2003 Honda Odyssey Complaint Log

SINGLE OWNER 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY LX. IT WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE BUT REVERSE GEAR WON'T ENGAGE WITH GRINDING NOISES COMING. HONDA SAYS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOT COVERED. THIS IS POOR WORKMANSHIP IF TRANSMISSION FAILS BEFORE 100K MILES. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION IS BEGINNING TO FAIL AS INDICATED BY THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING (PRESS ACCELERATOR AND ENGINE RACES WITH NO POWER TO THE WHEELS) FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH ON A TRIP OF ABOUT 5 MILES. THIS HAPPENS ON ABOUT EVERY OTHER TRIP AND IS INCREASING IN FREQUENCY. *TT

THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT THE SPEED OF 55-60 MPH. SUDDENLY FEW JERKS WERE NOTICED AND VEHICLE FAILED TO RECEIVE TORQUE/SPEED FROM THE ENGINE. ENGINE WAS OTHERWISE APPEAR TO BE ON AND FUNCTIONAL. VEHICLE CAME TO COMPLETE STOP ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY AND STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS (SINCE THE HIGHWAY WAS UP SLOPING), WHILE IN DRIVE MODE. VEHICLE WAS THEN PUT IN PARK MODE. ON FURTHER ATTEMPT, IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN ANY OTHER GEARS. FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS SUGGESTED "TRANSMISSION FAILURE" CODE P0730, WHICH NEEDED TRANSMISSION CHANGE. *TR

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING FROM FLORIDA TO VIRGINIA DOWN I95 AT 70MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL, I SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION AND LOOKED UP IN TIME TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AND TRANSMISSION FLUID CONTINUED TO BURN AND SMOKE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THEN THE PLASTIC ENGINE COVER CAUGHT FIRE. WE WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH IT AND HAVE IT TOWED TO A HONDA DEALER, WHERE WE WERE TOLD THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. THIS VAN HAD ALREADY HAD THREE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE RECALL PERFORMED AFTER A SIMILAR INCIDENT BY A PREVIOUS OWNER THAT CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO NEED TO BE REBUILT. AFTER BEING LEFT WITH NO OTHER OPTION, I OPTED TO REFILL TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAN BACK TO VIRGINIA. THE VAN OPERATED PERFECTLY AND HAD NO ISSUES FOR THE REST OF THE SIX HUNDRED PLUS MILE TRIP HOME. I AM OF COURSE NOW SCARED TO DRIVE IT ANYWHERE EVEN THOUGH IT RUNS LIKE IT NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. IT GAVE NO INDICATION OF TROUBLE BEFORE THIS SUDDEN OVERHEATING EITHER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE ESPECIALLY SINCE WE WERE TRAVELING WITH THREE SMALL CHILDREN INCLUDING A BABY. *TR

2003 ODYSSEY APPROXIMATELY 67K MILES DEVELOPED FLUID LEAK IN PAST WEEK. VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. WHILE DRIVING WITH FAMILY COOLANT LEAKED ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSING SMOKE AND HAD TO PULL OFF INTERSTATE. ENGINE HAD OPERATED NORMALLY AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS OR ABNORMAL TEMPERATURE GAGE READINGS. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO LOCAL HONDA DEALER. DIAGNOSED AS LEAKING HEAD GASKET. UPON REMOVAL OF THE CYLINDER HEAD, THE HEAD BOLTS PULL FROM THE BLOCK PORTS WITH THE BOLT THREADS. APPARENTLY HEAD BOLTS HAD BECOME LOOSE GIVEN THE THREAD FAILURE IN THE BLOCK AND ALLOWED LEAKAGE OF FLUIDS IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. HONDA STATED THAT THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 3K++. APPARENTLY THIS SAME ISSUE HAS OCCURRED TO SEVERAL OTHER 2003 ODYSSEY OWNERS ACCORDING TO ON-LINE SEARCH. THE DEALER WAS AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN THE FAILURE OF THE BOLTS AT THE GIVEN MILEAGE. IT APPEARS THAT THIS COULD BE A DEFECT IN THE BLOCK DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE AND COULD LEAD TO PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. HONDA SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND EGR VALVE DEFECTS WHICH HAVE ALSO BEEN A CONTINUAL PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 ODYSSEY. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE RELIABILITY OF THIS VAN *TR

TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY BEGAN SLIPPING - NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED -- OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY -- HAVE READ ABOUT MANY SIMILAR CASES WITH THE HONDA ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION ---HONDA SHOULD BE FIXING/REPLACING THIS DEFECT FOR ITS CUSTOMERS! *TR

HI, HONDA HAD A RECALL ON THE 03 ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION FOR CHIPPING OF METAL, OVER HEATING, ETC. RIGHT NOW MY CAR WILL NOT ENGAGE FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE FOR 10-15SEC AND WHILE DRIVING WILL ACCELERATE FOR NO REASON, WHICH I BELIEVE ARE VERY MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES. SPOKE TO HONDA CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY WILL NOT TAKE CARE OR FIX THESE ISSUES CASE#[XXX] ON 1229/2011. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ALONG AND IT FELT AS THOUGH IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL. THE MOTOR CONTINUED TO SHOW REVOLUTIONS ON THE TACHOMETER BUT THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO A STOP. I COASTED INTO A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I WAITED ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND PROCEED FOR ABOUT THREE MINUTES AND THE SAME THING AS ABOVE HAPPENED. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE CAME TO MY LOCATION IN A DIFFERENT CAR. I FOLLOWED HIM FOR ABOUT FOUR MILES WHILE HE DROVE THE HONDA ODYSSEY, 2003 AND OBSERVED THE SAME THING TWO MORE TIMES UNTIL WE REACHED A GARAGE WHERE OUR CARS HAD BEEN WORKED ON BEFORE. THE NEXT DAY ON SATURDAY, MY HUSBAND DROVE HIS CAR TO THE GARAGE AND TOOK THE HONDA TO THE DEALERSHIP LESS THAN A MILE FROM WHERE IT WAS PARKED ALL NIGHT ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9. *TR

ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM OUR DRIVEWAY TO THE STREET, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED ON OUR 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY EX. THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY CATCH IN EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE. ONCE IT DID ENGAGE, IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WOULD SHAKE AND JERK THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. WE DROVE THE VEHICLE ABOUT 2 MILES TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC TOLD US WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND ALSO INSTALL AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE REPAIR WILL COST US $4,700. WHILE HE NOTED THE VEHICLE OTHERWISE LOOKED IN EXCELLENT MECHANICAL CONDITION, TRANSMISSION FAILURES WERE VERY COMMON FOR HONDA ODYSSEYS MANUFACTURED FOR THE 2002-2004 MODEL YEARS. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWS HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AROUND HONDA'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR BOTH THIS VEHICLE AND OTHER MODELS. WHAT OTHER INFORMATION DOES DOT/NHTSA NEED TO MOVE TOWARD A RECALL? *TR

I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND STOPPED MY VAN. I TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION WITHOUT REALIZING I HAD NOT YET SHIFTED INTO PARK. I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRIVE. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THIS ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES, EACH TIME BEING ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN DRIVE. I HAVE BEEN FULLY STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE EACH TIME. *TR

AS MY WIFE WAS PREPARING TO ENTER AN EXIT RAMP FROM THE HIGHWAY, THE VAN EXPERIENCED SEVERAL HARD SHIFTS OF THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSED HER TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SINCE THAT INSTANCE, EVERY TIME THE VAN SHIFTS GEARS, IT IS A VERY HARD SHIFT THAT JERKS THE OCCUPANTS AROUND. VAN WILL NOT SHIFT ABOVE THIRD GEAR OR INTO REVERSE. MECHANIC HAS DIAGNOSED THIS AS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

