2003 Honda Odyssey Brakes Problems

brake lights completely out and almost caused a major accident

NHTSA ID

11741141

Incident

May 31, 2026

YELLOW SRS WARNING LIGHT COME ON WHEN DRIVING ON A ROUGH ROAD. THIS TELLS ME THAT AIR BAG SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS ISSUE STARTED SINCE 2009. SECOND ISSUE IS THAT FRONT BRAKES VIBRATE SO MUCH. I HAD FULL BRAKE SERVICE AND RESURFACE DISC BUT IT ONLY STOP THIS PROBLEM FOR COUPLE THOUSAND MILES THEN VIBRATION COMES BACK WHEN BRAKING. HIGH SPEED BRAKING CAUSE EVEN MORE VIBRATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

11330217

Incident

Jan 3, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED, DIAGNOSED, OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V573000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 253,000.

NHTSA ID

10885472

Incident

Jul 7, 2016

Mileage

253,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BURN ON THE LEFT HAND THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING COMPANY LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10871685

Incident

Jun 15, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN), WHICH EXPERIENCED HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTER SHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE SLOWLY WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEARS PRIOR TO THE REPAIR. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WHEN IN SECOND GEAR WHEN OR WHILE DRIVING 22 MPH OR HIGHER. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO EMIT A WHINING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT, THE PCS WARNING LIGHT, AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE DIAGNOSED A SECOND TIME AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER RECEIVE A REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED BY TWO CERTIFIED MECHANICS WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING MALFUNCTIONS WHEN IN SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 06/17/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10855513

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

Mileage

89,000 mi

I PARKED MY VAN ON MY SLOPED DRIVEWAY, SETTING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AS I WAS GETTING OUT, THE VAN STARTED ROLLING BACKWARD. AS I WAS TRYING TO STOP IT, I TRIPPED AND MY LEFT LEG WAS RUN OVER BY THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. I HAD AN OPEN FRACTURE OF MY FIBULA AND CRUSH INJURIES ON MY SHIN AREA (AND MULTIPLE BRUISES AND PULLED MUSCLES ELSEWHERE). I REALIZED LATER THAT THE VAN WAS STILL IN "DRIVE". I HAD BEEN ABLE TO GET MY KEYS OUT WITHOUT PUTTING IT IN "PARK". [I HAVE TESTED IT SINCE THEN AND I STILL CAN REMOVE MY KEYS WHILE THE VAN IS IN "DRIVE" OR "NEUTRAL"] ON TESTING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, I FOUND THAT IT WOULD NOT HOLD UNLESS IT WAS PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE MAXIMUM POSITION. EVEN THOUGH IT SOUNDED AND "FELT" ENGAGED, IT DID NOT HOLD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10476767

Incident

Apr 13, 2012

Mileage

145,614 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM PARK AND THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10428429

Incident

Oct 2, 2011

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE UNTIL ROLLING TO A STOP. THE CONTACT NOTICED PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BRAKES AND STATED THAT THE BRAKES HAD BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT WAS AGAIN ADVISED TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/29/11*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10399668

Incident

Nov 1, 2009

Mileage

85,000 mi

A SCRAPING NOISE IN THE FRONT BRAKES AS WELL AS POOR BRAKING PROMPTED REMOVAL OF THE TIRES FOR INSPECTION. I FOUND THAT THE INSIDE BRAKE PADS ON BOTH WHEELS WERE WORN DOWN TO 1MM WHILE THE OUTSIDE PADS STILL HAD 5-6 MILLIMETERS OF PAD MATERIAL LEFT. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE I HAD WITH MY REAR BRAKES A WHILE AGO. EVER SINCE WE HAVE HAD THIS VAN, WE HAVE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS OF GLAZED PADS AND BAD ROTORS. I HAD REPLACED STOCK PADS AND ROTORS WITH HIGH END PRODUCTS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUE THAT HONDA HAS NEGLECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238671

