Honda Odyssey 2005+

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Comments

  • kixokixo Member Posts: 35
    I am negotiating a deal for an '05 EX-L from a dealer about 800 miles away. I'll fly there and then drive back. Will 800 miles of freeway driving (65-75 mph) adversely affect the car since it is so new?

    Some auto manufacturers recommend slow and gentle driving at a variety of speeds for the first 1000 miles. Will this cause seating problems for the engine parts?

    I could have the car put on a trailer, but want to save the $300, and also inspect the car in person before accepting it.
  • kixokixo Member Posts: 35
    Fog lights are standard with the Touring model. Can a new owner tell me where the switch is placed. In a picture of the Touring interior in the Odyssey catalog, there is a row of switches on the left side of the steering wheel. It looks like they are:
    - Power Tailgate open/close
    - Parking Assist on/off
    - VSA on/off

    There is a blank for a 4th switch, which I assumed would be for the fog lights. If not, what is the switchblank for? Another option?
  • pkapka Member Posts: 56
    Fog light switch is on the left of the headlight switch. It is clearly illustrated in the manual.
    good luck! if you get them as an accessory in the Ex, then the switch is installed in one of the empty switches on the panel.
  • kixokixo Member Posts: 35
    Fog lights are standard with the Touring model. Can a new owner tell me where the switch is placed. In a picture of the Touring interior in the Odyssey catalog, there is a row of switches on the left side of the steering wheel. It looks like they are:
    - Power Tailgate open/close
    - Parking Assist on/off
    - VSA on/off

    There is a blank for a 4th switch, which I assumed would be for the fog lights. If not, what is the switchblank for? Another option?
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,569
    At least you will get the break in period over with quickly!

    New cars don't tend to have any elaborate requirements, but you should still try to avoid long distances at one speed. If you can make a little longer trip out of it, get off the highway every so often, take side roads, go sightseeing, or whatever, just to give the engine some variety.

    If you do need to pretty much haul straight through, at least vary speeds as much as you can. That is, run 60 for a bit, accelerate up to 75, and fluctuate in between.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,569
    I know that there are a few posters that find the drivers seat to be a torture chamber. For my peace of mind, can any owners with leather seats that find them comfortable for long distance toss in their $.02 worth?

    We have an EX-L on order, and I do sometimes have problems with my back (and certain car seats), although I'm sometimes happiest with seats that others find uncomfortable for some reason.

    I have taken only 1 short drive (my wife did most of the testing), and did a few test sits in the showroom. I seem to recall that they flet good to me, but I will do some more investigating. I do really like how you can tilt the front edge up. Really helps with thigh support.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • thumperthumper Member Posts: 75
    On the Touring, the foglight switch is integrated with the headlight stalk. On non-Tourings with the foglights installed as an option, they are operated by a separate switch installed into the bank of switches you saw next to the wheel.

    --> Andy
  • emaneman Member Posts: 85
    as you may have read I am not happy with the car - but the seats are not one of my prblems. The Drivers seat on the EXL feels okay to me on (2) 2 our drives.
  • krusekruse Member Posts: 1
    So I've got an 05 EX-L-RES and after perusing the messages on this board, I've got to chime in with my two cents. Judging from many people's comments I must have gotten really lucky the day my van was built. It's among the quietest vehicles I've ever driven - easily the quietest van. I also find the seats to be very comfortable. True, the lumbar support is hard plastic, but it's mounted under a padded leater seat! To any potential buyers that may be put off by the discussion in this group - if not for the title I'd have a hard time believing the topic of this forum is the van I own.

     

    -JJK
  • rand01rand01 Member Posts: 75
    Kruse, guess I am one of the "lucky" owners also, and my sympathy goes out to all of those having problems.

     

    We have taken three separate one hour road trips over varying road surfaces and logged lots of around town miles in the last three weeks.

