NHTSA Complaint #10174292 — 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY

IN AUGUST 2003 I RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FROM HONDA CONCERNING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AT THE TIME I HAD 70K MILES AND SPORADIC INSTANCES OF TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. NOW AT 120K I AM EXPERIENCING ALL OF THE SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO INCLUDE: SLIPPAGE WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH AND SEVERE LURCHING WHEN DOWNSHIFTING TO 1ST AT A STOP. THE DEALER I HAVE BEEN USING SAID I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION AND TOLD ME TO CALL THE HONDA CUSTOMER CARE NUMBER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THAT WAS A JOKE! THE WOMAN SAID THAT SINCE MY MILES WERE OVER THE MAGICAL NUMBER OF 100K MILES THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME. APPARENTLY I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY TO HAVE LASTED THIS LONG WITH THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS BEING FILED AGAINST HONDA BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES, HOWEVER YOU HAVE TO HAVE LESS THAN 100K MILES AS OF AUGUST 2006 TO QUALIFY FOR THE SUIT. I HAVE NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON ANY OF MY VEHICLES, SOME DRIVEN OVER 200K, I AM CONFIDENT THIS IS NOT RELATED TO ANYTHING I HAVE DONE, AS THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL DOCUMENTATION BY THE HUNDREDS OF ODYSSEY OWNERS GOING THROUGH TRANSMISSION FAILURES. BECAUSE OF MY RECOMMENDATION TWO OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS BOUGHT ODYSSEYS, A 2000 AND A 2001, NOW I WORRY ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AS WELL AS MY OWN. HONDA SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE SUED TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. MAKE THEM TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. AS THEIR CREDIBILITY IS STRAINED I WILL HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER MAKE TO REPLACE THE ODYSSEY. *NM