2005 Honda Odyssey Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
I haven’t had the 2005 Honda Odyssey ex for a year and the transmission won’t shift into higher gears and when it does it jumps
WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHAKE THE WHOLE VEHICLE AND I HAVE TO REDUCE THE GAS AND THEN ACCELERATE AGAIN TO END THE SHAKENING.NOW, THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A GRINDING NOISE AND SHAKES WORST
WE ARE THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VAN BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM A HONDA DEALER. AT APPROXIMATELY 145K MILES THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALERS WANTED A SMALL FORTUNE TO REPAIR IT, MORE THAN THE CAR WAS WORTH IT. I LEARNED THAT IT IS A TYPICAL PROBLEM WITH THOSE HONDA ODYSSEYS. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED THOUGH.
THE VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING DURING LOWER SPEED LIMITS. IT SEEMS TO STOP ONCE THE VEHICLE GOES FASTER PAST THE LOWER GEARS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ODDYSEY. WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,400.
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2005 HONDA ODYSSEY. IN 2014, WHILE DRIVING UP HILL ON THE GRAPEVINE IN GORMAN, CA I HIT THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT MOVE. IT WAS STUCK ON 40MPS. I TRIED PUSHING ON THE GAS, BUT THAT DID NOTHING. IT WAS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS JUST NOT WORKING. I STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AS WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BY DIVINE INTERVENTION. THANK YOU AAA FOR TOWING ME TO SCOTT ROBINSONS HONDA- TORRANCE, CA. AFTER ALL OF THIS AND THEY SAID IT WAS A SPEED SENSOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IS WHAT IT WAS, SO THAT IS WHAT IT HAS TO BE. THEY NEVER MAKE MISTAKES. ON JUNE 22, 2016 GOING UP HILL, AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO PICK UP SPEED, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT MOVE. PUSHING ON THE GAS DID NOTHING. I CONTINUED TO MOVE UNTIL THE HILL BECAME TO STEEP, AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED. STARTING TO ROLL BACKWARDS, I HIT THE BRAKES AND HELD ON FOR DEAL LIFE. ONCE AGAIN AAA HAD TO TOW MY CAR TO HONDA. WELL, GUESS WHAT THEY SAID THIS TIME. YOU NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. YES, THAT IS WHAT THEY SAID THIS 2ND TIME. AT 140K MILES, I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, AND IT IS GOING TO COST ME $6,000. WFT! MY 1997 FORD WINDSTAR IS STILL GOING STRONG WITH 250K MILES. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT HONDA, BUT I AM GETTING NOWHERE. NO RETURN CALLS, NO COMMUNICATION NOTHING. I WILL NEVER BUY HONDA ANYTHING AGAIN. *TR
TRAVEL AT HIGH SPEED IAW SPEED LIMITS AND TRAFFIC FLOW, NOTICED SURGING (LIKE SLIPPING) FROM TRANSMISSION, NOTICED DRIVE INDICATOR BLINKING, ENGINE REVS SURGING WITH TRANSMISSION SURGES. I HOPE TO MAKE NEAREST SAFE AREA TO PULL OVER (REST PLAZA LESS THAN 7 MILES AWAY) GOT 4 MILES. HAD REDUCED SPEED TO RELIEVE STRESS ON TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. SPEED CONTINUED TO REDUCE SUDDENLY TO BELOW 45 MPH BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO FIND SAFE LOCATION TO PULL OVER. TRANSMISION LOCKED INTO DRIVE POSITION COULD NOT SHIFT TO ANY GEAR. NO GRINDING SOUNDS WERE EVER HEARD. I WAS BY MYSELF BUT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ANYONE. COULD LEAD TO DEATH FROM BEING HIT FROM REAR BY ANOTHER CAR OR TRUCK AS TRANSMISSION'S RAPID RATE OF DECELERATION CAUSE BY ITS FAILURE. LOOKED UP BLINKING TRANSMISSION INDICATOR AND DID NOT FIND ANY WARNING OR NOTIFICATION AS TO POSSIBLE CAUSE. FOUND OUT THAT HONDA ODESSESY'S TRANSMISSION HAS HISTORY OF CATISTROPHIC FAILURE IF NOT SERVICED EVERY 35K (VARIES ACCORDING TO COMPLAINT). AGAIN NO WQARNING OF THIS POSSIBLE EVENT MENTIONED IN OWNER'S MANUEL. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM OR ITS SERVICE RECORD. I DID HAVE IT SERVICED SHORTLY AFTER BUYING IT BUT AGAIN HAD NO WARNING. IRONICALLY, I'M AN AUTOMOTIVE RELIABILITY/SAFETY MANAGER BY PROFESSION.
