do you work for a Honda dealership? Why do you care about this particular forum if your Ody is perfectly fine? I check this forum frequently since i am experiencing/experienced most of the problems discussed here. I want to know the best possible solutions to the problems people are experiencing, not how perfect, defect free your ody is.
ac2000 - I'm with you. Let's try try keep the forum to the topic. This is where people are supposed to post their problems and receive constructive solutions.
There are many people experiencing problems with their Odys. Just think about how many people have problems and don't use forums to discuss.
I believe there were some constructive suggestions listed above. Find someone else to try and balance the tires!
I have owned a couple Toyotas that for whatever reason, were very difficult to balance the tires. There are different types of balancing machines and if the Honda dealer is not using the right one, they may never get it right. That was the case with Toyota. I had to find a tire shop with a more sophisticated machine to balance the tires properly. Some are more sensitive to slight balance issues. A vibration in the steering is almost always road/tire/wheel related. This really only applies if the vibration is constant and not dependant upon road surface. If it comes/goes with the road surface it's more likely a characteristic of the tires and you can balance them all day long and it won't matter.
I do not work for Honda. In fact, out of eleven cars that I have owned, this is my first Honda.
Umm.. I thought I offered a solution. If your vehicle is "shimming" at highway speeds I mentioned that it could be an unbalanced, or improperly inflated tire. If you go back and look through the majority of my posts I almost always offer a recommendation or solution. I do not doubt that folks have this problem, but I also think it is unfair for someone that is researching the forums (who might be buying) a new Odyssey to read a post which states that "MANY, MANY" Odyssey owners are experiencing this when we are talking about five people. Unfortunately, many people will read these forums and their impression might be that nearly every new Odyssey has this problem. I have no doubt that there are lemon Odysseys out there and some folks have bad experiences. But, you also have to read between the lines on some of these posts. Like any forum, there are going to be trolls who post meaningless or inaccurate information.
I am not afraid to call a spade a spade when I see one.
I'm going to just say this once. My first post on this topic was aimed to help the poster who asked for help. It was not to insult anyone. If you don't agree with what I said, you can say that, but politely. I have not said anything rude to anybody, as I try to respect everyone's opinion here. If you don't agree with me, that's fine. It's my opinion. But there is no need to call names and it will stop. I have not said anything rude to anyone.
The original question was for help and advice about this issue.
Okay, time out. Let's stick to the facts here. There is far too much emotion, and that is causing people to take ridiculous sides. And although I realize that Edmunds likes to fan the flames by making available the silly emoticons like the "lemon car" symbol, it rarely helps with constructive dialogue when people start indiscriminantly suggesting that a model is a lemon just because their particular car or dealer let them down.
The 2004 Odyssey and the 2005+ Odyssey are completely different vehicles. Let's keep that simple thing straight. Although the Pilot and Odyssey share some basic chassis and drivetrain components, the two also have a lot of differences. And neither has anything to do with a shimmy felt in a Civic or Accord or my Honda lawnmower.
Let's also stop making broad claims about a car being a lemon when in fact the facts do not support it. Just because 20-odd people on an Edmunds forum think their (fill in the blank) is junk, it has no statistical validity whatsoever. And just because 20-odd people think their (fill in the blank) is the best car on the planet, it has no statistical validity whatsoever either.
Here is the contents of your post: "I'm sorry, but many Honda Odyssey's, Pilot's and Acura MDX's have this problem! They cannot be fixed or solved. Honda is not fixing it as of now because it would obviously be a huge recall and they don't want to bother.
No owner has actually done something about this. Why don't you use the lemon law? I wrote to Honda headquarters in Japan and they are denying this issue. Use the lemon law because it is impossible to fix this because it's in the design of these vehicles. :lemon: "
First of all, telling the poster that "this cannot be fixed or solved" is simply not true.. Second of all, do you even own a Honda Odyssey? According to your profile you own a Toyota Highlander and a search through your posts shows that you tend to post a lot in the Honda and Toyota boards. I guess you do own a Honda since you wrote to Honda's headquarters?
As for a solution, I dug into this issue some more, and a quick search through a Honda Odyssey specific website revealed some other owners experiencing a similar issue. Almost all of them had the issue fixed one of the following: - Having the wheels rebalanced (try to find a dealer that has a dynamic balancer). - Having their wheels rotated. - Having their wheels/tires checked for defects and replaced if any were found. - Ensuring that that tires are properly inflated. - There are some additional adjustments to your wheels that can be made by the dealer
I did notice that most of the issues seemed to be associated with owners that drove the Touring model (Michelin PAX tires).
If anyone is having this problem, I would take you vehicle to a dealer(s) to have it inspected.
One of the ODYs I owned had a somewhat similar problem. The solution was finding a wheel that was not exactly round and/or true. I replaced the wheel and the problem went away.
I had this problem early on with my 05 Odyssey (among many other problems). The dealer balanced the wheels and it has been better. I would suggest that w/the dealer.
Wow - Lot's of emotion. Here is how I solved the problem outside of Honda. It cost me about $150 bucks, but was well worth the fix:
1. Took the Odyssey to a good front end shop. I defined "good shop" by one that specialized in front ends. I asked them not to shim the front end up if it could be avoided.
2. The shop obtained more detailed specs on the front end alignment needs. The Honda specs are very broad and too much margin for error.
