2010 Honda Odyssey Brakes Problems

I am reporting a recurring and dangerous brake system failure in my 2010 Honda Odyssey. Intermittently, when the vehicle is first started, the brake pedal becomes completely stiff and cannot be depressed at all. During these events, the brakes are effectively non-functional until the condition resolves, creating a serious safety hazard. This issue occurs without warning and has happened on multiple occasions. This defect is especially dangerous because it prevents normal braking operation at startup, increasing the risk of a collision if the vehicle is moved or if immediate braking is required. I have attempted to repair this issue extensively. The vehicle has been inspected by three separate repair facilities, including a Honda dealership. The following components have been replaced in an effort to resolve the problem: •Master cylinder •Brake booster •Rotors •Brake lines •ABS system Despite these repairs, the issue persists unchanged. I have spent over $2,500 attempting to fix what appears to be a systemic defect. The Honda dealership suggested the issue may be caused by air entering the brake lines when the vehicle is parked on a slope. However, this explanation is not consistent with normal automotive function, and similar vehicles do not exhibit this behavior under the same conditions. Given the repeated failure of major brake system components to resolve the issue, I believe this represents a defect in the vehicle’s braking system that could affect other vehicles of the same model. I am submitting this complaint due to the serious safety risk posed by intermittent loss of braking function and request that this issue be investigated.

My 2010 Honda odyssey is accelerating while breaking. Both times I am trying to slow down and stop at red traffic light, and both times, it initially slowed down but accelerated all of sudden. I had to shift to P before it finally stopped.

When having to slow down or stop quickly, the van starts to jerk back and forth and shake a lot and the car becomes very difficult to control. This is especially noticeable when going down hills such as I-70 in Colorado, I-15 in eastern California or mountain passes in the Sierra Nevadas, but also when coming around a corner on a freeway and the traffic is stopped. It would be very serious if driving and a child ran out into the street in front of the van. I recently learned that this has happened fairly frequently with Honda Odyssey vans. I have had to replace brake and strut parts and bearings multiple times. (gratefully the struts were still under warranty, so I only had to pay for labor the ensuing times.)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE APPROACHING A COMPLETE STOP, THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

AFTER FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED PEDAL HEIGHT FELT DECENT. WHEN STOPPING ON A RAINY DAY I FELT THE ABS KICK IN. IT MADE A DIFFERENT SOUND THAN I'VE HEARD BEFORE. EVER SINCE THEN THE PEDAL HEIGHT HAS NOT FELT NORMAL. FEELS SOFT. IF YOU PUMP IT A COUPLE TIMES ITS NOT TOO BAD BUT WHO HAS TIME FOR THAT IN A SUDDEN STOP. THE PEDAL FEELS AS THOUGH IT TRAVELS FARTHER BEFORE ENGAGING AND WHEN IT DOES, IT IS STILL NOT HARD LIKE MY FORD. FOR A VEHICLE LIKE THIS WITH 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES IT SHOULD STOP ON A DIME LIKE IT USED TO. HAD THE BRAKE FLUID CHANGED AT THE DEALER. NO DIFFERENCE. THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME A SPEC FOR THE PEDAL HEIGHT. INTERESTING. I GUESS THE PEDAL CAN NEVER BE TOO LOW IF THERE'S NO SPEC, ONLY SUBJECTIVE TO WHAT HONDA WANTS TO ADMIT IS BAD OR NOT. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH I HAVE A 1989 LINCOLN MARK VII WITH THE ORGINAL FORD SERVICE MANUAL. THERE IS A SPECIFIC RANGE FOR THE PEDAL HEIGHT WHEN MEASURED FROM THE FLOOR BOARD. SURPRISING HOW FORD HAS HAD IT SINCE 1989 AND HONDA IS NOT REQUIRED. AGAIN - WE CAN ALL THINK THE PEDAL IS TOO LOW BUT IT'S ULTIMATELY HONDA'S OPINION SINCE THERE'S NOTHING TO MEASURE IT AGAINST. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW SO I KNOW HOW THE BRAKES USED TO, AND SHOULD FEEL. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB WITH SIMILAR STORIES FROM THE DEALERS AND HONDA I HOPE NHTSA WILL FINALLY FORCE THIS ISSUE INTO A RECALL BY REASSESSING THE VEHICLES STOPPING DISTANCE AGAINST WHAT WAS ADVERTISED. OR IS THIS ONLY APPLICABLE FOR THE 3/36 WARRANTY? NHTSA, IN THE WAKE OF THE VW SCANDAL, PLEASE FINALLY FORCE HONDA TO PULL THEIR HEAD OF THE SAND, ADMIT AND CORRECT THESE ISSUES SO MANY CUSTOMERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT. ESPECIALLY AS IT PERTAINS TO SOMETHING AS CRITICAL AS BRAKES.

