Tegger, What was the problem with the bad transmissions back in 2001 or so? What I'm asking is: was it a bad design or bad parts? Mine went out in my 2001 Accord (4-cyl) and I had a "Honda Rebuilt" transmission installed. I'm wondering if the rebuild took care of the original problem or am I just on borrowed time until it fails again? Thanks
From what I can find... For the '99-'01 Odyssey and '00-'01 Accord/Prelude, it was bad quality control. For '01-'04 Civics, it was the 2nd-gear clutch. For '02-'04 V6's, it was an overheating problem with the second-gearset. For '00-'03 V6's, it was a worn 3rd-gear clutch pack. Not all VINS were affected, and I'm sure my list is not complete. Honda had some very serious design and quality issues with their automatics for many years. It does appear as though they have now finally got it right. Your new transmission should experience a normal lifetime. Change the fluid according to the Owner's Manual, or more often than that.
The REAL problem was the 4 speed transmissions hooked to V6 engines, starting in the 1998 model year. Those were given warranty extensions, and it was the costliest repair issue in Honda's history. In 2002 they started switching the V6 engines to 5 speed auto transmissions, and the first couple years of those were equally self-destructing--but as we can see, Honda has ignored that officially. No TSBs, no recalls. So your transmission hooked to your 4 cylinder engine is way different, and is not part of the problem. Any problems you had were likely one-offs, like it was a lemon built by a guy in a bad mood on a Friday afternoon or something.
And yet, if I buy a new Honda today, it will be a 4 cylinder manual transmission model. Bulletproof, I tell you--at least, historically. If they screwed up their crown jewels of engineering, the world will have come to an end and I'll have more pressing issues to worry about.
I had a '77 Ford Granada that I bought new. I always thought that car was built on a Monday after a holiday and a 5-day drinking binge!! Too bad lemon laws weren't around in Illinois at that time. It would have won, for sure!
Maybe not. 2000 Accord SE (made in Japan, btw), 4-cylinder -- transmission failed at 104K miles. Replaced with a Honda rebuilt unit with a three-year warranty. The trans in my 2001 Odyssey has not failed (yet). Needless to say, I am less than confident of its long-term health. At 89K or so, I think I'm living on borrowed time. --- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ---
Likely you are. My brothers 2000 Ody lived to see 100K miles before he traded it in, but the odds are way, way against this being any long term product. I compare and contrast that with my 92 Civic Si that I bought new and put 120K on with the original clutch. Worked great right to the day I sold it. And I was not particularly, um, gentle on that car...
Not necessarily, Paul. My 2001 V6 Accord has 214,000 kilometres (132,680 miles) on it and no issues what-so-ever with the automatic transmission.
