[dgs]

OK I bought a Certified Used Odyssey TWO DAYS ago. While I was test driving it and after I bought it, it was intermittently stalling after coming to a stop. At first, the dealer could not duplicate it but now they have determined that it needs a new transmission (See 'Stalling' a few topics down.). I've had it THREE DAYS! I've read several people with bad transmissions on this list, and now I'm worried. I am probably with in my rights to back out of this deal now (I think I have 72 hours in Ohio).

What do you think? I have a 7 year/100,000 mile (from original purchase) powertrain warranty with the Certification process, so even if it goes out again in another 40,000 miles, I'll be covered. But my intention was to try to keep this van for about 10 years, which would put the mileage at about 180,000. That's FOUR new transmissions at this rate (Two under warranty).

Am I being paranoid? Should I back out now and go buy a new Caravan?

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D Schaefer
99 Odyssey EX
93 Escort LX
60 Thunderbird Conv.

 

[HK_dude]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by dgs:
Should I back out now and go buy a new Caravan?</font>

If you can afford a new Caravan, why didn't you buy a new Odyssey? I personally would never buy another used car especially from a dealership. Yes, its good to have the warranty, but you just inherited this problem of the car. Why did you think the original owner got rid of the car. I don't believe "all" older model Odysseys had this problem. Only a few bad ones. You just got one of the bad one.

 

[dgs]

OK part of that original post was venting.

However, I could probably get a new Caravan but not a new Odyssey because Dodge dealers still have new 2001's left on the lot, they will come down several thousand off sticker, the sticker on the options I need (not what I want

) is less than the 2002 Odyssey LX sticker and they are offering 0% financing. Of course, the fact that they are willing to do all of that and Honda doesn't have to says something about both the Odyssey and the Caravan. I think I'll stick with my (wounded) Odyssey.

Update: I just spoke to the dealer and they are putting in a remanufactured transmission and will have it ready before my big holiday trip this Sunday and their giving me a loaner until then. All (almost) is right with the world.

BTW: Honda's Certified program is pretty darn good, especially compared to other manufacturers (GM's is only 90 days). It's not a dealer sponsored warranty, they do a comprehensive inspection and then add a 12 month bumper-to-bumper warranty to the original and extend the powertrain warranty to 7 years or 100,000 miles. All backed by Honda, not the dealer. Check it out at www.ehonda.com.



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D Schaefer
99 Odyssey EX
93 Escort LX
60 Thunderbird Conv.

 

[albaby]

Never could figure why Honda would give a 100K warranty on a used vehicle and not offer it on a new vehicle-except at a high premium.

Al

 

[cauchy]

You probably don't want to hear this, but my 2000 Ody LX is on its third transmission. I'm getting out while it's still under warranty. I'm not a big fan of the remanufactured parts philosophy and I know I don't want to pay $4200 for an out-of-warranty tranny replacement. My dealer is gouging me on trade-in, though. I've been trying to get Honda Customer Relations to step in and take more responsibility for the tranny troubles, but they have been totally non-responsive. I'm beginning to believe that Honda's are great if you happen to get one of the typically reliable ones. But, through the problems with my Ody, I've learned that Honda is not concerned with customer satisfaction. So, I hope you're new tranny will last for the 10 years you're hoping for, but my last tranny lasted about four months. And, if you have trouble with your new tranny, tons of luck to you in dealing with Honda. You'll need it. By the way, I'm probably crazy, but I'm trading my 2000 Ody for a 2002 Ody. I'm betting on the greater odds of getting a reliable one this time around. My 96 Accord has 125K troublefree miles (knock on wood). If I get a good Ody, I'll keep it for 10 years and I won't have to deal with Honda's "holier than thou" customer relations attitude.

Good luck,

Cauchy

 

[Jerry O1]

What an ironic turn of events! Just think how many folks bought Hondas in order to get away from the "curse of the Chryslers" (transmission failure), only to be confronted with more or less the same threat. It is especially hard to take when one has had a good Mopar experience. The other thing which will hurt, down the road, is the MUCH higher price of the Honda replacement transmission. I was taken in by the Honda reliability reputation and did not do much research regarding problems (stupid me). Had I done so, I would probably just have opted for another Mopar......except for that magic seat.....

Jerry O.

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2001 Odyssey GG LX

 

[Shaners]

After reading these posts on tranny troubles I hope the new 5-speed slushbox is more reliable.

