NHTSA Complaint #10429262 — 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY

THE VAN HAS, ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS (APPROX 1 PER 1000 MILES) FAILED TO ACCELERATE ON COMMAND, IN FACT, IT ACTUALLY SEEMS TO STALL OUT FOR 1 TO 5 SECONDS. THE LONGER IT STALLS OUT, THE MORE EXPLOSIVE THE ACCELERATION, ONCE IT COMES. THIS CONDITION SEEMS TO CROP UP MOST OFTEN JUST AFTER SLACKING OFF ON THE GAS. FOR EXAMPLE: IN TRAFFIC, IF I AND HAVE TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE GAS TO MAINTAIN SPACE FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE TO GET INTO AN OPENING IN THE ADJACENT LANE, THE VAN JUST HANGS THERE, AS IF THE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. THEN SUDDENLY, THE CAR RESPONDS TO THE ACCELERATOR WITH A JERK. MY THEORY IS THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE FUEL CONSERVATION SYSTEM THAT TURNS VARIOUS NUMBERS OF CYLINDERS OFF AND ON, DEPENDING ON DEMAND. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER WHO SOLD THIS TO ME AND THEY ASKED ME IF I COULD TAKE IT OUT FOR A DRIVE AND DUPLICATE IT FOR THEM. I TOLD THEM IT WOULD BE OKAY IF THEY WERE WILLING TO PAY FOR THE GAS BECAUSE I CAN'T "MAKE" IT DO IT ON COMMAND. I'VE JUST BECOME AWARE THAT WHAT I DESCRIBE IS THE MOST COMMON CIRCUMSTANCE: STEADY OR SLIGHT ACCELERATION FOLLOWED BY SLACKING OFF, FOLLOWED BY AN ATTEMPT AT RAPID ACCELERATION. THE ATTEMPT AT RAPID ACCELERATION RESULTS IN HESITATION AND THEN RAPID ACCELERATION, EITHER OF WHICH, COULD CREATE THE SITUATION FOR AN ACCIDENT. *TR