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, Feb 19, 2013
EXPERIENCED INITIAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AS ERRATIC SHIFTING, SLIPPING, WHINING, AND FLASHING "D" LIGHT. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY HONDA. CURRENTLY, AT 118,000 MILES, THE REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. THIS IS 42, 000 MILES AND 4 YEARS AFTER IT WAS REPLACED. HONDA SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP WITH ANOTHER REPLACEMENT. AFTER SPEAKING TO A FEW TRANSMISSION TECH'S, THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE PLACEMENT AND MATERIAL OF THE TRANSMISSION FILTER WHICH CAUSES THE FAILURES. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Feb 12, 2013
TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR AND THE D4 FLASHES AND THE TCS LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON CONSTANTLY- WAS TOLD WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. DID RESEARCH ON IT AND CALLED HONDA AND THEY SAID THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS BUT IT HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT ENDED BEFORE I PURCHASED IT- AS I AM 2ND OWNER OF VEHICLE. ALL OTHER MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE ON TIME OR EARLY I HAD IT A YEAR BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO DO THIS. THE HONDA DEALER TRIED TO TALK ME INTO TRADING IT IN FOR A NEWER MODEL FOR LESS PAYMENTS THAN I WAS MAKING ON BUT I OWN IT OUT RIGHT BOUGHT FROM THEM! THEY KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION AND KEEP SELLING THEM!!!! *TR
Power train, Jan 29, 2013
DRIVING TO SCHOOL ABOUT 25 MPH, THE TSC LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND P4 TRANSMISSION LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO A HIGHER GEAR. I TRIED TO LIMP IT BACK HOME AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. I HAD TO DRIVE IN REVERSE ONE BLOCK TO GET IT HOME. I PLUGGED IN MY ENGINE SCAN TOOL AND IT WAS READING A P0730 CODE. I CALLED MY MECHANIC AND DISCUSSED IT WITH HIM. HIS DATABASE INDICATES MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH ODYSSEYS AND THAT THE RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR
Power train, Jan 11, 2013
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR WITH ABRUPT CHANGE AT 3RD GEAR. THIS IS A SIGN OF PREMATURE TRANSMISSION WEAR THAT WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE YET EXPERIENCED THAT MANY OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE HAVE HAD. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE AND IT HAS BEEN CAREFULLY MAINTAINED WITH ALL OF THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE ITEMS. WE ARE SURPRISED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. *TR
Power train, Jan 5, 2013
WE WERE DRIVING FROM INDIANA TO FLORIDA. ABOUT 100 MILES FROM OUR DESTINATION THE CHECK ENGINE AND TCS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ERRATICALLY AT LOW SPEEDS AND THE ENGINE REVVED HIGHLY BETWEEN GEARS AT LOW SPEEDS. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE HONDA DEALER AND WERE TOLD WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF MORE THAN $5,000. *TR
Power train, Dec 28, 2012
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND ENGINE REVVED TO A HIGH RPM AS I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT. USED HAZARD LIGHTS TO WARN DRIVERS BEHIND ME. *TR
Steering, Power train, Dec 20, 2012
OUR VAN HAS 79,000 MILES. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 3 WEEKS AGO TO REPLACE A PRESSURE SWITCH ON THE TRANSMISSION. 2 DAYS AFTER REPLACEMENT, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, DEALER TELLS US THAT WHOLE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACEMENT. TOTAL COST $6000. CALLED AMERICAN HONDA WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THEY'D ISSUED A WARRANTY EXTENSION UP TO 100,000 MILES BUT LIMITED TO 7 YEARS AFTER COMPLAINTS LED TO REALIZATION THAT TRANSMISSION HAD PROBLEM. DESPITE OUR MILEAGE BEING LOW, HONDA REFUSES TO HELP ON THESE REPAIRS. IF HONDA WILL WARRANTY ITS PRODUCT TO 100,000 MILES AFTER REALIZING THEY HAVE A PROBLEM, WHY SHOULD WE NOT BENEFIT FROM THAT EVEN IF OUR VAN IS 10 YEARS OLD? STILL ONLY 79,000 MILES ON THAT TRANSMISSION. *TR
Power train, Dec 18, 2012
