2003 Honda Odyssey Complaint Log

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY, WHICH I PURCHASED USED IN 9/08. I PAID EXTRA FOR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE "CERTIFIED" GUARANTEE FROM HONDA. THE CAR IS VERY UNSAFE, I HAVE MY 3YR OLD AND 5 YR OLD WITH ME AT ALL TIMES; SINCE I GOT THE CAR, I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE BEYOND 52MPH BECAUSE THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY; STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR. I AM FORCED TO DRIVE BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT, WHERE CARS AGGRESSIVELY DRIVE UP BEHIND ME TO TRY AND GET ME TO DRIVE FASTER. I HAVE DIFFICULTY ON LONG TRIPS BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STABLE. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND ONLY HAVE USE OF THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE HAD NO RESOLUTIONS FROM THE DEALERSHIP NOR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. PLEASE HELP ME AND MY CHILDREN AS I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR OUR SAFETY. THANK YOU *TR

UNRELIABLE SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND 3RD GEARS. *TR

MY WIFE COMPLAINED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT FELT LOOSE. I FOUND THAT THE SUPPORT FOR THE SEAT BACK WAS SPLITTING DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. (THIS IS A FULLY AUTOMATIC POWER SEAT. THERE IS ONLY ONE SUPPORT HOLDING SEAT BACK UPRIGHT. I HAD THE SEAT WELDED AT A SERVICE GARAGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN AUGUST 2003. HE STATED THAT WHEN HE CLOSED THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SLIDING DOOR, IT WOULD NOT CLOSE. HE ALSO STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT VARIOUS SPEEDS TO INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DOOR WOULD OPEN WITHOUT INTENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE DOOR TO LATCH CLOSED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NOT A MANUAL OVERRIDE WHICH ALLOWED THE DOOR TO LATCH CLOSED. HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISK INCLUDING HIS SMALL CHILDREN POTENTIALLY FALLING OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION. THERE WERE NO RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE TYPE OF FAILURE. REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

2003 HONDA ODYSSEY; TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ERRATICALLY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS PRIOR TO FAILING COMPLETELY, AND LEAVING MY IN-LAWS STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. HE WAS ADVISED BY A REPRESENTATIVE THAT HE WOULD ONLY HAVE TO PAY A PERCENTAGE OF THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

CODES P0740,P0730AND P0780 ON 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY - ALL RELATING TO ERRATIC BEHAVIOR OF TRANSMISSION - SUDDEN DOWNSHIFTS/GEARCHANGES BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. TCS LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY. IT APPEARS THAT DEFECTS OF A SIMILAR AND/OR IDENTICAL NATURE OCCUR IN MANY HONDA ODYSSEY MODELS BEFORE AND AFTER THE MODEL YEAR 2003. UNPREDICTABLE TRANSMISSION BEHAVIOR IS VERY DISTRACTING AND MAY CONTRIBUTE TO DRIVER ERRORS WHICH IN TURN MAY LEAD TO VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS ON THE ROAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100000.

2003 HONDA ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION FAILURE. STARTED WITH LONG SHIFTS FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, THEN EVENTUALLY WITHIN 2 MONTHS (MAYBE 1000 KMS LATER) FAILED TO SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD AT ALL. ULTIMATE FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT OCCURRED AT 165,000 KILOMETERS. NO INJURIES/DAMAGE TO PERSONAL PROPERTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE UNTIL ROLLING TO A STOP. THE CONTACT NOTICED PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BRAKES AND STATED THAT THE BRAKES HAD BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT WAS AGAIN ADVISED TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/29/11*LJ *TR

