NHTSA Complaint #10283537 — 2000 HONDA ODYSSEY

WE BOUGHT A USED HONDA ODYSSEY 2000 VAN WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES. THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOOK METICULOUS CARE OF THE VAN AND HAD IT MAINTAINED REGULARLY WHICH IS WHY WE WERE SURPRISED AT 67,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THE GEARS STARTED SLIPPING. I WAS IN A 50 MILE PER HOUR ZONE WHEN THE GEARS WOULDN'T SHIFT AND I WAS STUCK IN THIRD GEAR. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE LED TO A SERIOUS CRASH. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VAN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A VERY NARROW SHOULDER. WHEN I RESEARCHED THIS, I FOUND THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH HONDA VANS. WE INQUIRED ABOUT GETTING IT FIXED UNDER WARRANTY BUT WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE OUTSIDE OF THE 93 MONTH PARAMETER. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD NO ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THEREFORE DID NOT NEED TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY (SERVICE BULLETIN 02-062). WE WILL NOW HAVE TO PAY $3500 FOR A TRANSMISSION THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED NO MATTER THE TIME FRAME. IF IT IS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION, THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PRODUCT. THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE HAD I LIVED IN A BIG CITY AND EXPERIENCED THESE PROBLEMS ON A FREEWAY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!!! *TR