3. Load Balanced the wheels to find that one of the wheels (along with the alignment) was out of whack. Had Honda replace the wheel and tire.
Problem solved. Again, this is just my two cents for what its worth.
I created a rather long post #3588 w/in the Honda Odyssey vs. Toyota Sienna category. My main issues are:
1) Droning engine noise at 2,000-2,200 rpm. Biggest thing I hate about the van. Dealer stated it is normal - yeah, normal for a 1981 Pinto. 2) Brake grinding. Had it looked at twice, still happening Scares me to think what could happen... 3) Poor radio reception, especially AM. Dealer replaced a cable - supposedly a recall item, but my reception still stinks. Basically can't use AM, FM spotty. 4) Excessive road noise. I had the service mgr take the van home one night, she found it normal. I guess all Honda's are loud....just a guess. 5) Power side door would not close last week... monitoring this. 6) Bumper discoloration - not even close to the body color. Dealer offered to re-paint my bumpers...the car was brand new at the time and this concerned me..poor decision on my part, now I have a two-tone van that is pretty ugly looking. 7) Mileage - averaging 16-18 mpg. What a joke...if not criminal. Main reason I bought the van, suppose to be best in class. I find this really disturbing that the can make obvious false claims. And really the 1st time I have bought a new car that did not get near the sticker claim.
Lessons learned: never buy 1st year new edition and check the message boards.
All in all, I rate the van a 4 out of 10. Just do not know why it was rated so favorably in the press, 18 months ago...
I am totally with you. I bought my odyssey EX-L two weeks ago and I am already sorry. Compared to my other Toyota vehicle, this van is a junk:
The engine gets so noisy during acceleration or on highway with a slight incline at a speed around 60. There is noticible steering wheel vibration when it does this.
Strange mosquito like noise during acceleration after engine is heated up.
Annoying interior squeaks from the dashboard area when the van is cool. Already took the van once to the dealership but was not able to reproduce the problem since the van was already hot when I got there.
I don't mind the discoloration and other minor issues. But with the price I paid, I would expect a quality vehicle. This is my first Honda, and definitely will be my last one.
Sorry to hear about your problems. Just so I understand, did you test drive your 06 Odyssey against the Toyota Sienna in real world situations (highway driving, city driving, incline, decline)?
To be honest, I think the Sienna XLE I drove was slightly quieter than the Odyssey, but not by much. As for engine noise I found the Odyssey EX-L to be quieter than the Chrysler T&C and on par with the Toyota and Kia vans I drove.
As for the dashboard squeaks, I agree that those are annoying, I just don't understand why this cannot be reproduced by the dealer after the van cools down. Couldn't you have waited a little while to let it cool down so you could show your dealer?
If your steering wheel vibrates at highway speeds, this issue has been discussed on this board, and I would definitely have the dealer look into it (seems like an easy fix).
It just seems to me that the Sienna's softer, quieter ride would have been a better fit for you. What made you decide to purchase the Odyssey in the first place over the Sienna?
Well, I made a bad mistake when I was purchasing this van. My dealer has both Toyota and Honda vehicles. The saleman somehow convinced me of that I don't need to test drive a Sienna since Odyssey is so much better. I did like the sleek odyssey interior and I would like to try Honda for a change. The saleman did the first half of the test driver, therefore I was not even aware of the so-called ABS self-checking noise during the test drive. The terrain is flat and I did most the test drive on a freeway under 55 mile. The droning engine noise didn't cause my concern since the acceleration to get the highway speed was very brief.
As for the interior squeaks, it is there only when the dashboard is cool, a condition which is difficult to reproduce now in Summer during my dealer's work hours. But it is always there in the evening or early Morning.
Maybe overall it is a nice van for a lot of people. But it is just not me.
Hey, thanks for the honest reply. Sounds like your salesman had a hidden agenda (pushing you to buy an Odyssey vs a Sienna) since I think the two vans drive very differently. My advice to you, is to never ever take a car salesman's word on anything. It sounds like he really pushed you into the Odyssey, and some of the problems that you are having are even more amplified since you have some regrets about not even looking at the Sienna. That is understandable and justified.
I think you have every right to go back to the dealer, speak to the manager and explain your concerns (dashboard rattle, droning noise, etc). At the least they should give you a loaner van and keep your Odyssey overnight in order to listen for the rattles. As for the ABS check, I also thought I had a problem with my Odyssey until I looked it up on the message boards. Too be honest, I do not even really notice it anymore I think what you will find is that every vehicle has some idiocincracy that can really get under your skin if you let it... Over time, I think you will get used to the ABS check noise and move on..
Not sure if this is even possible, but you should also explain the poor sales experience with the general manager and see if there is any way they would let you swap the Odyssey for a demo Sienna (similar wear and mileage). One lesson I have learned from buying cars is to always be informed, patient, and never hesitate to walk away if you feel pressured or something does not feel right..
The only thing I disagree with is that the dealer wont do anything about your sales experience. You bought the car, nobody FORCED you to buy it, just convinced. They will tell you that's your problem if you don't like the salesmen. But for the problems itself with the car, yes, that you should take it in.
I have read this forum for months and have really tried to not post. I am Honda loyalist. I have owned 5 and might own more in the future-depending upon what happens.
