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

2.8

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,868 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2008 Honda Odyssey Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #26

Dec 172020

Odyssey

  • 160,000 miles

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

When the temperature drops near 40F my steering makes a whining noise and looses fluid.

- Eagle Lake, FL, USA

problem #25

Nov 062019

Odyssey

  • miles
Issue with power steering rack and pinion leak. As part of power train, the rack and pinion leak creates safety issue while driving. Turning effects driving and pings, knocks are heard @ 52,000 miles. We have lifetime unlimited miles and years warranty from dealer. Warranty company and dealership parted ways so brandon Honda verbally refuses to fix problem. This should be a recall. Other Odyssey owners with this issue. Since it's not a recall, dealer should fix under our warranty. While sitting, power steering fluid leaks from rack and pinion. Seals/gaskets, whatever else reason for leak which is expensive to fix. We replaced a cv joint at our expense this year. All the steering and powertrain parts are listed under powertrain on Honda website's parts page.

- Brandon, FL, USA

problem #24

Nov 202017

Odyssey

  • 137,000 miles
Following a service in which my timing belt, serpentine belt, water pump, and power steering pump were changed, the tensioner bolt was sheared off twice while I was driving. The first time that this happened, the mechanic reported that he had never seen this particular problem before. The second time that the bolt was sheared off (both events were within a week of the servicing), the mechanic informed me that he had done research and this seemed to have happened to numerous Honda Odyssey owners. As state above, this has happened twice in the past week while I was driving, once on a ramp, entering the interstate and once turning right onto a main road from a parking lot.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #23

Apr 252016

Odyssey

  • 50,000 miles

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

Loss of power steering when turning at low speeds. At times, there are very scary sounds coming from the power steering pump. This is going on for a while and my local dealer refused to service it under the warranty.

- Spring Valley, NY, USA

problem #22

Dec 012016

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • miles
I have a power steering problem, I noticed it when I was driving and especially at slow speeds when trying to turn the steering wheel it's very hard and it could be very dangerous! I went to the dealership for an oil change they told me I needed a power steering pump this was December 13th 2016 I noticed that I am not the only owner that has this problem with this vehicle in the power steering issue this needs to be addressed very soon this is a very expensive issue! it will definitely be replaced because I have inspection coming up but it surely should be addressed!

- Chester, PA, USA

problem #21

May 102016

Odyssey

  • 50,000 miles
Even after repair break few tiimes and when apply break is not stop as required many time give us dam hard time to stop immideatly, and stearing is getting hard and jam even under warrnty replaced

- Mira Loma, CA, USA

problem #20

Nov 242014

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 91,400 miles

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

Power steering pump leaking oil, steering wheel hard to steer, make engine noise, rack and pinion leakage.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #19

Nov 142014

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 92,000 miles
I purchased this 2008 Honda Odyssey in 2011, with approximately 45,000 miles on it. During the winter of 2013, I began to experience groaning (and sometimes "humming") noises from the power steering system. Additionally, the steering wheel was hard to turn at low speeds. I assumed the vehicle was low on fluids so with every oil change (at the Honda dealership), I insisted the power steering fluid be filled. The Honda dealer was not able to identify any noises. However, last night on the way home from work at approximately 10pm, the noise re-appears. The steering issue is now following the noise making it difficult to steer the vehicle resulting in a safety issue in operating the vehicle. I know I share these concerns with other Honda Odyssey owners and our complaints are falling on deaf ears with the dealers. I really want to see these concerns addressed before someone gets hurt.

- Buford, GA, USA

problem #18

Jul 012014

Odyssey

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated whenever the vehicle was shifted into the park position or steered to left or right, the vehicle made an abnormal popping sound. The problem has occurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #17

Nov 212013

Odyssey

  • 35,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 mph, the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn. The failure recurred whenever making a turn. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.

- Rahway, NJ, USA

problem #16

Mar 022011

Odyssey

  • 80,000 miles

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

Early 2011 after having some recall repairs done in the past like the brakes, leaking from the moon roof and the power steering problems, started noticing the engine light coming out for 1-2 days and then the oil light, checked oil level and refill was done but didn't notice any leaking. Subsequent services to the dealer told them about the events but didn't provided any clear report as to what is causing that. Lift gate shocks gave up after a few months and have them replaced from the dealer, again no clear explanations why the it's too soon for unexpected possible wear and tear, also in addition to telling them about the power steering seems to be causing a problem again because it's becoming heavy to turn the vehicle. This has been causing a huge problem and safety concern especially coming off from a parallel parking because it takes a lot of manuevering before I can get off from the spot and involves a great effort especially in an incline position. Recently about a couple of weeks ago, the same issue came in about the engine and the oil light showing up, oil level was low again but doesn't noticed any leaking. I did some search and I have seen a video on youtube about the error code P3400 and P3497 which is very scary and very significant to the life span of the engine. Also, recalling all these issues, I also noticed that there was a recall about the previously replaced lift gate shocks that I paid for last year. I just hope that the dealer will be responsible enough to acknowledge the vehicle flaws and prioritize the safety of the public consumer especially the mini van as it normally has children as it's daily passenger - being the family van.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #15

Apr 232013

Odyssey

  • 72,900 miles
I just bought the van it is a carfax one owner pre owned 2009 Honda Odyssey bought at the same dealer it came from so they were the ones to service it it's whole life 72,000 when I got it. I have to keep taking it back because it won't go straight down the road without pulling even after they put new tires on it plus did an alignment. Add this to the other problems I'm having like a vibration between 45 and 52, oil smoke coming out the exhaust when you first it up. Honda says its ok to use 1 quart of motor oil every one thousand miles now to me that's not acceptable. I'm very disappointed in this van and Honda for letting people drive there vehicles like this. I have looked at so many problems with this Honda minivan that online with even more problems than I have and enough is enough this is just not right.

