signal. I called the dealer from my cell phone and told them that I was going to break down in the middle of the road. They told me to bring it in right away.
I brought the car in, they told me that it needed a new transmission. I waited one week until a new transmission came in, and then I picked up the car. This transmission started leaking fluid in my driveway after 3,000 miles.
I returned the van and another transmission was installed.