OUR 2005 HONDA ODYSSEY HAD A TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THE WAY OUT OF TOWN FROM GEORGIA TO FLORIDA OVER THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND. ON WEDNESDAY WE JUST HAD AN O2 SENSOR AND RECALL WORK (MASTER CYLINDER & ONE OTHER ISSUE) COMPLETED AT A HONDA DEALER IN GEORGIA. I THEN TOOK IT DOWN THE STREET TO GET TWO NEW TIRES PUT ON THE VEHICLE AT A TIRE SERVICE CENTER. THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE OUT FOR TRAVEL, GAVE US THE GREEN LIGHT AND BAM! BY 6PM THE FOLLOWING DAY THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOIDS WERE BOTH REPORTED FAILED: P0746 PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID "A" PERFORMANCE/STUCK OFF P0777 PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID "B" STUCK ON P0741 TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH CIRCUIT PERFORMANCE/STUCK OFF WE HOBBLED INTO PANAMA CITY, WHERE I BOOKED A CAR RENTAL FROM THE AIRPORT. THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY ASSESSED THE ISSUES AS A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WE HAVE RETURNED TO ATLANTA ON A 14 DAY CAR RENTAL SCRAMBLING TO FIND A NEW CAR. THE QUOTE FOR REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION IS $3K. THIS IS PROHIBITIVE ON A 2005. HONDA CORPORATION REFUSED A GOODWILL ASSISTANCE REQUEST. CASE NUMBER AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. AT THAT POINT I WILL HAS SPENT $3.2K ON THE CAR, $400 IN CAR RENTALS (IN GEORGIA WHILE SERVICE WAS BEING PERFORMED, AND FLORIDA TO GET HOME). MY GUESS IS IF I DON'T FIX THE TRANSMISSION THERE WILL BE NO TRADE-IN VALUE FOR THE VEHICLE. IT'S GOT BUMPER, INTERIOR AND FENDER DAMAGE, SO THERE ISN'T MUCH HOPE EVEN IF I DO GO FORWARD WITH THE REPLACEMENT. ALSO, THE ALPHARETTA SERVICE CENTER SAID THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LOOKED FINE, AND HONDA IN PC SAID IT WAS BURNT. THERE EXPLANATION WAS A PART FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSIONS BURNED THE FLUID. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE AN EARLY WARNING OF A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE BEFORE A 330 MILE ROAD TRIP. *TR UPDATED 02/26/2015 *JS
BOUGHT OUR 2ND ODYSSEY IN MAY 2014. USED. 153000MILES. TOOK TO HONDA DEALER TO MAKE SURE ALL SERVICE WAS UP TO DATE. OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED. THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS GOOD DESPITE A SHUDDER WE FELT AT 40 45 MPH. DRIVING IN JULY ON A 12 HR FAMILY TRIP AND WE HEAR A HIGH PITCHED WHINE ONLY UPON ACCELERATION. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. LEFT US STRANDED 14 HRS FROM HOME. HAD TO BORROW A VAN FROM A FAMILY MEMBER TO GET ALL 7 OF US HOME AGAIN. THE CAR IS NOW IN THE SHOP , NEEDING A $2200. REPAIR. NOT HAPPY WITH HONDA!! THE 2000 ODYSSEY HAS HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS PUT IN, THE 1ST TRANNY WAS RECALLED BY HONDA AND REPLACED AT NO COST @ 80K. THE 2ND TRANNY WE PAID FOR AND FAILED AT 180K. THOUGHT THE 2005 MODEL HAD THE TRANNY PROBLEM FIXED. APPARENTLY NOT! BUYER BEWARE! WE WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER HONDA. *TR
I'D BEEN EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OF JUDDER FOR OVER 3 YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ODYSSEY. IT'S RARE AND HARD TO REPLICATE, SO NEVER BOTHERED TAKING TO HONDA DEALERSHIP OR ANY OTHER MECHANIC. I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT HONDA HAD A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE SAME. IT BASICALLY MEANS HONDA KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THERE WERE OTHER OWNERS WHO HAD EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEM. (PER HONDA IT'S A SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT NOT A RECALL, SO I WAS NOT PRO-ACTIVELY INFORMED ABOUT IT). AS PART OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY (8 YEARS/105K MILES) AND WOULD FIX THE ISSUE FOR FREE. