Odyssey Transmission

We have a 2002 Odyssey with 119,000 miles.  With almost no warning the check engine light came on and the shifting started slipping.  We were at the dealer the next morning.  They gave us a ridiculous quote of almost $6,000 to fix it with no offer of any assistance from Honda.  After researching this and other blogs, we began calling around to independent service operators in our area and we called another dealer for a comparison quote.  The independent service operators were quick to say they were VERY familiar with this issue and were doing this type of work often.  One operator said "Odysseys are dropping transmissions all over."  Another indicated the demand for new transmissions are so great that they are on back order nationwide.  The second dealer we contacted immediately indicated the potential for Honda to assist with some of the expense--particuarly if we were the original owners of the vehicle (we are) and we had maintained the van with Honda (we have--and we have all the records).  The second quote we received (with Honda Corporate assistance) was around $2400.  We had the van towed and repaired by the second dealer.  Before towing the vehicle we did ask the first dealer about assistance and why it was not offered and we were told --the customer had to initiate the request.  That sounded odd since the second dealer was quick to offer the potential of assistance.  Long story short--we are not happy about any of this and are very disappointed that a car we have maintained so well would have such a failure.  We have owned three Honda's--but this is our first Odyssey and may very well be the last Honda we ever own.

We too are "Proud" owners of an 03 Odyssey and share the same problems and concerns. Jared Stammell a lawyer in New York, worked to sue Honda for this. "Mysteriously", he no longer wants to pursue another one. Shame on him, he probably got paid off to look the other way.

Our only hope is that someday soon the Toyota recall will spill over in Honda's problems with these unsafe transmissions that could lock up while being driven. This is certainly our last Jap vehicle.