Our '99 Ody has 140,000 miles. Not a problem like you guys.
Great site! I completely agree! Today (July 26, 2007) I almost purchased a 2000 Honda Odyssey EX (128,000 miles) in Bloomington, Indiana (Stephens Honda-Hyundai). They were kind enough to show me the--are you ready for this?--a three-page ("TOTAL SERV. DAYS 55!") service record on this vehicle. They told me that "the owner of this Honda was exemplary because she just kept coming back for service"! Thousands, thousands of dollars in "repairs"! They asked for almost $7,000 for this junk! What is scary is that when I asked them if there is anything problematic about this van, they told me that "it is extraordinarily dependable because it is a Honda!" Stay away from this thing!
I have a 2000 Odyssey EX. Honda replaced the transmission and EGR valve at about 150,000 km (about 95K miles). Now at 207,000 km the transmission is shifting too soon as it accelerates. I was led to believe the rebuilt transmission was going to solve the problem for the long term. Judging by this board that obviously is not true. I am going to a transmission expert in two days to get his advice before I go to see Honda. My original transmission lasted longer and showed fewer signs of deterioration than the new one. Not sure if the transmission people can do a better job of fixing it or whether I have to go to Honda.
My electric doors have been adjusted many times. Now I just get out and push when I close them. Seems to work. I bought this vehicle thinking that Honda's had such great reputations for longevity, quality of build etc. I think I am now cured of that belief forever. I have never had transmission problems on any vehicle I have owned in the previous 35 years. How disappointing it is to read that I have a vehicle that seems to be beyond hope of ever running well again. When you add that to the fact that these were at one time the highest priced minivans by a significant amount it becomes a fairly significant financial blow.
Anyone had any experience getting the tranny problem fixed by a private firm?
Gs.
MY 2000 Honda Odyssey EX has never had a bad transmission; now at 83,500 miles. Very reliable and dependable.
The only bad thing about is the automatic doors; they get stuck, and a very annoying buzzing sound goes off. That is my only problem with this Odyssey.
Great h.p. Get's up and goes, very safe. Very good resale value and just a great family van. This is my first Honda and I love it.
My 2000 Odyssey just had to have it's transmission replaced at 78,000 miles. It had an extended warranty put on it by Honda, so it didn't cost me a dime. I was lucky because the warranty was up in 2 months. I was quite shocked with Honda's reputation for this to happen, but then since it was covered by the warranty, I couldn't be too mad.
Well, Here I am on-line looking for hints on my brake issues for my 2000 Odyssey EX (100,500 miles), and I find this thread/forum. Not good.
I had an all-around brake job done at my otherwise reliable mechanic not more than 4months ago. Brakes squealing bad in the rear, driver side. Took it to the dealer and they gave me the "You got cheap pads on them and your drum is warped" story with a $555.00 price tag on it. Didn't know what to thing, whether my mechanic screwed up, or if it is a Honda Odyssey thing... sounds like a little of both. Now trying to decide what to do with it... where to get it fixed.
Additionally, I do have the same sliding power door issues as stated in previous comments.
My transmission has not gone bad...yet. It has always exhibited a hesitation when first getting it into gear, but hasn't become any worse. Reading these threads, I think my move will be to unload it in the very, very near future and consider the Siennas... or maybe a newer Odyssey... as I am not completely unsatisfied..
Thanks to all who've commented above... very useful.
I purchased a used 2000 Odyssey EX in Fall of '06 in response to "Honda reliability" and my falling in love with a neighbor's Odyssey in '05. With 107,000 on it, we paid $9,250. No major problems experienced (thank you, Jesus!), but the thing will not drive straight, the "new" brakes and pads purchased last year are squealing and grinding (?) now, and my mechanic says the transmission and catalytic converter are on their last leg. We just passed the 140K mile mark, and we're going to drive it till something major breaks. I still think our EX is beautiful, but was disappointed to learn--after the fact--that the transmission is a lemon. Consumer Reports to this day recommends the Odyssey as a good used buy, but they rate the transmission as "poor". If the vehicle is out of warranty, which is now since 7 years have passed since the 2000 model year, do not buy a used Odyssey. Try Toyota.
