Honda Odyssey: Problems & Solutions:(1995-2004 Models)

camerauser

That new car checklist is really complete. Of course the dealer would rather a buyer not find any issues. Dealers have their own self interest that is not the same as the buyer's. There is a dealer who posts at Edmunds who minimizes anything that may be an issue with a vehicle and has a pat excuse for anything that seems the least bit wrong. Dealers are all smiles when they receive the money but may not be pleased when the buyer wants to check out the vehicle carefully or brings up a real problem because they bothered to check things out.

gregoryc1

You are correct in your assessment of the situation, and there is also another side to the owner / dealer / factory relationship that should be put into the mix, and that relates to "vehicle service". It is VERY important that the customer have all preventive maintenance done at the dealership, as long as there is a factory warranty, or an extended factory warranty on the vehicle. Any manufacturer and / or dealer will look for ways to get out of responsibility when a major issue occurs on a vehicle. But, with all the maintenance records in one place, it is VERY difficult for the dealer and / or the factory to escape responsibility. We have the dealer perform all of our oil and filter service, ($19.99 + tax). It is their oil, and a Honda filter. Should some issue develop with the engine, they own the problem. A perfect example of this type of issue was the Toyota sludge issue. At first both the dealers and the factory were giving the customers a hard time, but that changed when the "customer base" started to discuss the issue on the "net", and in the process share information. In addition to having the vehicle serviced by the dealer, spend the extra money, and have the oil and filter changed more often than necessary. 1st, it is better for the engine, because it will keep the crankcase clean, ----and---- 2nd, should a problem arise, the issue of "owner neglect" will not be introduced into the mix. Since we put high mileage on our vehicles in a short period of time, we also have the dealer service the trans and cooling system since the vehicles are covered by a Honda extended warranty. The dealer is then responsible for the service and the quality of fluids. Issues of the wrong type of coolant, or the wrong trans fluid do not enter into the issue should a problem arise. ---- Just a thought. -----Greg

sportymonk

Excellent advice/Comments.

ckl73golf

I have a 2005 Odessey EX-L What can I program my remote keyless entry to do? and How do I program it?
Thanks

sharonnewton

I also bouth the EXL in december 04.
There are some issues with the car:
1. wiring harness was not good - so they replaced it.
2. electric door driver side is touching and scratching the body.
3. There is some rattle noise coming from the ceiling and maybe from the door.
4. Sometims the doors do not close properlly so I can not lock the car.
5. Airbag light comes on and off - for the driver...

I am very interested to know if such issues happen to other new owners of the 05.
If so we can orgenize and press the manufacturer.

I did not expect to have such problems in such high rated car.

Sharon

aneathway

I have an 01 Odyssey... just turned 290,000 Km, absolutely NO problems at all. WHAT A VEHICLE!

oddymommy

I recently purchased a 2005 Oddy, and I have started to have a LOT of back pain. My husband thinks it is the lumbar support, (Feels on even if off). Any one else have these problems? Other than that, I love it! Just have to figure out all of the tricks. Like I'm also having problems getting the large lazy susan compartment to open. Help if you can.

gregoryc1

That is great! Questions: ---- Did you purchase that vehicle "new"? Tell us about your maintenance process. What do you attribute your success too, in relation to the high mileage? Do you change your transmission fluid often? Do you use synthetic motor oil? Share your secrets!

macakava

Great for you!

I am confident that my Ody will last as long with the strict maintenance schedules that I have been maintaining myself on all my vehicles for the past 30+ years.

Many drivers do not treat their cars with respect, i.e. abuse and expect them to last. I remember a salesman I used to have business lunches with. Every time he drives, I noticed that he always engages the tranny in reverse while the car is still moving forward and vice versa. He has gone thru 4+ transmissions in that car and he is wondering why the failures are happening. His brain must have been in his feet not his head!

innorristn

Thanks for the response. I will mention your fix.

They still have my van and are supposedly driving it around when they can get an extra technician to listen for the rattle.

They did manage to find and fix my other rattle, so hopefully they will keep at it until they find it.

When I'm driving, the "rattle" actually sounds like the door is rattling in the frame, although when I sit in the front passenger seat it seems to be coming from near the door handle, so I'm not sure if it's all the same noise or not.

Does this sound similar to your rattle?

ckl73golf

I have a 2005 Odessey EX-L What can I program my remote keyless entry to do? and How do I program it?
Thanks

fibber2

the light died on my clock the other night. Gave it a sharp rap, and it came back to life! Try that before attempting to replace the bulb...