HEARD LOUD NOICE IN THE BACK OF THE VAN AND THE BRAKES STARTED LOOSING CONTROL AND I SEE VSA AND BRAKE INDICATORS LIT UP IN RED AND I LOST CONTROL OF ALL THE BRAKE. *TR

APPLIED BRAKES TO BEGIN TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT - BRAKES HAVE BEEN VERY SOFT FOR MONTHS NOW - THIS TIME, THEY DID NOT ENGAGE FOR A BRIEF MOMENT - LESS THAN A SECOND AND THEN ENGAGED WITH USUAL "SOFT" FEEL. PEDAL GOES DOWN ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *TR

BRAKE SOFT PEDAL/WEAK PERFORMANCE - LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE I STRONGLY FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SOFT AND THE PERFORMANCE IS NOT GOOD. IT HAS A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. CURRENT MILEAGE IS ABOUT 50K MILES. AT 30K THE BRAKE FLUID WAS REPLACED AS RECOMMENDED BY A DEALER, ALONG WITH OTHER MAJOR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULED. STILL I FELT THE SAME ISSUE AT 45K, BUT THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT PADS OF THE BRAKE ONE YEAR AGO, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED AS OF NOW. IN THE BEGINNING I THOUGHT BECAUSE IT IS A BIGGER CAR AND HONDA'S BRAKE STYLE. BUT I FOUND OTHER SIMILAR MINIVAN I RENTED FOR A TRAVEL HAD A TIGHT AND GOOD PERFORMING BRAKING SYSTEM, AND ALSO I PURCHASED A HONDA CR-V THIS JANUARY WHICH HAS A VERY TIGHT AND GOOD PERFORMING BRAKE AS WELL. IN THE MEAN TIME, I FOUND A PREVIOUS BRAKE RELATED RECALL FOR THE HONDA ODYSSEY 2007-8 MODELS. MY 2010 MODEL HAS THE SIMILAR BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THE OLDER MODELS - SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. I AM NOT SURE HOW HONDA HAS SOLVED THE PREVIOUS PROBLEM AND WHETHER IS THERE ANY SIMILAR PROBLEM POSSIBLY REMAINING IN THE LATER MODEL. SIMPLE BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT/ROTOR POLISHING AND SO ON, CAN NOT SOLVE THIS SOFT BRAKE PEDAL PROBLEM. DEALER HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM BUT SIMPLY REPLACING MY FRONT BRAKE PAD AND ADJUSTMENT OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I AM AFRAID THIS PROBLEM IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS HONDA ODYSSEY 2007-8 MODEL PROBLEMS.

I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE INTO BOTH A TIRES PLUS AND ZIMBRICK HONDA (MADISON,WI) REGARDING WHAT I WOULD CALL A VERY SOFT BRAKE PEDAL FEEL. BOTH SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AGREED THAT THERE WAS PLENTY OF LIFE ON THE ROTORS/PADS. BOTH FLUSHED THE BRAKE FLUID. HOWEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL STILL NEEDS TO BE PRESSED 2/3 OF THE WAY DOWN TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *TR

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT GRINDING NOISE FROM THE REAR BRAKES WHEN BACKING UP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE PARKING BRAKE PADS. I COULD LET THEM SAND THE EDGES FOR $200.00, BUT THE PROBLEM WOULD PROBABLY RETURN. AT THAT POINT I DECLINED TO HAVE ANYTHING DONE TO THE PARKING BRAKE. I WAS TOLD THAT NO HARM WOULD BE DONE TO THE VEHICLE WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING. I THINK THAT HONDA SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS MATTER BECAUSE I CONSIDER BRAKING A VERY SERIOUS MATTER, ESPECIALLY AT SOME POINT IN TIME IF YOU CANNOT STOP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. *TR