    Though my wife is the primary driver, it seems to be an excellent vehicle, and I know you could not convince her otherwise!

     

    Over some types of road surfaces, the tires transmit a bit more noise than I am use to sensing from, say, my Suburban, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Quiet over most road surfaces.

     

    I have washed, clay barred, and waxed this thing and have yet to find a flaw, inside or out. Yeah, there is too much plastic it in, but doesn't this seem typical anymore? I've got my aftermarket wood kit ready to install this weekend. That will help break up some of that. At least all the pieces in ours seem to fit well, no rattles or squeaks yet.

     

    Ergonomics of any vehicle are obviously not going to work for every person's body. I'm 5"10" 180 lbs, wife is 5'8" 125 lbs. and the seats work fine for us. My biggest complaint is the reach to the steering wheel. It does seem a bit excessive.

     

    Anybody considering laying out a big chunk of change for the Odyssey, or any other vehicle, should check them out thoroughly and come to their own conclusion. To be totally turned off by the negative postings of any vehicles contained in these boards could be a mistake, (it seems people are more willing to spend more time and energy griping rather than praising).
  • qqq1qqq1 Member Posts: 8
    Does anyone know how long delivery time is from the factory in Alabama to Colorado? Or to any state about that far away from Alabama, for that matter?
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Just human nature. when they can't find something big to complain about they will nitpick small things to death.

     

    And, in forums such as this one we see a lot of "me too"'s thrown into the mix.

     

    Even myself. I never noticed my moonroof in my Accord Coupe squeaking until I read of that horrible "problem" in an Accord forum a few years ago.

     

    So, the next time I drove the Accord, I turned off the radio and listened carefully. Sure enough, when I hit rough places on the street, It squeeked!

     

    Took me five minutes to lube it up.

     

    Guess no car is perfect?
  • fballardfballard Member Posts: 9
    I have found all seats in my 2005 EX-L to be very comfortable. While not perfect - I think it is a "quality" vehicle. I, like some others wish they would put the day-running lights on the ones made in America like they do on the ones made in Canada. The van is very easy to get into and out of for us older folks.
  • michaelamichaela Member Posts: 12
    Just took delivery of my van and am loving it. However, I did notice that the wind noise is extra loud in this vehicle. Does anyone know what is causing that and how can I fix it? Thanks.
  • yatesdyatesd Member Posts: 60
    eman,

     

    I test drove an EX and the Touring and I didn't notice any real difference in road noise or ride (This test drive was approximately a week apart, so I can't be certain).

     

    Personally, I find the ride slightly firmer (just over certian bumps) than I would prefer for a minivan, and I do hear more road noise than I may have initially anticipated. In this regard, the Sienna I drove was a little better.

     

    That being said, the overall noise, refinement, wind noise of the Honda is very good and I think these are the things you notice when you are nit-picking about the details. I also like the overall interior quality/design of the Odyssey over it's competitors.

     

    I would have to agree that the Odyssey and Toyota just have different personalities. The Honda seems like a newer design, with slightly better ergonomics, and just plain feels uplevel (personal opinion). The Sienna that I drove had a very soft/quiet ride and in some ways I liked it better. Although, I understand that it would compromise the handling and driving experience somewhat. I also felt the dash was a little more outdated (Buick?,personal opinion). I actually liked both vehicles.

     

    Hopefully this helps.
  • surferjoesurferjoe Member Posts: 18
    So right you are.

     

    Our 2005 Odyssey EX-L NAV/DVD is our fifth Honda or Acura in the past 15 years. The only time we ever complained about a car was the one time we made a big mistake and bought a 1994 Ford Explorer. My fault, but my wife forgave me.

     

    We thought our 2000 Odyssey was our best car ever, but the 2005 beats it hands down. Now we have two vans to drive around two kids and a big dog. The guy who bought the 1993 Accord we just sold, is pretty happy too.

