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Honda Transmissions

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Jesse of Rio Linda CA (7/10/03):
I have a 1998 Honda Accord and have had the transmission replaced twice. Oh by the way the vehicle hasn't hit 100,000 miles yet! Interesting isn't it? I was wondering if you had any course of action? I have contacted NHTSA and left several complaints. I have also searched via the internet and found this problem widespread. Honda is basically ignoring the consumers, What should I/we (Honda owners) do?

Alyssa of Huntington Beach CA (9/22/02):
I took my 2000 Passport to Norm Reeves Huntington Beach in early August due to a noise it was making when shifting gears and a pulling feeling. They were unable to duplicate the sound. Approx. one week later my car began to smoke, we returned a second time and still they were unable to duplicate the sound that it was still making, and told me a cap had fallen off the transmission, thus causing it to leak and smoke. I had to leave it overnight.

The following weekend, same noise. This time we took it in and the service manager drove with my boyfriend and my father and finally heard the noise. So, diagnosis, I need a new transmission. I have been placed on a list of 9 people waiting for transmissions. They could not give me any time frame for this work. Not even a ballpark, "could be a week, could be a month, they have to manufacture it, so we really can't tell you."

I later contacted them about a loaner car or the possibility of a rental at their expense. Naturally this is not a service that they provide. Service Manager said he would speak to his supervisor, and they did end up providing me with a rental car. When I went to the rental car agency, they offered me a Metro and said I was required to pay for my own insurance. So, on top of a car that I am not currently driving, but paying $440.00 a month for, I am also paying my regular insurance $126.00 monthly, and $12.00 a day for rental insurance. It has been 18 days that I have had a rental car.

I contacted Norm Reeves Honda of HB to speak with the General Manager Tom Meadow, left a message. He did not even personally return my call. He had a manager below him contact me to apologize and basically offer me nothing, but to have a lease specialist call me to discuss my cureent lease options, whether or not I could trade in now without penalty. No one ever contacted me. I contacted American Honda Finance (advice from the manager that acted on behalf of the G.M.)to discuss the posiibility of suspending my monthly payments. I am a single mother supporting a 3 month old baby, with a full time job, and now additional expenses because Honda has provided me with a great disservice.

American Honda Finance can not do that, but what they did do, was give me huge case # and passed my information on to a woman who has about as much sense and compassion as Norm Reeves Honda G.M. Tom Meadow. She called to update me last week, and told me there was still no word on when the car would be repaired, they may offer me compensation once I get the car back. I am terribly unhappy about the way I have been treated or mistreated rather, and there is obviously a problem with Honda transmissions, if I am on a list of 9 people.

Mitchell of Lake Balboa CA (5/23/03):
I bought a new 1999 Honda Odyssey and have had various recalls that have been fixed with no problems ensuing. Now, at aprox. 49,000 miles the transmission is starting to act up. At low speeds it jerks sometimes violently as it moves into another gear. This should be a factory problem -- way too soon for a car that has such great write-ups. Our family owns five Hondas! I would hope the factory would recognize its reponsibilities.

Those great write-ups are meaningless, in our jaded opinion. The unvarnished reports of actual consumers and mechanics are a lot more useful.

Guy of Hempstead NY (11/19/02):
My sister's car was taken to Casey Honda in Va. for the transmission to be looked at due to slippage and other eratic behavior. I was informed that a new transmission would be necessary. The car, 1999 Honda Accord coupe V6, was purchased 4 weeks ago. It only has 44k miles -- 8,000 over the factory warranty. It has come to my attention that trans. problems are a major issue with this model and year. I have read hundreds of stories from other disgruntled Honda owners similar to mine. Some of them were fully compensated by Honda some were not but at least met half way. I was yelled at, insulted, and hung up on by their case manager Holly, who denied me of any warranties or aid in this matter.

Lianne of North Hollywood (8/5/02):
I purchased a 2000 Honda Accord LX in December of 1999. In December of 2001, the car started to make this jerking motion when it changed gears. I brought it to Robertson Honda and they diagnosed the problem to be transmission related! The mileage on the car at the time was appoximately 46K and the service person informed me that the warranty of the car ended at 36K miles.

I bought the car because Honda had a reputation of being economical and dependable. I have been driving for 12 years. 10 of those years, I drove a Toyota. I didn't even know what a transmission was. I serviced my car every three months and after driving this Accord for just two years, the transmission needs replacement. I am not a wealthy woman, hence the economy car. Now I am stuck with this car that needs about $5000 worth of repairs, a weekly rental car to be able to function and work. I called on Honda Care, the service department that might be able to offer some assistance, and after a week of calling and leaving messages everyday, I have given up!

Leena of Emeryville CA (6/22/03):
We bought a 1997 Honda Civic lx brand new in March of 97. In March of 2002 we had less than 51k miles on it but the transmission went out. Took it to Honda of El Cerrito (excellent customer service by the way) and they said the linear and speed sensors of the transmission went out and it needs to be replaced. We paid them $400 to replace the parts and then drove across the bridge to the city. The car jerked the whole way. I was afraid for my safety at times.

