14 of the
1,095 complaints about the 2003 Honda Odyssey are about the
seats — 1% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
132,000 miles.
TAKATA RECALL. AS I WAS REACHED A STOP ZONE IN FRONT OF A SCHOOL PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ON 4/11/16, I HEARD A LOUD BOOM LIKE AN EXPLOSION ON MY MINIVAN. THE SOUND WAS EXTREMELY LOUD AND MADE MY EARS HURT AND I WAS DISORIENTED. I LOOKED AROUND THRU THE WINDOW AND REAR VIEW MIRRORS BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANYONE HITTING OR ANY TYPE OF COLLISION WITH ANY OBJECT OR ERWIN. I THEN FELT FABRIC TOUCHING MY LEFT ARM AND SAW THE SIDE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED ON HEIR OWN. BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SIDE AIRBAGS WERE OUT OF THE SEAT AND DEPLETED . MY 2 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN THE SECOND ROW SEAT BEHIND ME AND MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS SITTING ON THE SECOND ROW SEAT BEHIND THE PASSENGER SIDE. THEY WERE SCARED AND I DROVE THE VAN TO MY HOUSE ABOUT 1.5 BLOCKS AWAY. I HAVE A CONTINUOS RINGING IN MY LEFT EAR SINCE THAT DAY. MY PRIMARY MD HAS REFERRED ME TO AUDIOLOGY SPECIALIST. AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP AT THE PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY IN FRONT OF SILVERWING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN AREY DR. IN SAN DIEGO CA. I HAVE NOT MOVED THE CAR FROM MY HOME DRIVEWAY AFRAID THAT THE FRONT AIRBAGS COULD DEPLOY THE SAME WAY. I CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY WANT TO TOE THE CAR TO A DEALER TOMORROW 4/15/16 TO PLACE THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER AND EVALUATE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AND HOW TO CORRECT IT.
NHTSA complaint #10855530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 132,000 milesTooele, UT
SEATS
A METAL BRACKET RIVETING THE DRIVER SEAT BOTTOM TO THE POWER SEAT STRUCTURE HAS TORN THROUGH DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. THIS ALLOWS THE WHOLE DRIVE SEAT TO MOVE FREELY WITHIN A FEW INCHES OF TRAVEL DURING ACCELERATION AND TURNING.
NHTSA complaint #10838526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 174,700 milesGalion, OH
SEATS
MANSFIELD MOTOR GROUP OF MANSFIELD , OHIO REPLACED A SRS UNIT ON MY HONDA THAT WAS DONE SO THAT HONDA CORP. COULD COLLECT INFORMATION OFF OF THIS UNIT . WHEN THEY BROUGHT THIS UNIT ON LINE , THERE WAS WAS A PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG / SENSOR ALERT AND THEY WASN'T ABLE TO CLEAR THIS INDICATION . THEY DID SOME TROUBLE SHOOTING PROCEDURES TO NO AVAIL . I WAS INFORMED OF THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SENSOR REPLACEMENT WOULD COST ME APP. $ 1000..00 , IN WHICH I REFUSED AND TOLD THEM TO PUT BACK THE OLD UNIT THAT HAD NO ISSUES CONCERNING THE THAT OR ANY OTHER SENSOR . THIS RECALL # 15-026 , AFTER CALLING HONDA , WAS TO GAIN INFORMATION FROM AN SRS RECALL #15-013 THAT HAS NEVER BEEN INSTALLED , OR THIS IS WHAT I WAS LED TO BELIEVE , WHICH MMG HONDA TOLD ME THAT HONDA HAD NOT FIGURED OUT THE PROBLEM AS YET . I RECIEVED THE RECALL LETTER FROM HONDA IN MARCH OF 2015 FOR THE NHTSA RECALL 15V -045 ---- SERVICE BULLETIN # 15-013 .