     

    The seats are perfectly comfortable on both the vans, and we have no issues with fit or finish.
  • vcarrerasvcarreras Member Posts: 247
    Purchased our EX on Oct 1 and it now has 3900 miles. What a wonderful machine. Have made several trips Houston-San Antonio, Houston-Atlanta, Houston-Monterrey, Mexico. Longest was 12 hours straight! Very comfortable. Worse milage 15.9 running around town. Best 23.6 with cruise set at 80. Overall givimg 21.8. Bet I would do better slowing down. VERY HAPPY!
  • davec1davec1 Member Posts: 3
    I bought the new 05 odyssey for it,s reputation. Yet I have already had it back for; glove box and dash rattle, malfunctioning engine eco module replacement, misaligned dash trim(unfixable). I am not impressed. Plus it needs telescoping steering wheel, power lift gate on EX, a speedo that doesn't go to 240km(nuts),better stereo, leather wrapped wheel in the EX-"L", wood trim, additonal power rear door swithes for rear passengers.
  • jchan2jchan2 Member Posts: 4,956
    I do agree that they have different personalities. The Sienna is more traditional luxury car- buttery smooth and quiet but not exactly the most fun.

     

    The Odyssey feels more like a sport sedan (well, compared to the Sienna at least, its not like it'll beat a BMW 330i) with some luxury touches. It all just comes down to which one you prefer. Some people prefer a Camry. Some like the Accord. Either way, you really can't go wrong.
  • jchan2jchan2 Member Posts: 4,956
    nothing's perfect, even if it is a Honda.
  • carguy58carguy58 Member Posts: 2,303
    I like the current Oddy better than the previous generation from a styling standpoint and interior fit and finish. First off its a first year model and in buying a first year model you take more chances of something going wrong with the car than if you buy a car in its 2nd or 3rd year of bodystyle. The 03 Accord had the same problem with rattles. Honda did work out the bugs for 04 Accord's though. The more I read these boards the more I will not a buy first year model of any car.
  • hlmrspdhlmrspd Member Posts: 13
    I have a 2005 Odyssey EXL with RES (this model includes the variable cylinder management system) with 4.5 k miles and I recently did a 200 mile round trip with the cruise set at 70. The roads were relatively flat and the outside temperature was in the 50's with little or no wind.

     

    My gas mileage was 22.1 mpg (the EPA rating on the highway is 28 mpg). The Honda dealership told me that 22.1 mpg was within the acceptable range, and since my vehicle did not have any fault codes there was nothing they could do.

     

    I understand there may be a variance from the EPA estimate but 6 mpg or over a 20% difference is not an acceptable variance.

     

    I have owned approximately 20 vehicles and have never had a problem getting close to or even greater than the EPA estimate. So I am not sure what the problem could be, and Honda doesn't give a hoot.
  • davec1davec1 Member Posts: 3
  • rand01rand01 Member Posts: 75
    Funny, I've had over 20 vehicles and never got close to an EPA estimate on any of them!

     

    If I remember right, EPA tests are done in a lab and the highway mileage is based on an average speed of 48 mph, with the A/C off, for 10 miles.

     

    You are pushing a lot more air (drag) at that 70 mph average versus the 48 mph average.
  • dogladydoglady Member Posts: 21
    The LX does not have the lumbar support lever.

     

    It has 'Bridgestone Turanza' tires

     

    btw, has anyone that is complaining about seat complainers actually rode in a LX that does not have the adjustable lumbar? My husband thought I was exaggerating about the back pain until I let him drive it for 1 day (80 mile round trip). He and his carpooler has voted it 'most uncomfortable seats'. They both ended up riding with the seats really reclined so that lumbar thing would quit poking them in the back.

