Tranny problems on '00 and newer Accords?

[jeacorbi]

I'm thinking of buying a used '99-'03 Accord Coupe 4cyl or V6 w/ an auto tran. I've heard horrible things about the '01-'03 Acura 3.2CL transmissions and wondered if the '99-'03 Accords had the same problem? I don't want to purchase a car that I will have to replace the transmission in...what's the point of buying foreign if it won't last!

Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[ACC0RD22]

yea, theyre the same transmission.

[Smokeweed420]

98-02 Honda Accord Reliability Ratings

Engine Moderate Problems
Occasional problems on this vehicle, 3.0L engine only, are failure of the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Valve Passages or the EGR valve. The cost to repair the EGR Passages and the EGR Valve is estimated at $74.08 for parts and $195.00 for labor. The cost to repair only the EGR valve is estimated at $169.00 for the EGR Valve and $32.50 labor. Honda has extended the warranty on EGR trouble codes to 8 years or 80,000 miles. All prices are estimates based on $65 per flat rate hour and do not include diagnostic time or any applicable sales tax.

Transmission & Driveline Significant Problems
An occasional problem on this vehicle is failure of the automatic transmission. The cost to repair the automatic transmission is estimated at $3000.00 for a remanufactured automatic transmission and $429.00 for labor. All prices are estimates based on $65 per flat rate hour and do not include diagnostic time or any applicable sales tax.


now i have a 00 Accord 5spd very rare

[jeacorbi]

Thanks for the input...because of the transmission problems should I stay away from '98-'02 Accord V6 auto's? Is it very widespread?

Any other suggestions for reliable cars that will last at least 5 more years?

[ACC0RD22]

um . . . yes, i would stay away from the V6 if your going to beat on it.

as for reliable cars that will last at least 5 more years . . . um, get a 5spd? that will last at least 10 more years, if not more (if properly maintained)

[jeacorbi]

My friend I'm helping purchase the car for cannot drive a 5sp. Are the 4cyl auto's better on the Accord? He doens't plan to drive the hell out of it but we do live in Chicago so it's not the best driving conditions w/ stop'n'go traffic.

His '00 Sebring (HUGE mistake) is on it's last leg and I want to get him into a quality used car that will last a while. That's why I'm looking at foreign cars between $10-$15K.

Thanks for the input!

[ACC0RD22]

hmm, no, the 4cyl autos actually have a recall on them. theyre worse lol. Honestly, if your looking at an auto (this is the only time im gonna do this, ever) I would look at a maxima, or altima. Those are very nice cars for the money, and I havent heard of any major problems with the transmissions either. but yea, stay away from the automatics on 1990-2002 model cars.

I have heard that they fixed the problems with the transmissions in the 2001 model year, but Im not positive on this.

[Smokeweed420]

get a Toyota Corolla

[jeacorbi]

How about the new generation Accords? '03 and newer auto's w/ 4cyl or V6. Any transmission problems or other recalls that anyone knows of?

[ACC0RD22]

I havent heard of any. They switched to a new engine with the '03 model, and all the transmissions interchance between the cars (except for civics with the D17) and MAYBE the S2k . . . Ive heard reports of the S2k F20C or F22C being used with the K-series transmissions to make it a FWD powerplant, but dont quote me on that. but yea, I havent heard of any transmission failures in the new accords.

[Smokeweed420]

2003 Honda Accord Reliability Rating
Category Rating Comments
Engine Infrequent problems reported, all with low repair costs.
Transmission & Driveline Infrequent problems reported, all with low repair costs.
Steering & Suspension Infrequent problems reported, all with low repair costs.
Brakes Infrequent problems reported, all with low repair costs.
Heating & Air Conditioning Infrequent problems reported, all with low repair costs.
Starting & Charging Infrequent problems reported, all with low repair costs.
Accessories Infrequent problems reported, all with low repair costs.
Overall 5 out of 5

*Repair costs are based on a flat rate of $65.00 per hour and do not include diagnostic time or any applicable sales tax.

[jd1973]

It doesn't matter if a 4 or 6, all the 98-02 auto trannies are problems waiting to happen. I spoke with a buddy of mine who is a service manager at a large Honda dealership and he said they get a few back every week. He also said the only fix he knew of was to get an external cooler for the tranny to extend the life.
My son had a 98 EX with about 50k on it and the tranny died. I found a used one ($1200) and paid $400 to get it swapped. They seem to be hard to find because everyone eventually needs one. Of course we sold the car. Honda said if the car was a 99 they could have worked something else out. Now he has a new civic with a 5 speed.
JD

[riotpack]

get a Toyota Corolla


Someone knows their cars,

I agree

[jd1973]

If you were talking about a civic I could see a corolla. But not an accord. Maybe a camry??