2003 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH APPROX. 74,000 MILES - PURCHASED NEW IN LATE 2002. WITHIN THREE DAYS AND A TOTAL OF 15 MILES AFTER NOTICING A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE IN SMOOTHNESS OF TRANSMISSION SHIFTING, MY WIFE'S ODYSSEY WILL NOW LOCKUP THE SEATBELTS WHILE REPEATEDLY SLAMMING THE DRIVER AND ALL PASSENGERS FORWARD WHEN DRIVING BELOW 20 MPH DURING BOTH UP-SHIFTING AND DOWN-SHIFTING, OR ATTEMPTING TO HOLD A CONSTANT SPEED AROUND 40 MPH. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS DURING ANY OF THIS, UNTIL THE DRIVE INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SO ERRATIC IN SHIFTING THAT I'M SURPRISED WE DIDN'T HYDROPLANE ON WET ROADS DUE TO THE ABRUPT AND VERY HARSH SHIFTS/LOCKUPS. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THE HARSHEST SHIFTS OCCURRED ON STRAIGHT-AWAYS AND NOT WHILE ROUNDING WET CURVES. APPARENTLY, THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND INSTALLED THE "OIL JET KIT", PER THE RECALL, IN JUNE OF 2004. I STATE APPARENTLY ONLY BECAUSE I DO NOT RECALL THE SERVICE WORK. IN ANY CASE, AFTER ONLY 74,000 MILES IT IS VERY OBVIOUS BY THE NUMBER OF OTHER ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION FAILURES THAT THIS "OIL JET KIT" WAS ONLY A PATCH TO GET VEHICLES OUT OF THEIR WARRANTY PERIOD BEFORE THE TRANSMISSIONS COMPLETELY FAILED. WHO PRODUCES VEHICLES WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURES AT 74,000 MILES??? THE DEALERSHIP STATES I HAVE USED 75% OF THE LIFE OF THE TRANSMISSION, SO I MUST PAY 75% OF THE REPLACEMENT COST (APPROXIMATELY $3600 OF MY OWN MONEY TO REPLACE A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT). I WAS "WARNED" BY HONDA'S HELP LINE THAT IF I TELL THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER MANAGER I'LL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER HONDA AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER WOULD PROBABLY PULL THEIR 25% REPLACEMENT COST ASSISTANCE OFFER. SOUNDS LIKE A THREAT AND STRAIGHT FROM CORPORATE HONDA. THEN, THE CORPORATE HELP PERSON STATED THAT MANY OF THE PROBLEMS SOUND SIMILAR, BUT MY PROBLEM "MAY' NOT THE SAME. CALL HONDA'S HELP LINE ONLY IS YOU WANT TALKED DOWN TO AND THREATENED. MY ODYSSEY IS CURRENTLY SITTING AT GERALD JONES HONDA IN MARTINEZ, GA (AUGUSTA AREA). *TR

TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY VAN HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/CARS/PROBLEMS/RECALLS/RESULTS.CFM?SEARCHTYPE=QUICKSEARCH&RCL_ID=04V176000&SUMMARY=TRUE. *TR

PURCHASE 03 HONDA ODYSSEY NEW AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. IN 4/04 TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RECALL...UNDER 14K MILES. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING IF IT WAS OVER 15K MILES THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE REPLACED IF THE INSPECTION DEEMED NECESSARY BUT UNDER 15K MILES THEN THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE. AT 89,000 MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE TCS LIGHT, THEN THE "D' WAS BLINKING. TOOK INTO DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED AS WELL AS THE POWER CONTROL MODULE---THE PCM IS REQUIRED WHETHER IT NEEDS IT OR NOT BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HONDA REQUIRES. PRICE QUOTED $4961. THE CAR ONLY HAS A BLUE BOOK VALUE OF $5K-7K +/-. THIS WAS MY FIRST HONDA AND WAS PURCHASED FOR THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY FACTORS---I AM AMAZED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACING ALREADY. HONDA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ADMIT AN ISSUE WITH THE 03' ODYSSEY TRANSMISSIONS LIKE THEY DID FOR THE 99-01'. *TR

IN JANUARY 2005, ACCORDING TO THE HONDA DEALER, THE OIL JET KIT WAS PLACED IN MY HONDA ODYSSEY AS PER THE RECALL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000, FOR THE HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF MY 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY . HOWEVER, 4 YEARS LATER, THE 2ND, 3RD AND REVERSE GEARS OF THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $2500. IN SPEAKING TO THE DEALER AND OTHER TRANSMISSION SHOPS IN MY AREA, I'M BEING TOLD MANY, MANY HONDA ODYSSEY'S ARE COMING IN FOR NEW TRANSMISSIONS REGULARLY. COULD THE FIX DONE IN MY CAR AND OTHERS HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION? COULD YOU PLEASE REOPEN THE CASE AND INVESTIGATE IF AN ADDITION RECALL IS NECESSARY TO FIX THE APPARENT PROBLEM AND AVERT THE CONSEQUENCES, AS STATED IN THE ABOVE REFERENCE RECALL, OF GEAR FAILURE RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE. THANK YOU. *TR

