Honda Odyssey 2005+

dulnev

"Don't worry, domestics are out completely. Whatever I get, it will be Honda (probably), Toyota, Mazda or something with quality. Am tired of the lack of quality and poor resale value."

 

Well, if you're tired of low resale value, you may consider striking Mazda off your list. For some bizzare reason MPV depreciates at much faster rate than Odyssey. It's gotta be the fact that it's not the monstrous size! We just got 2005 Ody to replace our 2002 MPV ES and are having very hard time selling it. The prices are very low on MPVs.

s2000fever

Eman:

 

Yes, I recently received the telephone book (aka...the factory service manual), spent about 5 minutes and found the KTC tool. I also found other nylon tools as well as metal ones. It's like anything else, if you want something done correctly, you may just have to do it yourself. The link for the KTC tool is:http://thetoolnetwork.com/panel_popper_kit_by_ktc_tool_company- .html

jnt

Big Three do make good vehiles. But at this time, the Japanese designed minivans (Sienna and Odys) seem to be better in several important areas: powertrain (more powerful engine with 5 speed auto), better suspension, more safety features, right size and more feature/functions that American customers want. If we look back 5-6 years ago, the previous generations of these Japanese minivans (regarless of their high quality) barely made any dent on Chrysler sale number. That has been the problem with US car companies: they don't update their products regularly in the market place and surrender it to the imports. My 88K mile Oldsmobile minivan has been quite reliable after 7 years. I would not mind buying another GM van if they seriously redesign the new 05 model. That was our reason of buying the Honda: it is the best one right now in the market in our opinion. It too has some early problems, but overall we like it a lot

 

JNT

eman

thanks for the link, so this was not a HOnda part even though it was specified in the manual. I would bet that the HOnda mechanic did not have these tools.

 

At $26 plus s&h it is not cheap but probably cheaper than a broken panel

arex

We just bought an EX with the lumbar support. We really like the car except the front seats which are extremely uncomfortable. It is easy to see why as the seat “bulges out” half-way up the back. We are having these problems as the lumbar support is “turned off”, adjusting it amplifies the pain. We did notice the issue as we test drove the van, but thought that we needed to get used to new seats and that the leather seats would soften as we used them. This has not happened. Neither I nor my wife has had any seat problems in any previous cars and have never had back problems. Our height and weights are average. After just a few weeks my wife is talking about seeing a chiropractor!!!!

 

Does anybody have any suggestions about how to fix the problem?

eman

"search" for this problem on this board since others have seen this. I think some dealers replced the lumbar support(?)

 

I wonder if this is a manufacturing glitch since not everyone has this problem but it seems real enough.

ghealey

I'm thinking about a LX and installing an after-market radio with XM. Anyone attempt this yet? Crutchfield website indicates that this is a "modified" install. I'm wondering how modified it would be?

sportymonk

Just as I was thinking some of the problems with the Ody had been ironed out and maybe I ought to consider it again instead of the Pilot (Ody better suits my needs, has better mileage, and drives better.) when along comes this post and the problems are still here! Has anybody defined what model the problem is on EX-L, touring, all of them.

stever

Try checking in the Honda Odyssey Owners-Audio & Video Ideas discussion too, and there may be some help in the XM & Sirius Satellite Radio board as well.

 

Steve, Host

zeus777

Only I can hear some noise from all of wireless headphone (EXL-RES, NAV). Probably, I am doing something stupid. Can somebody tell me how to listen anything from wireless headphone?

birdmoore

make sure they aren't backwards on your head....that is, make sure the earphone marked with the R is on your right ear. If they are backwards, the reception is bad.

jeffinrtp

Another idea - make sure you are not trying them while seated in the driver or front passenger seats. They only work while seated in the 2nd or 3rd row seats.

eman

"MODIFIED" means you build your own facia plate which will be kind of hard to do over the existing opening.

 

Sooner or later someone will make such a plate

scs_13

Hi,

 

 my Odyssey has the same problem. When I went to get it from the dealership the battery had died because of the light in the back was left on. So, no run-down protection.

 

scs_13

minivanguy

I said the same thing, but more like a voyager. "JUST KIDDING". To each his own, I think the Sienna is an amazing van. The Honda Odyssey features appealed to me more.

s2000fever

Well, I have a December build EX-L and I ahve a bad back - more than one ruptured disc and NO back surgeries to date. All I can say is that, with about 1,200 mile on the vehicle, it is teh most comfortable vehicle I have driven. My longest "seat time" has been two hours on two different occasions (most recently last night) and I arrived at my destinations feeling refreshed, as did the other passengers that accompanied me. It seems like most dealers have a demo model EXL so possibly you can catch them on a slow day and take a little ride with a sales person.

dzuba

I found one for $1500 off MSRP....($33110)......anyone have a good lease deal for 3 yrs/15K per year.........I am interested in the monthly payment, and what you had to put down?

