2008 Honda Odyssey SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

VERY POOR BRAKING ACTION AND LOW AND SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL ON 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY LE. VEHICLE PURCHASED ON 9/12/08. DUE TO LOW SPONGY PEDAL THE ABS MODULATOR WAS REPLACE ON 3/10/08 AT 3416 MILES. ON 6/3/09 AT 5279 I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKES AGAIN FOR SAME REASONS AND WAS ADVISED THAT WAS "NORMAL FOR AN ODYSSEY" AND "PEDAL FEELS NORMAL AT THIS TIME". ON 10/26/09 WHILE DESCENDING A HILL TRAFFIC CAME TO SUDDEN STOP. ODYSSEY PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ACTIVATING ABS OR SKIDDING THE TIRES. CAR STOPPED BUT NEARLY HIT CAR IN FRONT. CAR IS GOING IN TO DEALER TOMORROW FOR FURTHER WORK. *TR

BRAKES ARE SOFT ON VEHICLE, TSB WAS PERFORMED, BUT BRAKES REMAIN SOFT. *TR

SOFT BRAKE AND FADING BRAKE PEDAL X 3. JAN 2009 DEALER REPLACED MODULATOR, JUNE 2009 DEALER BLED BRAKE SYSTEM, OCTOBER DEALER BLED SYSTEM WHILE ENGINE RUNNING. *TR

THE BRAKE PEDAL ON THE 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY FEELS SOFT AND SPONGY. THE BRAKES ARE NOT ENGAGED UNTIL THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED ALMOST HALF WAY THROUGH AND IT FEELS AS IF IT WOULD HIT THE FLOOR IF DEPRESSED FORCEFULLY IN A PANIC BRAKING SITUATION. DRIVING THIS CAR WITH THIS BRAKE ISSUE DOES NOT MAKE ME FEEL SAFE IN MY VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY HONDA AND THEY HAVE ISSUED A TSB (09-053) TO ADDRESS IT. HOWEVER, EVEN AFTER THE SAID FIX IS MADE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE TSB, THE CAR RETURNS TO ORIGINAL SYMPTOMS AFTER DRIVING A FEW HUNDRED MILES. MY CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE FOR THE SAME ISSUE NOW, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS AS THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT FEEL ANY BETTER THAN BEFORE. *TR

2008 HONDA ODYSSEY - BRAKE PEDAL IS TRAVELING TOO FAR PERIODICALLY. YOU ATTEMPT TO STOP AND THE PEDAL DOES NOT ACTUATE THE BRAKES UNLESS YOU SLAM ON THEM. SPECIFICALLY A PROBLEM ON A HILL. SEEKING SERVICE THIS WEEK FOR A SOLUTION. *TR

THE BRAKES ON OUR 2008 HONDAY ODYSSEY VAN ARE CLEARLY FAILING AND WE'VE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES AND THEY REPLACED TONS OF PARTS BUT THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK. THEY ARE SPONGY AND YOU HAVE TO FLOOR IT TO GET THE VAN TO SLOW DOWN. THEY ALSO GRIND AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS. *TR

NOTHING HAS FAILED YET, BUT THE BRAKES ON MY 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY ARE WAY TOO SOFT. I HAVE TOLD SEVERAL SERVICE PEOPLE WITH MY DEALERSHIP, INCLUDING THE SERVICE MANAGER, AND THEY DON'T SEEM CONCERNED. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE OWNED 7 NEW HONDA'S AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A BRAKE FEEL THIS WAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON AN INCLINE, HE HAD TO EXERT GREAT FORCE TO DECELERATE. AN AUTHORIZED TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR FIND AN ERROR CODE; THEREFORE, HE COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,500.

SOFT/SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL THAT WHEN PRESSED LONGER IT WILL SINK TO THE FLOOR MAKING IT UNEFFECTIVE. *TR

SOFT/SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL THAT WHEN PRESSED LONGER IT WILL SINK TO THE FLOOR MAKING IT INEFFECTIVE. *TR

THE BRAKES ON MY 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY ARE TERRIBLE, VERY SOFT, SOMETIMES IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, THEY SAY THE BRAKES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY. WHEN I LOOKED INTO THIS PROBLEM ONLINE I FOUND MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY IS IT GOING TO TAKE A DEATH TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM! *TR

BRAKE PEDAL IS SOFT/SPONGY AND OFTEN REQUIRES PUMPING TO GET AN ADEQUATE FIRM FEEL. WHEN VAN WAS NEW, LESS THAT 1000 MILES, I TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE BRAKES ARE NORMAL. WAS OFFERED TO DRIVE ANOTHER 2008 DEMO VAN WHICH THEY SAID WAS NORMAL. IT ALSO HAD A SOFT/SPONGY PEDAL. I THINK THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED. *TR

