P0740 on Honda vehicles
92 owner complaints filed with NHTSA about Honda vehicles mention P0740 (Torque Converter Clutch Circuit/Open) - across 4 models. Below is where it shows up, by model and year.
Can you drive with it? Moderate distances are tolerable if shifting feels normal; shuddering at highway speed says fix it sooner.
Symptoms, likely causes in order and realistic repair costs are on the main P0740 page - they do not differ much by brand. This page shows what is specific to Honda: which models and years actually report it.
Honda models reporting P0740
The number next to each year is how many NHTSA complaints for that car mention P0740. Owners rarely quote trouble codes when complaining, so real occurrence is many times higher - use these numbers to compare years, not as totals.
What Honda owners report
“Purchased a 2004 honda pilot used at 136k miles. Within a week of driving the check engine light came on. Engine codes p0700, p0705, p0740 were all present, which are all in relation to the automatic transmission. The transmission shop confirmed that this is a common issue across honda & acura vehicles in the '03-'04 range (see 2003-2004 acura mdx service bulletin 06-003). A design flaw in the torque converter causes it to break down & shed metal fragments, which compromises the rest of the transmission. The only real fix is to rebuild or replace the transmission. Honda americas customer service refused to review my case any further, even under goodwill consideration.”2004 Honda Pilot · Feb 2019 · 136,000 mi
“I had just gotten back from port arthur, texas. I had stopped for a traffic light in the left turn lane,and there was traffic stopped behind me, thank goodness. When the light turned green I tried to pull off, but the vehicle did not moved. A man helped me to push the vehicle out of traffic onto a parking lot . After putting the vehicle in different gears, the check engine light finally came on. I called a wrecker to pick it up and deliver it home. Since then I bought a code reader and the code is a p0740. I have read where honda has problems with their transmissions. I called them and they said that my transmission was not on recall.”2001 Honda Civic · Sep 2016 · 71,721 mi
“Car started shifting hard into first and second gears. Then my check engine light came on and the code: p0740 came up. I have researched this issue and have found that there was a lawsuit in ca regarding this and that it is a major issue for my generation honda. I had my transmission fluids checked and the levels are fine, color is good, and it does not smell burnt. Before I pay for a hefty repair, I would like to know if honda has, or will, taken any responsibility for repairs or replacement.”2001 Honda Accord · Jun 2015 · 197,000 mi
“Check engine light and tcs light came on while driving the van at highway speeds. The transmission shifts smoothly and sounds fine, but the repair shop pulled a code of p0740--tc clutch failure. The transmission is failing, and this is apparently a common problem with honda odysseys. While our transmission lasted longer than many odysseys' do, I think that transmission failure at 119k is unacceptable. *tr”2004 Honda Odyssey · Jun 2014 · 119,000 mi
Counts are NHTSA owner complaints whose text mentions P0740 - owner-reported and unverified. Always confirm with a diagnosis of your specific vehicle.