NHTSA Complaint #10432748 — 2006 HONDA ODYSSEY

OUR CAR STARTED HAVING A LOUDER ENGINE/TRANSMISSION NOISE DURING ACCELERATION AND GOING UPHILL. WHEN THE DEALER CHECKED IT OUT THEY SAID THAT THE REAR ENGINE MOUNT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED (AT A COST OF $800 PLUS). AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THIS, I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE HONDA ODYSSEY THAT OCCURS BECAUSE OF THE VARIABLE CYLINDER ENGINE, WHICH CUTS OUT 2 CYLINDERS WHEN THEY ARE NOT NEEDED AND THUS SAVES GAS MILEAGE ON THESE CARS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE REAR MOTOR MOUNT ON THESE CARS WAS DESIGNED TO HELP DAMPEN ANY VIBRATION CAUSED WHEN THE 2 CYLINDERS WERE NOT IN USE AND HAS BEEN WEARING OUT BEFORE ITS REGULAR LIFE (SOME AT 50,000 MILES). I REQUEST THAT NHTSA LOOK INTO BOTH THE DESIGN OF THIS DEVICE AND ALSO THE EXCESSIVE COST OF THE PART FOR THESE CARS (OTHER ENGINE MOUNTS ARE CONSIDERABLY CHEAPER) -- AND I PROPOSE A RECALL TO REPLACE THE PART. THANK YOU. *TT