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Comments
denver5357 - the dreadful customer service came about because Honda did NOTHING to investigate why I'm getting 13.5MPG combined on a 2005 Odyssey EXL thats rated 20/28. If I was getting anywhere close to 20 I would not complain. And I'm not looking for any "magical" fix as you put it. Just an attitude from Honda that they are willing to address the problem. All I got was "there is no problem". That IS dreadful customer service.
Are you a Honda employee or vendor? You certainly are an apologist for this shameful lot.
According to the service ticket, they found a loose weld in the sliding door, and to fix it they center punched the welds. My husband isn't sure this fix will last, since they didn't actually re-do the welds. Also, I still hear a little bit of noise as if the door still may not be completely tight in the frame.
I also had a softer rattle/vibration that was apparently caused by a distorted interior trim panel on the same door. They apparently replaced this panel.
Good luck to others of you with rattles/vibrations. Let's keep sharing fixes. I'll update this forum later if anything changes.
There are basically three possible reasons for your low mileage vs. EPA estimates. Either 1) you are driving the van in such a way as to reduce mileage way below estimates, 2) the EPA estimates are way too high for real world driving, or 3) there is something mechanically wrong with your particular van that is reducing mileage.
I got the sense from your earlier posts that you just want the mileage fixed, darn the torpedos! If what you are saying is you suspect a mechanical reason for your mileage, and Honda won't discuss this with you or look at possible likely areas, then I see your point. But the way you wrote your e-mails seemed to me to indicate you really just wanted it somehow fixed regardless of possibilities 1 and 2. And there are some other posts here from people unhappy with their mileage, so you probably have seen you are not alone. I just pointed out that the reasons for low mileage vs. EPA are most likely not due to something being "wrong" with the van.
I too have noticed a rattle in left passenger door in my 05 Honda Ody, specially while going over potholes. Let me know how it was fixed.
Thanks,
Rakhi
If someone is getting much less than my mileage on a regular basis (ie. 14 - 15 MPG) there are several possibilities: (1) your driving style is more aggressive, (2) you may need to check the inflation of your tires, or (3) something mechanical is wrong with your vehicle.
Before you conclude that something mechanical is definitely wrong with your vehicle, rule out the first 2 possibilities so your dealer can't say you're doing something wrong.
I owned the 2002 model before my current CR-V. I got 17-18 in town, 27 on the freeway. I changed out the car because it was just too big for me. Here is my input.
1. It is quite possible that if you drive more conservatively, you will get better mileage. No jack-rabbit starts, easy on the accelerator.
2. This is a heavy vehicle; try to time the stoplights so you don't have to accelerate all that metal from a standing start. The bottom line is that the laws of physics cannot be beaten; it takes energy to move mass, and the heavier the mass, the more energy it takes. The EPA tests are conducted on a test stand, if I recall, to see what the engine can do.
3. On my two Odysseys and my current CR-V, mileage increased after 2500-5000 miles. The engine took a while to achieve maximum MPG.
As a comparison, my CR-V (2.4L) got between 17.5-20.0 mpg in town; with the new techniques, my city mileage is generally over 21 (highway is unchanged at between 25-30, depending on speed). Actually, I think of it as a kind of game, a challenge to do the best conservation techniques while still not annoying anyone by moving too slowly or out of synch with traffic.
It is not unusual for driving style to affect MPG; some Prius (Toyota Gas/Electric Hybrid) owners are getting 34 MPG, others over 50. Same car and conditions, different driving emphasis.
There is clearly something wrong with a van that is rated at 20/28 EPA and gets a combined highway/local of 13.5MPG. I asked honda to investigate mechanical issues with the engine and they refused. I have owned Volvos, BMWs, and Toyotas and have achieved mileage with all that either came within a mile or so of EPA mileage oe in the case of the Toyota, exceeded it. Therefore I can safely assume that my driving style is not one that will cause mileage to drop markedly. As to the whole theory that the EPA is to blame - Honda is making prominent display of the fuel saving technology in their new VCM equipped Odyssey - they are publicising the EPa mileage, so they should be willing to stand behind it, however flawed people like you think it is for real world driving. But of course they are unwilling to stand behind it when users observe chronic mileage such as my 13.5 MPG.
You didnt answer my question from the last post - do you work for Honda or a Honda vendor?
Manufacturors are required by law to post the EPA numbers, which also include a statement that "your mileage may vary". So Honda has no choice but to "publicize" the EPA readings.
The fact that your driving style did not affect other models and brands is irrelevant. If would appear that Honda engineering is geared towards a different driving style than you use. That is not a problem with the vehicle, just a problem between the vehicle design and you as an individual driver. Thus others achieve higher MPG.
Of course, there could be something wrong with the car, but unless you are willing to try adjusting your driving style, Honda is going to simply hook it up to the diagnostic machines, receive no error codes, and give the car back to you as "working as designed". If you try and adjust your style and don't get any different results, you will have eliminated that as a factor.
I drove the new EX-L and was not impressed with the seating comfort. The Sienna trumps the Ody in seating comfort based upon my short drives of both vehicles.
I was all set to buy a new ody but the drive and mileage postings have turned me off.
Being an old guy, I appreciate comfort on long trips so I think I may end up with a Sienna but not until I lurk around the Sienna boards for a while.
Hopefully, the new Odys will come around and be closer to EPA.
