2006 Honda Odyssey EX-L from North America - Comments

I bought a brand new 2006 Honda Odyssey.

I noticed that the air conditioning didn't seem to be as cold as I thought it should be. I chalked it up to the hotter than normal summer temperature, and my failure to read the manual. After poking numerous combinations of buttons, I read said manual. No help there.

I took the van back to the dealership and was subsequently told that a rock hit the condenser and that wasn't covered under the warranty. I can understand that and put it down as bad luck, except that the dealership admitted that this had happened with two other Odysseys purchased there. As far as I'm concerned, it's a design flaw. It is absolutely ridiculous that Honda seems to be aware of this problem, but is refusing to fix it. I encourage everyone that owns either a 2005 or 2006 Odyssey with this problem to report it to NHSTA and to Honda.

Incidentally, Honda agreed to fix my condenser at no cost as a "one-time goodwill gesture." Gee thanks, but what about next time? Should I go out and sweep the highway free of rocks before I go on a trip? Put a sign in my window kindly asking other drivers to check their tires for rocks?

You should be so lucky that it is just he condenser, other van would not be so graceful. Maybe your review will help make the waiting list for the Ody in my town go down to 4 years. Geese! The GM van would have needed a manifold gasket; the Chrysler would be in the shop right now; and the Ford, do they make a van anymore? You had the best van and now you are spoiled.

The 2005-6 Odyssey is prone to rock damage to the AC condenser. Installing an aftermarket grille in the lower air intake, in the bumper or using gutter guard type screen in metal, or plastic and installing it with plastic ties will help. But no manufacturer improvements from Honda on this issue. Doing it yourself is the only way. Sorry about that. It is Honda that should be sorry.

It sounds like you just had a fluke accident. GM and Ford would have never paid to have it fixed, so be glad you bought a Honda.

I just looked at the condenser on our Dodge Caravan with 70K miles. It is packed with small stones and pretty beat-up in the areas in front of the lower bumper openings. It shouldn’t be a surprise to any manufacture that the condenser has to be sturdy enough to take this abuse.

MY 2005 Accord had the same problem! apparently it's widespread, as my service tech said "we keep the parts in stock since we see it happen so much on the CR-V and ACCORD models." I haven't been so lucky as to have Honda reimburse me, but I'm not ready to give up yet.

I had a dead bird inside my air condenser in my 1994 Honda Civic Si. That car was amazing and never gave me a single problem. A/C was pretty cold too.

Had bad condenser too. Common problem. Even service tech admitted he saw many rock damaged leaking condensers in newer Odysseys. Fragile design. Bad Honda.

Terrible car because of one part. I am buying a van from the domestics. Maybe they are not reliable or safe, but darnit! I need my A/C.

We have a 2006 Odyssey and are having the exact same problem. Our AC did not work at the beginning of the summer so we took it in and they said the condenser was damaged by road debris and not covered under the warranty. What I would like to know is how did you get Honda to cover the cost of repair? I have complained to the corporate office and said the exact same thing, "design flaw". That is their problem not mine!!! So, why should I be paying for it? We looked at Toyota Siennas and their condensers are totally protected with a grille screen. Nothing bigger than a fly could get in theirs. We ordered in a brand new condenser and were supposed to have it installed yesterday. The dealership called us before it was done and said the new condenser was damaged in shipment and wouldn't work. They would have to order another one. How flimsy are these things??? Mean while, I live in New Mexico where we are setting record highs in the state day after day with a new baby and no AC. This is the 5th Honda we have bought in 11 years and I have always been happy with them until now. It must be time to switch over to a Toyota! :o (

Me switch to Toyota? NEVER! While they are just as reliable as a Honda, they are not that fun to drive. The reason Toyota's are the #1 selling car is because they offer you a well built American clone, whereas Honda makes a car with a sport feel on all their vehicles. If you can live without the pure joy you get from driving a Honda, then fine go buy your Toyota.

As far as quality goes, Toyota also has some issues. Just as many as Honda. So you are going to have to walk down a dark hole because there is no research to prove Toyota will be more reliable.

Design Flaw in the Odyssey!!!

Rock!!! debris!!! seem to be the best defenses of these Service managers at Honda's dealerships. Sooner or later they will have to pay for the flimsy AC condenser that so many Honda ownwers had problems with.

Not all of us were so lucky and having Honda fix the problem, so for now, I just keep spending money on freon because it is just too expensive to replace the condenser. After all, replace it to just debris hit it again.

My warranty will not replace and I do not want to file a claim with my insurance CO as the service manager suggested to me.

If enough owners complain about this issue... Honda is going to have to do something about it.

A/C stopped producing cool air the other day. Same as above; an object nicked the condenser grille and the cooling fluid ran out. The mechanic showed me the damaged fin and I was shocked at how small the nick was that ruined the part -- about the size of a hangnail. $789.00 to repair. Honda mechanics at two different dealers said they are having problems with the Odyssey and Accord regarding the condensers being hit. Honda Canada stated that they see no problem with the design and that it was just an unfortunate isolated incident. I randomly asked three odyssey owners who were filling up with gas beside me if they had had problems with their A/C units and was angered to find all had replaced their condensers for the same reason??? Like everyone else in this group we are just victims of an "isolated incident"

B.S. Placing such a fragile part on the front of a vehicle with nothing protecting it is a design flaw. Honda Corp. makes it seem that they care about their "valued customers" with all their surveys. Put something negative on the survey and see if they correct the problem. No, you will be contacted by someone who will want you to do another survey to see if they can make the first survey better.

The mechanic said I should buy some mesh at a hardware store, then place it in front of the condenser on my brand new $40,000 Honda, nice.

Thank you Honda Canada for your help. (Not)

Funny Honda would have such a poor design. My sisters 11 year old 1998 Chevrolet Venture cools as good now as when she bought it 5 years ago.