NHTSA Complaint #10538441 — 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY

IN FEBRUARY 2008, I PURCHASED A NEW HONDA ODYSSEY MINIVAN FOR MY FAMILY. IN THE SPRING OF 2010, I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM: AFTER MAKING A TURN (RIGHT OR LEFT),DURING ACCELERATION, THE ODYSSEY'S BRAKES WILL AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE, IMMEDIATELY SLOWING THE VAN DOWN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATES FROM 55MPH TO 20MPH IN SECONDS, ENGAGING THE SHOULDER HARNESS OF OUR SEAT-BELTS. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST SEVEN TO TEN TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND IN VARIOUS SEASONS OF THE YEAR. I HAVE RETURNED THE VAN TO HONDA AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. BECAUSE AN INDICATOR LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AND BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT HONDA TELLS US THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IN NOVEMBER 2012, HOWEVER, THE COMPUTER REGISTERED A VSA CODE AFTER ONE OF SEVERAL BRAKING INCIDENTS. HONDA THEN REPLACED THE VSA MODULE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THAT SEEMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO, WHEN WE HAD YET ANOTHER SUDDEN HALT WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. WHEN MY WIFE TOOK THE VAN TO HONDA, THE YOUNG SERVICE MAN BLAMED THE VSA MALFUNCTION ON TIRE WEAR AND THEN TRIED TO SELL HER A NEW SET OF TIRES. HONDA DID RE-CALIBRATE THE VSA AGAIN DURING THIS VISIT. TODAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 THE BRAKES LOCKED DOWN AGAIN, THIS TIME, WHEN ACCELERATING AT A SLOWER SPEED. IT HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING TO DEAL WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF OUR HONDA DEALERSHIP. I HAVE READ ONLINE OF IDENTICAL INCIDENTS. HAVING EXPERIENCED THIS SUDDEN BRAKING, THERE WILL BE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS IF HONDA DOES NOT SEEK TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *JS