2008 Honda ODYSSEY: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR EACH TIME IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 918 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 914.

Owner-reported narrative. 914 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214725 at NHTSA ↗

I AM EXPERIENCING BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2008 ODYSSEY TOURING IN WHICH THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SOFT, FEELS SPONGY, AND LONG BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WHEN BRAKING. THE VEHICLE HAS 2,132 MILES CURRENTLY AND IT WAS NOT LIKE THIS BEFORE 2,000 MILES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219726 at NHTSA ↗

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATION SHIFTING 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. HESITATION IS PRONOUNCED DURING COLD STARTS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219748 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT ABOUT A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, HOWEVER IT IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT A VEHICLE DESIGN WHEN INSTALLING A CAR SEAT. ON THE 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY THERE IS AN 8TH SEAT THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE ROW CENTER; IT IS CALLED A MAGIC SEAT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT A CAR SEAT CAN BE INSTALLED SAFELY IN THIS MAGIC SEAT. HOWEVER, AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR I WAS UNABLE TO FIND A CAR SEAT TO FIT THIS SEAT THAT COULD BE INSTALLED CORRECTLY (MEANING NOT MOVING MORE THAN 1 INCH IN ANY DIRECTION). I TESTED MANY MODELS OF CARS SEATS INCLUDING: BRITAX, GR…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10221570 at NHTSA ↗

REARVIEW CAMERA: NO ALARM AND NOT DISCLOSED OF NOT HAVING ALARM (MOST MANUFACTURERS HAVE AN ALARM SYSTEM AND THIS IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED BY GENERAL POPULATION); CAMERA DISTORTS TRUE DEPTH AND SENSE OF DISTANCE BETWEEN OBJECTS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 246 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225530 at NHTSA ↗

ON 4/28/08, THE VEHICLES THROTTLE STOPPED RESPONDING WHILE IN MOTION IN TRAFFIC AND THEN HAD TO BE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE. WHILE THIS HAPPENED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE VSA LIGHTS CAME ON. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN ALL OF A SUDDEN DUE TO THIS IN TRAFFIC. SIMILAR PROBLEMS HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST FOR 4 OTHER TIMES. HERE ARE THE DATES AND DESCRIPTION OF EACH EVENT. 1.ON 12/30/2008, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE VSA LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE CAME ON WITH WEIRD ENGINE NOISE AND I CALLED THE DEALER (AUTO WEST HONDA) IMMEDIATELY TO NOTIFY THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225920 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN USING THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR ON MY 2008 ODYSSEY, THE DOOR'S SENSOR FAILED TO AUTO-REVERSE WHEN MY 2 1/2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER REACHED HER HAND TOWARDS THE DOOR OF THE VAN FROM THE INSIDE. NOT ONLY WERE HER FINGERS AND UPPER HAND HIT BY THE CLOSING DOOR, BUT THE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN AND REMAINED SHUT ON HER HAND UNTIL I MANUALLY OPENED IT. THIS RESULTED IN AN OBVIOUS INJURY TO HER HAND AND A TRIP TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. X-RAYS DID NOT REVEAL A BREAK, BUT SHE WILL HAVE TO BE RE-CHECKED WITH AN ORTHOPEDIC, AS IT MAY HAVE DAMAGED THE GROWTH PL…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226858 at NHTSA ↗

MY BRAKES FEEL SPONGY AND REQUIRE ME TO APPLY EXTRA PRESSURE TO STOP. MY BRAKES ALSO MAKE A GROANING NOISE WHEN I COME TO A REGULAR STOP. THE DEALERSHIP I TOOK IT TO FOR REPAIRS SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, EVEN THOUGH THEY HEARD THE NOISE. I THEN DROVE AN 08 OFF THE LOT TO COMPARE AND NOTICED A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN PEDAL FEEL AND NO GROANING NOISE. THEY SAID THEY WILL CALL HONDA NEXT WEEK FOR ADVISE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 5,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228854 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2010-03-16 (March 16, 2010)

HONDA HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 ODYSSEY AND ELEMENT PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 28, 2006 AND AUGUST 21, 2008. AIR CAN ENTER THE VSA MODULAR PUMP DURING AN INITIAL SELF-CHECK PROCESS THAT OCCURS SHORTLY AFTER EACH TIME THE ENGINE IS STARTED. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ENOUGH AIR TO ENTER THE SYSTEM TO RESULT IN A BRAKE PEDAL THAT FEELS SOFT OR LOWER TO THE FLOOR.

Consequence: IF THE OWNER DOES NOT HAVE ANY BRAKE SERVICE OR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS OR YEARS, THE SYSTEM CAN CONTINUE TO ACCUMULATE ENOUGH AIR TO AFFECT BRAKING PERFORMANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNER AND HONDA DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VSA MODULATOR BY REMOVING ANY EXISTING AIR IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM THEN APPLY SEALANT AND CAPS TO PREVENT AIR FROM ENTERING THE BRAKE SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 3, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

Reported: 2012-02-16 (February 16, 2012)

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 ODYSSEY VEHICLES, THE GAS-FILLED STRUTS THAT HELP TO RAISE AND SUPPORT THE LIFTGATE OF VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A POWER LIFTGATE SYSTEM MAY BE PRONE TO EARLY LIFE FAILURES DUE TO A MANUFACTURING FLAW. THE FLAW CAN RESULT IN A LEAK OF THE PRESSURIZED GAS, LEADING TO REDUCED STRUT PERFORMANCE.

Consequence: STRUTS WITH DIMINISHED PERFORMANCE CAN LEAD TO UNEXPECTED CLOSURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH POWER LIFTGATE GAS STRUTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 12, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009.

Reported: 2013-11-01 (November 1, 2013)

American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured August 8, 2006, through September 8, 2008. Due to a combination of system components and software, the Vehicle Safety Assist System (VSA) may apply the brakes unexpectedly.

Consequence: The vehicle may suddenly and unexpectedly brake hard, and without illuminating the brake lights, increasing the risk of a crash from behind.

Remedy: Parts to remedy these vehicles will not be available until the spring of 2014. Honda will send owners an interim letter notifying them of the issue and instruct them how to prevent unintended braking. A second notification will be sent when the parts become available. Interim notification was mailed in December 2013. The recall began on April 29, 2014. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009 or visit their website at www.recalls.honda.com. Honda's recall number is JC5.

Reported: 2014-03-14 (March 14, 2014)

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain 2005-2010 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured June 23, 2004, through September 4, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the fuel pump strainer cover may deteriorate allowing fuel to leak out.

Consequence: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Parts to permanently repair the affected vehicles are not currently available. Honda will notify owners with an interim letter during May 2014. A second notice was mailed to owners October 6, 2014 when the remedy became available. Any vehicles that are currently leaking from the fuel pump cover will get a replacement, original cover. All vehicles, including those receiving the interim repair, will get an improved cover when they are available. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. The recall numbers associated with this campaign are JD9 (inspection and/or preliminary part replacement) and JE0 (final parts replacement).