[diaperwagon]

Hi All,

My husband and I just bought a 2003 Odyssey with 94,000 miles on it. The dealer is giving us until the end of the month (i.e., three more days) to decide if we want to buy an extended warranty for it, and we're not sure what to do. These things are not cheap! The warranty they are offering is about $2500. Money is tight right now so that would be a huge additional expense for us.

We keep hearing about tranny problems on the older Odysseys. One mechanic we talked to said 2003's have a lot of tranny problems and said it is about $3800 to get it replaced. Another mechanic told us that it's mostly the 1999-2002 Odyssey's that have tranny problems, and that 2003's are usually okay. So... Now we're really on the fence. I know anything can happen, no matter what the year, but we're trying to figure out which way to gamble right now.

What do all of you experts Ody owners think? Is an extended warranty on an '03 Ody worth the (pricey) investment?

Thanks for the advice!
Gina O.

 

[G8ROdy]

I would only get the Honda brand extended warranty. The rest are a bag of hurt from what I hear. Our first Ody had a Honda extended warranty and repairs were no problem at all. The off brand warranties have a list of exclusions and give the sales people a nice commission. Just know what you are buying. Are the parts prorated for what they consider the normal life of that part? Do they give you a Honda trany if it goes out? Or are they only going to reimburse you for the cheapest parts they can find? Are there any happy purchasers of this brand of warranty that you can talk to?
The bad news is that Honda has restrictions on mileage and age for their warranties. I think they are seven years or 100,000 miles which ever is first. (Maybe 10 years)
If I were you I would save some money just in case it happens and do what you can do to prevent it from happening.

 

[txn]

I would not buy the extended warranty.
I'd just put the $2500 aside for future maintenance or repair.

Your van may need new timing belt, water pump, spark plugs at 105 K miles which will cost quite a bit more than $500 (unless you do it yourself).

Regarding the transmission, you could try to reduce the risk by changing the transmission fluid every 15K miles.

 

[DavidGSR]

99-04 were all prone to transmission problems.

 

[CTOdy192006]

Extended Warranty - EasyCare?

$2500 seems high but might be due to your mileage. I am in similar situation - out of the range for Honda Warranty on a 2006 Ody Touring with 37,000 miles, buying this week from a Ford Dealer. Spoke to out of state Honda dealer and 4 year 48,000 is about $1300 for complete coverage through EasyCare. Frankly, it will be a computer on wheels so I would like electronics only coverage but no policy exists. Ford is offering me a $1500 for similar but I am concerned that any shop or Honda dealer will look at me as if I have holes in my head - why the Ford Policy on the Honda? Ford policy says they will reimburse and cover. Still on the hunt for a better policy but Easy Care looks tempting and good reviews from Motor Trend, etc.

 

[johnwprassas]

Hey Guys I am looking to buy an Odyssey with 89,000 miles but it falls within the vin # range of ones that had a recall and as I understand are susceptible to a "common mode transmission failure" where it skips 3rd gear when down shifting and goes straight to second gear.

http://www.odyclub.com/forums/24-1999-2004-odyssey/58914-transmission-failure-recall-range-print.html

The Honda dealer said I could get a 34,000 mile warranty for it. (main concern is transmission) It looks like this "common mode transmission failure" is covered by honda care. I think I am right on this?

Has anyone out there gotten an extended warranty that is not honda care - and been treated fairly (gotten transmission fixed etc) ?
Thank you
John

 

[Brian Baird]

Our 03 has had zero tranny problems. Buy it cheap and save the 2500 on the warranty as it isn't worth it. If the previous owner did regular drain fills on the tranny and it wasn't used to tow anything you likely won't have problems