JUST BOUGHT A 2003 WITH 130K MI HAS HAD EXCELLENT SERVICE FROM THE ORIGINAL SELLING DEALER. TRANSMISSION IS NOW WHINING WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED AT ALL. WAS HOPING FOR A CV JOINT, BUT TURNED OUT TO BE THE DIFFERENTIAL GOING BAD. WE NEED TO LEAVE ON VACATION IN A FEW DAYS, AND NOW WILL BE RENTING A VAN AT THE TUNE OF ABOUT $900 AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN HONDA FOR NOT TAKING CAR OF THESE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. SEVERAL MOTOR MOUNTS ARE FAILING. A COUPLE OF VERY HIGH TICKET ITEMS. HONDA PLEASE STEP UP TO THE PLATE TO KEEP A CERTAIN LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. *TR

FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN 2003 HONDAY ODYSSEY - NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V176000. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS IN REVERSE AND EXPERIENCED RESISTANCE WHEN SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. NHTSA RECALL# 04V176000, COMPONENT: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED AT 36,000 MILES AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

2003 HONDA ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 88,000 MILES. CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WITH PROPER TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACEMENTS. AT 82,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD A 4TH CLUTCH SOLENOID FAILURE WHICH WAS REPLACED AT A HONDA DEALER IN BRUNSWICK, GA. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD BEEN REPLACED AT 79,000 MILES, BUT WE HAD IT REPLACED AGAIN AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR AT 82,000. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A CODE DTC P0740 AT ~88,000. THE HONDA DEALER IN MARIETTA, GA DIAGNOSED THIS AS COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE FOR HONDA ODYSSEY'S. THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFERED BY HONDA FOR 2001 AND OLDER ODYSSEY'S, BUT THAT DOES NOT EXTEND TO THE 2003 MODEL EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL. THE REPAIR HAS BEEN QUOTED AT $4,630 PLUS 7% SALES TAX WHICH IS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT. HONDA CONTINUES TO ADVERTISE HOW RELIABLE THEIR VEHICLES ARE WHICH IS COMPLETELY FALSE AS IT RELATES TO TRANSMISSIONS IN THE ODYSSEY. 88,000 MILES FROM A MAJOR DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENT IS RIDICULOUS. AMERICAN HONDA HAS OFFERED A DISCOUNT OF 25% ON THE PARTS ONLY (THE DEALER SAID THIS IS ABOUT $900). THE BULLETIN BOARDS INDICATE 50% HAS BEEN COMMON AND IN MANY CASES THEY HAVE COVERED THE ENTIRE AMOUNT, BUT NOT FOR ME. HONDA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO COVER THIS FAILURE IN FULL. *TR

1. VEHICLE STARTED JERKING VERY BAD BECAUSE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO THIRD GEAR. 2. TRANSMISSION FAILURE DISCOVERED WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER. 3. DEALER QUOTED A PRICE OF $5800.00 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. *TR

WAS DRIVING HOME AND STARTED HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS, TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE TRANSMISSION WITH OUT IT. $ 4,371.08 I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT ANY ISSUES FROM HONDA AND I NEVER RECEIVED ANY THING FROM HONDA. ON 8/27/10 ONE YEAR LATER I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER. THEN ON 9/17/10 THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. NOW THE SECOND TRANSMISSION ONLY HAS 34,000 MILES ON IT AND NOW THEY JUST REPLACED TORQUE CONVERTER AND IT RUNS LIKE A TRUCK. THE HONDA DEALER DID ALL THE MAJOR MAINTENANCE . WE HAVE OWNED FOUR HONDA'S BUT NEVER AGAIN. MY SON HAS A 2002 CIVIC AND IT IS ON ITS SECOND TRANSMISSION. IF A RECALL WAS ON THESE HONDA THEY NEVER SENT ME ANYTHING AND I PURCHASED IT NEW. *TR

