NHTSA Complaint #764756 — 1998 HONDA ODYSSEY

DATE: 3/17/99; MILEAGE: 12,264;NGINE CHECK LIGHT CODE P0740, TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FLUSHED. DATE: 11/08/99; MILEAGE: 23,874 ENGINECHECK LIGHT ON, DEFECTIVE ECU, BULLETIN 98-033. DATE: 12/20/99; MILEAGE: 25,706; ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON, REPLACED ECU AND FLUSHED TRANSMISSION. DATE: 7/24/01 ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON, CODE 740 TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKED UP, TRANSMISSION FLUSHED. DATE: 11/06/01; MILEAGE: 61,115:ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON, CODE PO740, SPECIAL ORDER PCM (CONTROL MODULE) PER BULLETIN. DATE: 11/12/01; MILEAGE: 61,281 ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON, INSTALLED PCU AND FLUSHED TRANSMISSION. DATE: 7/12/02; MILEAGE: 70,624; ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON, FAILURE CODE P0740, CLUTCH FAILURE, WILL NEED TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED, EST. COST $1400. AS CAN BE SEEN, THIS SAME DESIGN FLAW HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE 12,000 MILES. THE CONTROLLER WAS "TOO SENSITIVE" AND REPLACED, WHICH BRINGS INTO QUESTION THE REASON FOR THE ULTIMATE CLUTCH FAILURE. FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND LOSS OF LIFE, FOR INSTANCE, SHOULD THIS OCCUR DURING ACCELERATION INTO BUSY TRAFFIC. REQUESTING ASSISTANCE ASAP. NOTE: CAR WAS PURCHASED AT GRIFFITH HONDA, BALTIMORE, MD, BUT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT O'DONNELL HONDA, ELLICOTT CITY, MD.*AK