What would you do if:
-Your windshield moulding had been replaced three times; -The window trim now comes loose at 70 MPH -Your Power Steering system which had been repaired three times because had been making enough 'screaming and grinding' noise to scare neighbors and church friends into buying Sienna's and Dodge. This problem still now shows up at random but can not be duplicated now by dealer; -The AC had been repaired twice due to ' someone bumping the bumper and pushing the tow package cooling system' into the condensor TWICE in six weeks; I believe this is a tow package cooling system design flaw. My wife hit one thing 9 months before the AC went out first time. Second time went out after me driving for 12 days straight--hitting nothing. Again I think this is a design flaw; -Brake grinding repaired twice?
-Overall you have had 12 service visits on a $40,000.00 car with Tow Package Res and Navi in less the 12 months and 20K miles.
?????
What would you do? I have tried to be nice. Though very mad and very frustrated. Dealer has been nice but admits no design flaw with car - Do I have a lemon? The law talks about safety issues for lemon laws. For 40K I dont expect this and honestly I have never paid more for a car or ever been more frustrated. Do I demand a no-cost or very low cost trade?
I can tell Dealer must get punished if they try to return to Honda Manufacturing.
I feel for you.. It really sounds like you got a lemon to me but lemon laws vary from state to state. In some cases, it has to be more safety related. In some cases you have to have the problem more than three times, and in some cases your car needs to be at the dealer for more than x amount of days in the first calendar year.
My advice to you is to find your states lemon law (google), and see if it applies in your case. If it does, I recommend finding a good lemon law attorney and starting the process ASAP before you run out of time.
I agree that your experience will not give the Odys a good name. That was our price to pay for buying new model year vehicle. Majority of Odys probably are very good, but some have minor bugs and others have all kind of terrible problems. Look like yours belongs to the unlucky group.
I think problems strike vehicles in all price ranges. The $40K Odys probably is not any better than the $15K Civic in terms of vulnerbility of having design and assembly problems. In fact, It would think the simpler Civic may have less chance to upset the owners since it has less parts to go wrong if all other things are equal (assembly, design,...)
And someone spending $15k likely won't have the expectations of someone spending $40k. I see a lot of folks complaining about the Ody, mainly little things. No matter what, it's not a luxury vehicle and a minivan at that. The $40k version is pretty much the same as the $20k LX models, just a feature difference.
This being my first Honda, I also think that Honda owners tend to expect perfection based on the name (Toyota is in the boat). I am not saying this as an excuse, or to take any blame off Honda (if something is not working to spec, Honda should fix it), but some of the complaints I read on both the Odyssey and Sienna boards are a little over the top. It seems that some folks are ready to declare their vehicle a lemon because it has a rattle, has a vibration, or the ABS check is too loud... That said, I also read instances where people have legitimate problems (A/C goes out in the first couple years, transmission issues, etc).
In most cases, minivans have a ton of moving parts, electrical components, electronics, and convenience features. The opportunity for a problem is much larger on a loaded minivan vs a entry-level Honda Civic.
If the droning noise occurs only in a small percentage of Odysseys, why doesn't Honda know how to fix the problem?
Something does not make sense.
American Honda and local dealerships are telling some owners that the noise is a normal operating characteristic of the van.
For the record, our Ody did not develop the droning noise until 500 miles on the odometer. So...a test drive will not guarantee your Ody will be a "drone free" model.
Check the window sticker under options...I think the droning option is listed as a $1000 accessory.
"If the droning noise occurs only in a small percentage of Odysseys, why doesn't Honda know how to fix the problem?
Something does not make sense.
American Honda and local dealerships are telling some owners that the noise is a normal operating characteristic of the van.
For the record, our Ody did not develop the droning noise until 500 miles on the odometer. So...a test drive will not guarantee your Ody will be a "drone free" model."
Blackexv6, now that you described the problem and the explanation you received from Honda, I can understand your frustration with your new van. It is one thing if there was a minor humming noise that was emitted and you could not hear it above the radio. But the noise you described, and the fact that that passengers in the third row can hear it, seems unacceptable to me.
I found another thread at another Honda Odyssey owner website and it seems that this is happening to at least ten people (which obviously means there is a lot more out there). It seems that some of them have had the issue resolved after Honda replaced their motor mounts and also replaced the A-pipe on their exhaust. Not sure if this helps you but it is at least a starting point for your dealer.
It seems like most of the people who posted said the problem existed on day 1, but several mentioned that their Odyssey started doing this within the first couple thousand miles..
I really hope Honda steps up and fixes yours and others issue with this. If this happens to me, I will definitely be requesting that the dealer fix this. I just cannot imagine how Honda could defend this as being normal if the majority of Odyssey vans do not do this...
What has the dealer done to date about this, and what are you planning to do?
I was horribly upset when our van had the booming sound from day 1. Later on, I learned to live with it since that was the only mechanical issue with this good van. Besides, I do not want the dealer disassemble the van and screw up something else.
I rented Chrysler and Sienna vans in the last two years and noticed these vans also have their droning problems in different situations. For example, the Chrysler van protested loudly at > 4500 RPM when I tried to merge into highway. Sienna also has booming characteristic between 3rd and 4 th gear when I stepped on the gas to pas
There is a difference between a constant "droning" problem and a vehicle downshifting to a lower gear to accelerate. All vehicles will downshift when the engine needs higher rpms to generate more power. I've owned a Sienna and 2 Previas before we bought our Odyssey, and IMO, the Honda is a superior vehicle (although the Toyota was also perfectly fine).