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS. SERVICE BULLETIN: 12-029 WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT THIS MY VEHICLE HAD CROSSED THE AGE BUT NOT THE MILEAGE (2014 AND 103K MILES). I REQUESTED THE DEALER AND HONDA TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION AS I WAS STILL WITHIN THE MILES THAT THEY HAD. I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM LONG BEFORE I WAS AWARE, BUT DIDN'T BOTHER TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T BOTHER MY DRIVE. I FEEL HONDA SHOULD HAVE FIXED THE ISSUE FOR FREE, ESPECIALLY A KNOWN ISSUE. ADD TO THAT I AM CURIOUS WHY IT'S TREATED AS SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT NOT A RECALL. IN ANY EVENT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH NHTSA, OTHER CONSUMERS AND HONDA. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN WHINING SINCE 75000K. IT FAILED COMPLETELY AT 142000 MILES. HERE'S WHAT FINALLY KILLED IT, I WAS MAKING A U TURN IN A PARKING LOT AT MY KID'S SCHOOL. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE HOUSE. THIS TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN A TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. NOW WE'RE IN A MAJOR PICKLE. *TR
COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO INTERNAL HEAT BUILD-UP AND GEAR DISINTEGRATION. *TR
CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION. ADDED GAS INCREASED ENGINE RPM AND FINALLY, SMOKE APPEARED AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST SHOP AND TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BLEW OUT OF ITSELF BUT COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE LEAK. SHOP REFILLED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SENT US ON OUR WAY. 10 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THIS TIME I DIDN'T REV THE ENGINE HARD AND PULLED OVER TO FIND THAT THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT, EITHER DRIVE, OR REVERSE. SMELL OF BURNING TRANSMISSION FLUID. TOWED AGAIN TO THE LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS IN NEED OF A REBUILD. COST IS UPWARDS OF $2500. WE CANNOT AFFORD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION ESPECIALLY AFTER PAYING OUT TAXES AND BEING AFFECTED BY SANDY JUST BEFORE. HONDA IS NOT HELPING, WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO KNOWN ISSUES WITH YOUR MODEL YEAR AND TRANSMISSION. I KEPT INSISTING THAT THERE ARE MANY FORUMS OUT THERE THAT SAY OTHERWISE BUT HONDA WILL NOT ADMIT THE FACT THAT THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ARE FLAWED. THE 2006 CLASS ACTION DOES NOT AFFECT MY YEAR SO LET'S HOPE MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE WILL BE ABLE TO PERSUADE FOR ANOTHER CASE. *TT
ON GRADE OR WHEN ACCELERATING SLOWLY BETWEEN 25-30 MPH THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY. THIS SEAMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE, AND STILL NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE. MANY SAY IT IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER ON MODELS FROM 05-08. *TR
WHEN THE CAR REACHES A SPEED OF 30-40 MILES AN HOUR THE ECO GEAR KICKS IN CAUSING THE CAR TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE UNDER THE CAR IN THE TRANSMISSION AREA. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS MOTOR MOUNTS, TORQUE CONVERTER, WHEEL ALIGNMENT, ETC. I HAVE FOUND A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT WAS FILED IN CALIFORNIA. I WANT TO BE ADD TO THAT LAWSUIT IF POSSIBLE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING 50-55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN MY ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND BLINKING "D" INDICATOR CAME ON, I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND IMMEDIATELY HE TOLD ME HE HAD OTHER HONDA COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, HE TOLD ME IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AND IT WAS SOMETHING FREQUENTLY IN MODEL YEAR FROM 1999-2006, AND THAT HONDA WAS IGNORING THE PROBLEM, PLEASE HELP I HAVE A 2005 HONDA ODYSSEY AND IT GIVING THE SAME ISSUES. *TR
