Odyssey Transmission

This is a copy of the letter I have faxed to Honda.  My Odyssey is working on it's 3rd transmission.  I received no help from Honda when I called. 

Dear Honda Management:

I am writing this letter to inform you of my dissatisfaction and frustration as a Honda Odyssey owner.  I was once the proud owner of a 2002 Odyssey and was expecting to be a “Honda for Life Customer”.  But now I am a frustrated owner of an Odyssey that has been part of a transmission recall.

When my vehicle reached 85,000 miles, my transmission started to slip.   My 3 young children and I were placed in grave danger as the van would not accelerate as I was merging onto the interstate.   I had to wait for my husband to come pick us up as I did not want to drive through the tunnel in case something happened.  We immediately brought the van to Hall Honda in Virginia Beach.  They informed us about the recall and replaced the transmission.   As a vehicle owner, I would expect a transmission to last around 100,000 - 150,000 miles.

In September 2011, I barely reached another 87,000 miles when the transmission started to slip again.  This time, I had my 4 young children in the car.  The car would no longer accelerate as I was going up a bridge.  I slowly coasted down.  The road I was on does not have a shoulder to pull over on.  I was in very great danger as 18 wheelers tried to pass me.

At this point, my faith in Honda has been completely depleted.  I was highly frustrated with my Honda vehicle.  When I took my vehicle in, I was told that once more I needed a new transmission.   Priority Honda in Chesapeake quoted me $6000 to replace my transmission.  I felt that it was Honda’s responsibility to replace their faulty transmission, but this did not happen.   I called American Honda to discuss my situation.  The customer service rep informed me that it would have to be the 2^nd gear that was slipping.  Priority Honda was saying that it had something to do with the torque converter.   Given that Priority Honda wanted three times as much as a transmission shop, I went elsewhere to have my vehicle repaired.  I had 3 other locations that told me it was the 2^nd and 3^rd gears slipping.

I feel that Priority Honda had totally disregarded me as a customer.  I have always taken my vehicle in to a Honda dealer for maintenance and repairs from day one since I have purchased the vehicle.  Whatever I was told that I needed done, I would have done.  I am disappointed in the service I received from Priority Honda.  I have been dealing with the same service rep for the past 8 years, Louis Vu, since I have moved to Virginia.  He was at Hall Honda and moved to Priority Honda when it was opened.

This past week, once again, my van has left me stranded on the side of the highway when I was out of town, in the cold, with my 4 young children.  I once again had problems with the transmission.  Unfortunately, I believe this was due to the workmanship of the company that has replaced the transmission.  I feel that this could have been avoided for a couple of reasons.  First, if Honda made a transmission that was reliable, I would have not had to replace it two times.  Second, if Honda would stand behind their product, I would not have had to outsource to have the work done.

I feel that my vehicle has been placed in a stated of unreliability and with 4 young children ranging from ages 3 to 11, I can no longer put our safety at risk.  Therefore, I am now in the market for a new vehicle.      

I am also frustrated with the fact that when I try to sell my vehicle by owner, I will have problems given the reviews all over the internet of the 2002 Odysseys with the transmission recall.  If it was not for the transmission, I feel that the vehicle would be in good condition and I would still be looking forward to driving my Odyssey.  I have been put into a situation with my spouse, who has been a “Toyota customer for life”.  It was my decision to purchase the Honda.  I can strongly state that I am very doubtful that we will even look at a Honda, for it will be a hard sale to persuade my husband once again to purchase a Honda.  I was looking forward to one day purchasing a new Odyssey.  The only thing I will be looking forward to now is the miserable thought of having car payment sooner than expected.

Sincerely,

Rachelle McLaughlin

Dear Honda, I have successfully DESTROYED dozens of Odyssey sales with word of mouth negative campagning and will cotinue to do so because of your smart ass response to MY phone calls conserning my claim . How much have you lost and will continue to lose versus what my small claim would have been. You have a great day now.

That about captures it zammy!

Until we put official complaint Honda is not going to listen. The number of cases I see on this site is not visible on NHTSA site.

If you've had a transmission fail and needed to replace it, PLEASE, file a complaint with the NHTSA here:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm

The transmission issue of the garbage car of the century need to be reported.

Regards

Rafiq

When I tried to post there earlier it wouldn't let me.  But consider it done, it just let me complete the post.  I have been posting every where, I Twitter their Hondas customer service, posted on facebook... I'm not finished posting!!  

I am in the same boat and with you. I am doing the same thing. Edmunds also has very active thread about it.  Keep posting every where as it is part of our frustration. I am just getting of $300-500 for yhis garbage car. My Corolla 1999 with 200k miles is running good and has better value.

Regards

Rafiq