We have a 2000 Honda Odyssey with 165,000 miles. We are on our fourth transmission and plan to sell it when the (Midas) warranty runs out.
We have had constant problems with the sliding doors. At first they just wouldn't shut all the way, but now they sometimes come open while we're driving. Sometimes they won't open at all. We've tried the fuse trick and it works, but what an annoyance. And this doesn't fix the problem of opening while driving.
We've asked Honda to replace the door latches at no charge, since this seems to be a recurring issue, but so far no luck. This is a serious safety issue.
I am about to buy a Honda Odyssey 2000, after reading these comments I stop thinking about it
Thanks guys.
I have a 2001 Honda Odyssey. I have been following religiously all the recommended services. Last year, I saw the check engine light for first time. Honda dealership asked me to get an oxygen switch replaced for $400. I am not even sure how they diagnosed this. I took it home and tightened my fuel cap multiple times and the light went off and state inspection passed (from another mechanic).
Over many months, the engine light would come and go as and when it liked. Since I was due for inspection, I asked a local auto mechanic to look at this and he replaced ERG valve for $500. This also passed the state inspection.
The Honda dealer would not classify this as ERG valve replacement, and based on emails, it looks like this should have been a free replacement work by Honda.
Has anyone got reimbursed for this, especially as in my case, the work is done outside the workshop.
Thanks.
We have a 2002 Honda Odyssey that given us more trouble than the car we had before it (and that was a 1996 DODGE Neon!). That's pretty sad. We've had to take it in to get the sliding doors fixed (warrantied), the rack and pinion steering replaced ($600) and now we're replacing the motor mount ($375). I had to ask the mechanic at Honda if the transmission is the next to go. He promised me the transmission issues were mainly on Odyssey's prior to 2002. I'm praying that he's right. Why do Honda's get such good ratings from Consumer Reports & Edmunds is beyond me.
Our 2002 EX (bought new) had the transmission replaced at 82k miles. We of course passed on the extended warranty (it's a Honda, after all). Honda knocked off about $600 from the repair but it still cost us about $1,400. They also pointed out that the right side engine mounts were shot and would cost $300 to do now or $500 to do later (once everything was back together). My regard for Honda reliability is greatly diminished (this is our first, though my brother had an Accord with over 225k miles with few problems). I was thinking of a Civic Si as a second car, though now I see reports of problems with the Si manual transmission popping out of 3rd gear. Not good.
We bought a 2000 Odyssey EX new in November, 1999. We don't put many mile on it (it now has 89,000) and have maintained it well. Problems so far: bad idler pulley replaced under warranty, recall for something electrical, bad passenger side door motor (last year - $250 replacement done by dealer), front brake wobble (I did this work myself - the rotors are easy to remove and the pads are very simple to replace. It's been fine since I did it two years ago), and the big one - the tranny, two months ago. Due to the age of our van, it was past the extended warranty, though well within it for miles. We've always had it serviced at the dealer where we bought it, and they quoted us about $3000 for a replacement. I took it to another Honda dealer, who to my huge surprise got it fully covered by Honda even though I didn't by the van from them. That was true manna from heaven! The van has been fine since then. We did go ahead and have them replace the timing belt and water pump (paid for that) due to the van's age. They did not suggest this work, I asked for it. That cost about $850.
My biggest disappointments with the van have been gas mileage (17 or so around town, maybe 23 on the highway) and wind noise. It sounds like a hurricane when driven at interstate speeds through a windy area. Overall, we're satisfied with the van, but only because Honda picked up the transmission repair.
Oddly enough, the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned is one that was not supposed to be - a 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan. I got 186,000 miles out of it with a new tranny at 125,000, a water pump, a fuel pump, and standard maintenance. It felt much more solid than the Odyssey.
This is exactly why I am looking for an older Toyota Previa. Affordable, bullet proof tranny, run forever... Both the Sienna's and these Odyssey are way over-rated. Someone at church just spent $4K on a new tranny for a '98 Sienna. You could buy a used Previa for that!
Or you could buy a new domestic with a 100,000 mile warranty.