2003 HONDA ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION ISSUE PLEASE REFER TO HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0FALLE/467 THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS AGAINST HONDA ODYSSEY'S TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHOSE OWNERS ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND OUR GOVERNMENT'S LACK OF ACTION TO ENFORCE THE BETTER QUALITY AND CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR CONSUMERS. I HAVE 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY WHICH NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION AT A QUOTED COST OF OVER $4,000 AT THE DEALER WHO DENIED FOR BEING ABLE TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. WHAT UPSETS ME IS THAT THERE IS A "GOOD-WILL REPAIR" BY THE HONDA MOTORS AMERICA, WHO HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE ISSUES INVOLVING ALL HONDA ODYSSEYS THEY MADE, NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND THEY ARE HANDLING IT ON A CASE BY CASE; NO UNIFORM REGULATIONS ARE BEING APPLIED. SUCH UNFAIR PRACTICES OF CUSTOMER SERVICES. AT THE MOMENT, MY CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL I HAVE TIME TO TALK AND COMPLAINT TO THE COMPANY. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY. HOWEVER, 99-2001 MODELS, THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 109K MILEAGE. SOME OF THE CUSTOMERS WITH OVER 145K-189K HAVE BEEN REIMBURSED THE COST BY THE COMPANY. AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO IT UNLESS YOU HAVE TO BE PERSISTENT AND LOUD. TAKING TOO MANY BUREAUCRACY IN RESOLVING THE PROBLEM WHEN THE PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR IS WIDE SPREAD. *TR

PAINT IS PEELING FROM THE ROOF BY THE PASSENGERS SLIDING DOOR AND REAR WINDOWS. *TR

WE OWN A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY AND WE ARE HAVING REPEATED TRANSMISSION FAILURES. SHORT TIME LINE: 37K FIRST TRANSMISSION FAILS - REPLACED BY DEALER WITH HONDA TRANSMISSION 97K SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILS - REPLACED BY DEALER WITH AFTER MARKET TRANSMISSION 128K THIRD TRANSMISSION FAILS - STILL NEGOTIATING REPLACEMENT THROUGH WARRANTY ON TRANSMISSION #2. A QUICK CHECK ON THE INTERNET WILL FIND VOLUMES OF INFORMATION ON TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN THE 2003 VANS. THERE IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW THAT MUST BE CHANGED. ALL TRANSMISSIONS FAILED WITH THE VAN WAS BEING DRIVEN. *TR

CAR WILL NOT START. IGNITION SWITCH REMAINS LOCKED. MY 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY WILL NO LONGER START. PRIOR TO THIS, I WENT TO HONDA SERVICE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FREQUENT INCIDENTS OF MY IGNITION SWITCH FAILING TO UNLOCK. THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR AND I WILL HAVE TO SPEND OVER $500 TO REPLACE THE KEY CYLINDER. ARE THEY PUTTING SUBSTANDARD KEY CYLINDERS? I UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER MODELS OF HONDA ARE BEING RECALLED DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. HAVEN'T THEY DONE ANYTHING TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ODYSSEY MODELS? *TR

HAVE A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY EX WITH REAR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM. DVD HAS HAD A BUZZING NOISE IN HEADPHONES INTERMITTENTLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. TODAY SMOKE CAME OUT OF DASHBOARD AS DVD QUIT WHILE TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MY 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY STARTED TO PUT OUT SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT HITTING ANY OTHER CARS. WE WERE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND DUE TO THE DAMAGE HAD TO BE REBUILT. THERE IS A RECALL IN PLACE (NHTSA # 04V176000) FOR OUR VEHICLE FOR THIS ISSUE. IN SPEAKING WITH HONDA IT APPEARS RECALL WORK WAS DONE IN 2004 (A REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE), BUT WE STILL EXPERIENCED THE TRANSMISSION DEFECT. I JUST WANTED TO FILE THE COMPLAINT IN CASE OTHERS HAD FOUND THAT HONDA'S REPAIR SOLUTION HAD NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE FOR THEM EITHER. *TR

