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
629 reports, newest first.
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
Air bags, Aug 20, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 1 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED LITTLE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 188,429.
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
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 10, 2012
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MAIN STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE CAR FELT LIKE IT HAD STALLED, BUT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING... I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE AT INCREASINGLY SLOWER SPEEDS. ONCE AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, I CUT THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, IT HELPED ME TO MOVE FORWARD UP TO ABOUT 30 MPH FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES, TURNED ON AND OFF AT EVERY CHANCE UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THAN I TRIED TO CUT OFF AND SEE IF REVERSE WOULD WORK AND IT DID NOTHING, I CUT OFF ONE LAST TIME AND BACK ON AND WAS ABLE TO FINALLY PULL THE CAR INTO THE DRIVEWAY. *TR
Power train, Jun 5, 2012
MY 20 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING HOME ALONE WHEN SUDDENLY ENGINE WAS REVVING BUT CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT. SINCE THEN WE CANNOT TAKE CAR OVER 30MPH AND AS SOON AS IT HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO OVERHEAT. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON AND THE GEAR INDICATOR D4 STARTS FLASHING RED. ALTHOUGH HONDA PUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR 7 YRS OR 100,000 MILES WHEN I CALLED THEM I WAS TOLD TOO BAD, THE CAR IS TOO OLD. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, May 31, 2012
TRANSMISSION BLEW WITHOUT WARNING ON REMOTE STRETCH OF ARIZONA HIGHWAY WHERE THERE ISN'T EVEN CELL PHONE COVERAGE. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION THIS CAR HAS HAD. IT IS A MINIVAN AND DOES NOT TOW OR EVEN HAVE A TOW HITCH. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THIS, EITHER ONE OF THEM, AND NOT LEAVE ME AND MY FAMILY STRANDED THIS WAY. WE DO ALL THE REGULAR TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE. EVEN HONDA ADMITS IT'S JUST A PROBLEM FOR THIS PART, BUT THEY DON'T CARE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Power train, May 29, 2012
WE WERE GOING FROM NYC TO NC AND THE ENGINE STARTED RACING BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GOING ANYWHERE... WE STARTED SEEING SMOKE IN THE REAR VIEW AND STARTED SMELLING TRANSMISSION FLUID... WE PULLED OFF AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE GOING TO THE DESTINATION BUT COULD GO NO FURTHER AFTER THAT.. WE HAD TO GET A RENTAL BACK HOME AND THE CAR IS STILL IN NC... AND THIS IS THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION THAT THE DEALER INSTALL AFTER THE RECALL.... *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, May 29, 2012
WHILE DRIVING ON THE BELT PARKWAY IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED TO BE LESS RESPONSIVE AND BECAME VERY SLOW. A MINUTE LATER, I GOT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I GOT OFF THE NEAREST EXIT AFTER BEING VERY NERVOUS AND SCARED BY THE SLOW SPEED OF THE CAR. I STOPPED BY THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION. I DID COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS AND TURNED TO BE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM (CODES: P0730, P0740). NOW MY CAR IS AT THE SHOP FOR THE SECOND DAY GETTING THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. *TR
Power train, May 12, 2012
AT AROUND 120K OUR ODYSSEY WOULD OCCASIONALLY HAVE A "FUNNY" SHIFT WHERE IT CLUNKED A BIT. THIS HAPPENED ONLY OCCASIONALLY. THE SYMPTOMS WOULD MYSTERIOUSLY GO AWAY WHEN THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALER OR IN THE SHOP. WITH 149K, WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH THE TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR CAUSING THE SPEED TO BE QUICKLY REDUCED WITHOUT THE BREAKS BEING APPLIED, CREATING AN UNSAFE AND INOPERABLE VEHICLE. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. YOU ARE DRIVING NORMALLY, THEN OUT OF NOWHERE YOUR CAR'S TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS TO A LOW GEAR. *TR
Power train, May 2, 2012
THE HONDA ODYSSEY & PRELUDE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY EARLY (AND LATE) FAILURES DUE TO HIGHER THAN NORMAL PROBLEMS DUE TO DEFECTS IN MATERIAL OR WORKMANSHIP. (HIGHER THAN NORMAL DEFECTS DUE TO WORKMANSHIP IN MATERIAL... ARE EXACTLY THE WORDS USED IN THE WARRANTY EXTENSION NOTICED I RECEIVED A FEW YEARS AGO. THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES HOWEVER MANY CUSTOMERS LIKE ME ARE CONSERVATIVE DRIVERS, NOT PUSHING THEIR VEHICLES TO EXTREMES, SO FAILURES OFTEN OCCUR AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I CALLED HONDA TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE (DISCOUNT OR WHATEVER) HOWEVER THEY HAVE DECLINED. CASE NUMBERS [XXX] & [XXX]. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND ASK FOR ASSISTANCE GETTING HONDA TO OWN UP TO THE ISSUE BEYOND A SIMPLE WARRANTY EXTENSION AND ASSIST WITH REPAIR EXPENSES AT A HONDA DEALERSHIP. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Apr 26, 2012
2001 HONDA ODYSSEY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AS FOLLOWS: FIRST TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 20 MAY 2003 AT 37,531 MILES. SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 14 MAY 2007 AT 119,849 MILES. THIRD TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 23 APRIL 2012 AT 193,820 MILES. THESE FAILURES ARE DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL OR WORKMANSHIP OF THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS VEHICLE AS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY IN THEIR LETTER TITLED "AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION N WARRANTY EXTENSION" IN THE WINTER OF 2002. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH HONDA FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE FIRST AND SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURES; HOWEVER HONDA WILL NO LONGER PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN THE CASE OF THE THIRD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE FAILURE OF THIS TRANSMISSION ON THE OPEN ROAD WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. THE LATTER CONDITION IS HAZARDOUS ON ROADS WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HIGH ROAD SPEEDS. YOUR ASSISTANCE IS REQUESTED TO ENCOURAGE HONDA TO FIX THIS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Other or unspecified, Apr 16, 2012, crash
WHEN PULLING INTO A PACKING SPACE, THE CAR HAD A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CAR THEN LEAP OVER CURB AND BUSHES AND HIT THE WALL AT FRONT. FRONT BUMPER DAMAGED AND AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. *JS
Power train, Apr 4, 2012
ERROR CODE PO74Q TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION FLUID SPRAYED ALL OVER ENGINE, LOTS OF SMOKE BUT NO FIRE. *TR