1999 Honda Odyssey Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE INSTRUMENTS ON THE DASH WENT TO ZERO AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN FOLLOWED BY ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATING AND THE ENGINE RESTARTING. THIS CYCLE WAS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES OVER AN APPROXIMATE FIVE MILE STRETCH. SHEDDING THE ELECTRICAL LOADS DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED ON OTHER OCCASIONS BUT IS VERY INTERMITTENT. NOW THE ENGINE IS DEVELOPING A STARTING PROBLEM. THE VAN STARTS BUT DIES IMMEDIATELY WHEN YOU RELEASE THE KEY. IT SOMETIMES TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VAN WILL REMAIN RUNNING ONCE THE KEY IS RELEASED. I FOUND A RECALL FROM HONDA FOR THIS ISSUE. THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH WAS TO BE REPLACED WITH AN IMPROVED ISSUE FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. I CONTACTED STERLING MCCALL HONDA IN KINGWOOD, TX TO HAVE THE SWITCH REPLACED. THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY VAN HAS THE NEW STYLE SWITCH ALREADY INSTALLED SO THEY REFUSE TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY SWITCH. OBVIOUSLY THE NEW SWITCH THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS NOT MUCH BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL. I FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE SWITCHES UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO DESIGN A SWITCH THAT REMEDIES THEIR DESIGN FLAW. *TR

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. HIS VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL # 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; IGNITION: SWITCH). HOWEVER THE REPAIRS DID NOT REMEDY THE SPECIFIED FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 218,000.

1999 HONDA ODYSSEY LX ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPS WHILE IN TRAFFIC (3 TIMES), NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES. THIS MODEL WAS RECALLED IN 2002 FOR FAULTY IGNITION STARTER SWITCH THAT HAD CONTACTS CORRODE AND STOP ENGINE AS IF THE IGNITION KEY HAD BEEN SHUT OFF. THIS ODYSSEY HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED IN 2004 AT 71,000 MILES NOW HAS 120,000 MILES. *TR

1999 HONDA ODYSSEY. IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY TOLD ME IT HAD ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED IN 2002. I ASKED WHY WASN'T IT REPLACED WITH A SWITCH THAT WAS OF NEWER DESIGN AND WAS TOLD AGAIN THAT IT HAS ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED. THEY WILL NOT REPLACE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IF THEY REPLACE A RECALLED ITEM WITH AN ITEM OF THE SAME DEFECTIVE DESIGN THEN ARE THEY HONORING THE RECALL? I WOULD SAY NO, THEY ARE ONLY MASKING THE PROBLEM WITHOUT FIXING IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING ILLUMINATED. WHILE CONTINUING TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL AND JERK AS IF IT WOULD SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO HER DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAILING AND THE WIRES WERE MELTING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $150. THE CONTACT CALLED THE HONDA MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO COMPENSATION OR REPLACEMENTS WOULD BE MADE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO A RECALL. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,150 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,260.

THE MINIVAN STALLS AND LOSSES POWER (ENGINE TURNS OFF AND LIGHTS GO OUT ON THE DASH) WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD (INTERMITTENTLY). WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THE WIRE HARDNESS RECALL AND THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. THE SYMPTOM TAKES PLACE EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS. I GUESS I NEED TO TAKE THE MINIVAN TO THE DEALER AGAIN. WHAT A LEMON. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE HONDA MINIVAN. I WOULD EXPECT THIS ISSUE FROM SOMEONE ELSE BUT NOT FROM HONDA. MY WIFE ALMOST CRASHED THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. *TR

WHILE MOVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND NO LONGER COULD OPERATE UNTIL STOPPED, PUT INTO PARK, AND TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. DEALER EXPLAINED THAT IGNITION SWITCH OF CAR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IGNITION SWITCH WAS ALREADY REPLACED IN 2002 UNDER HONDA RECALL AND IT FAILED AGAIN. IGNITION SWITCH REPLACE IN 2008 WAS PAID BY OWNER, NOT HONDA. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 185,000. UPDATED 4/14/09 *CN UPDATED 04/17/09.*JB

FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL. I CALLED HONDA ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID THAT MY PARTICULAR 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY WAS NOT ON A RECALL FOR THIS. *TR

FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED BEFORE STOPPING IN AN INTERSECTION, AS THIS DRIVER WAS APPLYING BRAKE THE DASHBOARD JUST FLICKERED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER WHILE THE KEY WAS STILL IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE GEAR POSITION. THE CAR BEHIND US ALMOST HIT US. THE VAN RESTARTED WHEN THE GEAR WAS PUT ON PARK AND RESTARTED. SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED THIS SAME NIGHT, THIS DRIVER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 35 MPH WHEN THE KEY DASHBOARD DISPLAY FLICKERED 3 TIMES THEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING AND DRIVER UNABLE TO MANEUVER VEHICLE. WE WERE LUCKY BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT US BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR ALMOST FIVE YES AND THIS IS THE 1ST TIME IT HAPPENED AT THE SAME NIGHT. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS THE PRIMARY TRANSPORT FOR MY PREGNANT WIFE AND MY 2 KIDS. AS FAR AS I KNOW AS THE DEALER TOLD ME BEFORE MY VEHICLE WAS PART OF A RECALL WITH REGARDS TO IGNITION FAILURE 02V120000 AND 03V423000. MY QUESTION WILL BE IS THE REPLACEMENT PART THAT THEY HAVE PUT ON WAS DEFECTIVE TOO OR IS THIS A NEW PROBLEM. WHAT WILL BE MY COURSE OF ACTION NOW? I'M PLANNING TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TOMORROW. MY HONDA VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICE BY HONDA. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR REPLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. A PIN KIT WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIFTEEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. MOST RECENTLY, THE AUTHORIZED DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL PORTION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

MY 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY EXHIBITED ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF THE EXISTING HONDA SAFETY RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. MY VAN STALLED MANY TIMES IN TRAFFIC CAUSING A ROAD HAZARD. MY VAN WAS ORIGINALLY REPAIRED UNDER THIS RECALL IN MAY 2002 BUT, OBVIOUSLY, THIS REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE DEFECT. HONDA HAS REFUSED TO COVER THE ADDITIONAL REPAIR UNDER THE SAFETY CAMPAIGN STATING THEY ONLY COVER ONE REPAIR PER VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DOWNHILL, THE VAN SHUTS OFF AND RESTARTS BY THE TIME IT REACHES THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. THE FAILURE OCCURS IN ANY WEATHER CONDITIONS. ALL OTHER SYSTEMS OF THE VEHICLE ARE AFFECTED DURING THE FAILURE, SUCH AS LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BRAKES, AND ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE IS ALWAYS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED ONCE IT SHUTS OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) IN 2002 AND THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2005; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.

1999 HONDA ODYSSEY STALLS WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH IS OVERHEATING WHICH IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED A SECOND RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED, BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS INSTALLED UNDER RECALL WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE STALLED ON MANY OCCASIONS, BUT WOULD RESTART AND OPERATE NORMALLY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT AND THE HONDA DEALER HAVE HAD DISAGREEMENTS ON WHETHER OR NOT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,674 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,114. UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY. FIVE YEARS AGO THERE WAS A RECALL ON FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING 45MPH ON 8/20/07 SHE OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE IGNITION KEY AND HER BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN PRIOR TO REACHING HER DESTINATION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT AGAIN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

CAR DIED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING, WITH NO WARNING , ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART HOWEVER; IT WOULD SHUT OFF AFTER TWO SECONDS. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH (RECALL # 02V120000). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WORK WAS COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER OF 2002. THE MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THEY ARE ONLY RESPONSIBLE TO REPAIR THE RECALL ONE TIME.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. FOUR YEARS AGO, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NUMBER 02V120000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). HOWEVER, THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 204,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 09/18/07 *TR

