Should I buy an extended warranty for the Odyssey?

It is a Honda Odyssey EX 2002 with 38k miles on it. Should I buy the
extended warranty? I am worried about the transmission. Thanks.

 

Not a bad idea.

Me, I took the pictures of my 2nd gear on my 02 Ody, so I know for a
fact that it's in great shape. But in an unknown situation like yours...

Of course, you could become friendly with your local dealer--and if
anything comes up, simply ask him to have Honda take care of it. I
think Honda will say yes to replacing many, many more transmissions than
those that are officially under warranty--but that'll happen only if the
owner asks.

Me, I don't expect *ever* to pay for a transmission repair on my 02--but
I'm in an unusual situation with my dealer, in that I've been going
there for 25 years and they get all my Honda service business (and that
of my family, too). Between the great relationship we have, and the
fact that Honda knows damn well the trannies are wonky, I expect that
Honda and my dealership will take care of anything that comes up.

 

Yes!!!! Mine has paid for itself many times over! The Odyssey is NOT up
to par with the legendary Honda quality. I rank mine about the same as
my 98 Ford Windstar and ugghh not quite as good as any chrysler I have
owned and I hate to say that.

 

I have seen so many horror stories now about that Odyssey transmissions
that I am just about to the point where I cannot get the van.
Everywhere I look there are more stories about bad transmissions on the
Honda Odyssey. Everyone complains, warns, and says how Honda knows
about them. Your messages help confirm that. I am now considering the
2004 Toyota Sienna. I cannot find any transmission posts, anywhere,
about it being bad. I am probably overlooking them. For example, on
Edmunds, I found tons of bad tranny posts on the Ody, and in many
years, but I could find none on the Sienna. The Sienna had a common
problem with the AC and seat belts, but that was about it. I really
wanted the Odyssey as I have an 96 Accord with 157k miles on it. From
what I have read the "legendary quality" does not extend to the
Odyssey. I see no reason to take a $17000 chance. Thanks for your
help.

 

You could not convince me to buy any of the heavy Honda/Acura vehicles
with their terrible transmission failure rates.

My '03 Accord already had a new transmission, luckily under factory
warranty at 36,075 miles (they cut me a break).

I seriously doubt that I will be buying another Honda product. I bought
the Honda in part for it's "legendary" build quality ... what a
disappointment.

I should probably buy a Hyundai next time, at least they give you a long
warranty in case of a problem. Honda is now building mediocre quality
vehicles and giving short warranties on them.

John

 

We have a 2000 Odyssey with the 4 speed tranny and have no problems. It runs
as good as it did when we purchased it in Oct 1999. I think that all of
these so called "problems" are magnified because people across this country
are amazed that Honda has something that could fail. I think even with the
spotlight on Odyssey transmissions, you will find that any of the Honda
transmissions will last longer on a minivan than any Ford, GM or Chrysler
minivan.

 

No, that's not it at all.

Starting with the transmission they put in the V6 Accord in 98, which is
the same one they put in the all-new Odyssey in 99 (not to mention the
Acura models), Honda has had major, major problems.

That's not to say that every one of them failed; shoot, even Chrysler
has transmissions on the road with lots of miles and years on them that
haven't failed. But that's far from saying that they're not problematic.

At one point, my Honda shop was replacing 4-5 Accord and Odyssey
transmissions per week--at $4K per, customer pay. Everyone at the shop
agreed, that was unheard of.

Then Honda makes the 5 speed transmission for the 02 model year--and
come 2004, two years later, Honda launches THE LARGEST RECALL CAMPAIGN
THEY'VE EVER HAD--some $360 million. Why? Transmissions.

Even on the new 5 speed models, they couldn't get it right. To have a
$360 million recall campaign means that it's not "magnified by people
amazed that Honda has something that can fail". That's Chrysler
territory, pal.

Everyone knows: the Honda beancounters spent about 10 years running
things into the ground. Honda is now paying for that.

I'm a Honda man from way, way back. I currently have an 02 Odyssey.
Nonetheless, if someone asks about buying a recent used V6 Honda, I
would lay out the facts and let him decide on his own.

And the facts are pretty damning.

 

Well, I called the salesman back today that I was supposed to meet. I
cancelled my appointment. No Odyssey for me. Sigh...

 

Well, I found another one. '04 39k 17900 certified used car which will
cover the transmission, so I think I should buy it.

 

What trim level?

You can check the VIN to see if it's even in the recall. If not, you
got the re-designed tranny that avoids the initial problem with the 5
speed.

04 with 39K miles; if it's an EX or better, grab it and run.

 

It is an EX and I am buying it. I pick it up tomorrow after it is
serviced (It just came in). $17,900 is a great price. It is so good I
thought about reselling it, but I won't.

 

You have been lucky. I know two people with Odysseys, and both have
needed new transmissions at less than 50,000 miles.

John

 

I have been offered a bumper to bumper 7/100,000 for $1153. It sounds
good. Is that too much money? They said I can get the bumper to
bumper for 100k because it is a certified car.