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 2001 Honda Odyssey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl- the contact owns a 2001 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate when pressure was applied to the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be repaired. The torque converter was replaced instead of replacing the transmission as it was recommended by the mechanic, but Honda motor co had the final word. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The contact also stated that the vehicle intermittently stalled while driving at various speeds. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was once involved in a crash in which the air bags did not deploy. …
I was driving down the road normal and the next moment my foot was on the gas as normal and the engine began to rev without propelling my vehicle any farther. I slowed down and then coasted to the side of the road. I experimented once I was safely off the road and attempted to re engage the transmission. It let me go for another few miles then I was able to make it home. The next day I started to drive it to my mechanics shop and on the way it stopped and would not go anywhere. I was only about a mile and a half from my home. Fittingly enough I had to park it in the parking lot of a business. That business was a funeral home. All this took place on a city street where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour. When I attempted to take it to my mechanic the next morning, I was being followed by a co-worker who was going to give me a ride after I dropped it off. …
Without warning no dash lights nor check engine lights my transmission failed in heavy traffic..a slight up rev and then complete failure of transmission....just avoided being rearended as the car slowed quickly on a rise and just made it to the shoulder in traffic..fluid levels were normal but fluid had a odor ...my mechanic towed the car and drained and filled the trans (not convertor) to verify condition..trans will move in reverse at high RPM. This transmission was replaced 6/6/05 at 37400 miles under warranty and has been serviced and topped off as needed until now..in heavy traffic serious injury or death could have occured if not for observant driver behind me..I understand from transmission shops and rebuilders that Honda transmission are built to fail with very poor design (no filtering of fluids,,and very weak clutch assemblies) to repair this vehicle it will cost $3800.00-to …
While I was driving the van on a hwy the rpms went up and the van would not go as if the transmission was totally gone. I got pulled off to the side of the road and had to call a wrecker service to come and pick us up. The van has been sitting for about a week. I got in it and it will go in a lower gear but only until the van warms up then it will not move at all. It cost me $200. To have it towed home and I was told by a transmission shop that it would cost me anywhere from $2500 to $4500 to fix the problem. That is more than the van is apparently worth. I have spent my christmas money on just the towing. I need help in getting it fixed I am a single mom with 2 small children. I did not have my children in the van with me but it was me and my ex mother in law and it was night and a mountainous hwy. …
I was driving on a 4 lane highway and came to a intersection with traffic lights. In my lane and direction I was traveling, the traffic light turn red, which implies my vehicle to stop. I stopped. When the traffic light turn green, which implies my vehicle to move forward, my vehicle would not pull forward. After a few minutes, the vehicle, with sounds and feel of transmission problems, slipping and at times not moving. I barely made it to a safe place , a near store parking lot, to get my vehicle out of danger of a busy highway intersection. I had to be towed to a friend's home some 40 miles from the vehicle occurring problem of not operating in a safe manner. The vehicle has not ran since. If you put in reverse or drive, the vehicle will not move period. The vehicle is and has remained in my yard at my resident.
For the third time since we owned the vehicle the transmission has been slipping and the vehicle again isn't drivable. This is an ongoing problem with this y/m/m with many complaints. NHTSA and Honda need to do a recall. I was driving when the transmission failed and was lucky to not have had any cars around me. This needs to be addressed with a recall and replacement by Honda. We're the original owners and Honda is aware of the problem as is NHTSA but no major action has been taken to recall. This is a safety issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Honda Odyssey. The contact was driving 60 MPH when the transmission failed and caused the vehicle to stall. Smoke was released from the engine and the contact called the fire department in case of a fire. The contact also called the manufacturer and filed a complaint. The vehicle was neither diagnosed fro the failure nor repaired. The failure mileage was 145,000.
My 2001 Honda Odyssey was shaking and when I would shift it in gear and wouldn't shift and it would drive rough. I changed all the solenoid but the problem is still there. Now I'm just going to junk it I can't afford putting a new transmission it only has 112,000 miles. I only used my Honda to go to work and home in the city streets.
Driver able to shut off ignition and remove key while transmission gear selector still in drive. My teen drivers that are learning to drive have done this numerous times, even after I have pointed it out to them. The vehicle safety interlocks should prevent this scenario but in this vehicle, the safety feature has failed
The ignition key can be removed from the ignition with the gear selector still in drive. My teenage drivers have on several occasions left the van in the driveway with the van still in drive, ignition off. Luckily, our home's driveway is flat and we have not had an issue of the van rolling away - yet!
Transmission complaints in other Odyssey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2001 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA has 332 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2001 Honda Odyssey, 54% of the model year's 619 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (191 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Honda Odyssey transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2001 Honda Odyssey, though it has 1 recall 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 2001 Honda Odyssey transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 107,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 2 fires and 16 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.