Steve

brownj

Post #113 by gleamc described a way to circumvent the safety feature of a 2000 Odyssey so the motorized sliding doors could be opened without having to put the vehicle in Park. I would like to do that with my 2004 Odyssey. Is it possible to get detailed instructions for my vehicle? My youngest child is 14 so we really don't need that particular safety feature and it is such a nuisance.

okacheese

I am thinking about buying a 1995-1998 Odyssey with about 100,000 miles on it to replace by 1989 Toyota Van LE (can't drive it in the winter). Can anyone think of a good reason why I should not? Any major problems encountered at that mileage on that model? Also, does anyone know it it will handle a 4x8 sheet of plywood with the seats removed? Thanks in advance.

rat2

I have a 2000 ODY that i purchased with about 58k miles within a couple of weeks I started hearing this grinding noise when braking. I have taken it in twice and adjustments were made, it would subside for a short period and start again. The last time i took it in, it was suggested to me that I replace the drums. The service person indicate that the metal was light and contriubuted to this sound. I declined the offer. Its sounds like what you would expect when your brake pads have worn to the metal and you get this metal to metal grinding. Anyone else with this issue?

tcapers

I have a 3 month old 2005 Odyssey with 2700 miles on it and I'm only getting 14.5 mpg in town and 21.5 on the road. The dealer says nothing's wrong. The sticker says it should get 20 City and 28 Highway. While I'd be satisfied with anything close, I feel the 14.8 is just too low and maybe indicating a problem. Any thoughts on what the problem might be or is their promise of 20 & 28 just not real?

Karen_S

Enter "brake grinding" into the discussion search.

Karen_S

Enter "MPG" in the discussion search.

Although, the posts it returns are not for the 2005, but there may be some related info.

stickguy

my '05 EX-L is getting about 15 around town also. From the discussions I have been looking at, poor (relative to the EPA estimate) MPG is pretty common.

remember, you are driving a 4,500lb. baox on wheels, with 255 HP, so you can only expect so much. Basically, the sticker is optomistic IMO.

msknopf

Does anyone have any recommendations for improving the sound quality of my 2003 LX? I just rented a Hyundai Sonata on vacation and was surprised at the high sound quality compared to the Ody and it reminded me of what I have been missing the past 2 years. Are the speakers just lame or is it the entire Honda sound system? I am not sure I want to replace the entire system but am interested in hearing what people have done.
Thanks in advance
Michael

pete12

Sharon, I have an 05 odyssey and the head liner makes some noice directly above my head when traveling on pavement that has a few bumps in it...I also am having trouble with one of the head sets for the DVD player. I intend on bringing it to Fair Honda in CT for service. I will let you know what happens after the service. P.S. my vehicle only has 900 miles on it!!! I just love my van!!!

pete12

Sharon, I have an 05 odyssey and the head liner makes some noise directly above my head when traveling on pavement that has a few bumps in it...I also am having trouble with one of the head sets for the DVD player. I intend on bringing it to Fair Honda in CT for service. I will let you know what happens after the service. P.S. my vehicle only has 900 miles on it!!! I just love my van!!!

dulnev

I'm getting the same 14.5 mpg in suburbia, mostly short trips. I'm really pissed off about this!

scottyb

"Does this sound similar to your rattle?"

I typically heard it only from the driver's seat, and it did sound as you described; it was "clunking" a bit, as if the door was loose or not fully closed.

We do get an occasional "crackling," which sounds as if the sunshade is hitting, but the clunking sound is gone.

What is the status with your rattle?

stickguy

The only noise we have (that I can spot) is what sounds like the visor (passenger side) rubbing. I don't drive it enough to do a debug, since my wife doesn't notice much, and doesn't have much interest in pushing and pulling to isolate the noise.

But, I think that if I put the visor down, the noise goes away. In all fairness, it is pretty faint, and only on bumpy roads.

stickguy

The head unit may not be audiophile quality, but you will get the best bang for the buck improvement with new speakers. You might even go to components for the front (seperate tweeters), since I think the LX might not come that way (but don't quote me on it).

Next best bet is to add a sub woofer for more base. Replacing the head unit should be the last resort.

From what I have heard, just doing the speakers will make a noticable difference.

merc4

I have the same whistling and clunking issues with my 2005 EX.

Did you find solutions for the problems?

scottyb

"...the clunking sound is gone."

Correction: My wife reports that the clunking sound has reappeared!

I also just learned that my friends in Haverford area still have not had their rattle fixed after 3 visits to the service department and are awaiting a national Honda rep to see the vehicle "in a few weeks."

Which dealer are you taking your car to? We've gone to Scott Honda in West Chester, and I'm guessing that my friend goes to Martin in Ardmore, but I'm not sure.

What happened when you mentioned the "shims" solution to your dealer?

Please feel free to email me directly (see profile), as I don't always check these boards.