1999 HONDA ODYSSEY [XXX] NEEDS TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED SINCE THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED WITHOUT THE SHIFTER IN PARK. RECALL NOTICE (NHTSA ID 03V42300) INCLUDES HONDA ODYSSEYS BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VIN. REQUEST ASSISTANCE TO GET HONDA/DEALER TO PERFORM REPAIR AS WARRANTY. *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I WAS TRAVELING FROM INDIANAPOLIS TO COLUMBUS, IN ON I-65 IN A 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY ABOUT 6:00 PM ON 9/23/2006. AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES ON I-65 (SOUTH) I NOTICED A SMELL LIKE HOT INSULATION AND SEVERAL MINUTES LATE SAW SMOKE RISING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN COVER. SMOKING CONTINUED AS I PROCEEDED TOWARD AN EXIT. I FELT THE TOP STEERING COLUMN COVER AND IT FELT WARM OVER THE LEFT TOP SIDE AS THE SMOKE CONTINUED. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MIN, THE ENGINE STALLED AND ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. I COASTED TO A STOP ALONG THE SIDE OF I-65 AND THE SMOKE DISSIPATED. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RE-START. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BUT I SUSPECT THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH OVERHEATED AND FAILED. THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED IN 2002 AS PART OF NHTSA RECALL. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN PULLING INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THIS STARTED ONE MONTH AGO AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK SINCE THEN. THIS ALSO OCCURRED ONCE WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS STEERED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 02V120000, REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 3/28/2006 - THE VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE STALLING HAS NOT RECURRED IN OVER 3 WEEKS. *NM

MY HONDA ODYSSEY WAS PURCHASED ON APR. 1999. ON 5/7/2004, I HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AT NARDY HONDA AS THE VEHICLE WON'T CHARGE. ON 8/2/04, THE CAR BROKE DOWN AND LATER FOUND OUT THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET BROKE (SHEARED IN HALF). HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE LATER PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRACKET. ON 8/27/05, THE BRACKET BROKE AGAIN IN HIGH WAY. HONDA AGAIN PAID FOR THE REPAIR AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP (LUNDGREN IN MA SINCE WE WERE TRAVELING OUTSIDE NY). I COMPLAINED BOTH TIME AND THIS TIME QUESTIONED IF THE DESIGN OR PART IS AT FAULT. HONDA TOLD ME THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE TORQUE OF THE SCREWS FOR THIS BRACKET SO I ASKED IT TO BE DOUBLE CHECKED. THE CAR WAS THEN CHECKED AT NARDY HONDA IN OCT. 05 (PAID FOR BY HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AGAIN). ON 2/4/06, THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT IS THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE ALTERNATOR TO THE BRACKET. I HAVE THE BROKEN BOLT AND BRACKET FROM THE 2ND TIME. I HAVE CALLED HONDA SERVICE AGAIN AND QUESTIONED THE DESIGN, PART, AND OR SERVICE PROCEDURE TO BE AT FAULT SINCE I BELIEVE THE ASSEMBLY SEEMS TO FAIL INSTANTLY UNDER HIGH STRESSES CAUSED BY EITHER THE TENSION OF THE BELT ENGAGEMENT OR CONSTANT TENSION. THE BOLT WAS SHEARED OFF AS WELL. BOTH FAILURES INDICATE HIGH STRESSES. HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN OR WILL DO FOR ME THIS TIME. NOW, I AM REALLY WORRIED THAT THE CAR CAN BREAK DOWN ANY TIME AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS IF THE DRIVER OTHER THAN ME (MY WIFE OR MY SON) DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE SUDDEN BREAK DOWN. I ALSO NOW QUESTION IF THE INITIAL REPAIR WAS NOT CAUSED BY BAD ALTERNATOR BUT WAS THE FACT THAT THE BRACKET WAS ALSO BROKEN SO THE ALTERNATOR WON'T CHARGE AS THE BELT WAS STUCK. *NM

