NHTSA Complaint #10429179 — 2000 HONDA ODYSSEY

IN MAY 2005 THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS 2000 ODYSSEY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED BY OUR LOCAL DEALER AT NO CHARGE UNDER THE DIRECTIONS OF SERVICE BULLETIN 02-062. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME WAS ALMOST 72,000 MILES. WE HAD HEARD THAT THERE HAD BEEN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND WE THOUGHT THAT THE 2005 REPLACEMENT WOULD HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. NOW, AFTER ANOTHER 68,000 MILES, THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. THIS REPLACEMENT ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER SUNSET AT ABOUT 7:00 PM ON AN UNLIT TWO LANE COUNTRY ROAD WITH LITTLE ROOM OR OPPORTUNITY TO PARK SAFELY. MY HUSBAND, WHO IS ALMOST 70 YEARS OLD WAS DRIVING AND WITH NO GEARS BARELY MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS STILL DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE ROAD, BUT FORTUNATELY ANOTHER DRIVER STOPPED AND HELPED MY HUSBAND PUSH THE ODYSSEY A FEW EXTRA FEET TO A SLIGHTLY SAFER AREA. WE WERE ABOUT 100 YARDS FROM A CURVE WHERE APPROACHING CARS COULD NOT SEE US UNTIL THEY WERE ALMOST UPON US. THE ONLY PROTECTION WE HAD WAS OUR EMERGENCY FLASHERS. WE WERE APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES FROM OUR HOME IN A VERY RURAL AREA WITH NO CLOSE SERVICES. WE HAD TO WAIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR ALMOST TWO HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. SINCE WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN METICULOUS IN DEALER RECOMMENDED AND PROVIDED MAINTENANCE, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT INADEQUATE AND/OR SHODDY HONDA REPLACEMENTS PARTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FAILURE. THAT FAILURE PUT BOTH MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF IN A DISTURBING AND PERILOUS SITUATION. *TR