CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2014 and 2015 Honda Odyssey shows an early trend of transmission problems with clunking/jerking when shifting gears.
Most of these Odyssey transmissions are still under warranty, but so far Toyota generally hasn't been able to diagnose or fix the clunking problem — that's the reason for our low rating. Some owners have reported it was a stuck solenoid, & in a few cases Honda has replaced the entire transmission.
As more of these Odysseys start exceeding the 60,000-mile powertrain warranty limit, buyer beware.
This is a copy of a complaint which we have filed with SaferCar.gov on July 31, 2015.
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/confirm.xhtml.
We are very upset about this problem and disappointed with how Honda is handling it. We will be looking for other appropriate places to file this complaint.
This was our first experience driving our new 2015 Honda Odyssey after dark. It was frightening when we found ourselves on a familiar country road and unable to see the usual landmarks which tell us where we are. The problem is with the low beam headlights. Illuminated vision is very bright on the road close to the vehicle but there is a line midway up the windshield above which it is totally black. This line bobs up and down with curves and dips in the road in a distracting manner which prevents your vision focusing. The light also does not extend very far in front of the vehicle even on flat parts of the road. This is begging for an accident. We could easily have hit a deer or even a human being walking or bicycling on the road had there been one.
We stopped driving after dark until we could get an appointment with our dealership. Our dealer's mechanic informed us that cannot be fixed. He also said the Chevy Malibu has the same problem. I have located an online forum where the same problem is described for a 2011 Honda Odyssey and Honda's response to them was the same as to us.
Honda is obviously aware of the issue and has not addressed it for 5 vehicle seasons. We were not informed of this "design flaw" when we purchased the car. Either the problem should be fixed or a disclosure made to the customer. We owned and drove a 2006 Honda Odyssey for 6 years and the headlights, low and high beam, were the best we ever experienced.
This vehicle is not safe to drive after dark except in illuminated areas or behind another vehicle using its lights. Honda shouldn't be waiting to collect enough bodies to necessitate action.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
This is a copy of a complaint which we have filed with SaferCar.gov on July 31, 2015. https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/confirm.xhtml.
We are very upset about this problem and disappointed with how Honda is handling it. We will be looking for other appropriate places to file this complaint.
This was our first experience driving our new 2015 Honda Odyssey after dark. It was frightening when we found ourselves on a familiar country road and unable to see the usual landmarks which tell us where we are. The problem is with the low beam headlights. Illuminated vision is very bright on the road close to the vehicle but there is a line midway up the windshield above which it is totally black. This line bobs up and down with curves and dips in the road in a distracting manner which prevents your vision focusing. The light also does not extend very far in front of the vehicle even on flat parts of the road. This is begging for an accident. We could easily have hit a deer or even a human being walking or bicycling on the road had there been one.
We stopped driving after dark until we could get an appointment with our dealership. Our dealer's mechanic informed us that cannot be fixed. He also said the Chevy Malibu has the same problem. I have located an online forum where the same problem is described for a 2011 Honda Odyssey and Honda's response to them was the same as to us.
http://answers.edmunds.com/question-2011-Honda-Odyssey-EX-headlights-aim-low-Is-easy-fix-Can-road-enough-112164.aspx.
Honda is obviously aware of the issue and has not addressed it for 5 vehicle seasons. We were not informed of this "design flaw" when we purchased the car. Either the problem should be fixed or a disclosure made to the customer. We owned and drove a 2006 Honda Odyssey for 6 years and the headlights, low and high beam, were the best we ever experienced.
This vehicle is not safe to drive after dark except in illuminated areas or behind another vehicle using its lights. Honda shouldn't be waiting to collect enough bodies to necessitate action.
- Paul G., Geneva, NY, US