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITHIN THE SAME WEEK AS I WOULD DRIVE MY VEHICLE, WITHOUT NOTICE THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. THIS EVENT WOULD OCCUR AT TIMES WHEN I TRAVELED ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 50- 60 MPH OR ON THE CITY ROADS WHEN I WOULD TRAVEL BETWEEN 25- 30 MPH. I CALLED LEITH HONDA TO SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSIS AND I EXPLAINED THAT I BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS COVERED BY A RECALL ISSUED BY HONDA CORP. I WAS TOLD THAT IF IT WAS COVERED THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COMPLETED AT NO COST AND MY DIAGNOSIS FEE WOULD BE REFUNDED. I HAD THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED ON 4-28-06. THE REPAIR ORDER STATES DIAGNOSE AND REPLACED ELECTRICAL PORTION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE RECALL REPORT ON THE HONDA CORP. WEBSITE STATES "HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., HAS DETERMINED THAT A DEFECT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH ON CERTAIN 97-00 HONDA AUTOMOBILES. ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN WEAR PREMATURELY DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH. WORN OUT IGNITION CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING." THIS DESCRIBES MY EXACT PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER ON 5-2-06 AND TOLD HIM THAT REPAIRS I HAD ON 4-28-06 SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE RECALL. HE TOLD ME THAT ACCORDING TO THE PAPER WORK HE COULD NOT TELL THAT THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE WAS THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS RECALL WAS COMPLETED BY MAHWAH HONDA ON 5-17-02. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MAHWAH HONDA AND THERE IS NO RECORD OF THAT REPAIR. (THE ADVISOR AT MAHWAH HONDA FAXED ME A LIST OF REPAIRS FOR THIS VEHICLE). I WAS THEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT LEITH HONDA THAT SINCE THE RECALL WAS SHOWING AS COMPLETED IN 2002 THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED A SECOND TIME. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA CO., LTD TO FURTHER PURSUE THIS MATTER. *NM

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND THE HORN BEGAN TO HONK CONTINUOUSLY. SHE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AS THE INTERIOR BEGAN TO FILL UP WITH ACRID, DARK SMOKE RISING FROM BENEATH THE STEERING COLUMN BY HER LEGS. SHE WAS VERY CONCERNED AND QUICKLY ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VAN SINCE THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE WAS BURNING HER EYES. THE DOOR LOCKS DID NOT WORK. AFTER STRUGGLING IN PANIC, SHE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO SQUEEZE OUT THE OPEN WINDOW. LUCKILY MY 3 YOUNG CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE. WITH ENGINE STILL RUNNING AND THE KEY IN HAND, SHE CALLED ME AT WORK. I HAD HER CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT . WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEY TOO WERE UNABLE TO STOP THE ENGINE BY CUTTING THE BATTERY WIRE AND FINALLY STOPPED THE BURNING OF THE WIRES BY PULLING THE MASTER FUSE. I CONTACTED OUR HONDA DEALER AND THEY REFERRED ME TO HONDA AMERICA. HONDA AMERICA AUTHORIZED OUR SHOP TO DO AN INITIAL TEAR DOWN. AT THAT TIME, THEY FOUND A COMPONENT IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT SHORTED WHICH CAUSED THE BURNING OF THE WIRES. THE WIRES BURNED COMPLETELY FROM THE FUSE BOARD AND INTO A WIRE HARNESS BUNDLE. NO FUSE WAS BURNED. I DO NOT KNOW YET HOW FAR THE DAMAGE PROGRESSED OR WHAT OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ARE FRIED BY THIS RUNNING SHORT. AFTER A WEEK OF DELIBERATION, HONDA INFORMED ME THIS MORNING THAT IT WAS A WEAR OUT OF A PART AND OF NO FURTHER CONCERN TO THEM SINCE THE VEHICLE WARRANTY EXPIRED. BEING TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE WITH WIRES BURNING, THE OCCUPANT EXPERIENCED SEVERE SICKNESS A COUPLE OF DAYS FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT AND HER LUNGS HURT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE VEHICLE SITS IDLE AT THE SHOP WHERE WE TOWED IT. I DON'T WANT TO AUTHORIZE REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE NHTSA DETERMINES IF AN INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. THERE ARE NO AFTER MARKET ADDITIONS. ALL MAJOR, MAINTENANCE EVENTS WERE PERFORMED BY OUR LOCAL HONDA DEALER FOR AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN OUR POSSESSION. *NM