2003 HONDA ODYSSEY IGNITION SWITCH: WE CAN REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR AT LEAST 1 YEAR. VEHICLE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE COVERED BY A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM (PER HONDA RECALL LOOKUP BY VIN), BUT NPR REPORTS THAT HONDA HAS RECALLED SOME 1.4 MILLION VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM, INCLUDING MINIVANS (HTTP://WWW.NPR.ORG/TEMPLATES/STORY/STORY.PHP?STORYID=129085652 ) IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT OUR VEHICLE MODEL & YEAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT IS NOT. *TR

ACCELERATOR PEDAL FREQUENTLY STICKS IN THE IDLE POSITION, WITH RESULTING LURCH FORWARD WHEN THE PEDAL IS PUSHED FURTHER TOWARD THE FLOOR. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY A STICKING DASH POT IN THE ACCELERATOR SYSTEM; THEY HAVE CLEANED IT (WHICH DOES PROVIDE SOME TEMPORARY RELIEF) BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNS. NOW, IT SEEMS THAT THE ACCELERATOR WILL (ONCE, SO FAR) STICK IN AN ADVANCED POSITION, REQUIRING SIGNIFICANT BRAKE FORCE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE SO THAT THE IGNITION CAN BE TURNED OFF. *TR

WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS CAR BOUGHT NEW IN DEC 2002 AND IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED VERY WELL. THE CAR WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE ADDITION OF AN OIL JET TO PROPERLY LUBRICATE THE 2ND GEAR AND THIS WAS PERFORMED AS SOON AS WE RECEIVED THE NOTICE IN 2004 AT 31,000 MILES. IT WAS INSPECTED FOR PROBLEMS RELATED TO THIS DEFECT AT THE TIME OF THE SERVICE AND WAS PASSED AS CLEAN. AT 107,000 MILES, A BLINKING "D" ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD GEAR DISPLAY AND IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE TO HONDA. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE 4TH GEAR SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THIS WAS DONE AT MY OWN COST OF $300. AT 121,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTED SLIPPING ON SHIFTS AND DOWNSHIFTING AT SPEED. AGAIN, TAKEN FOR SERVICE AND THE HONDA GARAGE DETERMINED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS REQUIRED AT A COST OF $4800 WITH TAX. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA, OPENED A CASE AND WAS DENIED MY REQUEST FOR THEM TO SHARE THE COST OF FIXING THIS. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR AS IS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION COULD DOWNSHIFT INTO AN INCORRECT GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND/OR IMMEDIATE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

HONDA 2003 ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHAT SCARED US MOST WAS THAT IT HAPPENED YESTERDAY RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN OUR WHOLE FAMILY WITH TWO YOUNG KIDS WAS RIDING TOGETHER. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OVER TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE TRANSMISSION TOTALLY GAVE UP ON US AND THE VEHICLE COULDN'T MOVE AT ALL. OUR ODYSSEY WAS BOUGHT NEW IN OCTOBER, 2002 AS 2003 MODEL. IT HAS LESS THEN 90K MILES AND BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. THE PROBLEM STARTED TO SURFACE AROUND 70K, WHICH AT FIRST DIDN'T LOOK SO SEVERE. THE ENGINE SHOOK AT STOP SIGN AND LOW REV, TRANSMISSION DIDN'T GO SMOOTHLY DURING ACCELERATION. WE HAD MECHANICS LOOKED AT IT, AND BASED ON THEIR SUGGESTION WE HAD TIRE BALANCED AND ROTATED. LAST WEEK THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, SO WE CALLED HONDA DEALER AND WERE TOLD TO WAIT UNTIL OVER THE WEEKEND TO SEE WHETHER THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. SINCE IT HAPPENED BEFORE AND THE LIGHT DID GO OFF AFTER A FEW DAYS, WE TOOK HIS WORD. ONLY AFTER THIS INCIDENT DID I FIND OUT OVER THE INTERNET THAT THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH HONDA ODYSSEY WAS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. IT RECEIVED SO MUCH COMPLAINT RESULTING INTO A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT WHICH HONDA OFFERED EXTENDED COVERAGE TO 109,000 MILES OR 93 MONTHS FOR SOME '99-01 ODYSSEYS IN THE U.S.A. ALTHOUGH FROM 2002 MODEL ODYSSEY WAS OUTFITTED WITH A FIVE-SPEED AUTOMATIC, GENERAL RELIABILITY OF THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT IMPROVE UNTIL 2004, WHICH THE END OF MODEL YEAR FOR SECOND GENERATION ODYSSEY. I SHARED MY STORY HOPING THAT HONDA COULD ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRANSMISSION DEFECT IN 2002-04 MODELS AND TAKE SIMILAR ACTIONS, SO THAT WE AS CUSTOMER WOULD HAVE A SAFE AND PEACE-IN-MIND ENVIRONMENT EVERY TIME WE STEP INTO OUR MINIVAN. *TR