[retroaction man]

ok ive got a 99. and i can tell the tranny is slippin from 2nd to 3rd... is there somthing i can do to prevent major tranny problrms... I have heard that there are a few things such as tightning bands and such to keep it up. nothing im trying to do myself. what can the dealership do for me?

[ACC0RD22]

since you pretty much already have them, no. maybe go to your dealership and see if your year had a recall. Im not sure if it started in 99 or 00.

[Dancognito]

My 2000 Accord coupe is on auto-tranny # 3. The original one was taken out at about 96k miles by the original owner. I purchased the car at 133k and I had to replace the second one at around 144k miles. # 3 has about less then 10k on it and its going strong.

Before I purchased my car the 2 biggest problems I read about were the tranny and the EGR valve, both things that have been replaced so far.

[hate co]

never had a problem with my 99 auto. i guess im just lucky. i was lookin at the 3.0 v6 today too. its a pretty motor but im not to sure after reading this

[rick1574]

one of my managers had a 99 Accord that was also automatic. she bought it right off the lot brand new and had to replace the tranny at 50k miles. i would tell your friend to just learn how to drive standard. its so much better. however, if you had to buy an automatic, i would recommend an altima. i drove an 01 altima that was automatic for a while and i liked it.

[wtf420]

FYI, Honda recalled the trannies on the 2000 Accord - basically they extended the factory warranty to 100K miles. Mine went out a couple months ago, I took it back to the dealer and got a new one for free.

[grande2k]

yup i bought a new 2001 accord ex 4 cylinder and almost right at 60k miles the tranny went out. Its a good thing it was still under warranty at the time but still took a few days to get it back.

[Lcrusier02]

i have an 02 accord and nothing has gone wrong with it yet i guess it all depends on the way you drive it and maintain it but regardless my car still runs great.

[grande2k]

yeah i though the same thing but it want to long after getting the recall letter in the mail about the tranny that i started to worry...but nothing happened until right around 60k...then it just started shifting wierd. took it to the dealer and the rep was saying something about some internal part that was used and some acuras, accord, and i think crv's and odyssey's were affected but not all...except mine. Anyway, the replacement was made and the warranty extended to 100k miles and so far so good. now the car has 160k miles and i am very satified with it. :-D

[a1570]

I have read some of the postings and some of them talk about a recall letter about the transmission. I recently purchase an 02 Accord and have experienced transmission problems(it's slipping between 1st and 2nd intermittantly). I was shocked to say the least as my accord has 61k mi. The local Honda dealership diagnosed that there is a problem, however I'm living in Canada now. I'm close enough to the US border that I could go to a US dealership, but I want to find out where to get this recall letter from. Honda America says there are no recalls with my Accord. Also, I work for a Toyota dealership and a tech said for me to go and get "Luc stop leak" fluid for transmissions. He thought this may temporarily help my problem until I get a more permanent fix. Any suggestions/help?

[rick1574]

You might want to stay away from anything "stop leak". it just gunks up everywhere and the leaking goes down. When you do go to get it permanatly fixed, all the stop leak will be in there and just complicate things. Your better off just parking the car until you can get it fixed, i wouldn't got with any tempary fixes.

[grande2k]

let me see if i can find the letter i got but it may take a bit because that was a few years ago. anyway, now that i am thinking it may have been a letter describing the problem with the tranny and should any of the symptoms they listed be encountered to take the car into a dealership. but i do know it listed other models as well. hopefully i can find it.

[a1570]

I figure that any info will help me. If you're not able to find this letter, what's the phone no. to the dealership? I could at least speak with a service advisor as to further action. I'm also considering the squeaky wheel approach with Honda America.

If the recall route doesn't work, I thought of replacing the transmission with a used '03 transmission as others say there isn't problems with that year. I don't know if my 02 auto matic, 4 cyl. is compatible. Up here in Canada, I was quoted $4500 for a remanufatured trans. Ouch!! :-o Once I get this problem fixed I will probably dump this car. I'm going back to the Camry.

[damianism]

I read this thread then went on a mission to find the warranty letter. i got this from honda.com.

Concerned about safety? So is Honda. That's why Owner Link provides up-to-date recall information about your vehicle. Because Owner Link recall listings are based on your Honda's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), they are specific to your vehicle.


Your 2000 Honda is included in the 1999-01 TRANS WARRANTY EXT Campaign.





Description 1999-01 TRANS WARRANTY EXT
Date 9/27/2002
Type Warranty Extension Campaign
Status Open



If you experience problems or you have further questions, contact your dealer for assistance.