NHTSA complaint #10759958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 92,599 milesAvondale, AZ
SEATS
AS I WAS DRIVING I LEANED BACK INTO THE POWER DRIVER SEAT AND SNAP THE FRAME BROKE. I HAD TO DRIVE ANOTHER 100 MILES WITH THE BACK OF SEAT PROVIDING NO SUPPORT. EVERY TIME I ACCELERATED HAD TO HANG ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL OR I WOULD HAVE WENT BACKWARDS. $1800 LATER BECAUSE I HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE SEAT REPLACED BECAUSE THE STEEL FRAME BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #10643946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 154,000 milesLorton, VA1 injured
SEATS
I HAD THE SEAT HEATER ON, DRIVER'S SIDE FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. THE HEATER OFTEN GETS EXTREMELY HOT, SO I DID NOT THINK ANYTHING WAS DIFFERENT. HOWEVER LATER UPON EXAMINING MY BACK IN THE MIRROR, I HAD A HUGE BURN ON MY BACK THAT LOOKED LIKE I HAD LAID DOWN ON A BBQ GRILL. THERE WERE VERTICAL LINES WHERE THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED ME, INTERRUPTED BY SECTIONS WHERE THE CUSHION IS UPHOLSTERED, AND NOT TOUCHING MY BACK. THE BURN IS APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES LONG AND 8 INCHES ACROSS.
NHTSA complaint #10598061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 154,000 milesLorton, VA1 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I HAD THE SEAT HEATER ON, DRIVER'S SIDE FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. THE HEATER OFTEN GETS EXTREMELY HOT, SO I DID NOT THINK ANYTHING WAS DIFFERENT. HOWEVER LATER UPON EXAMINING MY BACK IN THE MIRROR, I HAD A HUGE BURN ON MY BACK THAT LOOKED LIKE I HAD LAID DOWN ON A BBQ GRILL. THERE WERE VERTICAL LINES WHERE THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED ME, INTERRUPTED BY SECTIONS WHERE THE CUSHION IS UPHOLSTERED, AND NOT TOUCHING MY BACK. THE BURN IS APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES LONG AND 8 INCHES ACROSS.
NHTSA complaint #10598061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 185,000 milesLiberty, KY
SEATS
AS I SAT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT TILTED BACKWARDS. THE SEAT CAME LOOSE FROM THE LEFT FRONT SIDE. SOMETHING HAD BROKEN THAT FASTENED THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR. THE HONDA DEALER CHECKED THE SEAT AND SAID IT WAS THE ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY THAT HAD BROKEN. I NOW HAVE TO HOLD TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO STAY UPRIGHT TO DRIVE. ANY ACCELERATION THROWS THE SEAT BACK. I CONTACTED THE MAIN AMERICAN HONDA COMPANY. THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND SAVE THE RECEIPT. THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT. ANY SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.
NHTSA complaint #10535743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 113,200 milesHixson, TN
SEATS
A BRACKET (HONDA P/N 507688 R10) THAT CONNECTS A DRIVER POWER SEAT ADJUSTING MOTOR TO THE SEAT FRAME FAILED AT ONE (TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE) OF TWO RIVET HOLES. THE BRACKET IS PART OF THE SEAT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY 81630-S0X-A21. THE BRACKET IS A STAMPED STEEL PIECE ATTACHED TO A PRIMARY SEAT SUPPORT BRACE WITH TWO COMPRESSED RIVETS APPROXIMATELY 1/4" IN DIAMETER. NUMEROUS CRACKS WERE EXHIBITED RADIATING FROM THE REMAINING RIVET HOLE AND REMAINDER OF THE FAILED RIVET HOLE. THE INITIAL HALF OF THE FRACTURE EXHIBITS TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A FATIGUE FRACTURE WITH THE LAST PART OF FRACTURE SHOWING DUCTILE FRACTURE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH LOAD. I SPENT 10 YEARS AS A PRACTICING METALLURGIST PERFORMING HUNDREDS OF FAILURE ANALYZES. BRACKET FAILURE RENDERS THE DRIVER SEAT AS A SERIOUS DANGER TO THE DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AS THE SEAT IS ESSENTIALLY NOW ONLY ATTACHED FROM THE REAR TWO POINTS. THE FRONT ATTACHMENTS ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL UPON BRACKET FAILURE THUS