If any posters who have complained about this rattle have resolved the problem or have learned additional info, I would appreciate if you would post the info you have.

user777

i got to say adding a sub-woofer would be counter intuitive. there is a big enough resonate cavity as it is. i think you're right about replacing the speakers though.

freshair

We just picked up our EX-L 05 Ody & LOVE IT!

Question: I going to place an order w/H&A Accessories (above banner) for the cross bar (goes on top rack) and the all season mats and a cargo mat (don't know if the cargo mat is all season?). Are there any other accessories I should consider that are helpful/most popular?

Also should I Scotch Guard the interior carpet myself (we did not get any interior/exterior protective coating). We got a silver pearl exterior/gray interior.

What about license plate frames? The dealer ones that came w/it seem plastic and flimsy & of course are an ad for the dealer, tho we were very happy w/the dealer . . . any suggestions? (Chrome or stainless or other we should look at getting??)
Thanks - this forum has been tremendously helpful along the Ody buying path.

ckl73golf

I have a 2005 Odessey EX-L What can I program my remote keyless entry to do? and How do I program it?
Thanks

billyboston

Check engine light comes on intermitently. "TCS" light was coming infrequently as well. Van would stall about 2 or three times per day. No trouble starting back up. Heard about how AutoZone will read codes for free. Took it there and we retrieved the codes. The code reader/scan tool was made by Actron. There were 2 codes that were present. The first code was: P0172 /Bank 1/ "System Too Rich". The second code was: P0170 / Bank 1/ Fuel Trim Malfunction. Can anyone give me a clue as to what the problem may be and the approximate costs involved. The van has 56,000 miles on it. Thanks! Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated.

macakava

Boy! Oh Boy! The smell of a new car! Congrats!

If you don't already have splash/mud guards and leather streering wheel, I suggest that you get them.

The feel and comfort of the leather wheel is more substantial and make the driving more enjoyable. The splash/muds guards help to deflect sand/stones/mud away from the undercarraige.

sportymonk

How hard is the leather wheel to put on by yourself (ie no dealer)? Does it fit well if done according to instructions (realizing that individual error accounts for problems). Does it hold up long or does it start to slip?

macakava

The instructions are very accurate at their website,
http://www.handa-accessories.com/odyint02.html
for the genuine Honda black leather steering cover at $42. It is an exact fit and makes driving much more enjoyable.

Makes sure that you pull the thread as tight as you can for the tightest fit. Don't be afraid of bursting the thread - it can take as much as you can throw at it. But be prepared for finger blisters and finger skin pricks if not careful. I will NOT do this as a FT job!

hondaconvert1

I totally agree with you. I am so upset and frustrated and to make things worse HOA has closed my case that I had opened to place the complain. I demanded for a replacement new '05 Odyssey, but that was not an option. I am waiting for a major engine problem and then either Honda of America will take care of it or the vehicle is history. I am disappointed, I should have bought the Sienna. Never again HONDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S.
If you or anyone you know has resolved the rattle noise in the sliding door on the passenger side, let me/us know.

hondaconvert1

Yup, that is another disappointment I have experienced myself too. I get around 19-20MPG in the city but this is achieved with very gentle handling of the gas accelerator. I would expected to get at least 23-25/28-30MPG city/highway.

freshair

Can anyone tell me if the Cargo TRAY is to be used with the 3rd row of seats up or down (or does it matter)? If you get the carge MAT, is the Cargo TRAY redundant (or would you ever use both at the same time?) It's really hard to tell what the tray does from the photo on HandA accessories (banner above). How is the Cargo ORGANIZER different from the TRAY? Are they used together or separately?

Thanks for any insight!!

denver5357

"Can anyone tell me if the Cargo TRAY is to be used with the 3rd row of seats up or down (or does it matter)? If you get the carge MAT, is the Cargo TRAY redundant (or would you ever use both at the same time?) It's really hard to tell what the tray does from the photo on HandA accessories (banner above). How is the Cargo ORGANIZER different from the TRAY? Are they used together or separately?"

We have both the tray and the mat. The tray you can leave in the well for the 3rd-row seats whether those seats or up or down. The mat obviously only is used with the 3rd row down. We use the tray for a protective lining when we have ghroceries or whatever. We use the mat for the same reason when we have the 3rd row down and need to haul something. Don't know about the organizer.

freshair

THANK YOU for the insight - I've placed my order with HandA. Does anyone have any advice about the license plate holders/frames? I don't really like the idea of driving around w/the dealer advertising frames . . . has anyone put on a custom or even generic type of frame that you like? Stainless? Chrome? Plastic? or other? If so, where did you buy it?

robr2

$5.00 black plastic from the local Auto Zone. It's going to get broken and bugged up anyway...

cabaiste

I also have a 2005 EXL and have been getting a combined 13.5 mpg. On highway only it rises to 20. I've taken it back to the dealer, Nanuet Honda and they lied and siad it got 22mpg in 100 miles of mixed driving when they tested it, basically implying that I couldnt divide (I'm a CPA, got that division figured out a while ago!)

