2008 Honda Odyssey Structure
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
STARTING IN THE SPRING OF 2014, THE PAINT STARTED COMING OFF ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND NOW THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE ROOF IS COMING OFF. *TR
THE TRUNK LIFT (FROM AN OPEN POSITION) OF OUR 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY EX-L UNEXPECTEDLY FELL ON TOP OF MY WIFE'S HEAD WHILE SHE WAS USING THE TRUNK AREA. HER INJURY WAS NOT SERIOUS, AND CONSEQUENTLY WE DETERMINED THE FAILURE WAS THE GAS STRUTS THAT ASSIST IN OPENING AND CLOSING THE HATCH. HONDA ALREADY HAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE FOR POWERED LIFTGATE FOR 2008-9 MODELS, BUT IT DOESN'T INCLUDE MANUAL OPENING ODYSSEYS, CLAIMING THAT A DEGRADED STRUT IN A MANUAL LIFTGATE WILL BE NOTICEABLE. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE FOR US. CONSIDERING ODYSSEYS ARE BUILT FOR FAMILIES, I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MY OLDER CHILDREN FREQUENTLY OPERATE THE TAILGATES WITHOUT OUR HELP. SINCE THE REASON FOR THE LIFTGATE FAILURE IS THE SAME FOR MANUAL AND POWERED LIFTGATES, HONDA SHOULD EXTEND THE RECALL (OR AT LEAST A NOTIFICATION) TO ALL 2008-9 ODYSSEY OWNERS. JUST BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PURCHASE THE TOP OF THE LINE ODYSSEY, OUR SAFETY SHOULDN'T BE ANY LESS THAN THE TOURING OWNERS. *TR
THE TWO STRUTS JUST SUDDENLY CANNOT HOLD THE LIFTGATE WHICH IT ALMOST HIT MY WIFE AND KIDS' HEAD. SHOULD HONDA NOTICE THESE STRUTS FAILURE? KNOWN MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM ON 2008 ODYSSEY EX/EXL MODELS. *TR
THE LIFT GATE STRUTS THAT SUPPORT THE REAR DOOR FAILED WITH OUT ANY INDICATION THEY WERE GETTING WEAK. THEY WERE WORKING FINE EARLIER IN THE DAY. BUT WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE HATCH IN THE EVENING IT WAS VERY HEAVY AN WOULD NOT STAY OPEN, UNTIL I SUPPORTED IT WITH A MAKE SHIFT POLE. I REPLACED THE STRUTS WITH AN AFTER MARKET VERSION, BUT WONDER IF OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR FAILURES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE HATCH WAS OPEN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE LIFTGATE, THE DOOR INADVERTENTLY CLOSED AND KNOCKED THE CONTACT TO THE GROUND. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V062000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
ROLLERS ON SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE THE DOOR. ONE ROLLER POPPED OUT OF DOOR AND LOOKED DAMAGED. IT MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TRYING TO MOVE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HINGES FAILED CAUSING THE LIFT GATE TO CLOSE UNEXPECTEDLY. AS A RESULT, THE LIFT GATE FAILED TO REMAIN OPEN AND FELL ON THE CONTACT'S HEAD AND NECK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V062000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN
THE LIFTGATE STOPED WORKING. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE FAILED TO STAY OPEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 12V062000 (STRUCTURE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
