2000 Honda Odyssey Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe automatic transmission problems, frequently appearing as harsh or delayed shifting, slipping, or a sudden loss of drive, and many report the transmission being replaced, sometimes more than once. A second common theme is power sliding doors that fail to latch or close fully, along with other door, lighting and electrical complaints, usually on higher-mileage vans.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission slipping or failing

   • 208 complaints (31%)
   • median 106,000 mi at 10.0 yrs old (169 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,200 (median of 25 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2019

   Complaints describe hard or delayed shifts, especially from first to second gear, shuddering or jerking at low speed, and a transmission that slips into neutral or loses drive without warning. Several owners report a check engine or traction control light coming on around the same time, and some say the dealer replaced or rebuilt the transmission. Others mention recurring failures after a replacement, and that fluid flushes were blamed by some shops for dislodging material. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 170,000 miles, with many in the 80,000-110,000 mile range.

   10 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, note any hesitation, flare or hard shift between first and second gear, and check whether the check engine or TCS light is on. Ask for transmission service records and whether the fluid was ever flushed rather than drained and refilled.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving at 60 miles per hour on the freeway when the transmission spontaneously failed. I was unable to accelerate after that point, but was fortunately able to coast off the freeway. Had this happened 2 minutes earlier, I would have been stuck in a acute turn in the freeway without a good shoulder to pull of on, leaving me stopped in the middle of the freeway.”

   NHTSA complaint #10501117, filed 2013-03, 139,901 miles

   “I purchased a used Honda Odyssey in 2008 . Has vehicle for 4 weeks and notice the check engine light came on. Took vehicle to dealer and was told that the transmission needed to be replaced. Transmission code p0740-transmission failure. I found out later that there was a silent recall on Honda Odyssey years 1999 to 2001.”

   NHTSA complaint #10245180, filed 2008-10, 168,600 miles
2. 2
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Power sliding doors won't latch or close

   • 200 complaints (30%)
   • median 69,500 mi at 6.8 yrs old (80 state mileage)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2022

   Owners describe power sliding doors that fail to close completely, leaving the door-open warning chiming, or that pop open while the van is moving. Some report the door closes only partway and has to be pushed shut by hand, and others had door motors, latches or closers replaced, sometimes repeatedly, without a lasting fix. A few mention the door opening or closing unexpectedly. Reported from around 30,000 to more than 160,000 miles, and some owners note the problem is worse in cold weather.

   Recall 00V1190002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Open and close both sliding doors several times, including with the power buttons, and check that they latch fully and the warning chime stops. Ask whether the door latches or motors have been replaced and whether any recall work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Automatic doors fail. The door could not be closed completely. This is the second door to fail. Honda knows about the defect and told me the wouldn't fix the second door until it failed. It did so while I was 100 miles away from home.”

   NHTSA complaint #10029036, filed 2003-07, 46,000 miles

   “The sliding doors on my Odyssey have failed three times in less than a year. I bought an extended warranty so the dealer has been replacing the motors and latches. The concern is they are not latching after they fail. The other concern was they tried to tell my wife that she needed to pull on the top of the door to release the tension so not to burn out the motor. $26,000 and we need to pry the doors open? I lock them manually now because I do not want them opening while traveling.”

   NHTSA complaint #10070088, filed 2004-01, 52,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Instrument panel and interior lights out

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe dashboard and gauge lighting that goes dark or dims unpredictably, including the gear selector light, and a dimmer control that does not work and leaves the dash lights stuck on high. Some owners were told their van was not covered by the related recall, and a few mention the clock or navigation display issues and battery drain. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 110,000 miles.

   Recall 00V183000Recall 00V0300003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that all dash and gauge lights work and that the dimmer adjusts brightness across its range. Ask whether the interior lighting and underhood wiring recalls were performed for this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The battery on my Honda Odyssey was found dead this morning. This is more than 10 times in the last 2 years and more than 50 times since I got it in 2007. Have had the battery replace and still no improvement. Reading on the internet suggest a Honda issue with the electrical system that they do not acknowledge. A lot of people are having the same issue. Letting the Odyssey sit for an hour or two somehow fixes the issue and it starts. Very frustrating and need an authority to put pressure on Honda.”

   NHTSA complaint #10653813, filed 2014-11, 235,000 miles

   “Light on clock not working can not read clock--I am concerned there may be electrical problems and since they have to take the panel off to fix want charge way to much to fix a light. Problem 2 the rear windshield makes a loud noise when on.”

   NHTSA complaint #10047483, filed 2003-11, 35,000 miles

Buying note. Check the transmission carefully on a test drive and ask for service history, since drivetrain repairs come up often in these complaints. Also work the sliding doors and lighting controls, and confirm any open recalls have been completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.