THE VAN IS HAVING TRANSMISSION SHUDDER ISSUES WHEN DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 TO 40 MPH. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD YET. *TR
TRANSMISSION BUZZES AND SHIFTS AT 11 MPH WHEN NOT NEEDING TO DO SO. *TR
JUST BOUGHT A 2005 HONDA ODYSSEY. RIGHT OFF THE LOT GOT ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED SHUTTERING AND SLIPPING . VERY UNHAPPY , SLAPPED DOWN $4000 AS A DOWN PAYMENT AND FINANCED THE REST. NOW I OWN A VAN THAT HAS MAJOR PROBLEMS AND NO CASH TO FIX IT. HAVEN'T EVEN HAD IT FOR A DAY AND IT ALREADY HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. NEED HONDA TO FIX IT AT THEIR EXPENSE. THEIR IMPECCABLE REPUTATION IS GETTING DESTROYED WITH THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THAT ALL ODYSSEY OWNERS ARE HAVING WITH MODELS 2005- 2009 . THEY CHARGE A PREMIUM FOR THEIR VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPAIR THEIR DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE ON VEHICLES. OUR GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN AND HELP ITS CITIZENS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
MOTOR SURGES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *TR
WITHOUT WARNING, ON A BUSY INTERSTATE IN BIRMINGHAM, AL WHILE TRAVELING TO FLORIDA ON VACATION, MY VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION BURNED UP AND GAVE OUT. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT, NO HINT OF AN ISSUE PRIOR TO IT FAILING, AND A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND FILL WAS PERFORMED AT 60,000 MILES TWO YEARS AGO, PER THE RECOMMENDED INTERVAL BY HONDA. I HAD TO PULL OVER TWO LANES TO THE SHOULDER IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT FULL SPEED WITH MY CAR SMOKING AND SPEWING TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER THE ROADWAY AND CARS (PLUS A MOTORCYCLE) THAT WERE BEHIND ME. *TR
THIS IS A NEW CAR PURCHASED AND SERVICED BY THE DEALER FROM THE DATE OF DELIVERY (12/28/04). THE HONDA SERVICE DEPT DID NOT DISCOVER THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS UNTIL IT MALFUNCTIONED. THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL. I HAVE ALL THE SERVICE DOCUMENTS TO PROVE IT. THE HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE ME TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THEIR NEGLIGENCE CAUSED THIS AUTO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A WIRING PROBLEM AND FIXED IT. HOWEVER, THREE DAYS LATER, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN IT WAS PUT IN DRIVE AND THEREFORE IT HAD TO BE TOWED. LATER IN THE DAY, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER STATING THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 09/12/12
VEHICLE VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED AND ENGINE RPM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION EMITTED A GRINDING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER 5 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 04/26/12*LJ
THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS GOING 45 MPH OR GREATER THE RPM'S DROPS DOWN TO ABOUT 1400 RPM'S. WHEN SHIFTING INTO OVER DRIVE. THE ENGINE BEGINS TO VIBRATES AND WILL CONTINUE UP TO 55 MPH. WHEN ACCELERATING ABOVE 55 MPH THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARS. OWNER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAS ALSO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. NEITHER HAS A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2005 Honda Odyssey has 74 Power Train complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.