     

    I have driven the van for about 40 minutes above 50+ mph and it drives great, good pickup, smooth transmission, little wind noise (I don't have a rook rack or moonroof), but my back pain was intolerable and my legs went to sleep (and stayed asleep throughout the night). I have discovered that if I drive it without my back resting on the seat then I am OK. I don't think I could do this for a long period though. I am going to call the dealer on Monday and discuss options. I love the van and want to keep it but being able to lean back in the seat would sure be nice!
  • lumbarlumbar Member Posts: 421
    It is fairly typical for new vehicles to gradually rise to optimum gas mileage over time, and "over time" can mean more than 4.5K. I agree that 22mpg under the conditions that you describe is a disappointment, regardless of the accuracy of EPA estimate, but I suspect you may see incremental improvements up to 7500-10000 miles. You may also want to check your tire pressure in the event it's on the low end.

     

    Pls. keep posting since MPG will be a pretty big issue in our purchase decision--I would expect 25-26 at about 65 mph under decent conditons with VCM.
  • ace1000ace1000 Member Posts: 151
    My Odyssey is not noisy. There is some wind hum at freeway speeds that one would expect with so much frontal area.

     

    The seats are not as comfortable as those on our Volvo, but they are not uncomfortable. My wife even rode in the center of the second seat for 20 miles and said the Plus One seat was fine. I had a disc removed in my back, and I spent many months this year at the physical therapist eliminating some bad back pains from posture problems I have. So my back is not the model back, yet the Odyssey's driver seat doesn't cause any problems.

     

    With 700 miles on it, I calculated the gas mileage for one tank of gas for mixed highway and around town driving, and it was just over 22 mpg, which is about what I would expect. Much of the highway mileage was with the van loaded with passengers and cargo.

     

    The acceleration and handling are very good for a utility vehicle. I'm not sure how well the traction control works, though, as I have spun the wheels for a second or two accelerating from a stop on dry pavement.

     

    Add me to the list of satisfied owners.
  • ytjkytjk Member Posts: 9
    I got a good price on an EX-L RES NAV from a dealer close to my parent's house. Picked it up over Thanksgiving.

     

    I had a 2004 Sienna loaner from a dealer (long story) that I picked it up in.

     

    When I picked the van up, I filled them both side-by side and drove back to my folks house.

     

    Honda used 12.5 gallons, 20 MPG, Sienna 10 Gallons 25 MPG.

     

    After the weekend, I refilled them both again. I drove them both back home, 300 miles, all interstate, one behind the other (we did switch leads a few times).

     

    The Sienna again beat the Honda by a solid 20%. 26.5 MPG in the Sienna, 22 MPG in the Honda.

     

    Just finished my first tank locally, 16.5 MPG.

     

    I'm disgusted. The Honda people take the EPA #'s as a key selling point, and frankly the Sienna makes it look silly out there.

     

    Maybe you get 28 MPG on a perfectly flat course with 3 cylinders all the time, but you sure don't see that longer haul.

     

    Road noise is a little higher than it should be, personally I like the radio.

     

    Some very basic features (for instance a trip computer to compute the mileage!!) were "conveniently" left off the $32800 car-- coincidence?? (Ha ha)

     

    I have 1 final problem-- the tailgate often fails to fully latch when I close it. I'm a big dude, I guarantee I am not being too gentle. It sticks in the "half way closed" position, unless I hold on the the door and push it all the way into the frame of the car.

     

    OK-- As far as I'm concerned it is definitive-- if you care about the mileage as a selling point, buy Sienna. Open, closed. 20% savings.

     

    Cheers!

    Jeff
  • hlmrspdhlmrspd Member Posts: 13
    rand01 you have made some valid points:

     

    1. 70 mph is not the ideal speed for gas mileage, but it is the speed limit on a lot of interstates, and it still does not explain a 6 mpg difference.

     

    2. The EPA test is performed at an average of 48 mph however, the estimate is reduced by 22% highway 10% city to reflect "normal" driving conditions.

