NHTSA Complaint #10130048 — 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY

BEGINNING IN 2000, WHEN THE CAR WAS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED MAJOR EQUIPMENT FAILURES. FIRST, THE EGR VALVE MALFUNCTIONED; IT WAS EVENTUALLY REPAIRED AT HONDA'S EXPENSE. NEXT, ONE OF THE MOTORS FOR THE SIDE POWER DOORS FAILED. THAT COST APPROXIMATELY $800 TO REPAIR. THEN, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND HONDA EVENTUALLY COVERED THE FULL COSTS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. FOR AT LEAST FOUR YEARS, WE WERE PLAGUED WITH AN ERRATIC "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT, AND SOMETIMES THE COMPUTER CODE WAS INADEQUATE TO DIRECT A REPAIR. IN 2003 THE RADIATOR ROTTED OUT, AND THE REPLACEMENT/REPAIR COST US $800. IN 2004 THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR FAILED, AND THAT REPLACEMENT/REPAIR COST US $1400. ON JULY 22, 2005, THE REAR A/C VENTS FAILED TO COOL, AND I CALLED FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT OUR LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THAT CHECKED AND REPAIRED. THE REPAIR WAS SCHEDULED FOR JULY 25, 2005. WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON JULY 23 WITH THE A/C TURNED ON (THE FRONT VENTS CONTINUED TO COOL), THE ENGINE DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 45 MPH ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY. I MANAGED TO PULL OFF INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT, AND I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AFTER TURNING OFF THE A/C. IT IS NOW AT THE DEALER'S SHOP, AND THE LABOR COSTS ALONE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE A/C FAILURE WILL COST MORE THAN $350. AFTER INSPECTING THE SYSTEM FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS JULY 25, THE DEALER'S MECHANIC STILL COULD NOT LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I HATE THIS CAR! I HAVE HAD MANY MORE PROBLEMS THAN I EVER EXPECTED, AND THE RESPONSES FROM AMERICAN HONDA AND FROM THE LOCAL DEALER HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTING. NEITHER ESTABLISHMENT KNOWS HOW TO RELATE SUCCESSFULLY TO CUSTOMERS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A REAL LEMON, AND I AM STRUGGLING WITH MY DECISION ABOUT WHAT TO BUY TO REPLACE IT. ALTHOUGH HONDA HAS A GOOD REPUTATION, I HAVE NOT FOUND THIS CAR TO BE RELIABLE. IN FACT, IT IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF STRESS IN MY LIFE, CAUSING ME TO GNASH MY TEETH WHEN I AM DRIVING IT, FOR I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN IT AT ALL.