NHTSA Complaint #11218320 — 2012 HONDA ODYSSEY

WHEN STATIONARY, THE VAN'S POWER SLIDING DOORS WERE STRUGGLING TO CLOSE; IT WOULD FREQUENTLY START, AND THEN POP BACK OPEN. WE TOOK IT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP, WHO SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS EXCEPT THAT THE TRACKS WERE DIRTY, BUT OFFERED NO SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO FIX THIS (ALSO WE COULD SEE NO DEBRIS TO VALIDATE THIS CLAIM). WE CONTINUED TO USE DOORS WITH DIFFICULTY UNTIL THERE WAS A LOUD POP ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND SUDDENLY A CABLE WAS HANGING OUT. MOTOR COULD STILL BE HEARD, BUT WOULD NO LONGER OPERATE DOOR WITH BUTTONS, SO WE CLOSED IT MANUALLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. ONE DAY WHILE OPENING OR CLOSING MANUALLY, THE WHOLE DOOR CAME OFF OF THE TRACK AND COULD NOT GET IT BACK ON OURSELVES. WE HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE RIDE IN THE BACK, HOLDING THE DOOR CLOSED ENOUGH TO GET TO A SHOP, WHERE THEY PUT IT BACK ON THE TRACK FOR $400. THIS DID NOT RESTORE IT TO MOTORIZED FUNCTIONING, BUT ALLOWED US TO USE IT MANUALLY, THOUGH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO OUR VEHICLE WAS CAUSED IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING IT BACK INTO PLACE. WE CONTINUED TO USE THE DOOR MANUALLY UNTIL WE COULD AFFORD TO HAVE THE MOTOR REPLACED ON THE BROKEN DOOR. WITHIN 24 HOURS OF REPLACEMENT, THE INITIAL ISSUES REAPPEARED ON THAT DOOR, AND THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR IS ALSO HAVING FREQUENT DIFFICULTIES. THEY NOW BOTH STRUGGLE WITH BOTH OPENING AND CLOSING. WE RECENTLY HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE STANDING OPEN IN A PARKING LOT WHILE WE WENT INTO A BUSINESS AFTER TRYING HALF A DOZEN TIMES TO USE THE POWER CLOSE WHILE PUSHING ON THE DOOR MANUALLY. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF POWER DOORS FOR OUR GROWING FAMILY, BUT I'M TRULY CONCERNED THAT I'M GOING TO BE STRANDED IN THE HEAT WITH 4 SMALL CHILDREN BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET THE DOOR TO CLOSE. DEALERSHIP IS NOW QUOTING US $3K TO DO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WHILE CLAIMING THEY'RE NOT TOTALLY SURE WHAT THE ISSUE IS.