Component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Manufacturer
HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.)
What Happened
The automatic transmission in your vehicle has a part called the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears. In some cases, heat can build up between these gears, causing them to chip or break.
Risk if Unfixed
If this happens, your transmission could lock up while you're driving, leading to a crash.
Free Fix
Your Honda dealer will inspect and fix the issue for free. If your vehicle has less than 15,000 miles, they'll update the oil cooler return line to prevent overheating. If your vehicle has more than 15,000 miles, the dealer will inspect the transmission and replace it if necessary, or make the oil cooler update if it's still safe to do so.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
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.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Original — Remedy
ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO IDENTIFY GEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. IF DISCOLORATION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED IF DISCOLORATION IS NOT PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM THE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004, FOR PILOT, ODYSSEY, AND MDX OWNERS. OWNERS OF THE ACCORD VEHICLES WILL START RECEIVING LETTERS ON JUNE 28, 2004, AND ON JUNE 29, 2004, FOR OWNERS OF THE TL AND CL VEHICLES. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
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