1999 Honda Odyssey LX V6 from North America
Summary:
Absolute worst car I have ever owned!
Faults:
-Doors malfunctoned.
-Transmission has trouble searching for gears going down hills.
-Alternator failed (so claims the dealer).
-Car dies intermittently. My local Olympia, WA dealer claimed the $800.00 alternator would fix the problem - it did not! Car died again within 3 miles (yes, 3 miles!) of the dealership so they never even test drove it after the fix. The dealer then tried to blame the car dying on the previous mechanic who did the timing belt to justify the alternator.
General Comments:
I really, really wish I had found this website before I decided to purchase this van. I bought it based on my past good experience with Hondas - 1991 crx @ 300k + miles & 3 Honda CBR's. Between the money I had to pour into the van, and the hit I took trading it in, it cost me almost $5000 over a period of 7 months. The dealer experience was even worse. Complete lack of accountability, PLUS Honda of America backed the dealer. This was a stalling problem that would cause the engine to stop at any speed. A potentially life-threatening situation that you would think they would want to get to the bottom of. I WAS ABSOLUTELY THE LAST HONDA I WILL EVER OWN!!!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 29th August, 2006
9th Nov 2006, 11:07
Ditto on all counts for the first posting. My parents bought the same vehicle (1999 Odyssey) based on the "best buy" reporting from consumer magazines (the ones that apparently never follow-up after awarding such a distinction). When the transmission started slipping at 88,000 miles, they sold it. That's right, I forgot to mention that it was the second transmission, they both lasted about 44,000 miles. For all the "Check Engine" code readings, nearly wore-out a new code reader, always something new. "EGR" valve codes really meant pulling-off the top of the motor to remove the carbon build-up. My neighbor's Odyssey started spitting out check engine codes (also a second transmission) so I called the Honda dealer (I'm the "neighborhood mechanic"). What did the mechanic at the dealer say? "Get rid of it, I've never seen an Odyssey transmission last over 100,000 miles." As for me?...I am a proud owner of two Saturns.
30th Aug 2006, 20:55
Worst "car" for you, but it was the best "van" for me!!