I am baffled by the comments about the "droning" in the Odyssey. Our 06 Touring does not have this issue at all. What is also strange is that dealers don't seem to acknowledge or have a fix on the issue, according to the posters on Edmunds.
Blackex--does your tach show an increase in rpms when your vehicle "drones?" Is it connected to engine speed or is it the exhaust? Since you said it is attributable to engine speeds in the 2000 to 3000 rpm range, is the engine actually quieter when it is in the 3000 to 4000 range? Obviously, if your engine is louder at lower rpms, there is some sort of problem.
Is it possible that this is just a characteristic of the engine and its more your sensitivity to it, versus it being a distinct and unique problem? If it were a widespread issue, seems that there would be independent documentation from other sources, a TSB from the factory, recall action, or some other indication other than a few posters on the web describing it. But your description suggests that it is a loud drone that is audible above the radio.
I'm afraid I just don't hear it. I'm just baffled because so far (4000 miles) our van has been basically flawless.
I bought my 05 odyssey EXL last year May, after 1 month water leak on passenger side. Took dealer 2 repairs to fix the problem and this afternoon noted no cold air on driver side and half of rear vents. I've tried turning it off then pressing ac button, auto mode, sync mode with thermostat set at 65. Outside temperature was 82. A small amount of cold air was blowing on the front passenger side and half of the rear vents. One thing i notice was a hissing sound when i tried to listen closely to the vent on the driver side(freon leak??). I own 4 Honda's even my mower is honda. I'm getting frustrated with this odyssey, I haven't called the dealer but I'm hoping they would cover for the repairs whatever the problem is. This vehicle has 8200 miles on it and is driven only during weekends , most of the time it's inside the garage. I'm planning to drop by the dealer on monday.
i'm a bit confused w.r.t. the report of the leak on the passenger side. was that when it was raining or when you were using the AC? if when using the AC, then probably a crimped evaporator pan drain line causing the pan to over-flow rather than draining to the road, and where does it end up - in the passenger foot well.
sounds like whatever the issue you need to bring it in. '05 and 8200 miles? no doubt you are covered.
Thanks for the response, the water leak on the passenger side only happens when it rains and extends to passenger foot. This problem was resolved after 2 dealer repairs. My my concern right now is the AC,warm air blowing on driver side (2 vents on the front left and ride side of steering wheel and i think half of the vents on the rear. I tried turning on The AC different ways 1)ac mode 2)auto mode/sync mode 3)air recirculated The outside temperature when i noticed the problem was 82 when i got back home at night outside temp was 76. I tried bringing down the driver thermostat to 60-65, But I still warm air blowing outon the vent. It is really strange because on the passenger side i could feel somewhat cold air but not as strong compared before. I'm going to the dealership tomorrow to find out what's going on.
just had the Michelins on my EX-L rotated for the 2nd time (now at 18K, last done at 6K). Overall, they are wearing great. Very even, lots of tread, etc. Tire guy estimated an easy 40 - 45K out of them, which isn't bad for something so heavy and FWD.
Weird that several others had "rocks piercing" a part of a new car. we had a rock pierce the radiator of our 2005 Odyssey last year when it was like 3 months old. and a new one was like $700. my insurance told me that they don't cover it...i was surprised that a rock would pierce metal, sounds to me like maybe they were using inferior products?? On another note, my wife calls yesterday, car starts, but AC is not working. nor are turn signals, nor is electric doors. of course we're worried, and angry...couple of hours pass. restart car, all is fine now. and has been for days. Any ideas? There was a torrential downpour of a rainstorm (and her car is parked out in the open during work hours so it got soaked) the day of the issue.
First the ! pop up in the triangle with the VSA light (it stays on) the next start the ! triangle disappears but the VSA, ABS and BRAKE dash lights come on together. They even alternate as the ABS and Brake lights will come on and off. Dealer 0 for 2 so far. Not replacing parts yet but worked on the grounding.
Any similar experience or solutions. We've been concerned about the drag on the transmission or is it the brake system at lower speeds.
Local Honda finally took a serious look at the (very) flawed projected driving time estimates and now clarifies. Apparently this is a known issue at Honda and caused whenever any part of the planned route is over an unverified digitized road. Projected time in these cases are totally unreliable (though a '00 TL w/Alpine Navi is ALWAYS accurate over the same routes!).
There is no hint of a fix for this, so long trips to many places will be wrong, and no way to know which are unreliable until you see Navi results. Not all long-range routes are wrong, for me about half. So trip to Brooklyn or Ct are correct, but to NCar and Ala are clearly very wrong. Too bad that the '06 Ody Navi has so many nice improvements ... at expense of losing a significant one.
This issue is not unique to Honda. I've experienced this in our Lexus and Acura navigation systems, and numerous times driving Hertz (Ford) rental cars with their "Never Lost" system. Again, I don't think it's that big a deal, IMO.
