2001 Honda Odyssey

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT THE SHIELD UNDERNEATH THE BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE HIT THE CEMENT BARRIER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR AND THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING COOLANT AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED.

IN OUR DIRVEWAY WE FOUND A METAL CIRCLE, ABOUT 1/2 " IN THICKNESS, ABOUT 8" IN DIAMETER, APPARENTLY MADE OF IRON, WHICH WAS A RUSTED THROUGH, A BIT TWISTED AND OBVIOULSY SNAPPED IN ONE SECTION. WE DISMISSED IT AS GARBAGE. THREE WEEKS LATER WE HEARD A NOISE ON OUR VAN & BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON EXAMINATION OF OUR VAN, THE MECHANIC BROUGHT OUT ANOTHER PART TAKEN FROM OUR VEHICLE IDENTICAL IN CONDITION AS THE ONE FOUND IN OUR DRIVEWAY. HE SAID IT WAS A FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING AND THE VAN, A 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH APPX 58500 MILES, WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *NM

NOISE COMING FROM FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF VAN. RUBBER SEAL AT TOP OF STRUT WAS HANGING DOWN. SPRING ON DRIVERS SIDE WAS BROKEN. HONDA DEALERSHIP SAID BOTH SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE SPRINGS, STRUTS, SEALS...ETC. COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF FRONT SUSPENSION PARTS. {BOTH SIDES} RON AT EXT. 118038 AT AMERICAN HONDA STATED THAT PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE. AMERICAN HONDA PAID FOR ALL PARTS BUT NOT LABOR. TOTAL BILL OVER $2,000! *NM

REAR MANUAL SLIDING DOORS STICK CLOSED. IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT OR EMERGENCY, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR PASSENGERS TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE FOR RESCUE. TOOK TO DEALER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THEY PUT TAPE ON THE DOOR SEALS. THIS WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. THE SECOND TIME THEY PUT GREASE ON THE DOOR SEALS. THIS WAS EFFECTIVE FOR A SHORT TIME. *JB

ON 12/28/05 THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE ON OUR 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY LX WITH 79,662 MILES. THIS OCCURRED ON A RESIDENTIAL SIDE STREET AT LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE PULLED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT, HOWEVER, THIS WAS CONTROLLABLE. NO OTHER DAMAGE OCCURRED AS THE SPRING BROKE CLEANLY AND COLLAPSED VERTICALLY (TIRE, STRUT, STRUT TOWER ARE FINE). THIS WAS REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE BY OUR LOCAL HONDA DEALER. AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT I NOTED THAT THIS SEEMED UNUSUAL, HOWEVER, I'M NOT SURE IF THE DEALER NOTIFIED AMERICAN HONDA OF THE ISSUE. I'M AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE OTHER SPRING AND PLAN ON CALLING HONDA TO DISCUSS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE PULLED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. FORTUNATELY, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A RURAL ROAD WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE DEALER WHERE THE SHOCK, STRUT AND BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. *NM UPDATED 2/9/2006 - *NM

A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS AND DEADLY DEFECT IN THE SPRINGS OF 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY MINI-VANS. ON DECEMBER 9, 2005 WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE DRIVER-SIDE SPRING OF MY ODYSSEY SUDDENLY FAILED AND BROKE INTO TWO PIECES. THIS CAUSED MY VAN''S STEERING TO IMMEDIATELY PULL HARD TO THE LEFT AND INTO THE OTHER LANE IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND NO OTHER DAMAGE OCCURRED TO MY VAN OR TO OTHERS. WE REPLACED THAT SPRING AT OUR EXPENSE AND VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE REMAINING SPRING SHOWED NOTHING UNUSUAL. WE WERE TOLD AT THAT TIME THAT SPRING FAILURE IN RELATIVELY NEW CARS WITH AN NORMAL OR EASY DRIVING HISTORY WAS VERY RARE. WE CHALKED UP OUR EXPERIENCE TO A FLUKE. ON JANUARY 12, 2006 THE PASSENGER-SIDE SPRING SUDDENLY FAILED AND BROKE INTO TWO PIECES. AGAIN, THIS OCCURRED WHILE AT VERY LOW SPEED, I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL WHILE THE STEERING PULLED STRONGLY TO THE RIGHT, AND NO OTHER DAMAGE OCCURRED. AGAIN, WE ARE REPLACING THAT SPRING AT OUR EXPENSE. TO HAVE A FAILURE OF A SPRING IS A HIGHLY UNUSUAL EVENT FOR A ''YOUNG'' CAR WITH LOW MILEAGE AND AN EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE RECORD. TO HAVE TWO SUCH FAILURES WITHIN ONE MONTH OF EACH OTHER IS DEEPLY DISTURBING AND LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE SPRINGS. THIS FACT PRESENTS A GRAVE THREAT TO THE SAFETY OF NOT ONLY THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS OF HONDA ODYSSEYS, BUT OF OTHERS WHO MAY BY HIT BY A VAN WHICH HAS CAREENED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR OFF THE ROAD. *NM