You can also find more information from:

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda Automobile Customer Service
P.O. Box 2964
Torrance, CA 90509
Telephone: (800) 999-1009

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
Auto Safety Hotline (888) 327-4236

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(This is an electronic version of the letter that has been mailed to you.)


BACK TO RECALLS LIST

October 2002

Dear Accord, Odyssey and Prelude Owners:


American Honda is announcing a warranty extension for the automatic transmission on all 2000-01 Accords, Odysseys, and Preludes. The automatic transmission and torque converter are now covered for a total of 7 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the date of original sale. We are providing this warranty extension because a higher than normal number of automatic transmissions in certain vehicles may have problems due to defects in material or workmanship beyond the 3-year, 36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty.

How do I know if there is a problem with my vehicle's automatic transmission?
If you think your vehicle has a transmission problem, refer to the operating characteristics below. Understanding these characteristics can help you decide if you need to call your Honda dealer.

These characteristics are normal; they should not require you to call your Honda dealer.

Quick downshifts. The transmission has a computerized control system called grade logic. When going down a hill, even a light touch of the brake pedal can cause grade logic to downshift to the next lower gear. Downshifting helps to slow the vehicle through engine braking.

Does not always shift through the full range of gears. This can also be caused by the grade logic system keeping the transmission in the optimum gear for different driving conditions.

Mechanical noise when selecting a forward or reverse gear. It's normal to hear a slight mechanical noise when moving the shift lever from one gear to another. This noise can sound abnormally loud if any of the windows are down and you are parked next to a wall or another vehicle.

Vehicle may not hold its position when stopped on an incline in gear (may roll backward when the brake pedal is released). This can occur on most Honda-made vehicles. It is one of the measures used to improve fuel economy.

Hard shifts before the engine warms up. By design, the transmission shifts a little harder when the engine is cold. It returns to smoother shifting when the engine warms up.

These characteristics are not normal; if you experience any of them, call your Honda dealer.

While driving, the D4 indicator on the instrument panel flashes.

D4 Indicator




An abnormally loud noise from the transmission.
Extremely slow or delayed gear engagement, upshifts, or downshifts.
Abnormal gear slippage during upshifts or downshifts.
Erratic or excessively harsh shifting.
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) leaks.

In the next few weeks, owners of potentially affected vehicles will be sent a copy of this letter along with reimbursement instructions in case they previously paid to have the transmission repaired or replaced.

It's important to maintain your vehicle's transmission according to the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual. Not maintaining the transmission properly can void the warranty coverage.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely,

AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Honda Automobile Division

I hope this helps everyone in the future, unfortunately our accord has 138K and I don't think they want to fix it. I have some friends that I am going to see if they can help make the dealership fix the issue. Thanks for the good information! I will keep you posted if I am succesfull.

[a1570]

Thanks Damianism for replying to my posting. I'm sure that this will help me further with Honda America.:-D

a1570

[alisaom]

My transmission recently just died on me and I was unaware it was under warranty. I have not exceeded 100K. (116K to be exact). Does anyone know how I can get Honda to still cover the warranty or has had any similar experience? I would greatly appreciate it.

[rick1574]

go to honda and ask?

[infamouse_1]

ok i got a 95 accord sitting here but no motor,i got a 2000 accord that i got into a wreck last year was wondering if the 2000 accord motor will fit right in to my 95 accord?

[infamouse_1]

ok i got a 95 accord sitting here but no motor,i got a 2000 accord that i got into a wreck last year was wondering if the 2000 accord motor will fit right in to my 95 accord? sorry posted on the wrong place,mods pls. delete

[fredmushell]

I have a 2001 Odyssey and the tranny just died. Anybody know of a good diagnoses and repair manual. Went to local library, looked in big green Chiltons - totally useless - only tells how to remove and install transaxle. (Procedure looks kind of flakey also, eg. tells you to remove battery tray, next step: remove battery.)

I might be able to get a 2000 tranaxle. 2001 has traction control, 2000 van did not, anybody know if I could swap in 2000 transaxle?

I had a 94 Plymount Voyager, went through 3 trannies. Neighbor told me to buy Odyssey, he was very happy with his. He was old and died, daughter inherited his car and the tranny blew up on her!

Also have Subaru Outback with 2.5 ltr. engine. Blows head gaskets all the time. Does anybody make a good car anymore?

P.S. Sister also has Subaru. Her car had a bad piston slap. Thought she had a rod knock when I first heard it. Turns out horizontally opposed motor block has left and right halves. Halves made at 2 different factories. Left side bored 40 thousands larger. Subaru used same pistons in both sides. Subaru claims not a problem. Car is scary to drive, sound like it is going to through a rod any second. Subaru pretty slimy about problem. Sounds like Honda is also being slimy about tranny problems.