MY HONDA ODYESSY'S TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED WHILE ON A FAMILY TRIP. I HAVE KEPT UP WITH THE SERVICE SCHEDULED OUTLINED BY HONDA. VAN HAS 122K ON IT NOW. I BOUGHT A HONDA EXPECTING TO GET THE LONG HAUL OUT OF IT! 122K IS NOT MY IDEA OF THE LONG HAUL! THE ESTIMATE IS A $4000 COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION! I HAVE READ ABOUT THE LAW SUIT THE WAS WON AND WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS WAS NOT A RECALL OF SOME SORT! THERE IS CLEARLY A BIG PROBLEM, THERE IS A WEBSITE CREATED JUST FOR THIS ISSUE! IF I HAD NOT DONE ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE OR DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THE CAR I WOULD NOT BE SO UPSET. CODE P0730, GEAR RATIO FAILURE. *KB

TRANSMISSION FAILED AND BURNED OUT COMPLETELY GOING 65 MILES PER HOUR ON I95. 3 KIDS IN THE CAR AND LEFT AT THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. HONDA WILL NOT HELP US BUT WOULD LIKE US TO PAY THEM $5600 FOR A REBUILT HONDA TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF HONDA TRANSMISSIONS FAILING AT AS LOW AS 45K MILES. THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR MODEL YEAR 2003. THEY DO NOT CARE HOW MANY LIVES THEY PUT AT RISK. *TR

2003 HONDA ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION FAILURE - WHILE DRIVING ON I-65N IN INDIANA, AT 70 MPH, TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP IN THE FAST LANE AT 8:00 P.M. VEHICLE SKIDDED ABOUT 30 FEET, STOPPED AND MYSELF AND FAMILY QUICKLY EXITED VEHICLE. I CALLED 911 TO GET TROOPERS TO ALERT OTHER DRIVERS ABOUT IMMOBILE VEHICLE IN FAST LANE OF INTERSTATE. RAN BACK ABOUT 70 YARDS TO FLAG TRAFFIC OVER TO SLOW LANE TO AVOID SOMEONE GETTING KILLED. MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ARE STANDING OUT IN THE MEDIAN WAITING FOR HELP TO ARRIVE. THANKS TO SOME KIND INDIANA DRIVERS FOR STOPPING AND ATTEMPTING TO PUSH VAN OUT OF ROAD BUT WITH TRANNY LOCKED UP, NO MOVEMENT WHATSOEVER. TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED UP. TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY RUINED, NEED NEW UNIT. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR $ 3,580. *KB

I WAS TOLD APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AGO THAT THE REASON THE SHIFT WAS HARD WAS BECAUSE I HAD TWO BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS. THEY WERE REPAIRED AND THEY SUGGESTED CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THEN RIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING I NOTICED MY CAR HAVING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD GEAR AND THE RPMS WERE GOING CRAZY SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. I WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $4200. I HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1500 THIS YEAR ON REPAIRS FOR THIS VAN. I ALWAYS HAVE DRIVEN HONDAS AND TOYOTAS AND FULLY EXPECTED TO GET OVER 200,000 MILES OUT OF THIS VAN. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED TO FIND MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT HONDA IS NOT HELPFUL. THIS IS MY LAST HONDA. *KB

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. REPLACED 4TH GEAR PRESSURE SWITCH AS PER HONDA AND REMOVED AND REPLACED TRANSMISSION FLUID 3 TIMES. NOTHING WORKS. NEED TRANS REBUILT. *TR

FIRST TRANS DRIVE INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED FLASHING.PAID TO REPLACE SENSOR AND FLUSH TRANS OIL.THREE WEEKS LATER TRANS REFUSES TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK.,I OPENED STEERING WHEEL OVERRIDE AND TRANS IS WORKING FINE EXCEPT I MUST EMPLOY OVERRIDE FEATURE TO SHIFT GEAR. *TR

DRIVING DOWNTOWN WHERE I LIVE, MY TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO A LOW GEAR AND MOVE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