Incident

Jul 28, 2008

Mileage

67,000 mi

A SCRAPING NOISE IN THE REAR PROMPTED REMOVAL OF THE TIRES FOR INSPECTION. I FOUND THAT THE INSIDE BRAKE PADS ON BOTH WHEELS WERE WORN COMPLETELY AWAY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE OUTSIDE PADS STILL HAD 3-4 MILLIMETERS OF PAD MATERIAL LEFT. NOW, THE OUTSIDE PADS CAN BE EASILY INSPECTED THROUGH THE WHEEL SPOKES, AND SINCE BOTH PADS SHOULD WEAR AT SIMILAR RATES, VISUAL INSPECTION SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED A REASONABLE INDICATION OF THE CONDITION OF BOTH PADS. WELL, THE WEAR INDICATORS ARE ON THE INSIDE PADS, BUT THEY WERE SILENT BECAUSE THE WEAR INDICATORS HAD BROKEN OFF ON BOTH INSIDE PADS, LEAVING NO INDICATION THAT THE INSIDE PADS WERE WORN OUT. CLEARLY THERE ARE TWO DEFECTS HERE: PAD WEAR SHOULD BE REASONABLY BALANCED TO BOTH PADS, NOT BIASED SUCH THAT THE PADS THAT CANNOT BE INSPECTED WITHOUT REMOVING THE WHEEL WEAR MUCH FASTER, AND SECOND, THE WEAR INDICATORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNED SO THAT THEY DID NOT BREAK OFF ON BOTH PADS, LEAVING NO OTHER WARNING OF EXCESSIVE PAD WEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231093

Incident

Jun 13, 2008

Mileage

66,000 mi

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WOULD DESCEND TO THE FLOOR WITH POOR BRAKING RESPONSE. THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS ISOLATED TO HAVING THE (ABS) MODULATOR, THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED OF THE EXTENT OF PARTS REPLACED WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10087946

Incident

Aug 7, 2004

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS. THE BRAKES CLICKED WHEN BEING APPLIED. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10064770

Mileage

4,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY LOCKED UP. THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT HER, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND FILED A REPORT. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM. *PH *CB *JB

NHTSA ID

10047783

Incident

Oct 12, 2003

Mileage

7,800 mi

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND TECHNICIAN SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. OWNER WAS FRUSTRATED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10044380

AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. HONDA AUTOMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE 1919 TORRANCE BOULEVARD MAIL STOP: 500 - 2N - 7D TORRANCE, CA 90501-2746 CLAIM NUMBER: [XXX] DEAR HONDA, WE ARE WRITING TO YOU IN ORDER TO PUT YOU ON NOTICE OF A POTENTIAL VEHICLE DEFECT WITH MY NEW 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY, VIN: [XXX]. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE JUST 6 WEEKS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: 1. BRAKES BEGAN TO GET SOFTER AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE TILL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR 2. WHILE WAITING AT A SIGNAL THE CAR ENGINE APPEARS TO BE REVVING UP AND SHAKING 3. RATTLING NOISE EMANATING FROM THE MUFFLER LINKAGE 4. LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN GAGE IS STILL AT TANK. OF GRAVE CONCERN IS AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED LAST FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2003 WHILE MY WIFE WAS TAKING MY SON TO CELEBRATE HIS 6TH BIRTHDAY AT SUMMER CAMP. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED: AFTER MAKING A TURN ON A STEEP HILL MY WIFE PROCEEDED DOWN THE HILL. WHILE GOING DOWN THE HILL THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH , BATTERY, OIL, DOOR OPEN WARNING LIGHTS. THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON AND SHE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GOING FAST AND WE WERE ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. MY WIFE WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENED AND UPSET BY THE INCIDENT. SHE WAS ALMOST IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT! WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO BEAVERTON HONDA WHO ADVISES US THUS FAR THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. YOU CAN SURELY UNDERSTAND OUR CONCERNS WITH THIS VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY IF THERE APPEARS TO BE NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. WE WOULD LIKE HONDA OF AMERICA TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS TO PROTECT OUR FAMILY AND IT'S BRAND: 1. PROVIDE US WITH A LOANER ODYSSEY UNTIL& (2) 2. EXCHANGE OUR ODYSSEY WITH THE SAME EXACT VEHICLE FROM A DIFFERENT FACTORY OR FULLY REFUND OUR PURCHASE. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10032574

Incident

Aug 8, 2003

Mileage

1,800 mi