BRAKES NOT STOPPING ACCURATELY. I AM GETTING NOISE FROM THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE. AT TIMES THEY ARE SPONGY, DON'T SEEM TO STOP PROPERLY, AND MAKE ME FEEL UNSAFE. I HAVE TOLD THE DEALER AT LEAST FIVE TIMES. THEY ACT AS IF NOTHING IS WRONG. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW 4/6/2008. *TR

ALMOST IN ACCIDENT WHEN BRAKES ON 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY WENT TO FLOOR, BRAKES ARE VERY SOFT. I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES FELT SOFT FEW WEEKS AGO, TOOK THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT IS NORMAL FOR HONDA VANS. I DON'T THINK SO THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

MODEL: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY EX-L (WITH NAV & REAR ENT. SYSTEM) ISSUE: BRAKES ARE VERY TENTATIVE AND "MUSHY". ATYPICAL PEDAL TRAVEL BEFORE BRAKING ACTION ACTIVATED, AND THEN REQUIRING MUCH MORE PRESSURE TO ACTIVATE BRAKING THAN WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED NORMAL. WE RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM HONDA CARLAND, ALPHARETTA, GA. VEHICLE HAD UNDERGONE THE HONDA "CERTIFIED" USED CAR INSPECTION PRIOR TO SALE. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH THE BRAKES IN THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE BECOME AWARE THAT A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN MADE. WE ENCOURAGE AN INVESTIGATION AND RECALL SO THAT THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION CAN BE FIXED. WE WILL RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND POTENTIAL REPAIR. *TR

2008 HONDA ODYSSEY 5 DOOR TOURING MODEL FAILED TO STOP WHILE AT SLOW MANEUVERING SPEEDS, FORCING THE DRIVER TO JAM ON THE BRAKE AND SWERVE TO MISS VEHICLE IN FRONT, LANDING UP ON THE MEDIAN STRIP OF A BUSY SIX LANE HIGHWAY. SOME ENGINE ACCELERATION WAS EXPERIENCED DURING THIS MANEUVER, ADDING TO THE BRAKING FORCE THAT WAS REQUIRED. THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT ENGAGED DURING THE INCIDENT. A SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED A MONTH LATER IN A PARKING LOT, WITH A SUBSTANTIAL REVVING OF THE ENGINE AS THE CAR ENTERED A PARKING SPOT REQUIRING HARD BRAKING AND AN ABRUPT ENGINE SHUT DOWN. FINALLY A SIMILAR, BUT LESSER ACCELERATION WAS EXPERIENCED BY ANOTHER DRIVER (SAME CAR) WHILE BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO REST IN ITS PARKING POSITION IN THE GARAGE. ALL INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR HAD BETWEEN 5,000 AND 6,000 MILES. THE DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND NO INDICATION OF A FAULT IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. (RECORDS OF SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAULTS WERE FOUND BUT BELIEVED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH AN INCIDENT WHEN ANOTHER CAR WAS STARTED WITH JUMPER CABLES FROM THE ODYSSEY.) BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS BELOW THAT REQUIRED TO ENGAGE THE SPEED CONTROL FUNCTION. THE DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEDGED THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE COMPLAINT, BUT INDICATED THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER HE COULD DO WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF A FAULT. *TR

2008 HONDA ODYSSEY LX, BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS NEARLY TO THE FLOOR. SOFT PEDAL. VAN DOES NOT STOP EASILY. WE HAVE HAD TWO NEAR MISSES WHERE THE VAN DID NOT STOP AS NORMALLY EXPECTED. THE VAN WAS TAKEN BACK TO LEHIGH VALLEY HONDA AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BRAKES WERE NORMAL. I AM AFRAID FOR THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND CHILDREN IN THIS VAN AND HONDA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS VAN OR ANY OTHER HONDA VANS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *TR

2007 HONDA ODYSSEY EX-L. VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT 4-WAY STOP INTERSECTION WHEN APPLYING NORMAL BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE AND WENT THROUGH STOP SIGN. VEHICLE HAS SOFT BRAKES AND NO DEFINITE BRAKE ENGAGEMENT ZONE. BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL IS EXCESSIVE AND CAN RESULT IN SIMULTANEOUSLY DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. MUST MAINTAIN EXCESSIVE DISTANCE BETWEEN CARS AT HIGHWAY SPEED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE BRAKING MARGIN. HAVE DESCRIBED PROBLEM TO DEALER ON 3 OCCASIONS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" BEHAVIOR. WE HAD A 2005 ODYSSEY THAT DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2008 AND HAS LOGGED 2800 MILES. THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS SOFT BRAKES WITH EXCESSIVE PEDAL TRAVEL OF 3 INCHES WITH A SPONGY FEEL AT THE END AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO PRODUCE AN ABRUPT STOP. HE HAS HAD DIFFICULTY STOPPING BEFORE CROSSING A LINE AT AN INTERSECTION AND ALMOST BROAD SIDED A VEHICLE AT 15 MPH BECAUSE IT TOOK SO LONG TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, CHECKED THE ABS AND BLED THE BRAKE LINE WITH NO CHANGE IN PERFORMANCE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKES ARE OPERATING NORMALLY. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE OR REFUND WAS RECEIVED FROM THEM OR THE DEALER. HE IS FORCED TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2800.