VAN HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM 2ND -3RD GEAR WITH SLIPPING AND REVVING EXCEPTIONAL HIGH BEFORE TRANSITIONS SUDDENLY INTO NEXT GEAR. VAN WAS RECALLED AT 24,000 MILES FOR REPAIR TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN 2004 AS REQUESTED. THIS VAN HAD BEEN DILIGENTLY MAINTAINED ONLY AT DEALERSHIP, OTHER THAN ROUTINE OIL CHANGES, AND WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, COSTING $6600. HONDA OF AMERICA IS NOT HELPFUL AND UNWILLING TO HELP IN ANY MANNER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL, ACCELERATING FROM 35 TO 40+, TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP! EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!! COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT SINCE WE WERE MERGING ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY. NEXT DAY, ANOTHER LOCK UP + SLIPPING BETWEEN 25 & 35 MPH AND @ 50 PM. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND GEAR SHIFT WILL GET STUCK IN PARK, REVERSE & DRIVE. RPM REVS HIGH. HONDA DEALER DIAGNOSED TODAY AS "INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE" 164,000 HIGHWAY MILES, SERVICED @ DEALER, BABIED WITH OIL CHANGES, ETC. NOW $4,000 QUOTE FOR TRANSMISSION 3 YRS/36,000 MILE WARRANTY. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL HONDA OWNER SINCE 1990, BUT WILL NOT CONSIDER BUYING ANY FUTURE HONDAS. *TR

I WAS STOPPED @ A RED LIGHT ON A 50 MPH SPEED LIMIT ROAD & WHEN THE LIGHT TURN GREEN I PUSHED THE ACCL THE VAN ROLLED ON BUT WILL NOT ACCELERATE FURTHER ENGINE KEPT REVVING & A BIG CONSTRUCTION TRUCK ALMOST REAR ENDED ME LOOKS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION STALLS THE VEHICLE. *TR

KNOWN TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. NOTED AND CASCADED BY AMERICAN HONDA. REPAIRS COULD BE DONE UNDER GOODWILL AT HONDAS DISCRETION. COVERAGE WAS EXTENDED TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. IT APPEARS THAT INTERNAL DAMAGE COULD HAPPEN BEYOND THE SAID YEARS/MILEAGE RANGE FOR WARRANTY REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. FROM A CONSUMERS PERSPECTIVE, IT IS A CLAUSE OR LANGUAGE USED TO LEVERAGE HONDAS GOODWILL DISCRETION. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC BY THE NHTSA, WHILE HONDA SETTLED OUT OF COURT, YET DID NOT TAKE FULL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE KNOWN AND VALIDATED TRANSMISSION DEFICIENCY. GEAR SLIPS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR IN THE RANGE OF 20-30MPH. ENGINE LIGHT AND TCS LIGHT TURNS ON, AS WELL AS THE DRIVE LIGHT FLASHING (INSTEAD OF BEING SOLID LIGHT). ACCELERATING AFTER A COMPLETE STOP IS VERY DIFFICULT WHEN CROSSING THE INTERSECTIONS. REPAIRING THE PRESSURE SWITCH ON 11/2/11 DID NOT RECTIFY THE SITUATION.

LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER WE BOUGHT OUR VAN, THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR WOULDN'T CLOSE PROPERLY. IT WAS FIXED PRIOR TO US BUYING THE VAN. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD TO GET OUT AND PHYSICALLY PUSH ON THE DOOR TO CLOSE IT. ALSO, HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE THE DOOR CLOSED ON A CHILD'S HAND WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE SENSED IT WAS THERE. CHILD WAS FINE. NEW PROBLEM IS WE CAN'T GET DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR TO CLOSE PROPERLY. IT WILL CLOSE AND THEN POP OPEN A LITTLE BIT. HUBBY HAS TAKEN TO "KICKING" IT IN WITH HIS FOOT. WE DRIVE WITH THE DOORS LOCKED PRAYING THAT THEY WON'T OPEN LIKE I HAVE READ ABOUT HAPPENING TO SO MANY FOLKS. WE BOUGHT THE VAN BECAUSE WE HAVE 3 KIDS BUT THIS IS SCARY STUFF. AS WE DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD THERE IS A CONSTANT BEEPING SOUND LIKE THE DOOR IS OPEN BUT IT ISN'T LIT UP ON THE DASH. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY NO RECALL HAS BEEN DONE TO THIS YEAR OF HONDA. SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEMS THE EARLIER YEAR HONDA'S HAVE HAD. WE ARE MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS VAN AND CAN'T AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANYTHING ELSE. SOMETHING REALLY SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *TR