I agree with a post that I read somewhere in this forum, that although there seems to be alot of posts in herre about tranny problems, it is not a fair sample of Ody owners. More people join these forums to discuss problems rather than brag about their trouble-free vehicle. I have never read anything in a true national owners survey about weak trannies in the Odyssey.

For those of you who have this problem, I feel very bad for you. I too bought this van because I expect years of trouble-free ownership, and a high resale value.

Good luck...

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2002 EXL-RES Redrock Pearl

2001 Chevy 2500HD crewcab 4x4

 

[dgs]

Another update:

I have a friend who is a service manager at a local GM dealer. He has access to the service buliten database for all makes. He looked up transmissions for the Odyssey and found a few bulitens, but nothing major. Certainly nothing related to my problem with the lock up torque converter. For everyone's peace of mind he said that if you look up Chrysler or GM the will show 50+ service bulitens, Honda had only a few.

Also, I agree that this forum (and others like it) is populated with people who are a bit more fanatical than others and by those who have had bad experiences. To put it bluntly, picky people and those who come to complain. I guess I fit both of those categories!

BTW - For those of you in central Ohio, I have had a great experience with Roush Honda's response on this issue. When I told them that I had a family trip to make in my new van beginning on Sunday (1500 miles round trip with 3 kids), they responded by ordering the transmission overnight and making sure someone would stay late on the Friday before Christmas to get it done by Saturday. I didn't even have to push. Nice job.

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D Schaefer
99 Odyssey EX
93 Escort LX
60 Thunderbird Conv.

 

[SoFlaOdyssey]

cauchy:

What was wrong with your transmission(s)??

JerryO:

You are right!! I was very worried about the alleged Chrysler/Dodge transmisson problems, and that's what really pushed me over to Honda. I had only owned U.S. cars until that point.

I *hope* that the transmission noise is nothing more than a slight inconvenience, and will not harm the transmission itself (this is what Honda told me through a technician).

I agree with some of the other posters, however, in that we are not a good representation of all Odyssey owners, and there are no doubt MANY more relatively troublefree Odysseys than problem plagued Odysseys.

My own Odyssey exhibits the following "features:"

* sticking passenger side sliding door
(minor inconvenience, a little silicone spray should do it)
* slightly warped windshield molding
(minor inconvenience, should be easily repairable)
* sloshing gas noise (a "non-issue for me)
* noisy transmission - torque converter
(the only REAL WORRY item)

Aside from that, I find my Odyssey to be a fantastic vehicle! So much so that after only 6 months of Odyssey ownership, I purchased Civic for myself!!!! My wife gets the Odyssey. :-(


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Nelson
2001 Odyssey LX - Silver
2001 Civic EX Sedan - Silver
1990 Mustang LX Coupe - Titanium
http://fiveoh.homestead.com/main.html

 

[gram_parsons]

FYI: The '99 Ody is only Honda (other than a couple of year's for the Passport, which really isn't a Honda after all) on the Consumer Reports DO NOT BUY list. Check out the Consumer Reports buyer's guide.

Agreed about the problem reports: having all the complaints in one place seems to magnify the problem. Before the web, the rest of us who have had no trouble would have been blisfully unaware. As it stands, I'm pretty paranoid over 1) the doors and 2) the tranny even though they haven't blipped yet. Got an extended warranty just in case, though.

 

[gram_parsons]

FYI: The '99 Ody is only Honda (other than a couple of year's for the Passport, which really isn't a Honda after all) on the Consumer Reports DO NOT BUY list. Check out the Consumer Reports buyer's guide.

Agreed about the problem reports: having all the complaints in one place seems to magnify the problem. Before the web, the rest of us who have had no trouble would have been blisfully unaware. As it stands, I'm pretty paranoid over 1) the doors and 2) the tranny even though they haven't blipped yet. Got an extended warranty just in case, though.

 

[dgs]

That's not quite accurate, check out www.consumerreports.org. It lists the Odyssey as a "Good Bet" except for the 1999's. The only minivan on the "avoid" list is the Windstar. In fact, when I checked a couple of months ago, only the first generation (1998 and older) Odyssey's were listed as "Good Bets".

Also, if you look closely, the only minivans listed as "Good Bets" are the Odyssey and the Toyota Previa and Sienna. I wish my 1999 was in that group to though.

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D Schaefer
99 Odyssey EX
93 Escort LX
60 Thunderbird Conv.