2001 Honda Odyssey
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 629 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 26 Odyssey model years with reports.
Of the 2001 reports, 19 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 57 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleJan 17, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.
Campaign 20V027000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
335 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Oct 2, 2002
CONSUMER NOTICE WHEN RESTARTING VEHICLE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WOULD NEED A JUMP, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND NOTICED TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. NLM
Power train, Sep 24, 2002
THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT HOLD THE POSITION OF THE VEHICLE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF I SHIFT INTO DRIVE, THE CAR CAN DRIFT BACKWARD, REQUIRING I USE THE BRAKES AND THE GAS AT THE SAME TIME TO AVOID HITTING SOMETHING BEHIND ME. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO DOES NOT SLOW THE CAR ON HILLS. IF I AM IN D1, THE CAR WILL FLY DOWN A HILL AS IF IT IS NOT IN ANY GEAR. THE HONDA DEALER INSISTS THIS IS NORMAL. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR YOUR SAFETY STANDARDS BUT IT IS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DRIVE ON MOUNTAIN ROADS WITHOUT WEARING THE BREAKS OUT, AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME.
Power train, Sep 18, 2002
DEALER STATED THAT SHIFT SOLENOIDS SHOULD BE REPLACED BUT THAT PAST CASES THIS HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING TRANSMISSION AT OUR EXPENSE. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SIGNIFICANT FOR THE ODYSSEY AND SHOULD MERIT A RECALL. WE ARE PURSUING LEGAL ADVICE.*AK
Power train, Sep 15, 2002
DRIVING ON RAINY ROAD, APPX 50 MPH, TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR. WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, NO VEHICLES BEHIND, SO NO ACCIDENT. TRANSMISSION THEN REPEATEDLY TRIED TO UPSHIFT, SLIPPED DOWN TO 2ND, REPEATEDLY. PROCEEDED TO SAFE STOPPING AREA IN 2ND GEAR (MANUALLY SELECTED). COULD POTENTIALLY BE VERY DANGEROUS IF DRIVER DOES NOT RESPOND CAREFULLY, IF TRAFFIC IS FOLLOWING, IF ROAD IS SLICK, OR IF IN THE MIDST OF NEGOTIATING A CURVE. A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND VEHICLE DISABLING FAILURE. NLM
Power train, Aug 29, 2002
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME OUR TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT. FIRST IT WENT OUT AT 19,000 MILES, WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND HAS NOW GONE OUT AGAIN AT 32,000 MILES. HOW CAN WE PROCEED WITH HONDA TO ISSUE A RECALL?
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Jul 30, 2002
WITH VEHICLE STOPPED (AS AT A STOP SIGN OR AT A RED LIGHT), WHEN ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED, ENGINE REVS UP BUT VEHICHLE HESISTATES. THEN ,TRANSMISSION ENGAGES SUDDENLY AND VEHICHLE LURCHES FORWARD. THE INTENSITY WAS ANYWHERE FROM A MODERATE BUMP, TO ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE TIRES TO "SQUEAL" AND LOOSE TRACTION. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE WE GOT THE VEHICHLE TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE; WE JUST BEGAN TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY SAID IT WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, AS IF THEY HAD SEEN THE PROBLEM MANY TIMES BEFORE. WHEN QUESTIONED THEY DENIED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH ODYSSEY TRANSMISSIONS, ALTHOUGH THEY DID SAY THAT THEIR ODYSSEY SHUTTLEVAN (SAME YR/MODEL) HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED THE PRIOR WEEK. WHILE CONDUCTING A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET, WE FOUND DOZENS OF INSTANCES OF ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION FAILURES, ALL WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AS THE REMEDY. WHILE IN OUR CASE THIS WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY AT NO CHARGE, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM THAT CAN EASILY LEAD TO A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. *AK
Power train, Jun 18, 2002
FRONT AXLE BROKE UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK
Power train, Jun 11, 2001
AT APPROXIMATELY 6,000 THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO EMIT A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHILE IN FOURTH GEAR TRAVELING AT 50 MILES PER HOUR AND ABOVE. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERESHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND NO NOISE. THE NOISE PERSISTED AND BECAME LOUDER. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE SECOND TIME AND POINTED OUT THE NOISE DURING A TEST DRIVE WITH SERVICE PERSONNEL, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION.*AK
Power train, Mar 9, 2001
TRANSMISSION GEAR WHINE @ 50MPH. WHEN COMMING TO A STOP OR START FROM STOP FUEL SPLASH(LOUD) IN THE TANK. BAFFLES IN THE TANK MAY BE BROKEN.*AK
Power train, Jan 24, 2001
VEHICLE STALLS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK