10th Dec 2001, 13:55

We need to clear up some actual facts. The person who added the comments two above this about where the Honda Van is built is wrong. The Honda Oddessy is built in Alliston, Ontario, Canada - not Ohio as is stated. The Accord and some Civics are built in Ohio. Some Civics, the Oddessy and the Acura MDX are built in Ontario.

However, recently (Dec. '01), Honda has started to build the Oddessy in a new plant in Alabama too. They still continue to build them in Ontario as well, but needed the Alabama plant to add capacity and to make room for a new V6 powered Honda SUV based on the MDX to be built in Alliston.

They were correct in saying that the Chrysler van's are built in (Windsor) Ontario, but GM makes no mini-vans in Canada. They only make cars (Lumina, Monte-Carlo, Regal, Century, Impala) and full-size trucks in Oshawa. GM also makes the Camaro and Firebird in Quebec - for about one more year anyway until they are discontinued.

Thanks.

8th Aug 2002, 23:08

We own a 2000 Honda Mini Van and it has been great ---until last week. It has 38,000 and suddenly, it began overheating, and A.C. stopped working. Dealer thought it was thermostat and replaced that. When that didn't work, they recommended putting in new radiator. This will cost $660.00 for radiator, plus $200.00 for thermostat. Should a radiator die at 38,000 miles? Should dealer be responsible in spite of fact we are over warrently by 8,000 miles? Dealer blames it on poor maintenance. However, this van has been services regularly by an excellent mechanic, and radiator was flushed at 30,000 mile check up and it was fine then.

23rd Aug 2002, 17:24

I also own a 2000 Odyssey, which I purchased new in May or June of 2000. I have 35,000 miles on this van and have followed the maintenance schedule regularly.

Starting at about 1,000 miles and continuing to this day I have had a constant and recurring problem with the van pulling hard right on acceleration and with a terrible vibration in the steering wheel. The dealer has re-aligned and rebalanced the tires so many time I can't recall the number. The dealer replaced the original tires at about 23,000 miles and had the tire shop perform their own alignment. The alignment and vibration problems continue. At the first scheduled rotation of these new tires,7,000 miles, the tire shop noted irregular wear.

This continues to be a problem and major concern for me. I will be returning to the dealer to make what arrangements I can to recoup what I can from this vehicle and move on to something more reliable. When purchased, I pictured this being my vehicle for at least 10 years.

To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. Honda missed something on this one.

24th Aug 2002, 08:27

Unlike many of you Americans, Australians get the Japanese Made Odyssey and I have a feeling this makes a big difference in reliability. 80,000km 50,000 miles of absolutely trouble free motoring, if you're going to buy Japanese Brands make sure they're made in Japan first.

28th Aug 2002, 21:30

We own a 2000 Honda Odyssey with the Navigation System. And since day 1...Besides the electric sliding doors, sometimes (once in a GREAT while 6-7months) would jam or not connect with the connectors just right. I have not regretted it one bit!!

I currently have about 37K miles on it and still going strong.

The only thing I recommend to future buyers of an Odyssey is not to buy the tow package, just the transmission cooler and from that a Honda mechanic that can install it cheaper that the dealership.

I just got a Reese Class 3 trailer hitch installed, it's a Monster hitch!!, and if I had the factory Honda (or whatever they use) I would have to remove that one to install the new one.

The only thing that I would ask Honda to do is, make a heavy duty spring and shock for the rear wheels. I have been seeing a lot of Odyssey's with their top part of the rear wheels "bending" in toward the wheel wells.

Overall, I would rate the Odyssey a 9.8 out of 10,.2 for the spring/shocks.

3rd Oct 2002, 22:29

From 16,000 miles on my 2000 has had major brake problems. After fighting the dealer and corporate Honda, they replaced the entire braking system. Now, at 43,000 miles, the problem is back. As of tomorrow, I've traded it in for a 2003 model. The fact is, I love everything about the van except the brakes. The newer model has a different braking system.

10th Oct 2002, 15:41

I own a 2000 Odyssey with 50,000 miles on it. At about 30,000 miles I noticed a vibration in the steering wheel at 70+ MPH. I ignored the vibration for another 8,000 miles and replaced the factory Firestone tires with 80,000 mile Goodyear Viva tires. The vibration got worse. Still, only at 70+ MPH. Over the next couple of months I had the alignment checked and had the tires balanced and rotated four (4) times by (3) different shops. No help!! Finally Wal-Mart exchanged the Goodyears for a set of 80,000 mile Douglas Touring tires. Last week I talked with a rep. with Honda, and he told me that they have had a "few" Odyssey's with similar problems. He told me that the tire is not mounted on the "steel wheel" properly, and that a Volvo dealer down the road had a special machine that could "true-up" the tire with the wheel. For $120.00 I asked him if he thought the wheels were bad? He danced around that question, but said that they had no problems with the aluminum alloy wheels on Odysseys. Luckily the Douglas tires took care of 95% of the vibration, or maybe I just got lucky and they got mounted in the right spot.

19th Nov 2002, 12:11

At 36K miles I brought my 2000 Odyssey into the dealer because of front wheel vibration. I had to have both front tires replaced and a realignment done.

I started noticing a noise after the tires were replaced. I thought it would go away so delayed going back to the dealer. I returned to dealer at 41K miles. They replaced my front driver side wheel bearing, but the noise remained. They are now replacing the transmission at no cost to me. Apparently they have seen this before.

8th Dec 2002, 18:36

I also have a 2000 Odyssey, and have some of the same problems with the brakes, though a trip to Auto Zone and $21.00 later I replaced the brakes myself and the noise stopped. Honda said they would put new brakes and turn the rotors, while in the shop for sticking doors, for around $250.00. The rotors were fine and besides that they didn't even take the tires off to check.

The tires are another thing, Firestone's worn slick at 37000, poor tread life for a $26,000 car. I am going to replace the tires this week with Douglas tires (Goodyear made for Wal-mart) and hopefully that will help the extreme vibration at 65 mph. I had a 95, and a 98 Accord with virtually no problems so what happened with the OVERPRICED Odyssey.