I escalated to American Honda and while their customer service rep Kirsten was chirpy, they were totally unhelpful and did nothing to try to resolve (I suggested having an engineer look at it to no avail)

Bottom line - I'll never buy another Honda product again because of the DREADFUL customer service experience. I've also steered 2 of my friends towards other makes.

cccompson

Although many folks are reporting lower mileage figures than the EPA estimates (and that is all they are - estimates), I think the jury is still out for a couple of reasons.

Your vehicle only has 2700 miles on it. Hondas are known to have a rather lengthy break-in period (up to 10,000 miles) before gas mileage is optimized.

Winter mileage (assuming you don't live in a warm climate) tends to be worse than in warmer weather.

That said, I do agree the 20/28 estimates on the VCM powered Odyssey seems optimistic. It is a heavy vehicle - depending on trim level the vehicle can weigh up to 4700 pounds (add a driver and full tank of gas and you're at 5000). While 28 on the highway (at legal speeds) should be possible (my '99 hit or exceeded its EPA highway number), I will be astonished if my Touring ever hits 20 in town.

innorristn

Scottyb - Thanks for the update. They still have my van (8 work days now), but they give a free loaner car since I bought my car there, so it hasn't been a huge hardship. I haven't pushed because I want them to find the problem and I know they don't take it out to drive when it's raining. However, I plan to call Monday morning and let them know I have to have it (fixed or not) by Thursday afternoon. My dealer is Rusty Wallace Honda in Knoxville, TN. Since they found my other rattle, I'm trying to be optimistic.

I wondered if lubing the subseals might just be a temporary fix so I hadn't mentioned it to my service department yet. When I mentioned the shims I didn't get a response one way or the other. However, I plan ask if they checked on that.

It sounds like there are other people having the same problem, so hopefully one of us can find a solution and let the others know. I'll let you know whether they get mine fixed by Thursday and I'll e-mail you later.

innorristn

I heard on radio yesterday morning that AAA is pushing EPA to update the way they compute the mileage estimates. The news spot said the current method is 30 years old and does not allow for air conditioning, cold engines, or speeds below 60 miles per hour. No wonder we don't reach EPA estimates!

I have 05 Touring and get about 21.8 mph with about 2/3 of my driving on interstate and using cruise control.

innorristn

See address below for Web site with article on how EPA mileage is actually calculated. I found this when I did a Google search on "EPA mileage estimates". It really surprised me.

http://www.climateark.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=35904

scottyb

I had posted a link to possible solutions to the rattle problem, but it got pulled b/c Edmunds does not permit linking to auto sites that have a forum.

If anyone wants information on these solutions, please email me. I intend to share them with my local service dep't this week.

scottyb

innorristn,

I just read your post. If you email me, I'll send you the info I have on the shims, including photos, and some additional rattle info. I have the service manual and intend to review it briefly before bringing the van in this week.

I had assumed--the provincial person that I am-- that your handle was a reference to Norristown, PA; that's why I asked about dealers.

hondaconvert1

Was your rattle issue get resolved? If yes, let me/us know what was the solution. Thanks...

sportymonk

Ref above post - "I totally agree with you. I am so upset and frustrated and to make things worse HOA has closed my case that I had opened to place the complain. I demanded for a replacement new '05 Odyssey, but that was not an option. I am waiting for a major engine problem and then either Honda of America will take care of it or the vehicle is history. I am disappointed, I should have bought the Sienna. Never again HONDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

2nd above post - "I also have a 2005 EXL and have been getting a combined 13.5 mpg. On highway only it rises to 20. I've taken it back to the dealer, Nanuet Honda and they lied and said it got 22mpg in 100 miles of mixed driving when they tested it, basically implying that I couldn't divide (I'm a CPA, got that division figured out a while ago!)
 
I escalated to American Honda and while their customer service rep Kirsten was chirpy, they were totally unhelpful and did nothing to try to resolve (I suggested having an engineer look at it to no avail)
 
Bottom line - I'll never buy another Honda product again because of the DREADFUL customer service experience. I've also steered 2 of my friends towards other makes."

The three top reasons I am reluctant to buy an Ody (1) Poor gas mileage. (2) Poor quality, (wind noise, rattles, seats very uncomfortable, etc) seems no better than Ford or Chevy at this point. (3) Customer Service support.

Realize these are a small percentage of Odys sold but this doesn't sound like the honda my daughter fell in love with and makes me want to sell my Impala and buy one. Am leaning toward Pilot but not sure what to do. Ody teething problems are greatly worrying me.