# Honda Odyssey Owners! Spill Your Guts! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 24, 2014, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384 "2014-08-24T16:52:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/1 "2014-08-24T16:52:21Z")
Just wondering what the Honda Odyssey owners of the SD have to say about their vehicles? What year is your model? Is it automatic or manual? Do you notice a lot of road noise? If automatic, does the transmission seem to waffle between gears (i.e., you may feel a surge, jerky, or unsmooth shifting)? Is acceleration good or sluggish most of the time (under various conditions)? Would you buy another one? ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/2 "2014-08-24T16:58:00Z")
2011, automatic. Yes, road noise. The kids love it. It can’t handle wet or icy roads with slope whatsoever. I never had that problem with my Toyota van, which was 4WD. I won’t buy Toyota anymore, so I am at bit of a loss on what to do for a replacement. Sliding backwards in a loaded van is not awesome. If you are not doing hill driving on wet roads, this probably is fine. My one other major annoyance would be that the roll forward seats do NOT (they did in earlier models). So you have to pull them out if you need the space. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/3 "2014-08-24T17:32:10Z")
Fantastic car, best in its class. History of bad transmissions. Owned and loved two so far. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/4 "2014-08-24T17:51:01Z")
I have one. I think it’s a 2010? exl without DVD. I didn’t think they were available with manual transmissions - mine is an automatic. Anyway, it’s big and boring. It starts every time, it doesn’t make any funny noises, it gets out if it’s own way, it’s comfortable, it rides pretty smooth. It’s the wife’s car - it’s fairly indestructible and it needs very little from me or the dealer. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/5 "2014-08-24T18:37:27Z")
2003 – thing is a tank. Love it. I’ve heard transmissions are dicey, but ours has been solid so far. (140k miles) ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/6 "2014-08-24T19:01:01Z")
Transmission issues are pretty much par for the course with car-based minivans. The Odyssey hasn’t really been any worse than its competitors in that regard, although maybe some people were expecting more because of the “H” on the grille. A manual transmission would be a great solution to the minivan transmission issues, but the Mazda 5 is the only minivan sold with one in the US in recent years and it’s a fair bit smaller than most of its competitors. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/7 "2014-08-24T19:01:46Z")
We finally let go of our 2002 after 207K. Any problems were due to our own abuse of it, including the transmission. [Wiki sez](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Odyssey_(North_America)#Transmission_issues) the transmission problems were fixed with the 2004 model year (North America), but it’s still artificially depressed used prices for that year and later. Great deal if you’re looking. ---
**Author:** ![InsomniaMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ad7895/32.png) [@InsomniaMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InsomniaMama)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/8 "2014-08-24T19:07:27Z")
2006 automatic with nary a problem. Love that thing. Great on road trips, for car pools, for hauling stuff. I hope it lasts forever. ---
**Author:** ![butterfiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b3f665/32.png) [@butterfiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butterfiles)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/9 "2014-08-24T20:04:19Z")
What is SD? I have a 2007 automatic and like it. It does not have great pickup, but neither did our other minivan. No problems, and I bought it used. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/10 "2014-08-24T22:32:44Z")
My 2007 has an overdrive lockout button on the gearshift. When I press it, it locks the tranny in 3rd, which is 1:1, and I have all the acceleration I can use. Comes in useful on the many hilly highways here. Triple OD may be great for mileage but it makes acceleration at speed doggy. Hit that turbo button and it helps a lot… ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/11 "2014-08-25T00:05:29Z")
I have a 97 that is an absolute warhorse. Starts everytime. All it’s ever needed were tires, batteries, and the occasional oil change. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/12 "2014-08-25T09:38:00Z")
All the guys in it except me got turned into pigs! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/13 "2014-08-25T13:10:33Z")
No love for the old ATV? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/14 "2014-08-25T14:14:11Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > No love for the old ATV? Honda likes to recycle vehicle names- the Odyssey, Sabre, and Silverwings are all 2 different things. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/15 "2014-08-25T14:48:51Z")
> [@butterfiles](#): > > What is SD? Straight Dope. We’ve got a 2008 Odyssey - bought it at the end of the model year, so we’ve had it six years now. The only issue I can remember having was the turn-signal indicator relay burning out (and because I have big hands, that thing was a BEAR to replace!). The only real downside to it is the gas mileage, but that’s true of almost any minivan. It’s been a great van, and if I still needed the space I’d buy another one. We’re looking at downsizing to a crossover SUV in the near future, now that the kids are getting older. We debated between the Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna when we were purchasing, and I’ve never regretted buying the Honda. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/16 "2014-08-25T15:20:32Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Honda likes to recycle vehicle names- the Odyssey, Sabre, and Silverwings are all 2 different things. So is the Pilot. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/17 "2014-08-25T15:31:41Z")
Q: Do they still make the one that looks like a Hearse? I’ve always pictured it being hell to load a coffin through the sliding side door, but then [del]threading that needle [/del] filling that grave hole with a coffin while driving 55 must be even harder. . . . . “Yer all clear, kid!” ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honda-odyssey-owners-spill-your-guts/696384/18 "2014-08-25T15:34:11Z")
Duplicate post