This isn't uncommon on many navis/map programs. Mapquest usually is a couple hours off on longer trips. I find the mileage to be the best source of time. I know how long it takes me to go a set number of miles. Short-trips with secondary roads is usually bogus on every navigation system I've used. Usually off by 50%. I suppose they don't want to tell you LESS time than it will take as that could actually cause problems!
Like many new cars, my 06 Odyssey did not come with a cassette deck. Lot of good books on tape still are not on CD so I am looking to install a casette deck. Anyone installed the Honda accessories deck? Any other suggestions.
not sure how much it costs, or what space you use, but there is another option that even has future advantages.
The USA SPec ipod adapter that I just installed on my '05 (it plugs into the aux port) also has a set of RCA inut juacks (to go along with the dedicated ipod connector). With one of these, not only can you plug in the ipod (and you can download books to it I think, and more stuff like that coming). You can also get a portable cassette player and plug it into the rca plugs.
SO, you still get a cassette played through the car stereo, but also an ipod connector. And, if you have a sat radio (portable), that can also be plugged into the jacks.
Also, by the same notion, if you have the rear RCA jacks you can buy a 3.5mm headphone to RCA adaptor and run a long cord to the rear inputs. Takes away the cost of adding a USA-spec type input (which are in the $70 range) for a couple cheap cords. I'm not sure what all models come with the rear jacks, I suppose only models with the RES??
Well, we took our first trip in the 2006 Odyssey EX-L with RES last weekend. On the second movie, the DVD player jammed and we could not eject the DVD. I've read on other forums (odyclub.com) that this is a common problem with the Odyssey's DVD player and that such jams are corrected by replacing the entire unit. I contacted Herson's Honda in Rockville, Maryland where I bought the vehicle (about 3 weeks ago) and asked if their service/parts departments stock the 2006 Odyssey DVD, or how long it will take to order. Herson's representative was apologetic and told me to bring in the vehicle so they could fix it right away.(I asked in an email if they had the DVD in stock but never got a direct reply.)
Anyway, I took Herson's Honda up on the offer of a quick fix and after driving well out of my way with two vehicles and my whole family, Herson's Honda told me they could not look at the vehicle when I arrived. Worse yet, Herson's Honda told me that the DVD must be replaced (I already knew that) and that the DVD must be ordered and will take 7-10 days to arrive at Herson's Honda. Urgh!! Herson's then had the gall to ask if I was dropping the vehicle or if I was waiting for them to do the inspection before they place the order for the DVD player.
Needless to say, I won't be having my 2006 Honda Odyssey EX-L with RES serviced at Herson's Honda. In fact, I'm so aggravated over Herson's lack of customer care that I'm seriously considering a certified independent mechanic instead of using any Honda dealer for service!
I then called Sport Honda and they agreed to order the DVD player without first looking at the vehicle. I didn't even buy the Ody from Sport! What is Herson's up to? Do they get paid by Honda for inspecting vehicles before performing warranty service. I hate to think a dealer would needlessly inflate costs for everyone by abusing the warranty process.
I have solved my service problems with my vehicles. I keep a "running service appointment" with my Honda dealer every six to eight weeks. (I have the oil and filter changed every 3,000 miles, and I deal with ONE Service Advisor). I project these service appointmemts into the future based on my estimated schedule. If I run into any additional problems, during that period of time, I just add that additional item of service to the list. I will call the Service Advisor, (prior to the appointment), to inform him of the additional problem or concern, so that parts will be on hand to deal with the issue. ----This works for me! ---- Best regards. -----Dwayne
I traded my 2003 Ody in on a 2006 EXL 5/23/06. Have had vibrations and shimmey at hwy speeds of 65/75 mph since purchase. My 03 Ody did not have this problem. Dealer has balanced tires twice last time with "Road Force" balance, whatever that may be. 2006 also has severe feedback into steering wheel on bumps and irregular road surfaces. This week factory rep. checked vehicle and decided "vibrations were actually quivers" and probably normal!!! Friday June 30 I test drive a new 06 Ody off their lot...the feedback shock in steering wheel was about 50% less than mine however it vibrated/quivered at 65/76 mph!! Honda tech and shop foreman were aboard and haven't foggiest...I feel this is a safety related problem a possible hazard for passengers in vehicle and other motorists on highway. Vibration/quiver problem could be causing excessive wear on other mechanical parts and defect could degrade re-sale value of vehicle..all at consumers expense. I will no longer operate vehicle on freeway due to safety concerns. Would like constructive responses from owners with similiar problems and possible solutions...if your ody has no problems or you are a Toyota owner, etc. please have courtesy of not responding...thanks and sorry for long windedness...
if the alignment is good, and the tires have been "road force balanced" (i don't know what that is exactly) and the suspension doesn't have any obvious problem... me personally? ...
purchased 06 EXL about a month ago. I took this van to three day travel over the weekend. On my way home from thr travel, the key is stuck at ignition switch. I can start and turn off the engine, but can't remove the key from the switch. Has anyone experienced this problem? The van is now in my garage left open.
You are under warranty. Take it to the dealer, and let the service department deal with the issue! It is not your problem! I would call the selling dealer and inform them of the condition of this vehicle. This is an "emergency repair", and they should take your vehicle into the Service Department immediately. You cannot leave this vehicle on the street. (Well, maybe you can,------ if you want to loose the problem)
Comments
There are many people experiencing problems with their Odys. Just think about how many people have problems and don't use forums to discuss.
