How afraid should I be of this: 2003 Odyssey with 200K on the clock

https://columbiamo.craigslist.org/cto/5521869559.html

It looks really clean and I would imagine that I could manage to get the price under $2k. The internet rumors about transmission failure is scary.

Personally, I'd do it. My Daily Driver has over 200k on the clock.
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That may differ for you. I don't mind doing my own wrenching when things need replacing (wheel bearings, alternator, radiator etc.) to keep my cost of ownership down. It sure beats having a car payment. If you're not the type to do your own repairs, it could become costly and may not be worth it.

Ive done a decent bit of work to two of these 03-04 Odysseys recently and am belatedly realizing how great they are. That 200k doesn't mean crap to me. It's probably due for its second timing belt/water pump set, so that's bargaining power. I did it and it wasn't hard as timing sets go.

As far as the transmission, look at the fluid and drive the snot out of it and if that's ok i'd go for it.

parents have an 01 with 180k on it and plan on taking a road trip to new york during memorial day weekend from Florida. The stuff that has gone bad has been relatively minor and due to age. It's been on its second transmission since 100k or so.

But honestly compared to the vw eurovan that we replaced it with, its been rock solid.

Ok, thanks gang. I put in an e-mail with them and will see what they say.

I've seen one have the transmission fail, and it did it early on. Others have transmissions at something less than perfect, and they stay that way for seemingly forever. Ever so slowly getting slightly worse. But none ever failed.

This includes one that received zero maintenance except for oil changes throughout it's 200+K life. That includes the original timing belt. They beat the tar out of that van. It never leaked any fluid or did anything bad. Slight flair on shifts sometimes.

FWIW, its not if those transmissions will fail but when. Honda really screwed their customers with that one. And its about a 2500 fix, for a rebuild.

reply to single slammer We replaced the tranny in our 01 at 214,000. Other than that, it was brilliant.

I'd do it. 200k on the Odyssey is nothing. My understanding is that the transmission issues are largely over-represented on the internet. True, it is a serious expense if it ends up needing to be replaced in the future, but for the price it's worth the gamble to me. IIRC By 2003 most of those issues had been solved, but in the event that the trans fails, it's just an excuse to swap in in 6 speed/LSD from the TL

The trans failures may be over represented, but I had a 2003 that the trans died on at about 120k.

Also, those power sliding doors are a real PITA to service and the plastic rollers are very prone to failure.

Good info. I can get a reman transmission on ebay for probably $1600 after shipping. If it can be had for under $2k, I will likely end up getting it.

did the five speeds have more problems than the four speed auto odyssey's?

mine has the manual doors and occasionally they get "sticky" and need some force to get them open

It probably needs motor mounts as well. For some reason shops charge a huge amount of money for that (I've heard quotes of $1800 plus from cow orders), but looking at the DIY write-ups it doesn't look that hard and the parts aren't that expensive either, so I dunno.

The five speeds were worse. Don't think they were better till 06 or 07.

linnjb wrote: The five speeds were worse. Don't think they were better till 06 or 07.

AIUI, somewhere in '05 they started using the transmission out of the Ridgeline, which is supposed to have fixed the endemic problems.

Since its the rare RWD and all I would image you dont need to worry about the run of the mill fwd trans issues

People that dont know which wheels drive their cars after 10 years of ownership give me doubts. I find they dont know how to check the oil, put air in the tires do maintenance BEFORE something breaks... Then they dont question stuff thats sort of broken like leaking headgaskets, just as long as they can get from a to b. Its not everyone but something to consider.

Well, I sent an e-mail with no response. We will see if I ever hear from them.