Looking at a 2018-19 Honda Odyssey to buy?

[nicholas]

Hi everyone
We are looking at getting a low mileage Odyssey for our fam. New baby on the way in a few months.
After reading through a few forums, I am quite swayed away from getting one.
I hoping to get some feedback here from owners.
What did you like-dislike from you Odyssey ownership? Any big mechanical issues pop up?

Thanks a bunch eh.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I know someone who has an 01 Odyssey. Over 300,000 miles now and runs like a dream. I have no idea if the ones you're looking at share any similarities, but those older ones are indestructible.

 

[JustN89]

Electrical gremlins and a timing belt would keep me away, especially when there are really solid alternatives available. The '18-19 Sienna is pretty ugly in my eyes, but you'll be hard pressed to find something that will be as reliable as it will be. The Kia Sedona is a handsome minivan and comes with a pretty proven powertrain. As much as FCA products get knocked around here, whether right or wrong, most people tend to love the Chrysler Pacifica. I don't hate the Odyssey, as my parents put 120k rough miles on an '06 before selling it and it was a good vehicle for a long time, but there's a lot of good options for minivans. I'd try them all out and see what you like best.

 

[nicholas]

Thanks - - - The Pacifica is also on our list of considerations.
I just don't like the looks of the other minivans - - - - - we might take a Toyota for a rip.

 

[nicholas]

Electrical gremlins and a timing belt would keep me away, especially when there are really solid alternatives available. The '18-19 Sienna is pretty ugly in my eyes, but you'll be hard pressed to find something that will be as reliable as it will be. The Kia Sedona is a handsome minivan and comes with a pretty proven powertrain. As much as FCA products get knocked around here, whether right or wrong, most people tend to love the Chrysler Pacifica. I don't hate the Odyssey, as my parents put 120k rough miles on an '06 before selling it and it was a good vehicle for a long time, but there's a lot of good options for minivans. I'd try them all out and see what you like best.

I did not know the 2018-19's used timing belts, I thought they were being phased out across the industry.
Interesting. ------ I did not even think to ask or check.

 

[JustN89]

I did not know the 2018-19's used timing belts, I thought they were being phased out across the industry.
Interesting. ------ I did not even think to ask or check.

All J-series engines have timing belts. So your Odysseys, Pilots, Pathfinders and Ridgelines will have timing belts.

 

[supton]

Timing belt is one issue. Did the electric sliding doors get fixed? Used to be that they all would fail--that is my recollection from 10+ years ago, when they were rolling out across all. [And I might be complaining about something that might break once every 100k, who knows.] If you're 5 and done, then I'm not sure I'd be worried about much of anything, buy whatever you want, these little details only matter if you keep it "forever".

 

[tyman]

Skip the '18 and get the '19. '18 was the first year for the redesign. Wife and I are looking at 2019-2020 Odysseys as well, she really loves the middle seat moving sideways lol. Otherwise, we'd already have bought a new Sienna Hybrid. qq

 

[eugenem]

Hi everyone
We are looking at getting a low mileage Odyssey for our fam. New baby on the way in a few months.
After reading through a few forums, I am quite swayed away from getting one.
I hoping to get some feedback here from owners.
What did you like-dislike from you Odyssey ownership? Any big mechanical issues pop up?

Thanks a bunch eh.

My original post was truncated. Rewriting this.

2019 Elite owner. June 2018 build date, 31K miles

Numerous recalls (rear camera, sliding door, gauge cluster electronics, third row power outlet, battery terminal check, etc.) I’m up to 7 or 8 in three years of ownership. There’s also a fuel pump recall pending.

Recalls aside, we love the van and it meets our family needs well. It has been driven up and down the east coast. 29-30mpg on highway is not uncommon. Our 2019 Odyssey has significantly more recalls than our previous Toyota Sienna, but is a lot more fun to drive. The local Honda dealers are also much better than Toyota dealers.

Electronics can be temperamental. We occasionally get anti theft error message on the radio. There’s a key sequence to bypass that. Some have reported issues with the CabinWatch & CabinTalk features, but my family doesn't use them much. I've played around some and think they are more gimmick than useful.