     

    3. You have owned more cars than I.

     

    4. Your driving habits are different than mine.
  • engenlowengenlow Member Posts: 10
    I have a 2005 EX-L w/ DVD.

    Reading the maintenance record, I do not see a mention to replace an interior air filter. Does this vehicle even have one? The sales person said it did.

     

    I've driven in a few "odiferous" areas and behind a few diesel trucks and wondered why I smell everything if there really is an air filter.
  • yjfuyjfu Member Posts: 18
    My '05 EXL has been at dealer's garage for fixing the whistling noise since 12/1 (11 days now) and My wife is still on a rental car. Both dealer and American Tech Line don't know how to fix it and the Design Team got invloved. The clicking noise of first gear at taking off is still not being addressed by the dealer yet. I think Honda is making big mistake on the start-up of this new model and not very reponsive to the issues. I still suggest potential buyers hold off the purchase until the issues are resolved.
  • rockycow33rockycow33 Member Posts: 76
    The air filter or "pollen filter" is like a furnace filter it is not an odor filter. The filter stops the majority of dust, small leaves and other crud that can enter the car via the inlet air ducts. When you have yours changed ask to see the filter -they get pretty grungy looking after 30K miles. I change mine every 15K
  • jkprice1jkprice1 Member Posts: 2
    Just had our third kid and knew it was time to go for a van. Had worked out a nice trade on our '03 Pilot before the test drive just to be sure we could afford it. Drove an EX (no leather). Not even close to being as quiet as the Pilot but the convenience of the Oddy outweighed that, however, the Driver and Passenger seats were painful. Something has to be wrong. It's like the seam for the bottom part of the seatback is an inch to high. It just feels like a fist in the kidneys. I only drove it for 10 miles and then switched with my wife for the ride back. She said the same thing. To say we were disappointed would be an understatement. We really wanted to buy this van.

     

    Now remember, I own a Pilot. I know how the Lumbar support lever works, that's not the problem. I have owned a '94 Civic, 1st gen CRV, and currently an '02 Civic as well. I have never had a problem with the seats. What's up?!

     

    The dealer is giving me an EXL tomorrow for a two day trial (he really wants to sell me a van and I really want to buy one) Perhaps the leather will make a difference. Otherwise, no deal. Not when my Pilot seats are so comfy.
  • emaneman Member Posts: 85
    The EXL has some great qualities, that is what attracted me to it. The enigne and power is great.

     

    But on the highway the noise is unacceptable.

     

    The radio snap crackles and pops due to losing signal.

     

    so as you drive along and want to be happy the road noise and radio spoil the party
  • rand01rand01 Member Posts: 75
    hlmrspd, good point about the downward adjustment of the mileage figures.

     

    I finally found a link for more info on EPA vehicle testing for fuel economy, if anyone is interested.

     

    www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/how_tested.shtml

     

    I've always considered EPA numbers just a way to compare mileage between vehicle A and vehicle B. If I got somewhere around those mileage numbers, then I felt darn lucky.
  • hansiennahansienna Member Posts: 2,312
    Edmund's Long Term Tests of minivans shows the Odyssey got much better gas mileage than the Sienna.

        1999 Ody EX delivered 18.3 MPG in 42,703 miles

        2004 Sienna XLE has delivered only 16.0 MPG so far in 14,223 miles.

        By comparison, the 2001 GC ES got 17.8 MPG in the 37,339 miles and the 2004 Quest SL got 17.8 MPG in 21,718 miles.

        Edmund's accurate long term tests indicate the Odyssey is the winner of the minivans while the Sienna is the lowest.
  • ispyispy Member Posts: 11
    To anyone on the fence about buying an Odyssey, the wind noise is a real issue. Its like driving with seashells attached to your ears. I can't believe that such a trustworthy corporation would allow this product onto the streets like this. its a sharp car otherwise but if I could do it over I would have bought something else. Hopefully they are working on the problem.
  • lumbarlumbar Member Posts: 421
    Well, I suppose that's true if one is willing to accept a comparison of a 1999 Odyssey with a 2004 Sienna (anyone shopping for a '99?) with a 2001 Grand Caravan and a 2004 Quest--all very possibly driven by different people. One also wonders whether 2.3 MPG qualifies as -much- better gas mileage, although I realize that it's about 14%.
  • luvmy05odyluvmy05ody Member Posts: 8
    Could you please describe the wind noise?

