Odyssey Transmission

We went through 3 transmission replacements (4 total transmissions) on our 2000 Odyssey and finally sold the thing in August of 2009 with still less than 100K miles.     The first 2 replacements Honda covered, presumably under the terms of their class action settlement - I do not believe Honda did this out of the goodness of their heart.   The 3rd replacement, which occurred on a lengthy family road trip, Honda refused to pay anything until I called them and vehemently expressed my feelings, and only then would they cover 50%.     After juggling family schedules to account for returning to the site of the failure we finally drove away from the dealership and within 50 miles could hear/feel something still wasn't right.     We pulled over again and called the dealership...they instructed us to proceed home where we took it to our home dealership.    They ran several diagnostics on the thing (over a period of 2 days) and finally concluded that something completely different was wrong - and wanted us to pay for it.     I not-so-politely declined and told them to return the vehicle to it original condition and sold it 2 weeks later in the cash-for-clunkers program.

4 transmissions over less than 100K miles is unacceptable for any car company, particularly one that people pay a premium for.     I won't own another Honda under any circumstances and I will, and have done so, lobby my friends, family, casual acquaintances and complete strangers to avoid Honda lest they fall victim to the same problems and the same pond-scum treatment from their customer service.

I don't think I would have had as much of a problem with the company had they just owned up to the issue and treated me respectfully.    Instead, I had to fight their customer service folks tooth-and-nail to get them to pay anything for the 4th transmission!    It just didn't make any sense for them to do this...they turned an ardent fan into their most hated enemy...a very vocal enemy.

Amen to you brother!!

To think Honda meant dependable car and waited 6 months and over invoice for this POS. I will never ever buy Honda again and I will preach to everyone I know.

I recommend you file a complaint with the National Highway Safety group.  Here is a link to a few places that would help highlight your issues. http://www.hondaproblems.com/problems/transmission-failure.shtml

I feel the same way as you do about EVER owning another Honda and will do all I can to convince others to NEVER buy from Honda again...

i own a 2000 Honda Odyssey Van, the transmission was not shifting properly and i took it to California Transmissions in Huntington Park California.  They did a complete rebuild and then told me that i needed a trans. mount and a motor mount ,more cash out and we did it because they insisted we needed it. We had the van back for a month and a half and the transmission overheated, and blew oil all over and around the left front tire and area of the van. Smoking heavily and extremely hot all around the trans area, we had to pull over and cool the trans. off, no indication of motor problems yet. When we checked oil , engine oil was fine, brakes were fine and the trans.oil was not even visible on the dip stick, we had to find a mechanic to fill oil and check the rest of the motor, brakes etc. He filled the trans.with Honda fluid, it was very low, and all over the front left wheel area. To be safe, we headed home to L.A. from the Grapevine, mostly downhill. At the Templin Hwy.exit, the van blew a piston rod! and a small fire was visible under the van! It burned for a few minutes, and the fire dept. was called by passing witnesses. Is it possible that the overheated tranny could have caused the motor the overheat and or cause the piston rod to blow through the oil pan? It was a hot day as well, and the Grapevine is steep. Can the blown rod be in any way linked to the overheated Transmission?  A $600 tow, got us back to the Calif.Trans. shop where we were told that the motor was blown and the transmission was fine. They said that the transmission fluid was fine and nothing was wrong? 

    Any responses would be much appreciated, i am in a financially challenging time, and i at the mercy of any mechanics .  Thank you for your time or input. SM