I called El Cerrito Honda and they told me it was "bad luck" and their warranty (3 years, 36k miles can't cover this). They told me to contact the dealership where I purchased the car. Jeff Allegro of SF Honda requested that I forward a complete maintenance record of my Honda. I faxed a copy of the work done by Honda of El Cerrito to document that the speed and linear sensors were replaced at a cost of $400. He wanted additional records, such as oil change, spark plug replacement, replacement of the engine coolant, brake repair, etc. When I asked how his request was related to the transmission problem, he did not provide a satisfactory answer. Instead, he simply stated that Honda would not be responsible for repairing the transmission in the absence of a complete �fender to fender� maintenance record. I requested that he substantiate his request in writing. To date, he has not responded.

Please note that I do my own minor maintenance, such as changing the engine oil and filter, and replacing the spark plugs and the engine coolant. I invited Mr. Allegro to inspect all the other systems of the vehicle to assess whether I was negligent in caring for my Honda. He felt that such an inspection was not necessary. His preference for a �paper review� and steadfast refusal to objectively examine my car is very unlike Honda�s usual and customary approach toward quality care. The maintenance schedule as documented on page 123 of the service manual for a 1997 Honda Civic states that the transmission fluid should be replaced every 90,000 miles. Thus, it is highly irregular for the transmission, particularly that of a Honda quality, to break down at less than 51,000 miles.

The car has been out of commission since March. I am a graduate student which means I earn VERY little income. I do not earn enough to cover a $3600 tranmission for a car that is now worth less than 10k. I don't care for Hondas anymore. That trust is gone. I tell everyone who is thinking about a car to go look at the new Corolla or Camry. I had to wake up extra early to take public transportion to school. Life sucks without a car.

Debra of Philadelphia (6/10/03):
I purchased my Honda Civic in March, 1999 at Colonial Nissan in Feasterville, PA. It had approximately 17,000 miles on it at the time. My personal mechanic highly recommended that I get a Honda because I would not have any major problems with it so that my costs would only be basics ones (i.e., oil change, brakes, etc. (I am divorced with 2 teenage girls; one in college and one in parochial school and have only my income to depend on). My sole reason for getting a fairly new car was not to worry about major repairs. I traded in my Cutlass with over 75,000 miles on it for the Honda. I never had a transmission problem with the Cutlas.

Just recently I have had a problem with my transmission while it was in first gear. I took it to my personal mechanic and asked if he could put it on the computer to identify the problem. He did a computer scan and found that the problem was with the transmissin but he could not pinpoint the problem and not help me with the repairs because he does not do transmission work. I then called Sloan Honda in Philadelphia and spoke to the service department and explained the problem. The service department asked if I had the transmission oil changed. I did told him I did not. The service department told me that a transmission maintainance was due that this had a 90% chance of curing the problem. I brought my Honda in for this service (I left it overnight).

I received a call the next morning and was informed that there was a problem with the transmission and I would require a new one at the cost of $4,500. They asked if I had an extended warranty. I did have the extended warranty. I asked the service department how I could possibly need a transmission when I only had 40,000 miles on the car. They could not give me an answer because "Honda does not allow the transmission to taken out to identify the problem." I then called the Honda Care line in California and spoke to Holly Mohammed about the situation. She said she would investigate and get back to me. The following day Holly did call me and told me that Honda would give me a new transmission at the warranty rate. She also told me to call Sloan and ask what my share of the cost would and if I was not happy with the amount that I should call her and let her know.

My share of the cost is $850.00. I called her and left a message on her voice mail that I was unhappy. I cannot understand why my car with only 40,000 should need a new transmission. She called me the next day and told me that was the best that they could do considering that I did not take my car to Honda for maintainance. I have taken my car to my personal mechanic for service. To have my car serviced at Honda, it would cost me three times the amount of any mechanic. I cannot afford Honda rates. I then called Sloan to inform them that it would take several months to save that amount of money to have the transmission replaced. The service department told me that the information would be put into the system and it would not be a problem when I did bring the car in to have transmission replaced.

When I did speak to Holly and informed her that I was very upset and would not consider buying another Honda again, she told me that the offer of the warranty price was being rescinded because I would not by another Honda. She also told me that I did not maintain my car. I told her on serveral ocassions that I did have most of my receipts from the mechanic to prove that I indeed take care of my vehicle. I have never in my life had a used car need a transmission with only 40,000 on it. I am really stunned that I need this type of repair done. I would not even anticipate a problem until the car had over 90,000 miles on it.

Jacinto of Montville NJ (4/17/02):
I have a Honda Accord V6 year 2000. I drive only on highways and have now around 64,000 miles. I always had my car serviced at the dealership. I have just been told that I have a major transmission problem that requires a replacement. This is truly unusual. I would just like to know if this kind of failure is normal or typical.

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