     

    I am extremely happy with my '05 EX-L and have gone to painstaking lengths to try and find things wrong with it. I have not heard any objectionable noise, except when the rear windows are down and nothing else. But to remedy that, just crack the fronts an inch or two and it goes away.

     

    My only complaint is the quality of paint on the plastic rear bumper.
  • kixokixo Member Posts: 35
    Hi - on the left side of the EX dash are a row of four switches. One is taken up with VSA on/off button, and I suppose one of three blanks can be taken up with a fog light switch.

     

    But what would the other two blanks be used for? Will I have to stare at these two switchblanks everytime I drive, as a reminder that I didn't get the Touring?

     

    I had the same situation in a Mazda once, except that you could remove the switchblanks and pop-in a handy coin holder.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,569
    Yep, they are a reminder that you didn't get the touring or at least add on accessories. If they bother you, tape little pictures of your kids there.

     

    I really need to get an Ody out on the highway to see what this road/wind noise thing is all about. My test drives didn't include much higher-speed driving, but they did seem quiet during the drives.

     

    One dealer is close to a local highway, so it should be easy to do a 5 mile run at 70ish, which should be all I need to test wind and road noise (seat comfort too).

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • emaneman Member Posts: 85
    I purchased, but not yet installed, a HOnda approved subwoofer from HandA. It comes with an on/off switch that needs to go into one of those blanks
  • emaneman Member Posts: 85
    please report back the model you drove and the tires, ie Micheline LX4 on the EXl wich I have.

     

    The basic Odyssey has different tires as noted by a previous poster.

     

    The noise is like riding on rails in a train
  • hansiennahansienna Member Posts: 2,312
    The 1999 Odyssey had better EPA ratings than the 1999 Sienna. The 2004 Sienna has EPA ratings as good or better than the 1999 Odyssey which makes the Edmund's long term test of both a valid real world comparison.

         The Odyssey has consistently had the highest EPA ratings which were validated by Edmund's drivers in the Long Term Tests.
  • lumbarlumbar Member Posts: 421
    And comparing a '99 Odyssey to an '04 Sienna, assuming anything is to be gained from that, tells us what about a redesigned (VCM in some instances) '05 Odyssey?
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,569
    I will be driving an EX-L, since that is the model we are planning to get.

     

    As to Edmunds, I believe the Honda put no way more miles, leading me to believe it did more roadtrips. The Sienna seems to spend most of it's life stuck in traffic in LA. Plus, in '99, it may have been living in Denver?

     

    Unless you are sure that each van had basically the same use, it's hard to tell which gets better mileage.

     

    You can say that none is exactly a gas miser, if they can't even break 20 MPG.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • heywood1heywood1 Member Posts: 851
    It is my understanding that these cars are evaluated mostly in southern California traffic--arguably some of the worst in the country. Here in PA, I can beat Edmunds average mpg results all day long....
  • cccompsoncccompson Member Posts: 2,382
    Three of the four dash "blanks" to the left of the steering wheel are filled on the Touring model. One is for the power rear liftgate. Another is for the bumper sensors. The third is (like other Odysseys) for the VSA.
  • heywood1heywood1 Member Posts: 851
    Don'tcha just love the switchblanks in vehicles that remind you of the options you DON'T have? Some automakers are better than others in disguising these. Honda isn't one of them.
  • ace1000ace1000 Member Posts: 151
    MotorWeek got 22 mpg for the 2005 Odyssey and 20 mpg for the 2004 Sienna on its mileage loop.
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