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION WITH THE KEY. KEY DOES NOT TURN AND STUCK SOME TIMES. YOU HAVE TO WIGGLE IT TO START. WHEN TRY TO STOP THE KEY DON'T TURN ALL THE WAY DOWN AND STUCK IN IT. UNABLE TO PULL THE KEY FROM CHAMBER. VERY FRUSTRATED. CALLED HONDA FOR THIS ISSUE. HONDA SAID THERE IS NO RECALL RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. UNABLE TO TAKE KEY OUT FEW TIMES AND CONSTANT PROBLEM. I READ FEW COMPLAIN ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING, SLIPPING. AFTER THE D ON THE GEAR INDICATOR STARTED FLASHING. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR HAS A DIFFICULT TIME GOING INTO THE NEXT GEAR REVVING UP TO 6000 RPMS ITS GOTTEN SO BAD AT TIMES THAT IT WONT GO INTO REVERSE. HONDA DEALERS IN THE AREA ARE GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND AS TO WHEN THE 2004 RECALL WARRANTY IS UP. APPARENTLY MY CAR (1 PREVIOUS OWNER) WAS SERVICED FOR THE RECALL. DOESN'T HONDA HAVE TO HELP IF THERE IS THIS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR? LITERALLY GOOGLE 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION AND THE COMPLAINTS ARE ENDLESS IN THE THOUSANDS. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER OF 4 AND CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THIS OR BUY A NEW CAR. *TR

FRONT AND PASSENGER ENGINE MOUNTS ARE BROKEN AT 48K MILEAGES DURING A MAINTAIN CHECKING AT A HONDA DEALER SHOP. *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPPED PULLING OUT ONTO ROAD, BARELY AVOIDING A BAD ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM PARK AND THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, WHEN I PRES THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE JERKS. WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, ON SOME OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE (STILL IN DRIVE) DOES NOT MOVE BUT THE ENGINE REVS UP. I HAVE TO SHIFT DOWN AND THEN BACK AGAIN TO DRIVE BEFORE IT WOULD MOVE. THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION RECALL ON THIS CAR IN 2004 AND THE DEALER HAD INSTALLED A KIT OF SOME SORT. HOWEVER, THIS FIX HAS NOT BEEN PERMANENT. LOOKS LIKE I HAVE LOST THE TRANSMISSION ALTOGETHER. *TR

ALTHOUGH HAVING BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER UNDER A POWER TRAIN/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RECALL IN 2004 AS A RESULT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN #04V17600, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL SOME MONTHS AGO AND THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON WITH P0730 (GEAR RATIO ERROR) BEING DECODED BY MY MECHANIC. SOME MONTHS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION WAS EVEN MORE PROBLEMATIC AND THE DIFFICULTY IN IT SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR WAS SO BAD THAT THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN (95,000 MILES). THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WITH THE OVERHEATING OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS PROBLEM IS EVEN MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN ON A V-6 ODYSSEY, WHICH I HAVE, BECAUSE THE HONDA POWER TRAIN/AUTO. TRANSMISSION CANNOT HANDLE THE EXTRA TORQUE OF THE LARGER ENGINE. REPLACING ALL THE SOLENOIDS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION IS CURRENTLY BEING REBUILT BUT NOT BY HONDA AS REPLACING IT WITH A FACTORY-REBUILT HONDA TRANSMISSION WILL ONLY LEAD TO THE SAME ISSUES. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN HONDA ODYSSEYS FROM 1999 UP TO THE PRESENT. A CLASS ACTION SUIT FORCED HONDA TO EXTEND THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES ON 1999-2001 ODYSSEYS . . . BUT THOSE OF US WITH NEWER ODYSSEYS HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT IN THE COLD. MY CAR IS A ONE-OWNER VEHICLE, REGULARLY SERVICED ACCORDING TO HONDA SPECIFICATIONS AND NEVER USED FOR PULLING HEAVY LOADS OR ANY SORT OF IRREGULAR DRIVING. IN FACT, THE CAR HAS BEEN 'BABIED' FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WINDSHIELD APPEARED TO BE DELAMINATING WHICH CAUSED BUBBLES TO FORM IN THE WINDOW. AS A RESULT, WHENEVER THE LIGHT HIT THE WINDSHIELD IT OBSTRUCTED HIS VISIBILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

