1999 Honda Odyssey LX from North America - Comments

-Doors malfunctoned.

-Transmission has trouble searching for gears going down hills.

-Alternator failed (so claims the dealer).

-Car dies intermittently. My local Olympia, WA dealer claimed the $800.00 alternator would fix the problem - it did not! Car died again within 3 miles (yes, 3 miles!) of the dealership so they never even test drove it after the fix. The dealer then tried to blame the car dying on the previous mechanic who did the timing belt to justify the alternator.

I really, really wish I had found this website before I decided to purchase this van. I bought it based on my past good experience with Hondas - 1991 crx @ 300k + miles & 3 Honda CBR's. Between the money I had to pour into the van, and the hit I took trading it in, it cost me almost $5000 over a period of 7 months. The dealer experience was even worse. Complete lack of accountability, PLUS Honda of America backed the dealer. This was a stalling problem that would cause the engine to stop at any speed. A potentially life-threatening situation that you would think they would want to get to the bottom of. I WAS ABSOLUTELY THE LAST HONDA I WILL EVER OWN!!!

Worst "car" for you, but it was the best "van" for me!!

Ditto on all counts for the first posting. My parents bought the same vehicle (1999 Odyssey) based on the "best buy" reporting from consumer magazines (the ones that apparently never follow-up after awarding such a distinction). When the transmission started slipping at 88,000 miles, they sold it. That's right, I forgot to mention that it was the second transmission, they both lasted about 44,000 miles. For all the "Check Engine" code readings, nearly wore-out a new code reader, always something new. "EGR" valve codes really meant pulling-off the top of the motor to remove the carbon build-up. My neighbor's Odyssey started spitting out check engine codes (also a second transmission) so I called the Honda dealer (I'm the "neighborhood mechanic"). What did the mechanic at the dealer say? "Get rid of it, I've never seen an Odyssey transmission last over 100,000 miles." As for me?...I am a proud owner of two Saturns.

Wow, and I have heard about this much sadness coming from Saturn. I would never have any pride over my Saturn. What are you comparing to the ODY? A Saturn Relay? I think other problems with that van would cancel out the transmission failures. As for the other Saturns, every other car company builds a better car than Saturn. A honda or a Toyota are superior to any Saturn any day.

I am glad that I have seen others who have had similar problems. I will not own another Honda. This is my 6th, the first 5 were great, as was this one until about 130K miles. The ignition thing happened to me and was given the "its the EGR valve" excuse three different times. I was nearly killed when my car died at 70mph on the interstate. Transmission went out. They replaced it, then that one went out 6 months later. We are on our third transmission, now the dealership is saying that we need a new motor. Some where along the way the motor started leaking oil... just after the 2nd transmission was installed. I asked them what caused this motor to need replacing, they said "it is just worn out". I just bought a Toyota and when I can afford to get rid of this van, I will purchase a Toyota. This van has cost me a ton of money in the past 18 months, with no results or satisfaction. Not to mention, I had too many miles to be under the class action law suit that was just settled. I used to sing Honda's praises, but I am thoroughly disgusted at this point with Honda and my local dealership.

99 Honda Accord V6 150,000 miles no problem...99 Accord 95,000 miles never a problem.. bro never maintains it...1997 Accord 104,000 miles.. bought it from an older couple recently... just maintenance...1994 Accord 249,000 miles... never a problem except for hydraulic clutch pump needed replacing... my friends and neighbors own newer Honda's (2002-2006)and just love them... I will keep on buying Honda in the future... I had to realize though that they were not built by God.. unlike some people who thought they were and are now pissed off about it and swear to never buy one again... I think every car company has its faults and the Honda Ody from 99-04 and TL from 99-03 were really their only big disappointments...

I've had four Honda Civics, an Accord, a DelSol, and a Prelude. All have been great cars to 200k miles plus. But I had a 1998 Honda Passport SUV, which I realize was really an Isuzu Rodeo. Honda did very little to correct the many problems with that vehicle, and dealers basically squirmed out of fixing problems with that one, too. Now I have 1999 Odyssey. I feel like I've been shafted again.

The best most reliable minivan ever made is the Toyota Previa 1991 - 1997. The Sienna was not A REPLACEMENT for the Previa. The Chevy Lumina APV was the most reliable (mechanically) minivan from the USA.

I own a 1999 Honda Odyssey... some of the previous comments match my situation perfectly. My van will just die on me out of the blue. Today I was in the middle of the highway at about 70mph (heavy traffic) when it suddenly dies. My power steering went out and I couldn't even turn on my emergency flashers. It could have gotten me (and my four month old baby) killed! The mechanics keep telling me that it is the EGR valve, but the EGR has been replaced, the lines have been cleaned, and there is still a problem. It still dies even if the EGR valve is removed from the car... does anyone know of a way to fix this?? I am stuck with the van, we CANNOT afford to get another car.