Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Honda Odyssey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was driving on a crowded expressway when my car seized up completely due to a transmission failure which put me in an extremely dangerous situation. I was in the middle lane with three large semi trailer trucks in front of me, in back of me, and to the right of me on a 3 lane highway. The truck behind me had enough room to barely slow down but it almost crashed into me. I turned on my emergency flasher lights and was able to get the car onto the shoulder of a slightly uphill exit ramp, narrowly escaping serious injury. I was then able to very slowly move the car in first gear with the flashers going, and fortunately was close to a side street where I parked the car and had it towed to the nearest dealership. Although Honda replaced my transmission for free under the auspices of a class action lawsuit back in 2007, the car has low mileage for the life of the transmission. …
Our 1999 Honda Odyssey has had the p0740 torque clutch converter solenoid circuit (open) code displayed numerous times, we thought since it was a serious issue and the transmission had already been replaced within 20,000 miles that we should actually take it to the dealer in marysville, wa and have them do a transmission flush then a supervisor and said no you should have us run a diagnostic by one of our master techs. After reiterating this seriousness of our transmission issue the code coming on and delays in shifting mostly just barely noticeable, they assured us if we paid $129 for a diagnostic that a master tech could get to the issue, however they later told us after we got the car back and called on the issue that an apprentice (not a master tech) had done the entire inspection and came up with no problems except a different code having to do with up bad catalytic converter which …
Recently, while traveling on interstate 94, the check engine light came on in my vehicle along with a light that reads "TCS". Shortly after these two lights came on, my vehicle began having problems accelerating. When I drive my vehicle, I have problems with the van taking off and maintaining stability once in motion. During travel on highways, freeways, interstates, or city streets, my vehicle violently shifts from first gear to second gear when I press on the accelerator, causing it to slow down unexpectedly before jerking into motion in the middle of traffic. Also, during recent night time travel the headlights began to flicker, go dim then get bright again. The vehicle also slows down when turning corners then will suddenly jump into motion. Also, the driver side passenger door recently went off track causing a screaming alarm to sound during travel. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Honda Odyssey. While driving at any speed, the vehicle shut off without warning with the exception of a green key icon flashing on the instrument panel. The vehicle was placed in neutral and coasted over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.
There have been 2 recalls for my 99 Honda Odyssey. The first was on transmission a few years back n now there is one open for my airbags. Well my transmission was never fixed by Honda. And now I can't get them to fix my airbags
We were in the first day of a 10 day trip in our 1999 Honda Odyssey. The check engine light and the TCS light came on and then the transmission began slipping. (the van had been in to the dealership for a similar issue with the TCS light and check engine light in May, 2003 and had also been checked out prior to the trip to make sure everything was in good shape). Three hours into our trip, the lights come on and we're dealing with an out of town Honda dealer. We were unable to get a new transmission done in a timely mannerat the out of town dealership and we needed a van due to a disabled child and no vans were available for rent. Therefore, we were left with the only choice we felt we had which was to purchase a new Honda Odyssey (03) at the dealership. After we get home and research this issue, we feel that Honda has been less than fair and honest. …
At 54,700 miles (July 2001) the car made a clunking noise when put into gear. TCS light and check engine light came on. Service couldnot reproduce clunking problem. Since the transmission was out of warrenty I kept driving making sure to have regular maintenance. It continued to "rev" when starting to move or excellerating quickly. TCS light and check engine light came on again at 100,000 (dec 2002). I questioned them again about the transmission but was told that it was a catalytic converter/ engine control system.( out of stock until February). TCS and check engine lights again in June 2003 at 117,900. Code showed a transmission po740.transmission "smelled burned." sept. 2003 TCS and check engine light indicate trainsmission needs replacing. The dealer nor manufacturer had told me that the warrenty had been extended to 100,000. …
In August 2003 I received a warranty extension from Honda concerning the automatic transmission. At the time I had 70K miles and sporadic instances of transmission slippage. Now at 120K I am experiencing all of the signs of transmission failure to include: slippage while driving 35-40 MPH and severe lurching when downshifting to 1st at a stop. The dealer I have been using said I would have to buy a new transmission and told me to call the Honda customer care number to see if they would provide some financial assistance. That was a joke! The woman said that since my miles were over the magical number of 100K miles they were unable to do anything for me. Apparently I have been very lucky to have lasted this long with the original transmission. …
My Honda was very slow to start in the last couple months. Thought I wasn't warming it up long enough once the weather turned colder. Once it was running for a few minutes, it was fine. My check engine light was on but I have been haunted by this light for a couple of years. Usually something minor. One time I had my cat converter replaced. My son and three of his young friends took the van to the snow. I insisted he take the van over his car because it was "safer". There was heavy holiday traffic. On an incline, he went to push the pedal down and the car would not go forward. It started drifting backwards! Very dangerous in major traffic. He drifted onto the shoulder, put the emergency brake on called aaa. These kids were stranded in the snow until the tow truck arrived. It just stopped! Incredible! …
I have been having transmission problems with this van since 2003, Honda did replace the transmission in January 2004, the van is a 1999, at that time I had about 30000 miles on it, October of 2007 my transmission completely went out while I was driving my son home from a sport event on the highway, both of us were very scared seeing as it just wouldn't accelerate, thank goodness no one behind us or they would have hit us, I was able to get to the side of the i90. I called Honda is regards to this asking what the warranty was , they told me it was only a 3 year warranty on the replaced transmission, I had 75000 miles on it..so I went to a local shop and now 1 year later I was driving home from visiting my son at the university of iowa and my van was jerking whenever it was shifting into a different gear...again a great hazard on the road when you are in traffic with cars going 60-90 …
Transmission complaints in other Odyssey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1999 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA has 170 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1999 Honda Odyssey, 33% of the model year's 518 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (132 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Honda Odyssey transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 1999 Honda Odyssey, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Honda Odyssey transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 93,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.