STARTED GETTING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. WENT TO DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSTIC CAME WITH A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. HONDA HAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE AS IT SEEMS LIKE A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL AND HAVE REFUSED ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THE COST IS APPROXIMATELY $5328. *TR
Power train, Dec 16, 2012
IN JUNE OF 2009, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, HAD IT REPAIRED AT A HONDA DEALER - GOT A 3 YEAR, 36K MILE WARRANTY. TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN IN NOVEMBER 2012. CALLED HONDA CORPORATE AND THEY SAID THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Power train, Nov 14, 2012
WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. LOWERED DRIVING SPEED AND CONTINUED DRIVING TO DESTINATION. TOOK VAN INTO A FOREIGN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. AFTER CHECKING THE VAN USING COMPUTER, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I WOULD BE ABLE TO TRAVEL HOME AND ENCOURAGED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION LOOKED AT AS SOON AS I RETURNED. . RETURNED THE VAN TO HONDA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION WOULD COST $6,000. TOOK VAN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL COST; $ 2,250.
Power train, Oct 31, 2012
VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING PLACE, ENDANGERING PEDESTRIANS AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND IN WORKING ORDER WITH A MINIMUM ABOUT OF WEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION AND POWER TRAIN. *TR
Power train, Sep 25, 2012
THE ENGINE & TCS LIGHT WENT ON. PER THE DEALERSHIP PERRY MOTORS .. ALL WAS OK - THEY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SAID ALL WAS OK .. AT 81,092 MILE THE TCS LIGH & ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN.. THIS TIME THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING & WE HAD TO HAVE IT REBUILT- I TRIED GOING TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR HELP (WEIR CANYON HONDA)-THEY SENT ME TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP (LESS COST)WHERE WE HAD IT REBUILT GAVE US A 2 YR WARRANTY OR 24,000 MILES... AT 91,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN (UNFORTUNATELY THE SHOP WHERE WE HAD IT REPAIRED WENT OUT OF BUSINESS) SO NOW IT IS BEING REBUILT AT A COST OF ANOTHER COST OF $3,000.00- $3,500.00 .. I TRIED CALLING HONDA FOR ASSISTANCE BUT WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO .. *TR
Power train, Sep 14, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE RANGE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,623.
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 10, 2012
TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. SUDDEN STOP CAUSING CAR TO TURN OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. PUSHING THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON A BUSY STREET HAD TO TOW CAR BACK TO HOME ADDRESS. TRANSMISSION WAS RECALLED BY HONDA. TOLD ME THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE, UNFORTUNATELY IT WASN'T LEAVING ME STRANDED ON BUSY ROAD. MANY INCIDENTS LIKE THIS ALL WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
Power train, Aug 31, 2012
TWO TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN 147K MILES. FIRST TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 83,000 AND WAS REPLACED BY HONDA AT NO CHARGE. THE TRANSMISSION THEY INSTALLED HAS NOW FAILED AS WELL, AFTER ONLY 64,000 MILES. *TR
Power train, Aug 21, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE SPEED SUDDENLY DECREASES WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 163,000. UPDATED 10/25/2012 *JS
Power train, Aug 20, 2012
SECOND TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACMENT. FIRST ONE REPLACED IN 2006 AT APPROX. 44,000 MILES BY DEALER. CONFIRMED THAT THIS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. CAR ONLY WORTH $5,000 TO $6,000; NEW TRANSMISSION COSTS $5,000 (AS PER DEALER). CALLED HONDA, THEY WILL NOT CONTRIBUTE. (THEY DID PAY FOR 2006 REPLACEMENT). *TR
Power train, Aug 19, 2012
TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN JERKING WHEN SHIFTING AROUND 5-15 MPH. THEN ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER IT JUST WOULDN'T SHIFT AT ALL AFTER ABOUT 5 MPH. *TR