If we still rode horses Preparation H. would be the STP of the day. Your horse would get old and get hemorrhiods and not run very well. Grease him up and he would run like new!

[Ford F-150]

I want to get him into a quality used car that will last a while. That's why I'm looking at foreign cars between $10-$15K.

Thanks for the input!

Common misperception.

Foreign does not equal quality. Good & bad cars can be found across the spectrum of Asian, American, & European. Some models are known for specific failures, that may or may not be a design flaw. Other issues arise due to maintenance, or lack thereof. And yes, even the top tier European brands have TSB's & recalls. No car, regardless of "stellar & unblemished reputation", is perfect. Ask Mercedes & Toyota technicians about engine sludge, or inefficient cooling in the Saturn line, and those Ford diesel trucks that spontaneously catch on fire when driving down the road.

The automatic transmission is a common area of failure for a lot of modern vehicles. The main cause is manufacturers selling "maintenance free" transmissions. They usually lack a drain plug in the pan and/or torque converter, and sometimes the transmission is a sealed complete unit without a removeable pan. Most people don't even know to check the transmission fluid. Change your transmission fluid, visually compare the old fluid to fresh fluid, and smell it for a burnt odor. There are probably about a dozen different online tutorials on various car forums that will guide you through all the steps from dropping the pan & changing the filter, to a complete fluid exchange via the cooling lines. For Hondas, there should even be videos on You Tube.

It sounds like you have a pretty good budget to work with. There are a lot of options available. Ever consider something with 4WD or AWD for those snowy, slushy winters? And I know that in a Honda forum, this will trigger an instant defense amongst Honda fan-boys, but a Pilot is not a real off roader & a Ridgeline is not a real truck. Due to the recent controversy, Toyota vehicles have been "de-valued". You should be able to get a great, reliable, used Toyota that has already had recall work performed, for close to nothing. Heck, for up to $15K, your friend could buy a new car.

Best of luck.

[Ford F-150]

American Honda is announcing a warranty extension for the automatic transmission on all 2000-01 Accords, Odysseys, and Preludes.

This is not because Honda is such a great company, that on their own, they just wanted to take care of their customers. Recalls are ordered by the NHTSA. No car maker gives away anything that they don't have to. They are usually forced to do it. Take the current case of the recall with Toyota, who initially just wanted to give you a nudge & wink, tell you it was just the floor mat, and to "turn up the stereo so you won't hear the noise".




The automatic transmission and torque converter are now covered for a total of 7 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the date of original sale.

What good does that do? Any 99-01 is well beyond that.




We are providing this warranty extension because a higher than normal number of automatic transmissions in certain vehicles may have problems due to defects in material or workmanship beyond the 3-year, 36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty.

Most other cars come with a 5 year/50,000 mile warranty. Some now offer 100,000 mile & lifetime powertrain warranties. What is the deal with Honda offering a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty? Can't they do better than that? I would venture to guess that if you only offer a 3 year warranty, you could probably advertise the car as "maintenance free". I'm pretty certain that with modern engineering & synthetic fluids, you could drive a brand new Honda for 3 years or 36,000 miles without even changing the oil. Of course, your engine would probably fail not too long after that - at say, maybe, 3 years & 1 day, or 36,001 miles.

[Ford F-150]

Neighbor told me to buy Odyssey, he was very happy with his. He was old and died, daughter inherited his car and the tranny blew up on her!

Is that what they call a "lifetime warranty"? Warranty is good for the lifetime of the original buyer, as long as he/she is expected to die soon?

[Ford F-150]

I spoke with a buddy of mine who is a service manager at a large Honda dealership and he said they get a few back every week. He also said the only fix he knew of was to get an external cooler for the tranny to extend the life.


Auxiliary coolers only serve one purpose. They provide additional cooling. Cooler fluids will not fix faulty engineering. Most people run coolers on off road vehicles and on vehicles that will haul heavy loads. This keeps the automatic transmission fluid temperature optimal, and within a narrowly defined range for most efficient operation and longest transmission service life.


Do you need it? Is your fluid heating up excessively? How hot is your fluid? Do you have a temperature gauge & where is it installed?

Your transmission fluid exits your transmission through a cooling line to your heat exchanger (radiator), and returns to the pan at a lowered temperature. You will need to splice into the return line for a secondary cooler. Look for coolers that also have built in electric fans with their own temperature sensor switches like the ones offered by Troyer Performance, B&M, and Derale. This type of active cooler setup is the *only* way to ensure your automatic transmission fluid temperatures will not exceed 200 degrees, which happens frequently with the factory setup when driving at lower speeds or in city traffic, any time you are towing, going Offroad, any kind of racing.