NHTSA Complaint #10441231 — 2006 HONDA ODYSSEY

IN THE SUMMER OF 2009, MY 2006 HONDA ODYSSEY DEVELOPED A STRONG, FOUL ODOR FOR WHICH NO SOURCE COULD BE FOUND. I VACUUMED THE CARPET, LEFT CONTAINERS OF BAKING SODA INSIDE, AND EVEN THREW AWAY THE RUBBER FLOOR MATS, THINKING THEY HAD DETERIORATED IN THE SUMMER HEAT. THE ODOR DID NOT GO AWAY. (THE CAR HAD BEEN GARAGE-KEPT UNTIL AROUND THAT TIME.) IN 2010, WHEN TAKING THE CAR FOR A ROUTINE SERVICE APPOINTMENT, I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO CHECK FOR THE PROBLEM. HE WANTED TO REPLACE THE CABIN AIR FILTER, WHICH I HAD ALREADY DONE MYSELF. IN SEPTEMBER, 2011, AFTER HURRICANE IRENE, THE TAILGATE HATCH WOULD SLOSH AND SPILL WATER WHEN OPENED. THIS PAST WEEK, I WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR ON AN EXTENDED TRIP. WHEN I WENT TO LIFT THE REAR SEATS, WHICH HAD BEEN FOLDED INTO THE CARGO AREA, TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION, I DISCOVERED THAT THE SEATS WERE COVERED IN MOLD AND RUST AND WERE DRIPPING WITH WATER. THE CARGO AREA CARPETING WAS SATURATED. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I LEARNED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE AT LEAST NOVEMBER, 2010. BESIDES THE HEATH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO INHALING MOLD, THE RUST MAY HAVE COMPROMISED THE INTEGRITY OF THE HARDWARE SECURING THE SEATS TO THE FLOOR, TO SAY NOTHING OF THE COSMETIC DAMAGE TO THE LEATHER OF THE SEATS. *TR