The Honda had it automatic transmission replaced at 41,000 miles.
The second transmission has now failed at 71,000 miles.
The second transmission is hopefully covered by the recall that is going on.
Car is noisy and has a rough ride.
Interior has not held up well. the driver power seat has been a constant problem.
I purchased a 2002 Odyssey EXL in April of 2002. Had the transmission drained and flushed (at dealer recommendation) at 60,000 miles. During Nov 2004 with 66,000 miles, the "D" indicator light began flashing. Took the van to the dealer who advised that the transmission was failing and needed to be replaced. The van has never towed anything and has never been towed--just driven on trips by a 70 year old. Honda has agreed to replace the transmission if I pay $826. So much for a "quality" Honda. I might as well by a Kia for my next van and get a 100,000 power train warranty.
I agree that Honda quality is a myth. My 02 also had a transmission replacement. And several visits for repairs to the power side doors. My old Dodge had less problems by far. I should not have bought Honda. I will not buy Honda next time.
Yes, I must agree that Honda has let me down on this one! I have an old 1994 Honda Prelude, and drive the hell out of it, and don't do anything great for it, and it still runs like new, with 300,000 kilometers on it!!!
My Odyssey on the other hand, only has 80,000 kilometers on it (and my wife is a very easy driver... slow I guess), and it is on the second transmission, rattles like hell, is unreliable, electrical problems, power sliding doors are a waste of time, money and more problems...
For what I paid, I am honestly disappointed in them, and I noticed that I am one of many mad owners... next time, Toyota gets my business as my friend has a 2001 Toyota Sienna and LOVES it, and drives the hell out of it, go figure eh?
Honda lost me....one more promising customer down the drain!
I have been a very happy Honda customer for the past 5 years that I have owned my 2002 Odyssey until lately...I'm very disappointed. My husband & I bought this van because it was the "BEST" van on the market and the safest. We paid an arm and leg for the "Best " on the market and now after owning the van for 5 years have had nothing, but heartache!! Three weeks ago I bought my van in because the Transmission was not changing gears smoothly. I was told at that time that the transmission was GREAT!!! All I needed was a Transmission drain & flush. So I paid the $140. When I picked up my van I was told that 3 of the 4 engine mounts were broke. Told that it would cost me around $900 to replace the engine mounts. I called Honda Motor Company and told them that it was unacceptable. They paid for the total cost of repairs and labor. I could not believe that they were so gracious in providing this service for me... but I thought "that's Honda for you" They keep there customers happy!! Now one week later, and 87,000 miles, I take a road trip and the Transmission would not shift properly between 2nd and 3rd gear. The engine would rev above its normal shift rpm and shift hard into 3rd gear or shift into neutral and not go into 3rd gear for 2 -3 seconds and only if you let off the accelerator to idle. The problem only got worse and started happening between 3rd and 4th gear. Soon after the Engine light, TCS light and "D" started blinking. I had to drive home in D2. I am taking my Honda in tomorrow and will be notifying Honda Motor Company. Seems like there has been hundreds of complaints on the 2002 Honda transmission.
Driver side sliding door on my 2002 EX does not latch properly (final latch at the rear of the door) when the car is left outside in the rain. Never have the problem in dry weather. In two visits, the Honda dealer replaced the door switch assembly and every (3) roller assembly (bottom, middle, and top) in the door and guess what... same problem when it rains. Dealer was genuinely puzzled and apologetic particularly since we live in the rainiest place in the US.
Perhaps I'll trade it all in for a sunny climate... and Toyota.
2002 Honda Odyssey LX with 66k miles, auto trans.
I have a newly installed transmission from the dealer--probably a rebuilt tranny. I am very disappointed in the quality and the number of trans failures that other users have reported. Until three weeks ago, our family was all Honda, all the time, for the last twenty years of car ownership. Not so in the future. In this case, Honda covered the tranny under warranty (we are outside of warranty period). I wonder how long the rebuilt tranny will last.
While in the shop for tranny, the dealer also replaced a wiring component for the power steering harness (some sort of connector). This was apparently causing the idle to "hunt" up and down while at a stop (in gear or in park). That problem got fixed, but now the instrument panel lights are out (this makes night driving a bit more difficult) and the parking lights are out.
Oddly, the stereo briefly stopped working, the instrument panel went dark, and the parking lights are out (stereo was on, and unit LCD displayed all the right visual cues, but no sound). I found a blown fuse for the panel lights. I replaced the fuse, and the stereo works again, but the panel lights and the parking lights are still out (the fuse blew again when I turned the lights on). I generally don't believe in replacing a fuse more than once without identifying the root cause of the blown fuse. Maybe the lighting wiring is shorted to the speaker wiring, but who knows where? I hate troubleshooting electrical problems on a car, even though I am a capable technical troubleshooter (I don't feel like troubleshooting all day at work and then doing more troubleshooting when I get home).
I am getting beyond the point of minor irritation with this car, which is supposedly the most reliable, well-designed minivan (although I think the Toyota Sienna has overtaken Odyssey). I am frustrated with taking this car to the dealer for repairs.