RE: TAILGATE/ STRUT FAILURE I WAS OUT SHOPPING AND AT MY LAST STOP THE TAILGATE WAS SUDDENLY VERY HARD TO OPEN. I HAD A LARGE CART OF GROCERIES AND IT WAS RAINING, SO I RAISED IT UP WITH ONE HAND, BUT WHEN I TURNED TO GET MORE GROCERIES, I EXPECTED IT TO STAY AND IT DROPPED DOWN. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT HAVE MY CHILDREN WITH ME, SO I COULD PUT THE REST OF THE GROCERIES IN THE SEAT AREA AND DEAL WITH IT LATER. IT HAS NOT RESOLVED, SO IT WAS NOT A "RAIN" ISSUE. IN THE WEEK THAT HAS PASSED, I HAVE DONE SOME OF RESEARCH. I FOUND THAT HONDA DID INDEED HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/CS/JAXRS/DOWNLOAD/DOC/UCM416791/RCAK-12V062-3793.PDF HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED MY HONDA DEALER, *MY* VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT WHICH MODELS ARE BY THE OFFICIAL NOTICES. THEY QUOTED ME $276 TO FIX IT. I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS VERY EASY TO FIX - $50 FOR THE STRUTS, A FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER, AND LADDER TO PROP OPEN THE TAILGATE AND EVEN A 115 LB WOMAN CAN FIX THEM. HOWEVER, WHY AREN'T ALL 2008 HONDA ODYSSEYS IN THIS RECALL? HAD MY CHILDREN BEEN HELPING ME OR HAD I BEEN HALF IN THE VAN WHEN THE STRUTS SUDDENLY FAILED, ANY OF US COULD HAVE BEEN BADLY INJURED OR KILLED BY THE DEAD WEIGHT OF THAT DOOR. FOR NOW I WILL ORDER THE STRUTS AND FIX THEM AS SOON AS I CAN SINCE I REALLY DON'T HAVE TIME TO DUKE IT OUT WITH HONDA. *TR
REAR GATE SUPPORTS COMPLETELY FAILED. I WAS VACUUMING THE BACK INTERIOR OF THE VAN AT THE TIME. REAR GATE COLLAPSED ON MY BACK, INJURING MY BACK. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. *TR
THE TAILGATE STRUTS BROKE WHILE THE TAILGATE WAS OPEN, STRIKING ME IN MY BACK. I NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, BUT MINE IS NOT INCLUDED AND I WAS GIVEN NO VALID REASON AS TO WHY, ONLY THAT IT WAS SPECIFIC VIN'S AND MINE WAS NOT IN THE BUNCH THAT WAS RECALLED. *TR
THE LIFTGATE STRUTS FAILED SUDDENLY AND NO LONGER SUPPORT THE HEAVY DOOR. THERE WAS NO GRADUAL DETERIORATION. OURS IS A MANUAL VERSION - NOT POWERED AND FOR SOME REASON ISN'T COVERED BY THE RECALL 12V062000, EVEN THOUGH IT USES THE SAME PART THAT WAS DETERMINED TO BE DEFECTIVE IN THAT INVESTIGATION - NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE11034. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT FAILED AT UNACCEPTABLE RATE AND THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM MANUAL LIFTGATES IS HIGHER THAN THOSE OF THE POWERED LIFTGATES. THIS IS AT LEAST AS DANGEROUS AS A POWERED LIFTGATE SITUATION, ESPECIALLY FOR MY WIFE AND 3 YOUNG CHILDREN. THE INVESTIGATION AND RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO COVER ALL MODELS USING THIS PART, NOT JUST THE POWERED DOORS. *TR
I TRIED TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH DOOR TO PUT SOMETHING IN. THE DOOR WAS EXTREMELY HEAVY AND WOULD NOT STAY UP AND OPEN. I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE IT CRASHED DOWN ON ME. I WAS NOT HURT, BUT I COULD HAVE BEEN. NOW I AM UNABLE TO ACCESS BACK PORTION OF VEHICLE. I DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO PUT GROCERIES OR WHEN WE TRAVEL, I HAVE NO PLACE TO PUT LUGGAGE. THE HYDRAULIC FAILED. WHY WAS THERE NOT A RECALL ON MY MODEL, WHEN THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON OTHER MODELS OF SAME YEAR? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH WOULD CLOSE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V062000(STRUCTURE) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,116.