TURNING THE DRIVER INTO A BOBBLE HEAD PERSON. ADDITIONAL CRACKS RADIATING FROM THE BRACKET RIVET HOLES INDICATE A POTENTIAL DESIGN LOAD ISSUE, A POSSIBLE MATERIAL DEFECT IN THE BRACKET, OR AN OVER-ZEALOUS RIVET COMPRESSION ISSUE. IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT SIMILAR CRACKS EXIST IN BRACKETS UTILIZING THE SAME DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING BATCH. SUCH CRACKS ARE VERY LIKELY TO PROPAGATE INTO A FAILURE UNDER THE HIGH LOADS CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING THE DANGER TO THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE IN SUCH A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10523455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesNaperville, IL
SEATS
A METAL BRACKET RIVETING THE DRIVER SEAT BOTTOM TO THE POWER SEAT STRUCTURE HAS TORN THROUGH DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. THIS ALLOWS THE WHOLE DRIVE SEAT TO MOVE FREELY WITHIN A FEW INCHES OF TRAVEL DURING ACCELERATION AND TURNING.
NHTSA complaint #10452765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 104,000 milesHewitt, TX
SEATS
MY WIFE COMPLAINED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT FELT LOOSE. I FOUND THAT THE SUPPORT FOR THE SEAT BACK WAS SPLITTING DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. (THIS IS A FULLY AUTOMATIC POWER SEAT. THERE IS ONLY ONE SUPPORT HOLDING SEAT BACK UPRIGHT. I HAD THE SEAT WELDED AT A SERVICE GARAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10292827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,000 milesMorgan Hill, CA1 injured
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
I WAS DRIVING N/B 101. I PRESSED MY BRAKE TO AVOID A COLLISION CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO DECELERATE FROM 65 MPH TO 40 MPH. THIS RESULTED IN MY DAUGHTERS SEAT UN-LATCHING FROM THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE AND TILTING ALL THE WAY FORWARD, CAUSING MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S FACE TO BE SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY. I SAW THAT THE BACK LATCHES WERE IN THE POPPER PLACE ON THE FLOOR BUT WEREN'T LATCHING. I THEN TILTED THE SEAT UP AND PLACED IT DOWN HARD ABOUT 20 TIMES BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT LATCH. MY DAUGHTER WASN'T SERIOUSLY INJURED, SO AT THE PRESCHOOL ONE THE TEACHERS AND I READ THE MANUAL AND PULLED ON THE LATCH RELEASE SEVERAL TIMES AND TILTED THE SEAT FORWARD AND THEN BACK DOWN, BUT IT WOULD NOT LATCH. THEN ONE OF THE GRANDPARENTS OFFERED TO TRY AND HELP BUT STILL THE DEFECTIVE SEAT WOULDN'T WORK. I CALLED THE HONDA DEALERSHIP IN SAN JOSE CA ON STEVENS CREEK BLVD, WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THEY IMMEDIATELY SAID IT WAS THE MIDDLE SEAT AND THAT I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING WRONG BECAUSE THEY GET THE COMPLAINT ALL THE TIME. I DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ACCIDENTALLY STOPPED OFF AT THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP NEXT DOOR. THE VOLVO SERVICE GUY TRY TO SEE IF HER COULD FIX & AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS SAID THE SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE. I THEN IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDED TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP. ONCE SERVICE PERSON TRIED TO LATCH THE SEAT, COULD NOT, AND THEN CALLED ANOTHER SERVICE GUY WHO INITIALLY COULD NOT GET THE SEAT TO LATCH. HE THEN PLACED A PEN AROUND THE LATCHING MECHANISM AND PULLED ON THE RELEASE LEVER A FEW TIMES AND IT RESULTED IN THE SEAT LATCHING. HE TOLD ME THAT THE LATCH WAS STUCK IN THE UNLOCKED POSITION BUT THAT IT WAS FINE NOW. HE SAID IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN AND THAT I COULD DO THE SAME THING HE DID TO FIX IT. THIS SEAT IS FAULTY AND I'M WORRIED FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY. THIS SEAT ONLY WORKS SOMETIMES, AND SOMETIMES IT FAILS, GOING INTO AND REMAINING IN THE UNLOCKED POSITION, JUST BECAUSE I PRESS MY BRAKE. PLEASE HELP, I'M SCARED.
