2003 HONDA ODYSSEY Complaints

FAILURE OF 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AFTER RELATIVELY GOOD PERFORMANCE FROM THIS VEHICLE, THE "CHECK ENGINE" AND "TRANSMISSION" LIGHTS BOTH LIT. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING, NOT ABLE TO OPERATE DURING ACCELERATION. MORE TROUBLING IS THAT DURING SLOWDOWN ON HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO DOWNSHIFT, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME, MY WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN. THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURS EACH AND EVERY TIME WE OPERATE THE VEHICLE -- BOTH DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. AFTER HAVING THIS CHECKED AT HONDA DEALERSHIP, IT REQUIRED A NEW TRANSMISSION -- NEARLY $4,000. SINCE THIS TIME, I HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE LEARNED THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER HONDA OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT PROBLEM, IT IS A KNOWN DESIGN PROBLEM BY HONDA, THEY HAVE ISSUED A RECALL FOR VEHICLES IN 1999-2001 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED ANY REMEDY FOR OWNERS AFTER 2001 UNLESS IT IS WITHIN FACTORY WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS, IT IS CRIMINAL TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR CORRECTION AND REPAIR IMMEDIATELY BY HONDA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO ENGAGE FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE DEALER PERFORMED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND AN UPDATED PCM AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT DECLINED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) BUT COULD NOT VERIFY IF HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,824 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,826.

AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS DO NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY. THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR CLOSES BUT NOT QUITE ALL THE WAY, IT WILL NOT "ENGAGE", OR "CATCH". THEREFORE, THE VAN THINKS THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN (OPEN DOOR LIGHT IS ON, BUZZES CONTINUALLY WHEN PUT INTO GEAR, AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON). HOWEVER, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INDICATOR LIGHT IS NOT ON, SO THE VAN THINKS THE DOOR IS FINE, BUT STILL OPEN. I HAVE TO GET OUT, WALK AROUND, AND PHYSICALLY BUMP THE REAR OF THE DOOR THE FINAL CENTIMETER OR SO TO GET IT FLUSH. FOR SOME REASON THE BACK LOCK PART ISN'T "CATCHING." THIS OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME THE DOOR IS SHUT. THIS IS A DANGER FOR ANY CHILDREN RIDING IN THE CAR IF THE DOOR IS NOT ENGAGED. FUSE #13 HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT SO DOORS WERE RESET AND EVERYTHING CLEANED AND OILED. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE POWER DOOR ON MY 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY WILL NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY. IT OPENS AS I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD. IT IS THE REAR LATCH SYSTEM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT THE 1999'S WERE HAVING AND THEY WERE RECALLED. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND IN MY OPINION NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP. *TR

AT 74,000 MY HONDA ODYSSEY'S TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2007 AS A CERTIFIED HONDA VEHICLE AT A FLORIDA HONDA DEALERSHIP. WE HAD THEN MOVE TO MASSACHUSETTS WHERE I BEGAN TAKING MY VAN TO ANOTHER HONDA DEALERSHIP CLOSE BY. IT WAS THERE AT THE END OF 2008 I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE COMPLAINING THAT IT SEEMED JUMPY, ESPECIALLY WHEN PUT IN REVERSE. I TOLD THEM I WAS CONCERNED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS ALL WHILE MY CAR WAS STILL COVERED UNDER ITS WARRANTY. THEY ASSURED ME THAT MY ODYSSEY WAS FINE. THEN IN THE BEGINNING OF 2010WHEN YOU PUSHED ON THE GAS THE VAN SEEMED TO NOT ACCELERATE AND MY ENGINE AND TCS LIGHT CAME ON. AT THE TIME WE DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO DO ANY REPAIRS SO WE STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MONTHS. THEN IN APRIL I TOOK THE VAN TO A LOCAL GARAGE WHO INFORMED ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS IN SHOCK BECAUSE IN NOVEMBER OF 2008 I HAD COMPLAINED THAT I THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS FOUND. I OPENED A CASE WITH AMERICAN HONDA WHO OFFERED TO PAY $2000 OF THE REPAIRS. I OF COURSE ASKED FOR MORE BUT THEY REFUSED. I ENDED UP HAVING TO PAY OUT $2600 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THE TIMING BELT. I HAVE SINCE SEEN ON THE COMPUTER ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT HONDA HAS HAD WITH TRANSMISSIONS AND AM ASTONISHED THAT THEY ARE NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR POOR QUALITY AUTOMOBILES. SO MUCH FOR BUYING A VEHICLE TO LAST FOR OUR GROWING FAMILY. I AM BEGGING FOR SOMEONE TO INVESTIGATE AND HOLD HONDA ACCOUNTABLE FOR FAULTY AND POOR QUALITY TRANSMISSIONS. IT IS QUITE APPARENT THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THE 1999-2004 ODYSSEY'S AND MAYBE MORE ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH OR STRONG ENOUGH TO CARRY THE LOAD OF A MINI-VAN. THEY WERE FAULTY FROM THE BEGINNING AND IT IS UNFAIR TO LEAVE US VEHICLE OWNERS HOLDING THE BAG. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE MOUNTING BRACKET FOR THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED 3 TIMES AND HAD THE MOUNTING BOLT BROKEN OFF IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THAT WAS ALL COVERED. *TR

TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE JERKED REALLY HARD THEN SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LOOSE AND GAIN IN SPEED. AFRAID TO DRIVE IT WITH MY FOUR CHILDREN. CAR WAS TOWED TO HONDA CARE SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY QUOTED 4600 DOLLARS TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME PROBLEM AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE MY VOICE IS HEARD! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN AND ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL. THE RPMS BEGAN TO RAPIDLY FLUCTUATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO PROVIDE PARTIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER, BUT HAD NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 122,000.

