Honda Odyssey’s

Is your Honda Odyssey’s a lemon?

The Honda Odyssey's design team was inspired by the Black Panther, and Japanese Formula One driver Takuma Sato, who drives the Honda-powered BAR Grand Prix car, was involved in the final tuning of the car's suspension to make it sporting and sharp.

The Honda Odyssey is offered in the LX, EX, EX-L and Touring models. All of these models have front-wheel drive, a 244 hp V6 engine, and a five-speed automatic transmission. Standard features include an anti-lock braking system and traction/antiskid control, front side airbags, and curtain side airbags (with occupant position sensors) covering all three seating rows. In addition, all models except the LX have side windows and power sliding side doors.

The Honda Odyssey also offers climate control air conditioning with separate rear compartment controls, cruise control with steering wheel-mounted buttons, and a fold-down center console table. It can easily seat seven with ample storage space.

Despite these much-touted features, however, the Honda Odyssey has come under tremendous flak from all quarters.

Common Problems

The following are common problems faced by Honda Odyssey owners, as filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• Power Train: Automatic Transmission
• Seat Belts
• Structure: Frame And Members
• Structure: Body: Door
• Suspension
• Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Antilock

Many of these complaints have triggered recalls over the years. Details of these complaints include:

"The consumer is experiencing problems with the transmission. When the vehicle is going 45 mph or greater, the rpm drops down to about 1,400 rpm. When shifting into overdrive, the engine begins to vibrate and will continue up to 55 mph . When accelerating above 55 mph , the problem disappears. Owner has taken the vehicle to the dealer and has also contacted the manufacturer. Neither has a solution to this problem."

"While driving about 10 mph , the consumer heard a noise that sounded like metal rubbing metal. The noise seemed to be coming from the brakes and was accompanied by vibrations. The dealer was unable to find anything wrong with the vehicle. The seat belt came out of the door jam while the consumer was leaning forward. The passenger door makes noise when opened or closed."

Specific cases of recalls filed with NHTSA include:

On certain passenger vehicles, a loose terminal in the main fuse box may cause the fuel pump to lose power. If the fuel pump becomes inoperative, the engine may not start. If the fuel pump loses power while driving, the engine could stall without warning, which could result in a crash.

On certain minivans, the anti-lock brake system (ABS) uses a sensor on each wheel to detect wheel speed. Some sensors on the rear wheels were installed incorrectly, which means the sensor might report the wrong wheel speed to the ABS control unit. As a result, the driver could experience a loss of brake force and a crash could occur.

Legal Rights

See the listing at the above right for things you can do.