NHTSA complaint #10131144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Suffolk, VA1 injured
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I AM WRITING YOU WITH MUCH PAIN AND DIFFICULTY. TODAY WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL MY BENCH SEAT OUT OF THE STORAGE WELL, IT MALFUNCTIONED AND SLAMMED DOWN WITH ITS FULL WEIGHT AND CRUSHED MY ARM. I WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND AFTER X-RAYING IT, FOUND OUT THAT IT IS BROKEN! I HAVE BEEN IN SEVERE PAIN ALL DAY. AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE MY HUSBAND, WHO IS SERVING ON THE U.S.S BAATTON , CANNOT HELP ME IN A TIME OF TRANSITION. I HAVE TO MOVE 2 KIDS, 3 DOGS, AND MY ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD TO NORFOLK, VIRGINIA ON MONDAY!!! I AM APPALLED THAT THESE BENCH SEATS HAVE NO KIND OF SAFETY MECHANISM TO KEEP THEM FROM FALLING FULL FORCE, INJURING THE PEOPLE. AND I SHUTTER TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY 2 YEAR OLD WAS NEAR BY AND HAD HER ARM (OR WORSE) INJURED. I LOOKED THOROUGHLY THROUGH THE OWNERS MANUAL AND FOUND NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS MALFUNCTION. NOW I AM NOT ONLY GOING TO HAVE TO SUFFER THIS INJURY, BUT I HAVE TO COPE WITH EXTRAORDINARY PAIN AND DIFFICULTY DURING WHAT IS ONE OF THE MOST STRESSFUL PERIODS IN OUR LIVES. I AM INSISTING THAT YOU PUT SOME SORT OF SAFETY CATCH LOCK ON THESE SEATS IMMEDIATELY! NOT ONLY COULD OTHER PEOPLE BE SEVERELY INJURED LIKE ME, BUT A CHILD COULD DIE FROM SUCH AN INCIDENT. YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM MY ATTORNEY FURTHER ON THIS MATTER, BUT AS FOR NOW, I INSIST THAT YOU DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT OTHER CONSUMERS. I AM ALSO SENDING A COPY OF THIS LETTER TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, CONSUMER REPORTS, THE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY INSTITUTE, THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, AND ANY OTHER CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY THAT I CAN FIND. SINCERELY, CRISTIE ESCANDON.
NHTSA complaint #10061974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hartselle, AL
SEATS
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION AND AIR CONDITIONER.*MR OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDED THE PASSENGER SEAT MOVING WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS OR STARTS. TRANSMISSION SURGED ON OCCASIONS. THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AS A RESULT OF A HOLE IN THE CONDENSER WHICH COULD'VE BEEN CAUSED BY DEBRIS. THIS REPAIR WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN THE SEATS WERE CHECKED, THE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS NORMAL DUE TO OTHER ODYSSEY VEHICLE'S ON THE LOT WITH MOVING SEATS. AFTER THE FACT, THE CONSUMER FELT AS THOUGH ALL PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS WERE NOT REPAIRED. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10040230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodhull, ILCrash
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
CONSUMER STATES WHEN REAR ENDED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WENT INTO A RECLINE POSITION UPON IMPACT, CAUSING INJURIES. TS
NHTSA complaint #10001545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.