ON THE FREEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT WARNING SLIPPED AND LOST POWER. VERY SCARY WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND WAS BARLEY ABLE TO MAKE IT OFF THE FREEWAY WITHOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD DID WE MAKE IT SAFELY OFF THE FREEWAY. HONDA DEALER SAID WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 106,000. JUST A FEW THOUSAND MILES OVER WARRANTY AND HONDA WOULD ONLY GRANT %50 COVERAGE. STILL COST ME $2797.00. HONDA OF AMERICA KNOWS ALL ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BUT STILL DOES NOT COMPENSATE LOYAL HONDA CUSTOMERS. MY DEALER REPLACED THIS TRANSMISSION (THAT HAD A PREVIOUS RECALL IN 2003) WITH A "RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION" NOW ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 THE TCS LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND THE CAR "SHUDDERED" BADLY AT 30 MPH. BROUGHT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY ARE DENYING THAT IT IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM? WE BOUGHT THE HONDA ODYSSEY FOR ITS SAFETY FEATURES AND RELIABILITY. HONDA AND THEIR DEALER ARE NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I WILL LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR MY NEXT CAR PURCHASE. *TR

2003 ODYSSEY LEFT MY WIFE IN A TERRIBLE SITUATION. IT SUDDENLY FAILED WHEN SHE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. WITH NO WARNING, IT WOULD NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE AND GROUND TO A STOP, LEAVING HER ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HONDA IS SUPPOSED TO BE A MANUFACTURER WITH WELL DESIGNED, RELIABLE PRODUCTS, BUT IT IS NOT SO WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. WHEN A MANUFACTURER REALIZES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE, BUT YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR DOES NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND RECKLESS TO CONTINUE TO MANUFACTURE THE VEHICLE WITH THE PROBLEMATIC TRANSMISSION. *KB

