KnownCarProblems2008 Honda Odyssey Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 499 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Honda Odyssey, most often about the brakes (31% of complaints, typically around 27,500 miles). It is 11th of 27 Odyssey model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2008 Honda Odyssey problems
Brakes
155 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 27,500 miles. Parts named most often: pedals and linkages, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Car crashed on 4/30/2010 due to brake malfunction in Honda Odyssey 2008 I was driving the car slowly approaching a bank atm at 5-10 mi/hours. I was applying pressure on the brake with my foot. When I attempted to stop the car by pressing more on the brake, the car did not stop but continue forward. The car crashed…
Driver in front me stopped and I was unable to slow down due to the unresponsiveness of my 2008 Honda Odyssey. I ended up rear ending the vehicle in front of me. We've been complaining of soft brakes and the inability to stop for awhile to the dealer. They've said it's normal. On a trip up to reno recently, it was…
Body and structure
123 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Both doors appear to be too close to the outside of the van. It rubs the exterior, ie paint from the exterior of the vehicle. Otherwise, they function perfectly well.
We own the Odyssey ex-l with a manual tailgate. The taligate has stopped opening to its maximum height. The shortened distance is not obvious until you proceed under the door and hit your head on the rear tailgate. I'm probably like most Odyssey owners--more focused on her children in a parking lot than the height of…
Engine
54 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 88,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. While driving at approximately 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle started to vibrate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the ignition coil and spark plugs were replaced but the failure recurred within 73 miles. The vehicle was…
My engine is using oil. It used 1 quart of oil in 2,826 miles of driving and 1/2 quart in the next 580 miles. The rate of oil use is increasing. Honda says these engines are passing oil thru the rings on 4 of the 6 cylinders. Honda will not do anything until engine light comes on or engine starts missing. I have to…
Transmission
41 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 37,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle assembly.
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving from 20-45 MPH, the judder would fail, causing the clutch to lock independently. The contact received an unknown recall pertaining to the judder failure. The dealer made upgrades to the vehicle software but the failure persisted. The dealer…
I have a 2008 Honda Odyssey. Was preparing to stop at a red light, when the car suddenly accelerated upon stepping on the brakes. Had to put car into park and shut off to stop the acceleration. Rpms were up to 6. That was 2 1/2 weeks ago. Yesterday 1/19/11 the same thing happened upon stepping on the brake to stop for…
Electrical
33 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 99,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel.
Turning onto highway, heard a loud bang, checked my dash, no warning lights illuminated, thought it was a rock or road debris that hit the vehicle. Continued toward our destination at 55 MPH, about a mile down the road the ABS lighted up, then the vsa, then the TPMS, then the seatbelt light, then the radio went out…
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact's vehicle was repaired according to NHTSA campaign numbers: 14v112000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 13v500000 (electrical system). After the repairs were completed, the contact found bolts that were left in the cupholder. The dealer stated that the bolts belonged to…
Speed control
30 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 55,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle decelerated independently and without warning. The vehicle was not taken for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000.
The contact owned a 2008 Honda Odyssey. While driving 5 MPH, the vehicle unintentionally accelerated and crashed into a brick wall. The contact stated that the air bags deployed, but failed to inflate properly causing the contact to sustain serious injuries that required medical attention. A police report was not…
Other or unspecified
29 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 109,000 miles.
I have spent over $4000 in repair costs and my car just shut down completely and will not start. I have had to have my car towed three times once to Honda dealership and twice to a repair shop. All this msoney spent and car still doesn't work right, now it just stopped working completely. All lights on dashboard start…
Have gone to courtney Honda, milford ct they can not find anything wrong with car. I had it towed after malfunctioning on highway then stalling. While driving on highway slow lane car started breaking by itself all lights on dashboard started going on from battery alternator brakes tire pressure every light on. Car…
Steering
27 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 41,000 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist.
Back in december of 2010, my Honda Odyssey (VIN# []) began to become difficult to steer. This problem occurred randomly and intermittently, and seemed to occur more often at slow speeds. On 12/21/10, I took the vehicle to bloomfield Honda, an authorized Honda dealer, and was told that the steering pump system had…
Tl contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact was driving approximately between 15-20 MPH making a turn when the steering wheel began to make a loud noise. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who informed her that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was in the process of being…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Honda Odyssey recalls
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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) an
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: software
Risk: The vehicle may suddenly and unexpectedly brake hard, and without illuminating the brake lights, increasing the risk of a crash from behind.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Body and structure: support device/strut
Risk: Struts with diminished performance can lead to unexpected closure, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: service brakes, air
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Inappropriate autonomous braking
Summary
In a letter dated october 31, 2013, honda motor company (honda) submitted a recall notice to NHTSA's office of defects investigation describing a defect in the vehicle stability assist (vsa) system in approximately 344,187 model year (my) 2007 and 2008 honda odyssey vehicles produced from august 8, 2006 through september 8, 2008 (NHTSA recall 13v-500, honda recall jc5).the report describes a defect condition caused by a combination of vsa system components and software that is unique to the my 2007-2008 honda odyssey vehicles.the condition may result in unexpected brake application by the vsa system with no brake lamp illumination.the braking forces resulting from the condition can approach
Stabilus rear liftgate struts failing
Summary
Please see the attached closing resume summary.it has been attached to this document as a pdf.
Unexpected closing of power liftgate
Summary
The investigation found that the liftgate struts were failing prematurely and at an abnormal rate in certain model year (my) 2008 honda odyssey touring and 2009 honda odyssey touring and ex-l model vehicles equipped with power-operated rear liftgates (note: my 2008 odyssey ex-l was not equipped with a power liftgate).unlike vehicles with non-powered (manual) liftgates, the subject vehicle's liftgate can be opened automatically (via the power liftgate motor) even when the struts are in a degraded condition and can no longer support it in the open position.consumers standing or accessing the rear cargo area under the liftgate and expecting the liftgate will stay open, can be struck when the li
Air in brake system
Summary
By letter dated march 15, 2010, american honda motor corp. (hmc) notified the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA recall no. 10v-098) to address a defect in approximately 412,000 model year (my) 2007 and 2008 honda odyssey and element vehicles equipped with an ABS/vsa/tcs modulator. The recalled odyssey vehicles were built from august 2006 august 2008.the recalled element vehicles were built from july 2006 to july 2008. According to honda, during an initial self-check process that occurs shortly after each engine ignition cycle, the self-diagnostic software for the vsa modulator allows a vacuum condition that can exist for severa
Air in brake system
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received 69 complaints, and honda has received 613 complaints and field reports, alleging low/soft/spongy brake pedal travel in model year (my) 2006 through 2008 honda odyssey minivans.twenty-six odi complaints were also reported to honda, resulting in a total complaint count of 656.some complaints allege that the condition resulted in extended stopping distances, including some reports of rolling past stop signs or traffic lights.there are 14 alleged crashes in the subject vehicle population related to low/soft pedals. In response to odi's information request for preliminary evaluation pe09-024, honda indicated that small amounts of air may ente
Questions about the 2008 Honda Odyssey
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Honda Odyssey?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (155 complaints, typically around 27,500 miles); body and structure (123 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles); engine (54 complaints, typically around 88,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Honda Odyssey have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from March 14, 2014 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Honda Odyssey?
- It is 11th of 27 Odyssey model years by number of complaints, with 499 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.