2009 Honda Odyssey, problem started on Monday 04/26/10. Early morning as I was leaving my place for work, I noticed that the brakes were 'soft'; at the first stop sign, it took the brake to stop the van a longer distance than usual, speed is below 20mph. I was still able to drive to work without further incident that time. Then at noon I went out to have lunch, I drove to a nearby place about 10 miles, while I'm driving the vsa off signal lamp came on, driving speed at 35mph, good driving/weather condition, road is well paved; when I got to my destination, I turned off the engine, waited a few minutes, and started the engine again, the vsa signal lamp is now off. No further incident that time again. The next instance that the vsa signal lamp went on while I was driving on my way home, it stayed on for a few minutes, then it went off. I brought the vehicle to the dealer/service shop to have it check, left it there overnight and got it back the next day; I was told that the problem was a faulty steering angle sensor. I'm now suspecting that the recent recalls regarding MY07/08 Odyssey is also affecting certain MY09.

- Fontana, CA, USA

My brakes went completely out on my new 2009 Honda Odyssey ex-L while on vacation with only 2,000 miles on the vehicle. On a few occasions over the last month and a half that I have owned my Odyssey the vsa light (vehicle stability assistance) has come on for no reason and could not be turned off. Normally the vsa is on all times but the light does not come on unless the conditions are bad. (ice, snow, rain, rocks) when this light has come on I have been traveling at approx. 50mph, not braking, and the conditions were sunny and dry. Then the horrible day, with my 5 year old in the back seat I was turning left at a light at approx. 20-25 mph when I pushed down my brake and heard a grinding sound and no brakes. I began pumping the brakes, and the pedal went to the floor. After a few seconds (maybe 5) the brakes engaged. I immediately pulled over and looked under the car. Nothing, and nothing at the intersection where I had just turned. The local dealership had to call Honda engineering which said that there must be an issue with the vsa system (that this same issue has happened to other owners) and all they needed to do was unplug the vsa it, wait a few seconds and then plug it back in. I will be returning to Ohio from hilton head in a few days which will require driving through some very steep mountains with my 5 year old and 1 year old. I don't feel confident in their diagnoses. Honda will not issue a loaner for me to drive home and then tow my vehicle 600 miles to me.

- Hilliard, OH, USA