CarComplaints.com Notes: Aside from peeling paint, the 2008 Honda Odyssey is a pretty reliable, generally trouble-free minivan.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
14 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,172 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Honda Odyssey brakes problems

brakes problem

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2008 Honda Odyssey Owner Comments (Page 4 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #25

Dec 012008

Odyssey

  • 10,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Brakes are soft on vehicle, tsb was performed, but brakes remain soft.

- King Of Prussia, PA, USA

problem #24

Oct 152009

Odyssey

  • 3,000 miles
In November of 2008 I purchased a new 2008 Honda Odyssey from apple Honda of york, pa.. several weeks later going down a fairly steep hill into the Lincoln highway, I had no brakes at all I could not even feel the brake peddle. Fortunately it was early in the morning and highway traffic was light. I was able to make a left turn into the highway and roll to S stop in a business parking lot. I shut off the engine until I recovered from the fright. I restarted the engine to move an actual parking place. Then I discovered that I had brakes. I assumed that being new to the Odyssey, that I had some how missed the brake peddle and that is why I did not even feel it. Thirty thousand miles later while turning into a parking place in a wal-mart lot I think the brakes did the same thing but my speed was so slow I was not sure. I drove thirty miles that day and had no concern or problem. That evening I returned to the same store and was parking in a remote area of the lot and had no brakes. Exactly like the hill incident a long time ago. I managed to steer away from everything until I got the Odyssey stopped. Again I shut off the engine and upon restarting had brakes. I drove very fearfully to the nearest Honda dealer an got there at 6am one hour before they opened to take advantage of light traffic. I told the service advisor at front range Honda in Colorado springs, co; that on at least two separate occasions I had no brakes at all and after shutting off the engine and restarting I had brakes. The service advisor wrote it up as my stating soft brake peddle. This is not the problem and not what I stated. Is Honda down playing a very serious problem? while in the service waiting area I used my laptop to research Odyssey brake problems and found a great many. They replaced the ABS module. I am shocked that an electronic component can have intermittent problems that can cause complete brake failure.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #23

Jan 092009

Odyssey

  • 35,292 miles
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.

- Steedman, MO, USA

problem #22

Jan 302009

Odyssey

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA

problem #21

Jul 312009

Odyssey

  • 13,500 miles
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.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #20

Jun 142009

Odyssey

  • 3,000 miles
Soft/spongy brake pedal that when pressed longer it will sink to the floor making it ineffective.

- Waukegan, IL, USA

problem #19

Jun 142009

Odyssey

  • 3,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Soft/spongy brake pedal that when pressed longer it will sink to the floor making it uneffective.

- Waukegan, IL, USA

problem #18

Feb 012009

Odyssey

  • 5 miles
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.

- Mableton, GA, USA

problem #17

Aug 182009

Odyssey

  • miles
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!

- Centerton, AR, USA

problem #16

Mar 102008

Odyssey

  • 1,000 miles
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.

- Saint Charles, MO, USA

problem #15

Jul 172009

Odyssey

  • 8,700 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Abilene, TX, USA

problem #14

Jan 152009

Odyssey

  • 6,500 miles
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.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #13

Jan 192009

Odyssey

  • 9,200 miles
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.

- Nazareth, PA, USA

problem #12

Jan 012009

Odyssey

  • 5,000 miles
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.

- Madison, MS, USA

problem #11

Nov 212008

Odyssey

  • 1,027 miles
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.

- Newhall, CA, USA

problem #10

Sep 152008

Odyssey

  • 2,800 miles
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.

- Indialantic, FL, USA

problem #9

Jun 012008

Odyssey

  • 500 miles
Have three complaints. Complaint one: There is extremely long pedal travel for brake pedal. This travel gives the driver a sense of brake failure, as though the brakes don't work or will not stop vehicle. Has been noted in vehicle forums as a common problem complaint two: Wind noise on the passenger and driver pillar that separates the front seat and the middle seat combination. Has been noted in vehicle forums this is a common problem. Complaint three: There is significant dirt in paint and paint shading where it doesn't match rest of vehicle (paint shading can be seen if the sun shines on the vehicle just right). Honda has offered to repaint affected parts. I feel this is a common problem and the owner shouldn't be required to have a new car repainted with less than 1000 miles. Has been noted in vehicle forums this is a common problem.

- Edwardsville, IL, USA

problem #8

Jul 302008

Odyssey

  • 6 miles
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 Honda 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) Odyssey. 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.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #7

Sep 152008

Odyssey

  • miles
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.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #6

Jul 152008

Odyssey

  • 3,000 miles
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 Honda 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.

- Carrollton, GA, USA

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