Power train, Aug 14, 2012
2001 HONDA ODYSSEY. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TRANSMISSION *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER, IT WOULD COST $3,500 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION.*JB
Power train, Aug 10, 2012
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT THE START AFTER EVERY STOP. TCS LIGHT IS ON WITH TRANSMISSION GEAR INDICATOR D4 IS FLASHING. CAN NOT SHIFT TO OTHER D3, 2, 1 GEARS. *TR
Power train, Aug 5, 2012
TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 75K MILES BY HONDA, LASTED 36K MILES AND FAILED AGAIN. REPLACED AT 145K MILES AND FAILED AGAIN AFTER LESS THAN ONE YEAR. *TR
Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 1, 2012
WHEN MY DAUGHTER DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION IN THE INDICATED VEHICLE COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME SHE ELECTED TO STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS MODEL WAS ONE OF MANY BY HONDA THAT WAS SUBJECT TO UNDISCLOSED FAILURE TYPE BUT IT CAN BE ASSUMED THAT FAILURE COULD INCLUDE LOCKUP, LOSS OF POWER TO THE WHEELS, ETC.. HONDA ELECTED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY BUT HONDA USA AND THE DEALER (HONDA OF MIDDLETOWN, NY) STATE THERE WAS NO RECALL AS THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. WE BEG TO DIFFER IN THAT HAVING YOUR WHEELS LOCK UP AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC INCLUDING INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS CONSTITUTES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS DOES LOSS OF POWER IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. A CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS WON BY CONSUMERS IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT AND NOTICES WERE SENT TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. THE DEALER DID NOT NOTIFY MY DAUGHTER, SON-IN-LAW OR MYSELF WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2007. THE DEALERSHIP AND HONDA ARE REFUSING TO FIX THIS ISSUE AS THE VEHICLE IS PAST THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND AGAIN BOTH CLAIM THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. INTERNET RESEARCH SUGGESTS THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO "COVER UP" THIS ISSUE TO PREVENT HARM TO THE HONDA REPUTATION, MULTIPLE EXAMPLES OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING AND OF COURSE THE DENIAL THAT A TRANSMISSION FAILURE REPRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ATTEMPTING TO GET THE CAR FIXED AS THEY HAVE 3 YOUNG CHILDREN, AN INCOME JUST ABOVE POVERTY LEVEL FOR THE FAMILY SIZE AND NO RESOURCES TO PAY FOR THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT MUST BE MADE TO MAKE THEIR VEHICLE ROADWORTHY. *TR
Power train, Jul 29, 2012
CAR DISPLAYED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON SURFACE STREETS IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS ULTIMATELY TOWED TO AN ORANGE COUNTY HONDA DEALER WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGED INDICATED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY HONDA UNDER THE TERMS CLASS ACTION SUIT COVERING 2001 ODYSSEY MINI-VANS HAD FAILED AND THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE REQUIRED. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE ONGOING, AND THAT WE COULD EXPECT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION EVERY THREE YEARS. *JS
Power train, Jul 9, 2012
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY 2 HOURS FROM HOME ON 07/06/2012 AT 9PM AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION (TORQUE CONVERTER) STOPPED WORKING AND FORCED MY WIFE TO BARELY GET OFF A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITHOUT AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. SHE WAS FORCED TO CALL 911 AND REQUEST SC HIGHWAY PATROL TO ASSIST HER IN GETTING HER VAN OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. THIS IS OUR 3RD, YES 3RD TRANSMISSION THAT HAS FAILED. HONDA KNOWS THEY HAVE AN UNSAFE AND KNOWN DEFECT AND CONTINUE TO DO NOTHING TO HELP REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO HOLD HONDA ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Power train, Jul 6, 2012
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 15236 MILES. NO WARRANTY. *TR