Happy motoring
Now as to publication of EPA results, I know that Honda has to publish these numbers. What they do not have to do is boast about the improved fuel economy in their print advertising and marketing materials. Even their website boasts under the Odyssey home page "Odyssey achieves highest fuel economy in its class". They are not unwillingly publicising EPA numbers. Its one of their biggest marketing tools. And if they're using it as such, they should be willing to stand behind their product and investigate problems when they occur - and clearly on these boards there is an epidemic of 2005 Ody owners getting nowhere close to the published and Honda MARKETED mileage numbers.
Never again Honda.
Something doesn't seem right here?
The question would seem to be why it is any more likely that his "driving style" is the culprit as opposed to to a problem with the -particular- van.
And no, the turn signal was not on.
Same applies to brake and clutch life. Of course, I've never once heard anyone admit that just maybe they are a hard or abusive driver.
If this 13 MPG is CONSISTANT, something is amiss.
This shouldn't cost you much for the EPA test and Honda will have to fix your Ody for "free" or use the "lemon" law.
Good Luck.
Good luck.
Of course, I'm one of those people who rarely if ever bother checking my mileage. I figure it's going to get whatever it gets.
if not - then i would do as you have been advised and attempt to determine if the vehicle is running rich, has a marginal CAT convertor, or something else in the emissions control system or other is amiss that could be contributing.
if my Honda dealership would not support the investigation, i'd go the independant route after documenting the situation in a letter to HOA and my dealership - then if something was amiss - i'd press HOA and the dealership to cover the diagnostics and any parts/labor involved.
good luck.
"As to the whole theory that the EPA is to blame - Honda is making prominent display of the fuel saving technology in their new VCM equipped Odyssey - they are publicising the EPa mileage, so they should be willing to stand behind it, however flawed people like you think it is for real world driving."
Interesting reasoning, if odd. If EPA is reasonably right, then Honda would emphasize the EPA results as every other carmaker does. If EPA is so far off that many drivers get (as you seem to) about HALF of EPA numbers, then Honda will hear of this and will likely investigate and deemphasize mileage. You are saying Honda would knowingly emphasize EPA mpg results which are way off. How long do you think any car company could do that before they ended up paying a big price for it? Wouldn't make much sense. You seem to see evil where there is none.
Actually it's about the clock light. Someone had posted about their clock light being out and ended up just giving a little pop nest to it on the dash and back on it came.
I am here to report that it must be genetic because my clock light went out, I remembered the post, gave a little flick of the finger near the clock and the light's back on.
Weird.
I'm not sure how many miles are on your vehicle or where you live but it does take an engine a few thousand miles to break in. I experieinced this with my Quest. Winter driving cost you several mpg .
Also I noted on another forum, that you are asking a 4600 pound vehicle to get 27-28 mpg on he highway. That is some engineering!!!
The dealer ought to at least give it a good look.
We inspected the EX, shook hands and as I was backing up, I heard a "metallic clank" (more tin-ish) from the front right wheel. I immediately yelled at my salesman who came running. The service department quickly diagnosed the problem "... found backing plate missing 2 bolts, replace and torque all bolts to factory specs...". That was Problem # 1.
Yesterday (Sunday, March 13th) was no greater than 35 degrees F and the right passenger door failed to open after repeated attempts. Specifically, the right passenger door would initiate/open an inch, then stop, sound a "3 soft beep" warning - then the door would re-close/re-seal. This behavior occurred using either dash panel control or remote key fob. I was able to manually open the door. The child locks were disabled. That is Problem # 2.
Today is Monday and the EX is in the shop. What a bad joke. What's friggin next???
We just pick up our 05 ex-l-res and have the same problem.
You will never win a lawsuit on EPA mileage alone. The EPA itself says that "mileage may vary". The EPA figures are not requirements that the car must meet. If such a suit got to trial, Honda would simply show the EPA figures, calculated by the US Governement, and explain that he vehicle in question had been extensively tested and found to be normal. Honda (or any other car manufacturor) makes no definitive claims as to the mileage their cars will receive. If I remember correctly, the EPA actually prevents them from posting their own mileage estimates. You have to prove there is something wrong with that particular vehicle to get a lemon law replacement.
My spoiler has come loose. I found it when I opened the tailgate door because the spoiler made an awful sound as it rubbed against my roof, and two plastic connectors fell out.
My service rep said they have had similar problems with Pilot spoilers. Anyone else have this problem with their 05 Odyssey?
Something doesn't seem right here?"
What's not right is that you're conveniently ignoring other posts about this problem. I've posted a number of times that I'm getting 14 mpg with Touring!
During all 4 times they had to adjust my front driver door to get it both properly aligned and easier to close (still not that easy but I give up). I have been experiencing some sharp chirping noise from the front suspension area (mostly driver side) for the past month, when driving on bumpy or bouncy pavement. I asked the dealer to check that last time. They tested drive with an electronic ear and could not find the reason. So they told me to come back when the noise would get worse. Now things seemed to get worse as I sometimes hear the noise constantly. I am thinking going back to the dealer but am afraid to waste another day there. Has anybody experienced similar things? Does anybody know what could have caused this? The technician told me it should not be a safety issue but I am still concerned given I have my two babies on board during the weekends.
I also had a rusty spot on the side for no reason. The dealer just touched up some paint.
In terms of gas milage, my EX gives about 18 to 20 MPG for a combined city/free way driving. I am not satisfied but that is not my major concern now.
I really wish I had bought a Sienna.