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE TRAVELING 40MPH AT 130000 MILES. IT WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING 2003 TRANSMISSIONS, BUT THE WINDOW HAD CLOSED, SO I HAD TO PAY FOR IT FULLY. NOVEMBER 20, 2011, WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, DASH LIGHTS FLASH, RADIO LOSES POWER. WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION OFF, THE CAR IS DEAD. RESTARTS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AFTER LOTS OF CLICKING IN THE DASH. AT VARYING SPEEDS THE DASH LIGHTS WILL FLASH, AND THE CLOCK AND RADIO GO DEAD BRIEFLY. SOMETIMES THE DOOR LOCK AND THE SLIDING DOOR BUTTONS DON'T WORK, BUT IF I WAIT 2 MINUTES, I HEAR THE CLICKING IN THE DASH, AND SUDDENLY THERE IS POWER. LEFT IT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED OUT OVER 4 DAYS, AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. TO BE TRAVELING AT 40+ AND HAVE THE CAR GO DEAD IS A HAZARD TO ME AND MY FAMILY, AS WELL AS EVERYONE ELSE DRIVING WHILE I AM DRIVING. IT IS CURRENTLY AT ANOTHER SHOP TO BE EVALUATED. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFTER HAS BECOME VERY LOOSE AND ALSO ALLOWS REMOVAL OF THE CAR KEY IN ANY GEAR, RATHER THAN JUST IN PARK. THIS LEAD TO THE CAR ROLLING AWAY AFTER BEING PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WHEN IT TURNED OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS INADVERTENTLY SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL RATHER THAN PARK AND THEN THE KEY REMOVED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 65 MPH WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR, THE DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR OPENS ALL BY ITSELF. WE HAD TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT THE DOOR. THE DOOR OPENS FINE BUT WILL NOT LATCH ON AND CLOSE PROPERLY ANYMORE. THE INTERIOR CALL LIGHTS GO ON AND EVERYTHING STARTS BEEPING AND DASHBOARD STARTS FLASHING. IT IS NOT ONLY VERY DISTRACTING BUT ALSO VERY DANGEROUS. THE DOOR JUST WON'T SHUT ANYMORE. *KB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE: TRAVELLING UP A HILL ON A FREEWAY AT 70MPH WITH FAMILY/CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE, SUDDENLY & WITHOUT WARNING, TRANSMISSION WILDLY SHIFTS FROM 4TH DOWN TO 2ND/1ST, BACK TO 3RD, CONTINUES LURCHING/SHIFTING BACK AND FORTH AS RPM'S FLUCTUATE WILDLY; HOBBLED TO NEXT EXIT, SMOKE & TRANS FLUID COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. CALLED LOCAL DEALER WHO "HAS NO IDEA" WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT BUT FOR $100 WILL CHECK IT OUT. RESULT: THEY TELL ME THAT TRANS OVERHEATED & MELTED DOWN, BURNED OUT CLUTCHES, NEEDS NEW TRANS -> $4800 (REBUILT). TRANS WAS JUST FINE & TRANS FLUID WAS FINE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, CAR WAS MAINTAINED, ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING OF ANYTHING AMISS. NOW I FIND OUT VIA THE INTERNET THAT MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM W/2003 ODYSSEY'S. CALLED HONDA, THEY TELL ME, "THERE IS NO KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR" (LIE) AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR CAME W/36,000 MILE WARRANTY AND WE ARE BEYOND THAT. HE ACTUALLY ASKED ME, "IS THIS THE FIRST TIME YOUR TRANSMISSION HAS BLOWN ON THIS VEHICLE? ARE YOU STILL ON YOUR FIRST TRANSMISSION?" WHICH IS A FUNNY THING TO ASK IF THERE IS NO KNOWN PROBLEM. INTERNET INDICATES THAT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE TRANS REPLACED, 2ND TRANS FREQUENTLY BLOWS ALSO. THIS CAR HAD A RECALL FOR TRANS OIL COOLING, WAS COMPLETED BEFORE WE BOUGHT (NEW FROM DEALER) & WE WERE NOT INFORMED ABOUT IT. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOUR TRANS EXPLODES AT 70MPH WITH YOUR CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT UNDER 80K MILES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE MINI VANS. WE SERVICED OUR VEHICLE APPROPRIATELY AND ALSO BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO BE CHECKED WHEN THE TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECALLED. AT THAT TIME THEY INSTALLED A TRANS JET KIT WHICH WOULD SOLVE THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WE EVEN INSTALLED A TRANSMISSION COOLER. HONDA IS UNWILLING TO PROVIDE MUCH ASSISTANCE AT ALL WITH THIS REPAIR AND I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE A FULL RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS, AS THEY KNOWINGLY SOLD A POOR PRODUCT. *TR

A METAL BRACKET RIVETING THE DRIVER SEAT BOTTOM TO THE POWER SEAT STRUCTURE HAS TORN THROUGH DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. THIS ALLOWS THE WHOLE DRIVE SEAT TO MOVE FREELY WITHIN A FEW INCHES OF TRAVEL DURING ACCELERATION AND TURNING. *TR

THIS CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THERE WAS A TEST DONE WHICH GAVE THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE PO743. THE HONDA ODYSSEY HAS KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND IS NOT WILLING TO HELP ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE WITH HONDA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *TR