I have owned a couple Toyotas that for whatever reason, were very difficult to balance the tires. There are different types of balancing machines and if the Honda dealer is not using the right one, they may never get it right. That was the case with Toyota. I had to find a tire shop with a more sophisticated machine to balance the tires properly. Some are more sensitive to slight balance issues. A vibration in the steering is almost always road/tire/wheel related. This really only applies if the vibration is constant and not dependant upon road surface. If it comes/goes with the road surface it's more likely a characteristic of the tires and you can balance them all day long and it won't matter.
Umm.. I thought I offered a solution. If your vehicle is "shimming" at highway speeds I mentioned that it could be an unbalanced, or improperly inflated tire. If you go back and look through the majority of my posts I almost always offer a recommendation or solution. I do not doubt that folks have this problem, but I also think it is unfair for someone that is researching the forums (who might be buying) a new Odyssey to read a post which states that "MANY, MANY" Odyssey owners are experiencing this when we are talking about five people. Unfortunately, many people will read these forums and their impression might be that nearly every new Odyssey has this problem. I have no doubt that there are lemon Odysseys out there and some folks have bad experiences. But, you also have to read between the lines on some of these posts. Like any forum, there are going to be trolls who post meaningless or inaccurate information.
I am not afraid to call a spade a spade when I see one.
I have not said anything rude to anyone.
The original question was for help and advice about this issue.
The 2004 Odyssey and the 2005+ Odyssey are completely different vehicles. Let's keep that simple thing straight. Although the Pilot and Odyssey share some basic chassis and drivetrain components, the two also have a lot of differences. And neither has anything to do with a shimmy felt in a Civic or Accord or my Honda lawnmower.
Let's also stop making broad claims about a car being a lemon when in fact the facts do not support it. Just because 20-odd people on an Edmunds forum think their (fill in the blank) is junk, it has no statistical validity whatsoever. And just because 20-odd people think their (fill in the blank) is the best car on the planet, it has no statistical validity whatsoever either.
Peace.
Here is the contents of your post:
"I'm sorry, but many Honda Odyssey's, Pilot's and Acura MDX's have this problem! They cannot be fixed or solved. Honda is not fixing it as of now because it would obviously be a huge recall and they don't want to bother.
No owner has actually done something about this. Why don't you use the lemon law? I wrote to Honda headquarters in Japan and they are denying this issue. Use the lemon law because it is impossible to fix this because it's in the design of these vehicles. :lemon: "
First of all, telling the poster that "this cannot be fixed or solved" is simply not true.. Second of all, do you even own a Honda Odyssey? According to your profile you own a Toyota Highlander and a search through your posts shows that you tend to post a lot in the Honda and Toyota boards. I guess you do own a Honda since you wrote to Honda's headquarters?
As for a solution, I dug into this issue some more, and a quick search through a Honda Odyssey specific website revealed some other owners experiencing a similar issue. Almost all of them had the issue fixed one of the following:
- Having the wheels rebalanced (try to find a dealer that has a dynamic balancer).
- Having their wheels rotated.
- Having their wheels/tires checked for defects and replaced if any were found.
- Ensuring that that tires are properly inflated.
- There are some additional adjustments to your wheels that can be made by the dealer
I did notice that most of the issues seemed to be associated with owners that drove the Touring model (Michelin PAX tires).
If anyone is having this problem, I would take you vehicle to a dealer(s) to have it inspected.
Please share your "other problems". Were you able to resolve any of the issues?
1. Took the Odyssey to a good front end shop. I defined "good shop" by one that specialized in front ends. I asked them not to shim the front end up if it could be avoided.
2. The shop obtained more detailed specs on the front end alignment needs. The Honda specs are very broad and too much margin for error.
3. Load Balanced the wheels to find that one of the wheels (along with the alignment) was out of whack. Had Honda replace the wheel and tire.
Problem solved. Again, this is just my two cents for what its worth.
1) Droning engine noise at 2,000-2,200 rpm. Biggest thing
I hate about the van. Dealer stated it is normal - yeah,
normal for a 1981 Pinto.
2) Brake grinding. Had it looked at twice, still happening
Scares me to think what could happen...
3) Poor radio reception, especially AM. Dealer replaced a
cable - supposedly a recall item, but my reception still
stinks. Basically can't use AM, FM spotty.
4) Excessive road noise. I had the service mgr take the
van home one night, she found it normal. I guess all
Honda's are loud....just a guess.
5) Power side door would not close last week...
monitoring this.
6) Bumper discoloration - not even close to the body color.
Dealer offered to re-paint my bumpers...the car was
brand new at the time and this concerned me..poor
decision on my part, now I have a two-tone van that is
pretty ugly looking.
7) Mileage - averaging 16-18 mpg. What a joke...if not
criminal. Main reason I bought the van, suppose to be
best in class. I find this really disturbing that the
can make obvious false claims. And really the 1st time
I have bought a new car that did not get near the
sticker claim.
Lessons learned: never buy 1st year new edition and check the message boards.
All in all, I rate the van a 4 out of 10. Just do not know why it was rated so favorably in the press, 18 months ago...
The engine gets so noisy during acceleration or on highway with a slight incline at a speed around 60. There is noticible steering wheel vibration when it does this.
