1999 Honda Odyssey EX from North America

Summary:

A Nightmare!

Faults:

The transmission was slipping and had to be replaced (dealer).

The automatic sliding doors had to be fixed as they weren't shutting properly (3 times to the dealer).

General Comments:

The body has a lot of rattles and squeaks.

The alignment was bad right from the factory.

There is a lot of torque steer.

I have recently purchased a dodge caravan and so far have found it to be superior in every way except acceleration. It appears to have a better build quality, the interior is comparable and has been problem free for 47,000 Km. For the price it seems to be the best van on the road.

I will never buy Honda again. I can't see how these automotive journalists rate this a top van, it was there ratings which made me decide to purchase it. I think they should hold on to one for 25,000Km and then reassess it. It shows these guys rate nothing other than the trivial things like interior looks and body style. I hope when they rate the 2004 models they look back at complaints like these and stop giving it top ratings. They are all biased toward Honda and Toyota.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 12th October, 2004

8th Apr 2005, 09:18

I have some experience with Honda Odyssey 1999 Ex. it was terible. The side sliding door stopped working at 32,000 miles, then the Catalyst converter needed to be replaced at 81,000, it cost above $1,100 and was not covered by Honda.

1999 Honda Odyssey EX from North America

Summary:

Would have been a great car, but too many problems with the transmissions

Faults:

I bought my Odyssey new in September, 1999.

The transmission failed in February, 2000 and had to be replaced after only 5,000 miles.

18 months later the transmission started to lag when shifting. We eventually lost reverse and the entire transmission had to be replaced again in October, 2001. They told us that Honda had redesigned the transmission for 2001 and this time we were getting the "updated transmission." Our warranty was extended to 5 years.

In May of 2004, with 53,000 miles on the car, the transmission started to slip and "clunk" and eventually failed again. The car's fourth transmission was installed.

On July 31, 2004, the transmission failed rather suddenly, stranding my family on a major highway.

We will not be bringing the car back to my house this time. They have had 3 chances to fix this problem and the car remains unsafe to drive. Under my state's "Lemon Law," we are entitled to a refund from Honda even though the car has 56,000 miles on it. That is what we will be pursuing.

General Comments:

I have had four Hondas and Acuras, and generally love their cars. The Odyssey set the standard for minivan design; but there is no question that the 1999-2004 Odyssey is a problem car. One can only hope that Honda will not repeat this debacle with the redesigned 2005 Odyssey.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 2nd August, 2004

25th Jan 2005, 16:53

Thank you!

Misery loves company! I was just searching for 'lemon' 'Honda' 'Odyssey' and found this posting.

My odyssey is a 1999, we had to pay $5K to be on a waiting list for 9 months until a dealer in my state had one.

We replaced the first transmission at 18K miles, second at about 40K, we were told how lucky we were that we had the extended warranty because we were beyond the 36000 miles normally covered. Warranty also covered the third at 60K and the fourth under recall at 98K, now the van has 128K miles and is in the shop getting is 5th transmission.

Symptoms have included, rev-then-shift, loss of reverse, chugging between shifts, and just plain missed shifts.

While the dealers have been generally responsive, there comes a point where I must question if I made the correct choice. This car has room, is comfortable, and does OK on gas, but 5 transmissions in 128,000 miles yet my Subaru and Ford are still on their originals after 112,000 and 145,000 respectively.

Honda... where did U go wrong?

30th Dec 2008, 20:58

Well, I can't believe these comments.

Honda had problems but, I suspect exaggeration. No transmission from Honda, Toyota or any other over seas maker has that much trouble. I would buy that 1999 Odyssey then put up with low quality, poor service and POOR reputation from the BIG 3. They've had major issues for a long, long time that made consumers turn off. They've had many years to change.

No one wants to spend many hours at the dealers doing warranty work. Drivers with stressful, demanding occupations don't want it. I would buy North American if they made quality vehicles. How come Hyundai changed their quality control and gained a lot of market in the last 5 years?

See the "Consumers Reports". This is an educated eye opener.

I purchased a used 1999 Odyssey, three years ago with 33,000k and NO transmission issues so far. I changed the transmission fluid to spec last year.

Cheers.