SOFT BRAKES RESULTING IN OTHERS HAVING ACCIDENTS AS DETAILED IN EDMUNDS.COM HONDA ODYSSEY FORM. DEALER HAS NO PERMANENT SOLUTION. HAVE CASE OPEN WITH HONDA AND THEIR ONLY RESPONSE IS THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON A FIX. THIS IS TAKING WAY TOO LONG AS THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE SINCE FEBRUARY 2007. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY FEB 27 2008 AND THE BRAKES WERE WORKING RIGHT, AFTER 2000 MILES THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTED GOING TO THE FLOOR WITH LIGHT PRESSURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODULATOR. THIS DID NOT HELP. THREE HUNDRED MILES LATER THEY SAID THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE REPLACED IT. THAT DID NOT HELP. THEY BLED THE SYSTEM ACCORDING TO HONDA ENGINEERS. THIS DID NOT HELP. THE DEALER NOW SAYS IT IS NORMAL UNDER HONDAS SPECS. THE PEDAL STILL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND AT TIMES I HAVE TO PUMP THE PEDAL. IT TAKES A LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP THE VAN. *TR

BRAKE PEDAL MUST TRAVEL APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES BEFORE ANY BRAKING STARTS TO OCCUR. EVEN THEN THE PEDAL MUST BE PUSHED EXCESSIVELY FAR BEFORE REAL BRAKING STARTS TO HAPPEN. THIS OCCURS ALL OF THE TIME. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS WITHIN NORMAL RANGE. HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BRAKES LIKE THIS. OWN 2 OTHER HONDAS AND HAVE HAD PROBABLY 25 DIFFERENT CARS IN LIFETIME. NOTHING CLOSE TO THIS UNLESS BRAKES ARE FAILING. HONDA ODYSSEY FORUM GROUPS ALL REPORT THIS AS A PROBLEM ON THE NEWER (2007-2008) ODYSSEYS. BIGGEST CONCERN IS AT SLOWER SPEEDS WHERE I HAVE PUSHED THE PEDAL A "NORMAL" AMOUNT AND NOTHING HAPPENED AND ALMOST HIT CAR/OBJECT/GARAGE. WORRIED THAT THIS WILL RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO SLUGGISH BRAKES AND WAY TO MUCH PLAY IN THE PEDAL. *TR

BOUGHT A NEW 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY LX ON 5/15, SALESMAN WAS IN A HURRY TO LEAVE SO HE SHOWED ME THE CAR AND A FEW THINGS AND WAS GONE. IT WAS AROUND 8PM WHEN I DROVE OFF THE LOT, FIRST TIME I HAD EVER BEEN IN AN ODYSSEY. PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND IT FELT GREAT, PRESSED THE BRAKES AND WAS AFRAID THE VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE ANY. BEEN VERY SPONGY SINCE DAY 1. TOOK IT TO FIRST HONDA IN SIMI AND THEY SAID THEY'RE ALL LIKE THAT. HARD TO BELIEVE, HAVE TO SIT CLOSER TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET LEVERAGE ENOUGH TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THEY HONESTLY FEEL LIKE THE PEDAL HITS THE FLOOR AND VERY LITTLE STOPPING POWER. I HAVE A 11-YEAR-OLD CRV THAT FEELS GREAT AND STOPS ON A DIME. SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG, MY INTERNET SEARCHES SEEM TO REVEAL A HISTORY OF UNRESOLVED SPONGY BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH RECENT ODYSSEYS, BUT THE DEALER SAID NOTHING TO FIX. IT WILL TAKE A DEADLY ACCIDENT TO GET THEM OFF THEIR REARS AND LOOK IN TO WHAT'S GOING ON, VERY IRRESPONSIBLE FOR AN OTHERWISE GREAT COMPANY. *TR

MY 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY HAS TERRIBLE BRAKE PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD THEM LOOKED AT TWICE FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD. I DID AN ONLINE SEARCH AND FOUND OUT OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. LOTS OF GRINDING SOUNDS. *TR

MY BRAKES FEEL SPONGY AND REQUIRE ME TO APPLY EXTRA PRESSURE TO STOP. MY BRAKES ALSO MAKE A GROANING NOISE WHEN I COME TO A REGULAR STOP. THE DEALERSHIP I TOOK IT TO FOR REPAIRS SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, EVEN THOUGH THEY HEARD THE NOISE. I THEN DROVE AN 08 OFF THE LOT TO COMPARE AND NOTICED A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN PEDAL FEEL AND NO GROANING NOISE. THEY SAID THEY WILL CALL HONDA NEXT WEEK FOR ADVISE. *TR