I am documenting this for reference.
I have a 1999 Honda Odyssey, bought brand new from the dealer, Rock Honda it was. I was on a waiting list and waited a couple of months to get this van. It was purported to be the best van, efficient engine, and we trusted Honda as a maker of reliable cars.
We were wrong.
In 2003 with 45,000 miles on the van, the transmission went bad. At that time, Honda had not yet realize the extent of their transmission problem and had not extended their warranty. With 45,000 miles, the warranty on my transmission was expired.
A car with 45,000 miles requiring a new transmission was unheard of!
Diamond Bar Honda dealer says, sorry, your warranty is expired. You have to pay about $3000 for a new transmission. The dealer was no help at all. They supposedly made a call to Honda to ask about the warranty. Came back and gave me the same story: the warranty expired on the transmission.
I called myself to complain to Honda Customer Relations (1-800-999-1009 is their current number). After reviewing it with a case manager, they agreed to pay for the part, and I pay the labor. The labor was $471. I give Honda credit for excellent service at that time.
After this, Honda extended their transmission warranty to 100,000 miles on all their Odysseys.
I asked Honda to extend my new transmission warranty 100,000 miles from the time of the new transmission, giving me a warranty to 145,000 miles.
They said, no.
I said, since you are willing to extend new cars to 100,000 miles, it would make sense to cover my new transmission 100,000. It is obviously a defect in design that this transmission goes out so quickly.
They said, no.
Fast forward to now, 2008. My van has 129,000 miles.
My transmission is out again!
Less than 90,000 miles later, my transmission needs to be replaced.
My mechanic (not the dealer) tried to save me money by replacing the automatic transmission lock up solenoid and thought that might help. It didn’t.
Today I called Honda and registered a complaint. Marlene answered the customer service call and assigned me a case number. A case manager is suppose to call me within 2 business days.
I’ll update after I hear from the case manager. If they are as cooperative as last time, I will give Honda a 5 star rating. If not, my next car will be a Toyota.
If you’ve had similar problems, please leave a comment.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:54 am
Hi. I purchased a previously owned 2002 Odyssey from a Volvo dealer, in 2006. I purchased the extended warrenty. On 3rd of July, on a day trip with my family, approximately 200 miles from home, my transmission died. The Honda dealer in the area would not be able to even look at my car until later the next week and the Volvo dealer that I purchased the car from had all of their key people out on vacation. I had also purchased an extended warranty, that I was 90 miles over. I was stuck, so I had the car towed to an Aamco transmission shop and rented a car to take my family home. I find out, through calling the Honda national service center, that my car had been recalled for transmission work and fixed at a Honda shop. This was undisclosed to me by the Volvo dealership. They said that they cannot warranty work that was repaired by Honda, with Honda parts, like they would a new transmission. Well 3,000.00 later, I didn’t receive any help from Honda National or the Volvo dealer. So, understand your frustration.
If you have any ideas please let me know.
Todd
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:44 am
Yes…buy a Toyota next time ….I have two and have had no problems….
September 4th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Todd: I had a very good response from Honda Customer Relations (1-800-999-1009) Tell them you want to register a complaint, and they’ll take your info, assign a case number, and they’ll call you back.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Laurie: We had a Toyota Camry, and did not have very good luck with that car. Died after 120,000 miles. Thought it should last much more than that. Then my son had a Toyota Tercel, got into an accident. Now we have a Toyota Echo for him. Hope that will last …
September 4th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
[...] my last post, here is an [...]
September 8th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
[...] (See the beginning of my transmission problem here) [...]
September 10th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
[...] (See the beginning of my transmission problem here) [...]
September 29th, 2008 at 6:04 am
I have 85K on a 02 Ody, my first Japanese car. Tranny just went out. I tell you, I have had more trouble with this Ody than any of my previous American cars - Ford, GM, or Dodge. $4050+ tax to repair. No way.
October 1st, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Jay: You are definitely covered under Honda’s warranty. Make sure they cover 100%!
We had a Dodge caravan before the Odyssey and had a lot of trouble with that too.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:36 am
I have an 01 Ody, my first transmission went out in Nov/2003 (45K). The dealer first changed the transmission fluid and sent me on my way. Half a mile down the road transmission was slipping so bad I almost didn’t make it back to the dealer. They replaced it free and covered the rental car without a fuss.
2nd transmission went Oct/2005 78K. Took it to the dealer who couldn’t hear any noise I was complaining about. Took the mechanic on a test drive returned to the dealer. Service came out a few minutes later and send that noise waas the differential gears grinding together. Honda replace it no charge and a rental car without any fuss.
In the process of dealing with my 3rd transmission Nov/2008 129K. Dealer so far giving me two different stories. One I had a 36mo/36K mile warranty on trany #2 other 12mo/12k. Either way I’m at 37mo and 50K. Waiting to hear back from district manager to see if they will cover any of the cost this time around.
Gullable me thought each time they had the problem fixed and wouldn’t have to deal with it again.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Wow! I am gullible too. I am thinking that my transmission now will last for another 80,000 miles, but maybe not…
My dealer wouldn’t give me a rental car both times I had it in. And I had to pay the inflated labor charges.
Let me know if you get it covered this time.
I had hoped a Honda can get me 200,000 before I give up on it.