Automatic Transmission Cooler problems of the 2003 Honda Odyssey

112,000 miles Odyssey ex transmission started slipping 4/18/14 and van could not go from traffic light. After cooling, was able to drive a little to get off the main road. Called for tow truck to a-1 transmissions in hawthorne, CA. I have avoided dealer servicing since buying the van new in 2003. I installed a magnafine filter in the trans cooling line and changed it three times. I drained and filled the trans many times over the years with Honda fluid and kept transmission fluid clean. I had the Honda recall lubricating tranny gear done as well as any other Honda recalls but no other transmission recall. No previous transmission issues until the other day. I didn't try to get attention from dealer because even with 25% off it would still be a couple of thousand dollars to them. This model Honda has a history of failed transmissions.

Transmission failure: travelling up a hill on a freeway at 70mph with family/children in the vehicle, suddenly & without warning, transmission wildly shifts from 4th down to 2nd/1st, back to 3rd, continues lurching/shifting back and forth as rpm's fluctuate wildly; hobbled to next exit, smoke & trans fluid coming from under hood. Called local dealer who "has no idea" what's wrong with it but for $100 will check it out. Result: they tell me that trans overheated & melted down, burned out clutches, needs new trans -> $4800 (rebuilt). Trans was just fine & trans fluid was fine prior to this incident, car was maintained, absolutely no warning of anything amiss. Now I find out via the internet that many, many people have this problem w/2003 Odyssey's. Called Honda, they tell me, "there is no known problem with this model year" (lie) and they won't do anything to help with the repair because the car came w/36,000 mile warranty and we are beyond that. He actually asked me, "is this the first time your transmission has blown on this vehicle? are you still on your first transmission?" which is a funny thing to ask if there is no known problem. Internet indicates that when people have trans replaced, 2nd trans frequently blows also. This car had a recall for trans oil cooling, was completed before we bought (new from dealer) & we were not informed about it. This is definitely a safety issue when your trans explodes at 70mph with your children in the back seat. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

We discovered today that our 2003 Honda Odyssey was in need of a new trasmission, the sad part is this vehicle only has 89,500 miles, the Honda dealership that inspected the van told us that the cost to replace the transmission was going to be $4200. We pretty much experienced all the same problems that many other users are mentioning on this site, it first started by skipping gears between 2nd and 3rd, then the tcs and emc light came on and after this everything came downhill. The dealer told us that the van was serviced in the past to take care of the recall by installing the jet fan cooling thing, apparently this was a bandage to the real issue as a couple of years later the transmission finally died on us. We bought Honda for their apparant "superior quality" and have never been more disappointed. We feel like we got screwed and if there is a recall or some lemon law we would like to know about it because this just can not keep happening!!!!!!!!.

I was in my 2003 Odyssey with my daughter when the van lost all power merging on to the freeway. The tcs and check engine lights came on and then the van would no longer accelerate. We came extremely close to having an accident. I took the van to the Honda dealer and they reported back that the transmission had completely failed with only 73k miles. In 2004 I took the van to the dealer for the transmission recall (NHTSA campaign #04v176000), but it did not prevent it's future failure. I have regularly performed the factory required transmission maintenance, but this was not enough for the faulty transmissions in Odysseys from 2001-2004. Honda said in a recent report that insufficient cooling can lead to heat build-up and broken gears in the transmission. In rare instances, gear breakage could lock up the transmission. Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash. Honda of America will not cover the replacement of my transmission even though they know that there have been pervasive failures with transmissions on the 2003 Odyssey. Honda has not taken full responsibility for the epidemic of Odyssey transmission failures. There needs to be a recall of all 2003 Odyssey transmissions!.

1. Manufacturer remedy to NHTSA campaign # 04v17600 does not correct heat build up/ gear failure in 2002-2004 Honda Odyssey automatic transmissions. It only delays the failure. 2. Cooler return line revision was performed on my vehicle at 17,847 miles. Despite the manufacturer design revision the gears failed this last week (code p730 - gear ratio error) at 44,500 miles. I was fortunate. It only resulted in loss of power. There was no transmission lock up or crash, this time. I'm not the only one. Even cursory internet research reveals over 1300 reports of continuing failures at the edmunds site alone; some vehicles having had as many as three transmission rebuilds by the manufacturer. 3. Cooling line revision has not corrected the heat build up problem. The gears still get hot enough to lose temper, soften and fail under normal loads. It is only a matter of time until debris from the failed gears cause a transmission lock up and crash. To date american Honda motor CO. Declines to help me with this ongoing problem.

2003 Honda Odyssey Mini-van transmission slipping taking off or between 1st & 2nd gear. Recalled for 2nd gear cooling jet issue, but this transmission failure appears related to similar failures described by numerous owners of this vehicle between 1998 & 2005. Dealer denies any related claims made to Honda, but many documented on this site and other automotive journals and websites.