Strange mosquito like noise during acceleration after engine is heated up.
Annoying interior squeaks from the dashboard area when the van is cool. Already took the van once to the dealership but was not able to reproduce the problem since the van was already hot when I got there.
I don't mind the discoloration and other minor issues. But with the price I paid, I would expect a quality vehicle. This is my first Honda, and definitely will be my last one.
John
Sorry to hear about your problems. Just so I understand, did you test drive your 06 Odyssey against the Toyota Sienna in real world situations (highway driving, city driving, incline, decline)?
To be honest, I think the Sienna XLE I drove was slightly quieter than the Odyssey, but not by much. As for engine noise I found the Odyssey EX-L to be quieter than the Chrysler T&C and on par with the Toyota and Kia vans I drove.
As for the dashboard squeaks, I agree that those are annoying, I just don't understand why this cannot be reproduced by the dealer after the van cools down. Couldn't you have waited a little while to let it cool down so you could show your dealer?
If your steering wheel vibrates at highway speeds, this issue has been discussed on this board, and I would definitely have the dealer look into it (seems like an easy fix).
It just seems to me that the Sienna's softer, quieter ride would have been a better fit for you. What made you decide to purchase the Odyssey in the first place over the Sienna?
Thanks for your comment.
Well, I made a bad mistake when I was purchasing this van. My dealer has both Toyota and Honda vehicles. The saleman somehow convinced me of that I don't need to test drive a Sienna since Odyssey is so much better. I did like the sleek odyssey interior and I would like to try Honda for a change. The saleman did the first half of the test driver, therefore I was not even aware of the so-called ABS self-checking noise during the test drive. The terrain is flat and I did most the test drive on a freeway under 55 mile. The droning engine noise didn't cause my concern since the acceleration to get the highway speed was very brief.
As for the interior squeaks, it is there only when the dashboard is cool, a condition which is difficult to reproduce now in Summer during my dealer's work hours. But it is always there in the evening or early Morning.
Maybe overall it is a nice van for a lot of people. But it is just not me.
I think you have every right to go back to the dealer, speak to the manager and explain your concerns (dashboard rattle, droning noise, etc). At the least they should give you a loaner van and keep your Odyssey overnight in order to listen for the rattles. As for the ABS check, I also thought I had a problem with my Odyssey until I looked it up on the message boards. Too be honest, I do not even really notice it anymore
Not sure if this is even possible, but you should also explain the poor sales experience with the general manager and see if there is any way they would let you swap the Odyssey for a demo Sienna (similar wear and mileage). One lesson I have learned from buying cars is to always be informed, patient, and never hesitate to walk away if you feel pressured or something does not feel right..
You are right that no car is perfect. If this Odyssey is not going to give me any more trouble, probably I will eventually accept it as it is
John
I have read this forum for months and have really tried to not post. I am Honda loyalist. I have owned 5 and might own more in the future-depending upon what happens.
What would you do if:
-Your windshield moulding had been replaced three times;
-The window trim now comes loose at 70 MPH
-Your Power Steering system which had been repaired three times because had been making enough 'screaming and grinding' noise to scare neighbors and church friends into buying Sienna's and Dodge. This problem still now shows up at random but can not be duplicated now by dealer;
-The AC had been repaired twice due to ' someone bumping the bumper and pushing the tow package cooling system' into the condensor TWICE in six weeks; I believe this is a tow package cooling system design flaw. My wife hit one thing 9 months before the AC went out first time. Second time went out after me driving for 12 days straight--hitting nothing. Again I think this is a design flaw;
-Brake grinding repaired twice?
-Overall you have had 12 service visits on a $40,000.00 car with Tow Package Res and Navi in less the 12 months and 20K miles.
?????
What would you do? I have tried to be nice. Though very mad and very frustrated. Dealer has been nice but admits no design flaw with car - Do I have a lemon? The law talks about safety issues for lemon laws. For 40K I dont expect this and honestly I have never paid more for a car or ever been more frustrated. Do I demand a no-cost or very low cost trade?
I can tell Dealer must get punished if they try to return to Honda Manufacturing.
Somebody fill me in.....
My advice to you is to find your states lemon law (google), and see if it applies in your case. If it does, I recommend finding a good lemon law attorney and starting the process ASAP before you run out of time.
Good luck..
I think problems strike vehicles in all price ranges. The $40K Odys probably is not any better than the $15K Civic in terms of vulnerbility of having design and assembly problems. In fact, It would think the simpler Civic may have less chance to upset the owners since it has less parts to go wrong if all other things are equal (assembly, design,...)
jt
In most cases, minivans have a ton of moving parts, electrical components, electronics, and convenience features. The opportunity for a problem is much larger on a loaded minivan vs a entry-level Honda Civic.
Something does not make sense.
American Honda and local dealerships are telling some owners that the noise is a normal operating characteristic of the van.
For the record, our Ody did not develop the droning noise until 500 miles on the odometer. So...a test drive will not guarantee your Ody will be a "drone free" model.
Check the window sticker under options...I think the droning option is listed as a $1000 accessory.
Something does not make sense.
American Honda and local dealerships are telling some owners that the noise is a normal operating characteristic of the van.
For the record, our Ody did not develop the droning noise until 500 miles on the odometer. So...a test drive will not guarantee your Ody will be a "drone free" model."
