Problems · by component

2003 Honda Odyssey power train problems

535 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Honda Odyssey cite power train, 57% of all 940 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
535
57% of all complaints
Crashes
10
Reported by owners
Fires
9
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unintendedly shifted into gear. An unknown dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was included in four unrepaired recalls. The contact informed the dealer that she was afraid to drive the vehicle due to the failure. Additionally, the contact stated that the transmission and the motor mounts were replaced in May 2025. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V176000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 251,599.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2025Power trainODI 11677771
“I never had issues with my van when I bought it but On Monday got all the fluids drove to Phoenix and the transmission got hot the TCL light and ABs light turned on as well as the SRS light no check engine the floor on the driver side and passenger side was super hot. The transmission on 1st gear start hitting hard 2nd gear started slipping we pulled over right away let the car cool down but the transmission level where normal motor oil was at normal we did the oil service transmission service the dealer I bought it from has did Amazon service I don’t really drive it only to visit my kids. I looked up the recall and my van has a lot of them I’m worried of driving home to California I’m in Phoenix so I hope the dealer will fix the recall when u put the year of the 2003 honda odyssey my vin switch to a different one on your site please help”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2025Power train, Air bags, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11673559
“The contact owns a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission hesitated to shift into third gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the torque converter, clutch, and hydraulic control system were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2022Power trainODI 11493853
“While exceeding 60 mph on the highway with my two young children. The vehicle began to loose power. I tried accelerating the van would regain then bog down again. This happens suddenly. This could of been a horrible accident. The van just loosng all power without warning.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2021Power trainODI 11435248
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND LOST POWER WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WAITED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, WHERE THE VEHICLE RESUMED BACK TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE RESIDENCE AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ABNORMAL NOISE APPEARED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GERMAIN HONDA OF BEAVERCREEK (2300 HELLER DR, BEAVERCREEK, OH 45434, (855) 798-3158) TO BE REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN AIR BAG RECALL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 21, 2020Power trainODI 11321797
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEARS WOULD ERRONEOUSLY SLIP CAUSING THE SPEED TO SUDDENLY REDUCE, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PHIL HUGHES HONDA (3200 ATLANTIC HWY, ATHENS, GA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 16, 2019Power trainODI 11232204

Showing 6 of 535 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: automatic transmission

Free remedy

ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.

Power trainReported Apr 15, 2004NHTSA 04V176000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.