2008 HONDA ODYSSEY Complaints

DRIVING MY HONDA ODYSSEY 2008. IN THE MORNING OF 2/5/09, ENGINE REVVED UP TO 3000 RPM WHILE I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. I CHECKED TO SEE IF I WAS PUMPING GAS OR IF CARPET WAS STUCK BUT NONE APPLIED. CAR FINALLY SETTLED DOWN AND DROVE NORMALLY. IN THE EVENING IT STARTED AGAIN GOING UP TO 3000 AT A STOP (ACTUALLY RISING AS I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN) COULD BARELY CONTROL CAR. HAPPENED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IT HAD REVVED UP TO 5, 000 RPM. COULDN'T STOP THE CAR - THOUGHT I WOULD HIT SOMEONE. THREW IT INTO PARK AND SHUT IF OFF. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY KEPT IT FOR THREE DAYS, DRIVING IT ALL OVER AND THIS DID NOT OCCUR. OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, THE CAR WOULD REV UP TO 1500 OR SO AT A STOP SIGN BUT NEVER PAID MUCH ATTENTION TO THIS AS IT WASN'T DANGEROUS. LAST THURSDAY, THANK GOD PEOPLE JUMPED OUT THE WAY OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. *TR

WE BOUGHT THE 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY NEW AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A METALLIC SCRAPING SOUND WHEN DECELERATING WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED IN THE REAR SEAT. WE HAD THE HONDA SERVICE SHOP CHECK IT,AND THEY TOLD US THAT IT WAS NORMAL. ALSO,WHEN BRAKING,THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF TRAVEL TO THE BRAKE PEDAL,AND A SPONGY FEEL TO THE PEDAL,MAKING THE DRIVER FEEL THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT GOING TO STOP IN TIME. AGAIN THE HONDA SERVICE PEOPLE SAID THAT WAS NORMAL..I FEEL THAT IT TAKES EXCESS PRESSURE TO APPLY THE BRAKES. I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE. *TR

THE BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR, MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING AT THE SPEED LIMIT WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGES. SEVERAL TIMES I ENDED UP IN THE INTERSECTION. THE 08 ODYSSEY IS KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2008 HONDA ODYSSEY 5 DOOR TOURING MODEL FAILED TO STOP WHILE AT SLOW MANEUVERING SPEEDS, FORCING THE DRIVER TO JAM ON THE BRAKE AND SWERVE TO MISS VEHICLE IN FRONT, LANDING UP ON THE MEDIAN STRIP OF A BUSY SIX LANE HIGHWAY. SOME ENGINE ACCELERATION WAS EXPERIENCED DURING THIS MANEUVER, ADDING TO THE BRAKING FORCE THAT WAS REQUIRED. THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT ENGAGED DURING THE INCIDENT. A SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED A MONTH LATER IN A PARKING LOT, WITH A SUBSTANTIAL REVVING OF THE ENGINE AS THE CAR ENTERED A PARKING SPOT REQUIRING HARD BRAKING AND AN ABRUPT ENGINE SHUT DOWN. FINALLY A SIMILAR, BUT LESSER ACCELERATION WAS EXPERIENCED BY ANOTHER DRIVER (SAME CAR) WHILE BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO REST IN ITS PARKING POSITION IN THE GARAGE. ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR HAD BETWEEN 5,000 AND 6,000 MILES. THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND NO INDICATION OF A FAULT IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. (RECORDS OF SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAULTS WERE FOUND BUT BELIEVED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCIDENT WHEN ANOTHER CAR WAS STARTED WITH JUMPER CABLES FROM THE ODYSSEY.) BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS BELOW THAT REQUIRED TO ENGAGE THE SPEED CONTROL FUNCTION. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE COMPLAINT, BUT INDICATED THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER HE COULD DO WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF A FAULT. *TR

2008 HONDA ODYSSEY LX, BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS NEARLY TO THE FLOOR. SOFT PEDAL. VAN DOES NOT STOP EASILY. WE HAVE HAD TWO NEAR MISSES WHERE THE VAN DID NOT STOP AS NORMALLY EXPECTED. THE VAN WAS TAKEN BACK TO LEHIGH VALLEY HONDA AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BRAKES WERE NORMAL. I AM AFRAID FOR THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND CHILDREN IN THIS VAN AND HONDA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS VAN OR ANY OTHER HONDA VANS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *TR

THE AC STOPPED WORKING ON OUR YEAR OLD VEHICLE. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS THEY ADVISED A LEAK WAS FOUND ON THE AC CONDENSER WHICH WAS CAUSED BY ROAD DEBRIS. THEY INDICATED THAT TYPE OF DAMAGE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND HANDED ME A REPAIR ESTIMATE FOR $764.92. I DECLINED THE REPAIR BID AND TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME ONLY TO FIND OUT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER HONDA ODYSSEY OWNERS REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND THE SAME STORY GIVEN BY THE DEALERSHIPS. AFTER FINDING THIS INFORMATION I CONFRONTED THE DEALER AND ATTEMPTED TO BARGAIN WITH THEM GLADLY OFFERING TO PAY FOR THE LABOR TO INSTALL THE NEW CONDENSER BUT NOT FOR THE PART. NEEDLESS TO SAY MY EFFORTS WERE FUTILE AND I WAS REFERRED TO HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE. IN JANUARY I FILED A CASE WITH HONDA WHO AFTER ABOUT A WEEK CONTACTED ME AND INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY ROAD DEBRIS THEY WERE COULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE. I CERTAINLY CAN NOT HOLD HONDA RESPONSIBLE FOR ROAD DEBRIS DAMAGE SUCH AS A CRACKED WINDSHIELD OR PUNCTURED TIRE. HOWEVER, I STILL HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR POOR DESIGN AND PLACEMENT OF SUCH CRITICAL AND FRAGILE PART IN A PLACE WHERE IS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO GET HIT BY ROAD DEBRIS. WITH YEARS OF CAR DESIGN EXPERIENCE YOU WOULD EXPECT A COMPANY LIKE HONDA WOULD TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT AND EXPECT THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAW. *TR

NOTHING HAS FAILED YET, BUT THE BRAKES ON MY 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY ARE WAY TOO SOFT. I HAVE TOLD SEVERAL SERVICE PEOPLE WITH MY DEALERSHIP, INCLUDING THE SERVICE MANAGER, AND THEY DON'T SEEM CONCERNED. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE OWNED 7 NEW HONDA'S AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A BRAKE FEEL THIS WAY. *TR

THE VAN WAS OPERATING NORMALLY UNTIL PARKED OVER NIGHT IN DRIVE WAY. OUR DRIVEWAY IS SLIGHTLY INCLINED AND THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH ENGINE FACING FORWARD. THE NEXT MORNING THE CAR STARTED FINE AND WAS WARMING UP. 5 MINUTES LATER IT STALLED OUT AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER 2 DAYS THEY SAID THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE VAN IS AGAIN SCHEDULED FOR SERVICE THIS WEEK. I NOTICED A SIMILAR POSTING ON THIS WEB SITE CLAIMING THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS LOCATED BEHIND THE GAS TANK AND IT WAS DESIGNED THIS WAY. THEREFORE THERE IS NO FIX TO THIS CLAIM. KNOWING THIS DETAIL, I WENT OUTSIDE AND PUT THE VAN IN NEUTRAL TO LET THE VAN COAST TO A MORE LEVEL STATE. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED AFTER THE 2ND ATTEMPT. I'M STILL GOING TO KEEP THE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE AS I FEEL THIS CONDITION IS UNACCEPTABLE. I'VE OWNED 2 OTHER HONDA'S (DIFFERENT MODELS) AND NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF CONDITION WHILE LIVING AT THE SAME RESIDENCE. *TR

2007 HONDA ODYSSEY EX-L. VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT 4-WAY STOP INTERSECTION WHEN APPLYING NORMAL BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE AND WENT THROUGH STOP SIGN. VEHICLE HAS SOFT BRAKES AND NO DEFINITE BRAKE ENGAGEMENT ZONE. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL IS EXCESSIVE AND CAN RESULT IN SIMULTANEOUSLY DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. MUST MAINTAIN EXCESSIVE DISTANCE BETWEEN CARS AT HIGHWAY SPEED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE BRAKING MARGIN. HAVE DESCRIBED PROBLEM TO DEALER ON 3 OCCASIONS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" BEHAVIOR. WE HAD A 2005 ODYSSEY THAT DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NEW 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY EX-L MINIVAN / MAY 28, 2008 TOOK DELIVERY A FEW DAYS LATER, IN JUNE. TWO WEEKS AGO THE ENGINE LIGHT MYSTERIOUSLY CAME ON FOR 1/2 A DAY AND THEN TURNED OFF BY ITSELF. A WEEK LATER THE TIRE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. ON WED ( NOV 12, 2008) WHILE DRIVING MY 3 YEAR OLD & 8 YEAR OLD SONS TO SCHOOL, THE THROTTLE STARTED TO STICK. IT DID IT ONCE LIGHTLY - DID NOT RESPOND WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. I APPLIED THE BRAKE & THE CAR STOPPED. THE ENGINE SETTLED DOWN AND WE SET OUT AGAIN & IT DID THE SAME THING. WE STOPPED BUT WERE ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM SCHOOL & THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL AGAIN, SO WE SET OFF AGAIN. THIS TIME, WHILE GOING UP A FAIRLY STEEP HILL, THE ENGINE TOOK OVER AND THE THROTTLE WENT ON FULL BLAST - THE REGULAR BRAKE WOULD NOT STOP THE CAR ! I APPLIED THE BRAKE- MASHING IT TO THE FLOOR & WE KEPT GOING FORWARD ! I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL & PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH STOPPED THE CAR RIGHT BEFORE HITTING THE PARKING LOT FENCE BUT THE ENGINE WAS SCREAMINGLY HIGH & I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BLOW. I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE WITH THE KEY & IT STOPPED. WE HAD AAA TOW IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 30 MIN LATER. THE SERVICE DEPT. DID INVESTIGATE & WAS ABLE TO SEE THE ENGINE LIGHT ERROR MESSAGE FROM TWO WEEKS AGO - BUT WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS "AN ODD UNRELATED SENSOR CODE" THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE THROTTLE. THAT CODE WAS A SENSOR MALFUNCTION & IT WAS RESET. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE CAR OVER THE WEEKEND & ON MONDAY WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WERE GIVING THE CAR BACK TO US WITH NOTHING FIXED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT TRACK ANY OTHER ERROR MESSAGES & COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED HONDA WHO DECLINED TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER. THE DEALERSHIP ASKED IF THEY COULD REPLACE THE COMPUTER AS GOOD WILL & HONDA TOLD THEM THE DEALERSHIP WOULD ASSUME ALL RISK FOR LIABILITY - SO THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP DECLINED TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER. WE ARE NOW FACED WITH THIS NEW/LEMON CAR THAT HAS A LIFE THREATENING COMPUTER GLITCH/VIRUS AND NO RECOURSE. *TR