I DRIVE MY VAN WITH MY FAMILY EVERY DAY AND AT FREEWAY SPEED. WHEN I NEED TO BRAKE THE VAN STARTS SHAKING AND THE PEDAL PULSE IS VERY SCARY. I TOOK IT TO JOHN EAGLE IN HOUSTON, AND THEY TOLD ME THE PADS STILL HAD 60% LIFE LEFT. IF I CAN LIVE WITH THIS UNTIL THE VAN GETS REPAIRS ON ALL THE BRAKES, OR REPLACE EVERYTHING . BUT HONDA DOES NOT HAVE WARRANTY ON THE BRAKES . THE VAN IS NEW, NOT SAFE , AND WITHOUT WARRANTY. *TR

THE VAN I BOUGHT WAS ON 3/28/2010, THE BRAKE PAD WAS VERY SOFT, I HAD TO PRESS VERY DEEP DOWN ,I HAVE BEEN TO THE HONDA DEALER 3 TIMES ALREADY FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS, BUT EVERY TIME THEY FOUND SOMETHING WRONG/BROKEN , I HAD TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET. FIRST WAS MASTERLY CYLINDERS HAS INTERNAL FAILURE, , THEY REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER ON THE DATE OF 01/03/13, THEN THEY FOUND AIR IN BRAKE FLUID LINE AND FRONT ROTORS TO BE BADLY RUSTED, SO THEY REPLACED FRONT PADS AND MACHINED FRONT ROTORS ON THE DATE OF 03/15/13, AND THEN THEY FOUND REAR PADS AND ROTORS TO BE WARPED, THEY REPLACED THE REAR PADS AND ROTORS. ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT GOING ON AND OFF , I WENT TO THE DEALER AS WELL, THIS IS THEY FOUND CODE P0171 FUEL SYSTEM TOO LEAN , ON THE DATE OF 05/28/13, AND 06/14/13. , I TOOK MY CAR THERE AGAIN TODAY THE DEALER STILL HOLDING MY CAR. THE AUTOMATIC DOOR SOMETIME DOESN'T CLOSED ALL THE WAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, WHICH EXHIBITED A SPONGY SENSATION AND A DELAYED RESPONSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN BLED THE BRAKES. THE MALFUNCTION CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHEN BRAKING AT 60 MPH OR HIGHER, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHIMMIES. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY IN MY HANDS. ONCE THE SPEED IS BELOW 60 MPH, THE SHIMMY STOPS. I TOOK IT TO MCGRATH HONDA IN CHICAGO AND AFTER AN INSPECTION I WAS TOLD THE FRONT BRAKES WERE NEW AND THAT THE REAR BRAKES NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THEY SAID THEIR MECHANIC THOUGHT THE SHAKE WAS BEING CAUSED BY THE REAR BRAKES!! I AGREED TO LET THEM REPAIR THE REAR BRAKES. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.I MAY HAVE PURCHASED REAR BRAKES NEEDLESSLY! I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS THAT ARE LIKE MINE. I HAVE ALSO READ THAT SOME OWNER'S HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED AND THEY STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. I AM WONDERING AS TO THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS THAT WILL CAUSE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE APPROACHING A COMPLETE STOP, THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MECHANIC DISPENSED BRAKE FLUID, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION AND A HIGH PITCHED NOISE THAT EMITTED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER EIGHT TIMES WHERE THE FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS, THE PEDAL WOULD GO STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR BOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD CHANGE THE FLUID IN THE BRAKE LINES. AFTER HAVING THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED IT EXTENDED AND FORCED HIS FOOT TO HAVE CONTACT WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKES TO WORK HE HAD APPLY PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL AND EXTEND IT TO THE FLOORBOARD WHICH CAUSED HIS FOOT TO HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE TO SURGE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS LESS THAN 10 MPH. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 03/14/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, IT TRAVELED LOWER THAN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN HE PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE, HE ALSO MADE CONTACT WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. UPDATED 04/13/12

2010 HONDA ODYSSEY TOURING WITH 12,500 MILES. THE BRAKES GRIND FREQUENTLY AND AT 5-7 MPH THE VAN ROLLS TO A STOP. THIS SEEMS ABNORMAL, THE DEALER SAYS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TR