  

Additionally - how do I find the residual value for the vehicle after 3 yrs/15K miles? Does the dealer give me that value, or is it negotiable up front?

  

Thanks

rob_z

people who by Lexus GX470 usually don't have time to lurk around these forums. They are too busy making money to pay for the Lexus GX470

denver5357

I think this "uncomfortable front seats" issue is a personal one that seems to strongly affect a very small number of people while others say the opposite, that the seats are comfortable. I don't have a bad back but sometimes have lower back pain and back spasms and the 2005 Ody seats seem fine to me so far.

stever

Also check out the Honda Odyssey: Prices Paid & Buying Experience discussion if you haven't already.

 

Steve, Host

dzuba

With $1500 off MSRP - this is what my dealer came up with for a 36Month/15K per year lease:

  

"The lease for 36 months with 0 Down is $674. This is a true 0 down (1st payment is rolled in) with 35 remaining payments of $674.

  

With $1489.91 down (1st, security, license and doc fee) your payment is $616.52."

The residual is $19,727.70. The money factor is .003021.

  

Any thoughts or comparative leases out there - as these seems crazy to me. I could finance the entire vehicle and still have a payment less than either of these options.

stickguy

way too high. Before I got our Ody, I had a deal on the table for a Volvo XC90 (43K van), $999 down (~2,100 cash total), 36 months for ~$416/mo.

 

You would have to post all the components, but your interest rate (extrapolated from the MF) looks to be about 7.25%. We got 4.12% on a buy (this was just before the 2.9% special came out).

doglady

I have the same problem with seats causing pain in my back/putting legs to sleep, it seems to affect people that are average size/weight (based on others that have ridden in my van). I have spent alot of time discussing this with the dealer and with Honda customer care (who doesn't care, has deemed them 'non defective' and closed the case). I am now thinking about 1. selling the van 2. having the seats replaced (at my cost) 3. having an uphoster try to fix it (the ones I have talked to seem think the padding needs adjustment). For now I am using an OBUS FORM back support that has definitely helped ($149). Please let me know if get this resolved. (as info, I have an LX model, it has a few rattles that dealer can't fix and a bumpy ride - which dealer said is normal, but the radio works well and I don't have wind noise).

marine2

That bumpy ride is Honda's sporty handling I imagine. I go more for the smooth ride on the Dodge.

 

You will not hear any Dodge/Chrysler owners say the front seats are not comfortable in their vans.

 

They also will not complain about rattles.

 

You may hear complaints on other things, but not those three.

robr2

You will not hear any Dodge/Chrysler owners say the front seats are not comfortable in their vans.

  

They also will not complain about rattles.

 

So far on this forum.

jnt

scs_13,

 

Thanks for confirming about this vehicle has no battery run down protection. Now you mentioned it, we witnessed similar event at a Honda dealer lot where a new Odyssey 's battery was dead because someone left one door open. Now I suspected it probably was the Tailgate not locking properly and caused the dead battery (having the inside light turned on when that happened)

 

Well I hope some day Honda provides this option on their vehicles. This feature has been a standard issue on most if not all new GM vehicles besides Daytime Running Light, Automatic lock. They may be insignificant but good ideas

 

JNT

just4fun2

Don't be left stranded by a dead battery because the interior lights were accidentally left on. You can buy a battery "Jump" pack system from wal-mart, k-mart or Home Depot. My battery died this past summer and a kind sole let me use his portable "jump start" and 2 minutes later I was on my way to get the battery replace instead of waiting for a tow truck. Went to Home Depot and bought 4 of them (one for each of my vehicles and for my kids cars).

 

Around $30.00, it is cheap insurance.

minivanguy

The seats are not that uncomfortable, but the odyssey seats are a whole lot better.

masterpaul1

I thought all vechicles had some kind of battery protection on them. For the amount of money that is spent on the Ody., this should have been one of the safety features included. I can't tell you how easy it is to drain the battery from leaving the interior or head lights on. I like the idea about the power jumper pack. I don't own one, but I do carry around extra long heavy duty jumper cables in case of battery drain. The one draw back with the power jumper pack is that if the battery is to low in power, the power jumper pack doesn't help. (Nothing can beat that old fashion battery jump.)

stever

(Nothing can beat that old fashion battery jump.)

 

I have extra long jumper cables too, but with all the computerized components on cars these days, I'm more and more leery about giving or accepting jumps from other cars. There's nothing like the smell of electrical smoke in the morning, lol.

