Odyssey Transmission

We bought our Black 2005 Odyssey Touring with the mindset that we'll have the vehicle for at least 8 to 10 years.  I'm sorry to report that things are not turning out as planned.  I am not only disappointed, but I'm also stunned to learn about Honda's transmission problems. 

I come from a family of Honda owners.  Between my wife and I, we've owned 6 Hondas.  If I include our siblings and our parents, the number increases to a staggering 14 Hondas!  This was predicated on the fact that Hondas were reliable.  Apparently this is no longer the case.

5 years and 89,000 miles later, we find the same "shuddering" noise everyone is talking about.  Cruising at around 45 MPH, the van begins to shudder and shake, as if I were driving over rumble strips you find on the side of the highway. 

This is the vehicle that we use to haul the family around!  And to think that Honda might NOT help out with any of the replacement cost is totally outrageous!

I fully plan to see if our dealer is willing to assist in calling Honda America...and I may decide to call them directly as well.  After all, the original quote we received from Honda Service was about $4,700.  The quote we got from Aamco was about a $1,000 less.  So I'm struggling over deciding to spend the $$ to fix the transmission or dump the Odyssey and put the $$ towards something else.  Honda America's response will certainly help me decide the direction I'll take.

I'll update this post as things develop.  Stay tuned!

good luck to you----i have a 2002 with 49,000 miles that i got honda to pay 70% of the replacement cost on an eight and one half year old van. it cost me just under one thousand dollars. it should not have cost me anything! from what ive been told honda is not helping anybody much now. i will be buying a toyota van the next time around! they are a bunch of stupib sobs as far as i am concerned. honda makes great engines and sorry transmissions. go figure!

I would recomment NOT putting another Honda transmission back in your vehicle! Our first transmission went up in our 2002 at 60,000 miles, now the second went up at 170,000.  Why keep putting the same faulty transmission back in your van?  I would look into the Jasper transmission, I have head great things about it and there is a link on this website about them.  I wouldnt go through Honda and you can call them directly they may help a little but you are still going to get a 3yr warranty and may be in the same boat again in 4 years after warranty. 

Our 2002 has been sitting at our Honda dealership for THREE months they have done nothing and offered to pay very little to help because of the mileage on our van but really there is only 110,000 on the second transmission and they still will not pay but 25%.  You are truly better off having Aamco do the work and they will probably offer you a better warranty then Honda.  If Honda can't back their vehicles why give them business and pay them to fix their faulty transmissions????

You both bring up valid points.  I shouldn't have to pay a nickel for the replacement.  It is, after all, a Honda.  And while I'm sure that my Aamco contact would do great work, it's the hefty outlay of cash that is my concern at this point. 

So I called American Honda like I planned to see what they could work out.  Since I have owned 6 Hondas and have serviced our Odyssey at the same dealer (they have records to prove my claims), American Honda has offered to pick up 75% of the tab.  Again, I agree that I shouldn't be on the hook for ANY of it.  But my total cost will only be around $1,100...plus they'll guarantee it for 3 yrs/36K miles. 

I don't plan to hold on to it that long.  In fact, I'll likely use [what little] equity is left in the vehicle to put towards a Sienna.

I read somewhere (maybe on this page) that Odyssey transmissions were failing because they weren't strong enough to pull the weight.  And so new Odysseys are now equipped with the Ridgeline transmissions.  I also got a glimpse of the 2011 Odyssey - and I have to admit it's pretty nice.  However, I don't think it's enough for me to consider buying a new one...even with the Ridgeline's more powerful transmisison.

very true you shouldnt have to spend a dime for Honda's faulty transmissions.  I am shocked Honda is paying that much of the tab.  Sad that you have had to own that many of their vehicles for them to pay out more money. While I have only owned two, the first was ALWAYS serviced by Honda only.  I will not be giving anymore of my business to them. They don't deserve it and btw my 2009 Odyssey already has a transmission recall on it.  So much for the transmission problems being gone. 

We looked at the new Sienna's if we buy another mini van that's what we will buy.  Good luck selling your Honda with the known transmission issues they are becoming harder to sell.