- Vail, AZ, USA

problem #14

Nov 122012

Odyssey

  • 100,000 miles
Car makes a loud whining/humming noise when in idle and moving positions (like a faint fire engine siren). Usually happens on colder mornings (in nc) and continues for at least 15 mins while driving before it stops. After researching the issue, I see that hundreds of others have the same exact issue with their similar model year Honda Odyssey's, yet Honda has only issued a service bulletin and not a recall for an obvious defect in the parts.

- Chapel Hill, NC, USA

problem #13

Jul 232012

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 26,600 miles
With less than 27,000 miles of driving the brakes continue to accumulate air into the brake lines through the vsa module. Bleeding the brakes reverses this problem. I took the car to the dealer 3 times. Twice the performed the "recall" service which temporarily restored the brake pedal to like new service. The recall fix bled the brake lines to purge the air and cover the cap which admitted the air with a silicone substance. The third time the dealer said the soft pedal was "normal" despite the fact that bleeding the brakes reversed the problem. Now the van with recurring bad brakes problem has a failed vsa module, the source of the problem. The module now needs replacement at a cost over $1400. This is a faulty part which the dealer or Honda did not correct. I have several close calls when pressing the brake pedal to the floor barely stopped the vehicle before an accident occurred. After several frightening near accident incidences I have been driving the van as though there was a problem with the brakes and increased stopping distances. The failed vsa module also affects steering the vehicle. It works in the background and I don't know how much the steering has been affected. I know minivans are hard to stop. My Dodge Caravan had a long stopping distance and wore the brake pads down in 15,000 to 20,000 miles. There never was a soft pedal problem with those brakes. I was very pleased to buy a van that had "good brakes" but am disappointed that this Odyssey defect has jeopardized myself, my family and others by repeated problems with the brake functions and Honda's inability to acknowledge this recurring problem or to fix the issue by replacing the integral but faulty part of the vehicles safety systems. Taking the air out of a hydraulic system without preventing recurrence is irresponsible. Placing customers lives at risk is shameful.

- El Sobrante, CA, USA

problem #12

Aug 112011

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 32,281 miles
On August 6, 2011 I took my 2008 Honda Odyssey (33,2281 miles) in to be looked at because there was a leak under my vehicle. It was determined that the front torque oil shaft converter/transmission was leaking. Upon repair, I got home, and was experiencing the same problem. I took my van back to Honda on August 11, 2011, only to have them determine that during the initial repair they had broke one of the seals during the install. They kept my vehicle for another 3 days, and gave me a rental car during this time. On November 4, 2011 (33,946) I took my car back in to Honda because my steering wheel had become difficult to turn, and there was oil leaking from under my van again. The steering issue and the oil were both repaired again. My vehicle was returned to me on November 7, 2011. On Friday March 3, 2012 (35,650 miles)I took my van back in to Honda because my vehicle was sling-shooting and having very rough transitions in shifting gears in low speeds 35-45 mph. On March 4, 2012 Honda informed me that my transmission was flare shifting and had complete internal transmission failure, and the entire transmission would have to be replaced. To date, I have been told that because it is over 36 months, (but still under 36,000 miles) it may not be covered under my warranty, and that they cannot provide me with a rental this time. Three transmission issues, brake issues, steering issues, etc later I am without a vehicle again. I'd say this is a lemon. Help!

- Gresham, OR, USA

problem #11

Aug 232011

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 107,200 miles
Failure of serpentine belt tensioner pulley shaft resulted in loss of power steering control following engine start in a parking lot. This failure occurred a few days after the car was serviced for replacement of timing belt and water pump, which required removal and reinstallation of the tensioner pulley. The question is whether the shaft failure was the result of overtorque following the service, or the result of a design or manufacturing problem. The concern is a failure in traffic rather than at low speed in a parking lot. This shaft is available for inspection.

- Annapolis, MD, USA

problem #10

Oct 052011

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 20,000 miles
I have complained about hard to steer or loss of power steering when trying to move the steering wheel from a fully left or right position when my vehicle was til under warranty (35K) with the South bay dealership but after leaving my vehicle there for 2 days they told me the is no problem with the steering wheel. Now at about 47K it becomes noticeable and almost unbelievable hard to steer the steering wheel at starting speed. All people who I have them test drive my van told me to have it fixed but I don't have money to do that.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #9

Jul 202011

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 35,964 miles
Power steering pump failed on Honda Odyssey 2008 with 35,964 miles on it. This resulted in difficulties turning steering wheel. The pump was replaced by the Honda dealer for $757.

- Germantown, TN, USA

problem #8

May 012011

Odyssey

  • 38,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving at low speeds, the power steering failed and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn. The contact examined the vehicle and noticed metal shavings within the power steering fluid. An authorized dealer was notified and stated that the power steering pump would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 38,000.

- New Hartford, NY, USA

problem #7

Dec 012010

Odyssey

  • 49,000 miles
Vehicle became increasingly difficult to steer at low speeds (1-5 mph) and began making loud noise when wheel was turned all the way left or right. This is a serious safety issue because the driver is not expecting to suddenly experience difficulty turning the wheel. I complained to Honda service center where the service advisor claimed he couldn't find any problem. However, my research located that a service bulletin (10-076) and many, many, references on various forums, showing that Honda is clearly aware of the issue. However, since the problem has generally occurred outside of the warranty coverage, Honda has essentially escaped responsibility for the repairs unless/until customers indicate they will complain. Upon my third visit to the dealer, the service advisor "noticed" the problem and covered the repair under our extended warranty.

- Los Gatos, CA, USA

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