NHTSA Complaint #11163572 — 2016 HONDA ODYSSEY

THE REAR LIFT GATE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN IN COLD WEATHER FOR OUR 2016 HONDA ODYSSEY EX. THERE IS ONLY ONE MECHANISM TO OPEN THE REAR LIFT GATE - A PHYSICAL BUTTON ON THE REAR LIFT GATE. WHEN TEMPERATURES DIP INTO 30 OR 40 DEGREES F, THE LIFT GATE WILL NOT OPEN. HONDA RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN (16-063; APRIL 11 2018) INDICATING THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AFFECTING ALL ODYSSEYS BETWEEN 2011-2017 (AND ALL CRVS BETWEEN 2012-2016). UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE OUT OF WARRANTY AND ARE FACING AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES AFFECTED, WE WOULD EXPECT HONDA TO ISSUE A RECALL RATHER THAN A SERVICE BULLETIN. THIS IS DEFINITELY A HASSLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO LOAD ANYTHING INTO THE TRUNK, AND COULD REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH WHEN OTHER DOORS ARE INOPERATIVE.