Blackexv6, now that you described the problem and the explanation you received from Honda, I can understand your frustration with your new van. It is one thing if there was a minor humming noise that was emitted and you could not hear it above the radio. But the noise you described, and the fact that that passengers in the third row can hear it, seems unacceptable to me.
I found another thread at another Honda Odyssey owner website and it seems that this is happening to at least ten people (which obviously means there is a lot more out there). It seems that some of them have had the issue resolved after Honda replaced their motor mounts and also replaced the A-pipe on their exhaust. Not sure if this helps you but it is at least a starting point for your dealer.
It seems like most of the people who posted said the problem existed on day 1, but several mentioned that their Odyssey started doing this within the first couple thousand miles..
I really hope Honda steps up and fixes yours and others issue with this. If this happens to me, I will definitely be requesting that the dealer fix this. I just cannot imagine how Honda could defend this as being normal if the majority of Odyssey vans do not do this...
What has the dealer done to date about this, and what are you planning to do?
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/14/honda-recalls-561-594-cars-worldwide/
B
I rented Chrysler and Sienna vans in the last two years and noticed these vans also have their droning problems in different situations. For example, the Chrysler van protested loudly at > 4500 RPM when I tried to merge into highway. Sienna also has booming characteristic between 3rd and 4 th gear when I stepped on the gas to pas
jt
I am baffled by the comments about the "droning" in the Odyssey. Our 06 Touring does not have this issue at all. What is also strange is that dealers don't seem to acknowledge or have a fix on the issue, according to the posters on Edmunds.
Blackex--does your tach show an increase in rpms when your vehicle "drones?" Is it connected to engine speed or is it the exhaust? Since you said it is attributable to engine speeds in the 2000 to 3000 rpm range, is the engine actually quieter when it is in the 3000 to 4000 range? Obviously, if your engine is louder at lower rpms, there is some sort of problem.
Is it possible that this is just a characteristic of the engine and its more your sensitivity to it, versus it being a distinct and unique problem? If it were a widespread issue, seems that there would be independent documentation from other sources, a TSB from the factory, recall action, or some other indication other than a few posters on the web describing it. But your description suggests that it is a loud drone that is audible above the radio.
I'm afraid I just don't hear it. I'm just baffled because so far (4000 miles) our van has been basically flawless.
Good luck.
I'm getting frustrated with this odyssey, I haven't called the dealer but I'm hoping they would cover for the repairs whatever the problem is. This vehicle has 8200 miles on it and is driven only during weekends , most of the time it's inside the garage. I'm planning to drop by the dealer on monday.
sounds like whatever the issue you need to bring it in. '05 and 8200 miles? no doubt you are covered.
The outside temperature when i noticed the problem was 82 when i got back home at night outside temp was 76. I tried bringing down the driver thermostat to 60-65, But I still warm air blowing outon the vent. It is really strange because on the passenger side i could feel somewhat cold air but not as strong compared before. I'm going to the dealership tomorrow to find out what's going on.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
products??
On another note, my wife calls yesterday, car starts, but AC is not working. nor are turn signals, nor is electric doors. of course we're worried, and angry...couple of hours pass. restart car, all is fine now. and has been for days. Any ideas? There was a torrential downpour of a rainstorm (and her car is parked out in the open during work hours so it got soaked) the day of the issue.
Any ideas?
Any similar experience or solutions. We've been concerned about the drag on the transmission or is it the brake system at lower speeds.
There is no hint of a fix for this, so long trips to many places will be wrong, and no way to know which are unreliable until you see Navi results. Not all long-range routes are wrong, for me about half. So trip to Brooklyn or Ct are correct, but to NCar and Ala are clearly very wrong. Too bad that the '06 Ody Navi has so many nice improvements ... at expense of losing a significant one.
The USA SPec ipod adapter that I just installed on my '05 (it plugs into the aux port) also has a set of RCA inut juacks (to go along with the dedicated ipod connector). With one of these, not only can you plug in the ipod (and you can download books to it I think, and more stuff like that coming). You can also get a portable cassette player and plug it into the rca plugs.
SO, you still get a cassette played through the car stereo, but also an ipod connector. And, if you have a sat radio (portable), that can also be plugged into the jacks.
Just an option.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Anyway, I took Herson's Honda up on the offer of a quick fix and after driving well out of my way with two vehicles and my whole family, Herson's Honda told me they could not look at the vehicle when I arrived. Worse yet, Herson's Honda told me that the DVD must be replaced (I already knew that) and that the DVD must be ordered and will take 7-10 days to arrive at Herson's Honda. Urgh!! Herson's then had the gall to ask if I was dropping the vehicle or if I was waiting for them to do the inspection before they place the order for the DVD player.
Needless to say, I won't be having my 2006 Honda Odyssey EX-L with RES serviced at Herson's Honda. In fact, I'm so aggravated over Herson's lack of customer care that I'm seriously considering a certified independent mechanic instead of using any Honda dealer for service!
I then called Sport Honda and they agreed to order the DVD player without first looking at the vehicle. I didn't even buy the Ody from Sport! What is Herson's up to? Do they get paid by Honda for inspecting vehicles before performing warranty service. I hate to think a dealer would needlessly inflate costs for everyone by abusing the warranty process.
i'd suspect a bad tire or tires.