OUR 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL IS NOW HAVING MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HONDA HAS ADVISED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS COMING APART AND THEREFORE THE TRANSMISSION, PCM, AND A MOTOR MOUNT NOW NEED TO BE REPLACED AS A RESULT. MY FAMILY RELIES ON THIS VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION, AND I FEEL THAT THE ODYSSEY IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AS THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND SLIPS AND ACTUALLY GOT STUCK IN GEAR ON THE HIGHWAY THE LAST WEEK. MY ISSUE IS THAT HONDA OFFERED TO PAY $2300.00 OF THE $5300.00 THEY SAY IS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THAT LEAVES ME TO PAY $3000.00 TO FIX AN UNSAFE, FAULTY PRODUCT THAT COULD FAIL ANY DAY DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTS. I HAVE READ ARTICLES ONLINE WHERE THE DEALERSHIP ACTUALLY PAID 75% OF THE REPAIRS TO KEEP THE CUSTOMER HAPPY SINCE THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE. IF HONDA SOLD A FAULTY PRODUCT THEY NEED TO REPAIR AND/OR REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE, UNSAFE COMPONENTS THAT MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CRASH. IN CLOSING, IF HONDA "INSPECTED" THE VEHICLE UNDER RECALL AND IT SUBSEQUENTLY FAILS, THE HONDA NEEDS TO SHOULDER THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THEIR PRODUCTS SAFE AND PAY FOR A MAJORITY OF THE REPAIRS OR ALL THE REPAIRS. *TR

MY WIFE AND I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY MINIVAN. IT ONLY HAD 71000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. THOUGHT WE HAD A GOOD VEHICLE. HONDA'S ARE SUPPOSE TO BE GREAT. TWO WEEKS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE VAN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. WE WOULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT WOULD SLIP COMPLETELY OUT OF GEAR AT TIMES AS WELL. THE ENGINE WOULD RACE AND NOT ALLOW YOU TO GO AND THEN JERK VIOLENTLY AS IT ENGAGED INTO GEAR. NOW AT 77000 MILES IT JERKS HORRIBLY AT AROUND 50-55 MPH. TOOK IT TO HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5200 DOLLARS. I STARTED TO RESEARCH ONLINE AND THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION COMPLAINT. HONDA HAS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THEIR TRANSMISSIONS AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THERE ARE WEBSITES DEDICATED TO HONDA ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HONDA HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL FOR 1999-2001 ODYSSEY VANS, WHY NOT EXTEND IT OUT FOR THE 2002-2004 VANS AS WELL. THEY HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSION, AND THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE A DEVASTATING PROBLEM. MY WIFE USES THIS VAN EVERY DAY TO TRANSPORT OUR TWO YOUNG GIRLS. IF THE TRANSMISSION WERE TO LOCK UP IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THAT IS WHY I AM APPEALING TO YOU TO LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP. IT IS NOT FAIR FOR THEM TO GET AWAY WITH A KNOWN PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE. *TR

2003 HONDA ODYSSEY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NHTSA PLEASE RESEARCH THE SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE RATE. QUICKLY JUST GOOGLE IT AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THOUSANDS ARE HAVING THEIR TRANSMISSIONS FAIL AND NOT JUST THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSIONS BUT ALSO THE REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSIONS THAT HONDA DEALERS USE AS A REPAIR. REVIEW COMMENTS MADE ON THE FORUM AT ODYCLUB.COM AND OTHER WEBSITES SUCH AS AUTOMOBILEMAG.COM. THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS OF HONDA ODYSSEYS. THERE WAS ALREADY A SUCCESSFUL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST HONDA FOR YEARS PRIOR TO MY MODEL AND THERE IS MUCH TALK ONLINE ABOUT PURSUING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR YEARS 2003-2005 AS WELL! IT IS THE JOB OF THE NHTSA TO PROTECT AMERICAN CONSUMERS AND I AM REQUESTING THAT NHTSA PULL THE DATA ON ALL OF THE HONDA ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION FAILURES PLUS DO SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ONLINE. I AM CONFIDENT YOU WILL SEE THERE IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE HERE DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE. MY FAILURE CAUSED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHICH COULD HAVE KILLED ME AND MY FAMILY SINCE WE WERE TURNING OUT INTO A BUSY STREET WHEN IT HAPPENED. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT COULD VERY WELL BE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS MINI-VAN FAR BETTER THAN WHAT HONDA EVEN RECOMMENDS AND YET THIS STILL HAPPENS TO ME AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER CITIZENS. THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE P0720 IS AN EARLY SIGN OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP IS REPLACING THE SENSOR BUT I AM TOLD IT IS MOST LIKELY THE EARLY SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IF IT ULTIMATELY ENDS UP BEING THE TRANSMISSION IT WILL COST ME OVER $3,500 TO FIX AND THEY REPLACE IT PER HONDA WITH A REMANUFACTURED ONE THAT HAS A VERY HIGH FAILURE RATE AS WELL! SOME MAKE IT LESS THAN 36K ON THE REMANUFACTURED ONE AND HAVE TO REPLACE IT A THIRD TIME! MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVING A MAJOR POWERTRAIN PART - THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TR