My next vehicle will be something other than a Honda, even though I have owned seven Hondas so far (no problems with any of them until the Odyssey--just grew out of them or wore them out around 200,000 miles).
I no longer trust this vehicle to get my wife and kids around without leaving them stranded.
Wow, you have reservations against Honda. 20 years and one bad car and you are leaving them. Well, I would not want to be your friend. What if I accidentally killed your lawn or something else and then someone like you would do to an old trusted friend. GET RID OF THEM? In this case it is Honda and not a human being, but I think you have to bite the bullet and buy another (maybe not a 99-04 Oddysey) but maybe the new and improved ones. People like you are scary!
Good Lord!!I am in the process of purchasing a 2002 Honda Odyssey and you guys have just scared me silly. I am from a Caribbean island, and these cars are being sold to us at a cost of $2,600 to $2,800 US. I am now worried that I might be buying trouble!
Could they really be that bad? If I take back my deposit, I stand to lose quite a bit of money, according to the the contract I have signed.
HELP!!!
As of December 25, 2006, I have a 2002 Odyssey Ex that I bought new. I have had a transmission mount replaced, rear main seal replaced, sliding door motor replaced (under warranty), rear door struts replaced (under warranty), and now at 85,000 miles, the drive 'D' indicator started blinking. Dealer replaced a sensor in the transmission, but told me he recommends a new transmission (5200 dollars). I told him that he is nuts. Called Honda America and they told me it would take a few days and they would get back with me (it has been a week and I am still waiting). I was told Honda does not fix transmissions, they just replace them. Found out my recall for the 'oil insertion pack' occurred in June of 2004 after I had 40,000 miles on my vehicle. I told Honda America they need to consider this when they review my record. I have 2 neighbors with 2002 odysseys. The first had 2 transmissions replaced under warranty. The other just got a new transmission at 60,000 miles under an extended warranty they bought with the vehicle. I was in a meeting at work discussing my odyssey problem (several people at meeting also have odysseys) and one of my coworkers said after his trip to Colorado during Spring Break, his 'D' indicator is now flashing (he has a 2003 odyssey). Maybe these are only coincidences, but I think Honda has got some real problems with their Odyssey transmissions.
I just got off the phone with Honda USA. They have decided to offer me a new transmission 75% off of the warranty price (which is 2800 dollars). That would make my cost about 700.00 dollars. They investigated and found that I had my 30,000 mile service done by Honda and at 54,000 miles I had my transmission oil replaced by Honda. Before I they confirmed the service they were only going to give me 25% off of the 2800 dollar price. It seems that Honda wants to do the right thing and "help" on these transmission replacements. Please do not pay the 5200 dollar price. I think just talking to Honda USA about it will give you some kind of price break. My second piece of advice is to educate yourself as much as possible and let them know that you are aware of the "Odyssey Transmission problems" on Honda Odysseys.
I have a 2002 Odyssey van with 80,000 and it's in the shop for transmission replacement. Very disappointing! Of course, when purchasing my van in 2001 I did not buy the extended warranty because I was buying a Honda. The van is the noisiest vehicle on the road and it's hard to hold a conversation and listen to the radio. The transmission starting slipping and the "malfunction indicator" light came on. The dealer wants $3000 for a reman tranny. I'm getting it replaced by a local independent shop who I can trust.
I have not had any problems with the sliding doors, but the clock light and the a/c display light is out and has been out since about 60,000 miles. I brought the van twice to have the these lights replaced, but the dealer is out of stock.
For the money the radio system is junk.
Overall satisfaction is bad.
The lights that you have described that have gone out are easy to replace and I would not even think of taking it to the dealer for replacement because they will charge you over 50 dollars. The bulbs are very small and inexpensive to buy.
I have an 02 Odyssey. The other day while changing the battery, I somehow crossed the cables and I touched the negative cable to the positive terminal on the battery with the negative terminal already connected to the positive cable.
For a brief second, the horn on the van honked and the battery sparked so I yanked it off then realized what had happened. My kids were fighting in the background and I think I just got disoriented momentarily and did this backwards.
The battery 120A fuse was blown and I replaced it. Now the stereo/rear DVD system doesn't work. I have checked every fuse in the car and none are blown. This includes the interior light/radio 10A fuse.
Could there be another relay or breaker that has gotten blown?
Please offer any insight (without chiding please for the blunder) if you have any.
Thanks.
If the stereo/dvd player isn't working, are you getting an "enter code" flashing message? My 2004 system has a theft deterrent feature that disables the unit if the battery is disconnected. The dealer often puts a decal nearby that has the code - look inside the glove box or inside the doors.
Can anyone help us? We had our 01 Honda Odyssey transmission replaced in Nov. 06 (recalled at no cost to us). One month later, the van blows cold air instead of heat (we suspected the thermostat). Upon arriving at home, we noticed antifreeze leaking. It didn't start for us the next day, so we had it towed to a Honda dealer. They said the engine is ruined, and must be replaced. Could the poor initial transmission be the cause for the engine failure, only one month after a new transmission? Note: No lights were lit on the dash during the "cold air" incident (ex. no oil or engine lights were lit). Thanks for your input!