RE: NHTSA PHONE REF. #438678, HONDA'S RECALL CAMPAIGN #S34, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #12V136000: SIMILAR INCIDENT WITH MY 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY ON 8/18/2011 WHILE DRIVING ON A VERY DARK RURAL ROAD. WHEN NECESSARY TO SWITCH FROM HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, I WAS LEFT TOTALLY IN THE DARK AS I HAD NO LOW BEAMS. MANAGED TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY WITHOUT INCIDENT WITH HIGH BEAMS ONLY. NEXT DAY BOTH HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM BULBS WERE REPLACED FOR ME @A COST OF $53.35. DO NOT THINK THE CAUSE WAS TRACED AS WAS NOT AWARE THERE WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT IN MY 50 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS SITUATION BEFORE. ALSO ON JAN. 4, 2012, HAD TO HAVE A REAR 12V BULB (PART #34906-ST5-003) REPLACED. COST: $7.61. BECAME AWARE OF THIS BULB DISFUNCTIONING BY DASHBOARD NOTIFICATION. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *KB

2003 HONDA ODYSSEY - TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION FROZE AND RELEASED REPEATEDLY NEARLY CAUSING A REAR END CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHAT IS IMPORTANT HERE IS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED AND THE WORK DONE IN 2005. HOWEVER, IT IS BLATANTLY APPARENT THAT THE "FIX" HONDA DID FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BUT ONLY A TEMPORARY PATCH. ALL THE RECALL DID WAS DELAY THE FAILURE, IT DIDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HONDA HAS SIMPLY MOVED THE MILEAGE AT WHICH THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX WHAT THEY SOLD. SADLY WE PAID AN ADDITION $4,000 TO $5,000 FOR THE HONDA NAME SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE ISSUES. NOW WE ARE NOT ONLY OUT THAT MONEY BUT HONDA STILL BELIEVES THAT THEIR NAME DESERVES MORE MONEY FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO STILL FAIL. WE HAVE BEEN QUOTED AN ADDITIONAL $2,500 TO $3,000 MORE THAN WHAT IT WOULD COST TO FIX A COMPETING AMERICAN COMPANY TRANSMISSION. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT HONDA KNOWS IT HAS AN ISSUE, THEN ONLY PATCHED IT TO DELAY RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TROUBLING WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS FAIL AT HIGH SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY. A DEFINITE RISK TO PEOPLES LIVES. *TR

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AT 77K MILES, EVEN THOUGH I HAD BROUGHT THE VAN INTO THE DEALER FOR THE 'FIX' WHEN THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. WAS DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY AND DURING ACCELERATION ENGINE RPM WENT UP AND VAN ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. DEALER WANTED ~$6K TO FIX. HONDA OFFERED $2K AS GOOD WILL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE SHUT OFF AND THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE MOVING AT 50MPH AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. UPON STOPPING ON SIDE OF ROAD AND SHIFTING FROM D TO PARK AND BACK TO D, THE VAN WAS ABLE TO MOVE FOR A FEW HUNDRED YARDS. AT 35MPH IT POPPED OUT OF GEAR AGAIN. DID SAME THING WITH TRANSMISSION AND WAS ABLE TO "LIMP" HOME AS LONG AS VEHICLE STAYED UNDER 30MPH. TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER AND FOUND OUT TRANSMISSION IS BAD. I HAVE A 7YR/105,000 MILE WARRANTY, BUT IT EXPIRED LAST YEAR. I ONLY HAVE 103,000 MILES ON THE VAN. THE REPAIR IS QUOTED AT $4200. I HAVE COMPLETE AND TIMELY SERVICE RECORDS AT A HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR THE LIFE OF THE VAN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A TWO LANE ROAD AND THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED ON ITS OWN IN A VIOLENT MANOR. THE RPS JUMPED UP. I LET OFF THE GAS AND THE AUTO WENT BACK TO NORMAL. 10 MINUTES LATER I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY RUNNING 70MPH AND THE AUTO DOWN SHIFTED AGAIN IN THE SAME FASHION AS DESCRIBED BEFORE. I BROUGHT IT TO TWO SHOPS AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. BOTH TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE PROBLEM AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO MANY HONDAS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND LATER, CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALE WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000.