NHTSA Complaint #11091028 — 2004 HONDA ODYSSEY

NHTSA RECALL 04V176000 DOES NOT INCLUDE OUR VIN, BUT IT SHOULD, BECAUSE THIS IS THE PROBLEM THAT HAS OCCURRED WITH OUR VEHICLE 3 TIMES NOW. THE TRANSMISSION HAS OVERHEATED AND FAILED. AND ACCORDING TO 04V176000, TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING IS A SERIOUS HAZARD THAT CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE!!! THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS DRIVING ON A 2-LANE HIGHWAY. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT ON HWY 80 TOWARDS RENO. THE 3RD TIME IT HAPPENED, SHE WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT THE SAME PLACE I WAS, ON 41 NORTH. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS ON A MEDIUM TO LONG TRIP GOING UP AN INCLINE. OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THIS AS WELL, SO MUCH THAT THERE IS A SITE DEDICATED TO THIS VERY PROBLEM -- ODYSSEYTRANSMISSION.COM. IF YOU VISIT THIS WEBSITE YOU CAN SEE THE DEFINITE DIFFERENCE IN PROPORTION OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE EARLIER GENERATIONS VS THE LATER. IT APPEARS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSES FLUID FLOW CONSTRICTION DURING TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK, WHICH RESULTS IN OVERHEATING. IN THE LAST INCIDENT, AS DESCRIBED BY MY WIFE, SHE WAS DRIVING UP 41, AND THE ENGINE WENT UP TO AROUND 4000 RPM. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND SHE SMELLED TRANSMISSION FLUID BURNING. SHE HAD TO WAIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR A WHILE, AND THEN IT STARTED TO WORK AGAIN. SHE GOT IT TO A SAFER PLACE AND THEN LET IT COOL FOR LONGER. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO GO HOME, WHICH WAS A COUPLE MILES AWAY, AND WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE. WE HAD THIS TRANSMISSION REBUILT BY SHAWS AUTO SALES 2 TIMES. THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS LESS THAN 1 YEAR AGO. WE HAVE NOT DONE ANY ABNORMAL DRIVING, OR ANY TOWING, OR ANYTHING. JUST NORMAL DRIVING. SO WE EXPECTED THE FIX TO LAST LONGER THAN THIS. SOUND LIKE A REASONABLE EXPECTATION? WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY THAT WE DIDN'T LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. BUT OTHERS MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY! THIS VIN AND OTHERS LIKE IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN 04V176000.