 

I think the power packs are probably a bit better, and lots more convenient.

 

Steve, Host

marine2

"Well I hope some day Honda provides this option on their vehicles. This feature has been a standard issue on most if not all new GM vehicles besides Daytime Running Light, Automatic lock. They may be insignificant but good ideas"

 

Chrysler/Dodge has battery saver as standard on their vans. If headlights, parking lights or dome lights are left on, or door is ajar the lights will turn off after 15 minutes.

sportymonk

Reference smell of electrical smoke (Off topic but let me digest just a moment).

 

Technician notice corrosion on battery so me asked if I wanted a corrosion prevention spray on it. I said ok. Didn't notice the spray was a dark red.

 

Two weeks later, wife has dead battery, three attempts to hook up produce lots of sparks, last time left it for a second and had smoke! Problem. The positive red terminal I hooked up to was NOT the positive terminal but the red coated NEGATIVE terminal. Luckily I found my error quickly and fixed it correctly and everything survived but beware, in the dark and the cold, they looked alike.

allison5

So what are people doing about uncomfortable seats in this new Odyessy? Even though you hear about a lot of people who think the van is comfortable there are way too many people that think it's not especially for this amount of money. Is it the Lumbar itself sticking out too much or the design of seat? I had a 2001 Odyessy and it was not too bad for short drives but for long drives (2 hrs or more) I was in trouble, I also had friends and family say the same thing. So you would think new one would be better, considering I heard a lot of people complain about the old one. What's up Honda????? I certainly have noticed that our local honda dealer (near Concord, Calif) always has a big selection of Odyessy's, and then I notice the same ones there.

dulnev

I find the seats very comfortable. It is a tiny percentage of people who find them uncomfortable; typically it's the people who are used to the horrible American seats that have no lumbar support.

marine2

I would challange you to find one post from a Dodge/Chrysler mini van owner, that has complained about the front seats in their vans being uncomfortable. Just one. I'll bet I can find more than a hand full on the Honda.

 

It's one thing to like the Honda & Toyota, but it's another to knock American vans for something they are not guilty of.

engenlow

Interesting to know. With all the Nice things on the Touring, why do they even make an LX or EX?

jimxo

I sold my 01 Lexus GS430 for this van-yikes what was I thinking? lol

 

Anyway I love it my wife drives a 01 RX300 and said she likes it too. I have the Nav and can say that works better than the Nav in my Lexus. I guess it should since it's yrs newer. So far it's been a dream and this being our first van were lucky to have a choice between the Ody and Sienna. We chose the Ody for 3 reason. 1st price we paid 32,500 plus tax (1500 over invoice) for our EXL R&N Sienna was 36,000 plus tax for XLE Ltd with Nav. 2nd was the the Interior dash and Nav with the front loading DVD. 3rd was the most important we felt the Ody drove better not big and mushy like a van usually does. The comfort from the drivers seat sold me. This is probably a personal choice.

 

Only complaint thus far is no factory leather for the steering wheel and the stock radio (120 WATTS) is just ok. I have not heard any squeaks or rattles.

 

I added fog lights a leather shift knob, splash guards and ordered a wood leather steering wheel from a company in Texas. About 1k in extras but why not it's still cheaper than the Touring model and much less than the Sienna. The last tank I got 20.5 mpg using 87 octane.

burta10

Marine2, maybe you should be over in the Honda vs. Chrysler minivan section, unless you have a hint to help with the seat problem (or is your fix to buy a Dodge?).

I think Dodge has enough things for people to complain about. Seats may not be that high on the priority list.

I find the seats in my 2005 Ody LX quite comfortable. I've taken a couple of 2 hour drives and a 4 hour drive with much more comfort than my '96 Mercury Villager...and I haven't found anyone posting about uncomfortable seats in the Quest/Villager section.

marine2

"Marine2, maybe you should be over in the Honda vs. Chrysler minivan section, unless you have a hint to help with the seat problem (or is your fix to buy a Dodge?).

I think Dodge has enough things for people to complain about. Seats may not be that high on the priority list"

 

You know Burta, when I first came on here at Edmonds, I was reading post after post of people knocking Chrysler/Dodges and other American vans. Just read another one a few minutes ago with a gentlemen saying how bad American van seats were. I asked him to point out just one post where a Chrysler/Dodge owner complained about the front seats in a Chrysler/Dodge.

 

There seems to be a myth that everything that is owned by the Japanese is first class and everything made by everyone else is junk. While I'll admit that the Japanese companies put out a good quality car, van and truck, so does America.