IT SHUDDERS WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH SPEED. I SHOWED TO MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK-UP CLUTCH IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE AND IT IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ODYSSEY. I PERFORM ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE BUT STILL THIS HAPPENED. *TR

I BOUGHT THE 2003 ODYSSEY BRAND NEW AND HAVE HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT THE SAME HONDA DEALERSHIP. 2 WEEKS AGO, AROUND 67,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHOWING PROBLEM THAT IT WOULD SLIP AND GO INTO NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE RPM FLARED AND THE CAR LOST ACCELERATION. THEN THE CAR SHOOK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION TRIED TO ENGAGE THE GEARS AGAIN. THE DEALER CHECKUP INDICATED THAT THE 2ND AND 3RD GEARS FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT MY OWN COST $3,400. I LATER FOUND OUT THERE WERE MANY OWNERS OF 2003 ODYSSEY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR THE SECOND TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SPORADICALLY DOWNSHIFT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SECOND AND THIRD GEARS FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION), BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 112,375. UPDATED 09/01/09. *LJ AT A STOP AFTER THE LEAVING THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED PUT OF GEAR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. A DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING ON 1-2 AND 2-3 SHIFTS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO ABNORMAL DISCOLORATION WAS FOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION AND AN OIL JET KIT WAS INSTALLED. UPDATED 09/03/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING LIGHT STATED THAT THE GEAR FAILURE WILL CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY ARE RESEARCHING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK WHEN IT BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARD AS THE CONTACT WAS EXITING. A PASSENGER WAS STILL IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO JUMP BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AT LEAST SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE KEY WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CALL A LOCKSMITH AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 12/01/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER HAD BARELY EXITED THE VEHICLE WHEN IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE HIT A FENCE AND CAUSED MINOR SCRATCHES. UPDATED 12/14/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY DECREASED SPEED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING SIGNS. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $5,000.00 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT AND THE EMISSION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE RPMS BEGAN TO INCREASE. THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THERE WAS NOWHERE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. ONCE STOPPED, ALL OF THE OCCUPANTS EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SMOKE INHALATION AND CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. A CASE WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY COULD NOT PROMISE ANY LIABILITY OR ASSISTANCE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 45,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BECAME LOCKED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN COULD NOT BE VERIFIED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 73,000.

HOLE IN CONDENSER. *TR

WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS CAR BOUGHT NEW IN 2003 AND IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED VERY WELL. THE CAR WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BUT WHEN WE CALLED HONDA THEY CLAIM NO RECALLS ON THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS INSPECTED FOR PROBLEMS RELATED TO THIS DEFECT AT THE TIME OF THE SERVICE AND WAS PASSED AS CLEAN. AT 107,000 MILES, A BLINKING "D" ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD GEAR DISPLAY AND IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE TO HONDA. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE 4TH GEAR SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THIS WAS DONE. THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTED SLIPPING ON SHIFTS AND DOWNSHIFTING AT SPEED. AGAIN, TAKEN FOR SERVICE AND THE HONDA GARAGE DETERMINED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS REQUIRED AT A COST OF $5800 WITH TAX. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA, OPENED A CASE AND WAS DENIED MY REQUEST FOR THEM TO SHARE THE COST OF FIXING THIS. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS CAR AS IS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION COULD DOWNSHIFT INTO AN INCORRECT GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND/OR IMMEDIATE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THAT'S FUNNY SEVERAL OF OUR FRIENDS OWN HONDA ODYSSEY AROUND 2003 AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE ONE MAJOR REPAIR TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BUT HOW COME NO RECALL???? PAID ALOT FOR ODYSSEY BUT WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT TWO TRANSMISSION @ AROUND 5,000 FOR EACH. HOW DOES HONDA GET AWAY WITH THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS. I HAVE PAID FOR A HONDA BUT WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER HONDA. HAVE LEARNED MY EXPENSIVE LESSON. NOT HAPPY HONDA OWNER! *TR

TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR

HAD FIRST TRANNY GO IN MAY OF '09 AT 85,500 MLS HAD WORK DONE BY HONDA TO PUT NEW TRANNY IN AT MY EXPENSE THAT ONE JUST WENT IN 2 AND A HALF YEARS WITH JUST LESS THEN 60,00 MLS AND AGAIN HONDA DOES NOT WANT TO COVER IT. *KB

2003 HONDA ODYSSEY POWER DOORS WILL NOT CLOSE UNLESS FORCED. INDICATORS ALERT THAT THE DOORS ARE NOT CLOSED. SOMETIMES THE DOOR WILL NOT REOPEN LEAVING PASSENGERS (KIDS) NOT ABLE TO GET OUT. NEVER SURE THAT THE DOOR IS ENGAGED PROPERLY SO THAT THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN ONCE IN MOTION. *TR

2003 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH 88,000 MILES THAT IS SPONTANEOUSLY GOING OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING LACK OF ACCELERATION AND OVER REVVING OF ENGINE. THIS WILL HAPPEN AT INOPPORTUNE TIMES SUCH AS ENTERING FREEWAY AND MERGING WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION LIGHT AND TCS LIGHT ARE ON. TOLD BY DEALER TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACEMENT AND THERE IS NO MANUFACTURER ASSISTANCE FOR COST INCURRED. *TR

BOUGHT A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY IN JANUARY 2009 AND BY MAY THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD. CONTACTED HONDA IN REGARDS TO THE RECALL AND THEY SAID THE SECOND GEAR WAS REPLACED WHEN THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD IT. HOWEVER, CONTACTED THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER WHO'S SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT NO REPAIRS WERE EVER DONE ON THE VEHICLE (WHICH THE CAR FAX INDICATED THE SAME THING) THE VAN HAS NOW SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR NEARLY THREE MONTHS AND I AM PAYING $357/MONTH ON THE LOAN AND FULL INSURANCE COVERAGE. NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO HONOR THE RECALL. WHEN I ASKED THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER FOR THE NUMBER OF THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER, HE REFUSED AND WHEN I CALLED BACK AND ASKED ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL IF THEY COULD GIVE ME THE NUMBER, HER RESPONSE WAS "WHAT DO YOU NEED THAT FOR? IT'S POINTLESS TO CALL BECAUSE IT'S JUST GOING TO LEAD YOU BACK TO US!" I WASN'T EXPECTING THE LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP TO BE ON THE DEFENSE BUT APPARENTLY THEY DIDN'T WANT ME TO CALL. MY GRANDFATHER OWNS THE SAME VEHICLE I HAVE AND HAD HIS TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. MY QUESTION IS: WHY AM I NOT HAVING THE RECALLED HONORED FOR MY VEHICLE? THE RECALL CLEARLY STATES THAT THE GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. NOT SOMETHING I WANT TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY WITH MY FIVE CHILDREN IN THE CAR! PLEASE ADVISE ME ON WHAT I CAN DO TO GET THE BALL ROLLING AND GET THIS ISSUE CLEARED UP AND MY VAN BACK ON THE ROAD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. IN 2004, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED A JET KIT FOR THE TRANSMISSION, SO IT WOULD NOT EXPERIENCE DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. AFTER THE INSTALLATION, THE FAILURE RECURRED. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT AGAIN. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,893. UPDATED 06/11/09.*LJ UPDATED 06/12/09.*JB

BLINKING D ON TRANSMISSION, WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP, NO RESPONSE. *TR

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE TO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. NUMEROUS PUBLISHED PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NOT IMMEDIATELY GOING INTO REVERSE FOR SEVERAL SECOND THAT WENT ON FOR 10 DAYS. THEN TROUBLE GOING INTO DRIVE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AS WELL FOR 3 DAYS. NOT GOING IN TO GEAR WHILE DRIVING DURING GEAR SHIFTS OR STOPS FOR 2 DAYS. COMPLETELY UNABLE TO PUT THE VAN IN ANY GEAR WHILE ON MY WAY TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 73K MILES. *TR