Buy the latest model year you can. Late build 2019 is preferable to early 2018. Less TSBs and Honda made improvements along the way.
The touring and elite trims have Honda’s new 10 speed AT. Some prefer that to the 9 speed ZF. I have the 9 speed ZF on an Acura MDX and don’t find it objectionable.

OdyClub Forums is a good source of information.

2018+ Odyssey

5th Generation Odyssey topics

www.odyclub.com

Happy to answer any other questions you may have.

 

[nicholas]

Thanks a lot - - - will think more about the 19's vs the 18's.
Great details - - much appreciated.

 

[eugenem]

Also, my 2019 is covered by two warranty extensions.

1. MIL comes on with DTC P0420/P0430, P030x, and/or P219A/B (without software update)

Honda is extending warranty on fuel injectors to 10 years from original date of purchase, or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.

2. 2018-20 Odyssey MOST Bus Neteork Connections

This is for popping/crackling or no sound from audio system. 5/60 warranty extension.

 

[PandaBear]

What is the reason for the fuel injectors problem? cylinder deactivation?

 

[eugenem]

What is the reason for the fuel injectors problem? cylinder deactivation?

Debris from the high pressure pump or the machining process for fuel injector

http://www.urvi.net/forumfiles/SB/A21-010.PDF

Also impacts 2017-19 Pilot and Ridgeline models

I know prior generation Odyssey owners used VCM muzzlers to disable cylinder deactivation, but it does not seem to be as common on this generation.

 

[tbm5690]

Don't avoid it just because it has a timing belt...around here people tend to think that it's going to shred to bits every 20k or something. Replacement interval on the J35 is 70k miles or 7 years...and based on owners forums that is pretty conservative based on the condition of the belts coming out. Everyone also brings up the cost...the job runs about $1k +/- a few hundred including the water pump, pulleys, etc. My 2 cents: if you can't swing a grand every 5-7 years you should probably buy a bus pass instead of a car.

On a personal taste note: you just can't go wrong with a J35...cream of the crop powerplant.

 

[ctechbob]

Don't avoid it just because it has a timing belt...around here people tend to think that it's going to shred to bits every 20k or something. Replacement interval on the J35 is 70k miles or 7 years...and based on owners forums that is pretty conservative based on the condition of the belts coming out. Everyone also brings up the cost...the job runs about $1k +/- a few hundred including the water pump, pulleys, etc. My 2 cents: if you can't swing a grand every 5-7 years you should probably buy a bus pass instead of a car.

On a personal taste note: you just can't go wrong with a J35...cream of the crop powerplant.

I didn't think they changed that interval unless you are in extremely hot or cold climates. In that case they call for it at 60k, but otherwise, it should be 100-105k miles.

Of course, their new owners manuals don't list it, just tell you to follow the maintenance minder, but if it were me, I wouldn't plan on it before 100k in 95% of the US.

 

[mattd]

Timing belts shouldn’t be a reason not to buy a vehicle they really are not that bad and will realistically go 10+ years, the hydraulic tensioners do go bad, sometimes prior to the interval, however

 

[Hall]

Replacement interval on the J35 is 70k miles

It's 105k miles, not 70k. I suppose the only harm in doing it early is to your wallet but even the local Acura/Honda specialist mechanic our son uses says going 130k isn't even a concern to him. It's rarely the belt that fails anyway, but the tensioner.

 

[tbm5690]

It's 105k miles, not 70k. I suppose the only harm in doing it early is to your wallet but even the local Acura/Honda specialist mechanic our son uses says going 130k isn't even a concern to him. It's rarely the belt that fails anyway, but the tensioner.

You're correct, I got stuck on the 7 years and replied incorrectly. I've heard the same...150k + and no issues.

 

[Hall]

I've heard the same...150k + and no issues.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't push it, but when I called the local specialist, he asked the mileage and I told him (it was between 100-105k). He said not to worry about getting it in in a hurry or anything but definitely have it done within a year or so.

 

[NormanBuntz]

I had a 2017 Odyssey SE purchased new and only kept it for 18 months. It never needed any warranty work, but overall I was unimpressed. and I did not like the VCM during highway driving. That coming from a guy who's owned Hondas and Acuras for 31 years. I bailed out of that minivan, but if I needed one like you I would go for a used Sienna in those model years.