I OPENED THE REAR LIFT GATE OF THE VAN. THE STRUTS THAT HOLD THE GATE OPEN FAILED AND HIT MY SON IN THE HEAD. MY VAN HAS A MANUAL LIFT GATE AND DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OF 2008 VANS WITH AUTOMATIC LIFTS WHERE THE GAS WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE STRUTS AND CAUSING A SIMILAR FAILURE. I REQUEST THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE OF THE MANUAL LIFT GATE AND REQUIRE HONDA TO FIX THIS EQUIPMENT FAILURE. I FEEL THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED IN A VEHICLE ONLY 6 YEARS OLD. I HAVE ANOTHER VAN (MERCURY VILLAGER) THAT IS ALMOST 18 YEARS OLD AND THE LIFT GATE STILL OPERATES AS NEW. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUSLY INJURY OR DEATH. THANK YOU. *TR
2008 HONDA ODYSSEY EXL HATCHBACK LIFT GATE STRUTS GAVE OUT AND FELL ON MY HEAD WHILE LOADING GROCERIES. THE HATCHBACK WILL OPEN AND CLOSE BUT THE STRUTS DO NOT WORK. IT FELL WITH NO WARNING OF AN ISSUE. IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF ONE IF NOT PAYING ATTENTION. ESPECIALLY IF CHILDREN ARE NEAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC LIFTGATE WAS OPENED HOWEVER, IT INDEPENDENTLY AND ABRUPTLY CLOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V062000 SRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
THE LIFTGATE/TAILGATE ON THE HONDA ODYSSEY 2008 EXL DOES NOT STAY UP. IT FALLS DOWN DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE LIFTGATE AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO INJURE THE PERSON USING IT. THIS IS A NON POWERED LIFTGATE. HONDA DID HAVE A RECALL ON THE POWERED LIFTGATES FOR THE 2008 EXL, BUT NOT FOR THE NON POWERED ONES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN PARK, THE TAILGATE WOULD NOT REMAIN OPEN. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE LOCK COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED WITH THE KEY OR MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V062000 (STRUCTURE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
PAINT IS PEELING FROM THE PRIMER. COMING OFF IN SHEETS. ROOF AREA. RUST SPOTS POPPING UP. MANY COMPLAINTS. CLASS ACTION SUIT HAS BEEN FILED. *TR
ISSUE IS THE SAME AS WITH RECALL NOTICE 12V062000. THE GAS FILLED STRUTS ARE NOT HOLDING THE LIFT GATE OPEN. ISSUE BECAME MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN WEATHER WAS COLD. RECALL SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO POWER LIFT MODELS AS THE SAME STRUTS ARE USED FOR OTHER MODELS. I READ MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WHEN I RESEARCHED ONLINE. MY MODEL IS THE LX. *TR
THE REAR DOOR NO LONGER STAYS OPEN. IT FALLS RIGHT AWAY AND HAS FELL ON MY HEAD AS WELL AS MY WIFE'S HEAD. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL BUT SEEMS LIKE IT ONLY APPLIES TO THE VANS THAT HAVE THE POWER DOOR IN THE REAR. *TR
THE GAS-FILLED STRUTS ON THE REAR LIFT GATE OF MY HONDA ODYSSEY MINIVAN HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED. THE REAR LIFT GATE TO THE MINIVAN NOW FALLS SHUT WITH A VERY DANGEROUS SPEED AND FORCE. THE LIFT GATE IS VERY HEAVY AND I AM CERTAIN IT WOULD SEVERELY INJURE MY 4 YEAR OLD BOYS IF IT WAS DROPPED OR ACCIDENTALLY LET GO. HONDA HAS RECALLED OTHER 2008 AND 2009 GAS-FILLED STRUTS FOR EX-L AND TOURING MODELS BUT CLAIMS THAT MY GAS-FILLED STRUTS ON MY EX MODEL ARE NOT AS COMMON OF A FAILURE. I'M NOT BUYING IT. IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK, THE TAILGATE FAILED AND WOULD NOT REMAIN OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. *TR
Trend Over Time
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Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2008 Honda Odyssey has 108 Structure complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.