 

As good a van as Honda makes, it has many of the same problems Chrysler has had with their vans, manly transmissions. It has also got many problems Chrysler vans hasn't had. Wind noise, rattles, complaints of the front seats,harder ride, Many more complaints of side and rear doors not closing.

 

I just thought it would be nice to dispell this myth of such high superiority that some have of Japanese vans and of American vans being nothing but junk, as the one gentleman said. Both make some pretty darn good vans and I hate having people say or think that we can't make or design a good product.

stever

ahem, it's Edmunds. We're a different picturesque community :-)

 

And we do have comparison topics elsewhere on the forum; most people read this discussion to learn more about the Odyssey.

 

thanks,

 

Steve, Host

s2000fever

Speaking as someone who has owned both a DC T&C and now an ODY EXL, here are my honest opinions. Yes opinions, because you can't please all of the people all of the time (go to Amazon and read virtually any product review). I also have an Accord and my dad has a Camry. The Accord is tight and the Camry is floaty, in my opinion. My dad would not own an Accord for this reason and I likewise would not purchase a Camry as I like a more responsive vehicle. Here are my pros/cons for both vehicles: DC T&C - Pros - great stereo, information center (gas mileage, temp, compass). Cons - crude interface for most of the controls, smooth yet noisy engine, transaxle that has made strange moaning sounds from day 1 (they all do - I pay attention every time one drives by), soft ride that lacks responsiveness. Ody - Pros - silky smooth and powerful drivetrain, responsive transmission, taught ride and handling, more aggressively bolstered seats, innovative technology, Honda has ALWAYS stood behind any out of warranty issue that I have had since the 1970's. Cons - stereo speakers suck, lots of plastic (although, for the most part, tastefully done). Again, these are one reporter's opinion. As I have stated before, my back is a train wreck with resulting numb feeling in my feet is sitting for an extended period of time. So far, from a comfort standpoint, the 05 ODY rocks. For those reading these boards, if enough people bash the Ody, maybe you will be able to get a better as the vans will be gathering dust on the dealer's lots. Well, wishful thinking!

mom2three

I noticed my seats are black on one side but grey on back of seat. THis seems like a mistake to me. Has anyone else noticed this or is mine defective?

marine2

"And we do have comparison topics elsewhere on the forum; most people read this discussion to learn more about the Odyssey."

 

I agree Steve and I'll try and hold my comments to those places. Problem being though, many of the comments I have heard about the other vans has been on the Honda or Toyota boards and not the ones that compare the different products.

chi-ody

We purchased our '05 Odyssey 12-31-04 in the Chicago area. As soon as the temps got cold, the driver-side passenger door would no longer automatically open. We brought it back in, but the door worked for less than 24 hours before it wouldn't open automatically again. Then, if we try to close the door manually, it is very difficult, and no matter how hard we close it, the sliding door sign is lit up on the dash. We called another dealership and they said Honda has no "fix" for this problem. This is very bothersome considering this is a brand new car, and we have to manually, with much difficulty, open and close the door (sometimes we have to try several times before it works) while our children are freezing inside.

  

Has anyone heard of a "fix" for this problem, or any possible compensation for this problem until this serious problem is fixed?

  

Thanks.

danesi

we have a 2005 honda odyssey with 5000 miles in the break-in period. We have had to add approx 3/4 quart of oil during this period. Is this unusual ? Should we call it to the dealer's attention at the first oil change ?

marine2

I don't know about the Honda, but it's not unusual for most cars and trucks to use a little oil during the break-in period.

minivanguy

Mine are all black. "I just checked"!

dulnev

"It's one thing to like the Honda & Toyota, but it's another to knock American vans for something they are not guilty of."

 

You completelly misread what I wrote! First of all, I wasnt' referring to American "van", but to all American cars in general. Most of them have little to none lumbar support. While most people may not specifically identify this as a comfort problem, it's definitelly unhealthy and leads to fatigue and general back problems.

 

Once these people switch to the orthopedically correct Honda seats, they may complain about too much lumbar support. But if they just give it a chance, they'd feel better in the long run.

stever

Since everyone is different, I think what's "orthopedically correct" will vary from one person to the next. It's hard to get the dealer to give you a three or four hour test drive, but it may take that long to figure out whether your back can handle a particular seat.

 

I'd be curious if a physical therapist here could explain if there's really any meaning to "orthopedically designed" - that term seems like advertising fluff to me, whether it's from Recaro or baby carriers or Birkenstocks.

 

Steve, Host

isellhondas

Some people like a soft mattress. These give ma a backache.

 

I will say this...I have NEVER heard anyone complain about the comfort of Odyssey seats except in these forums.