IllustrationUNUSUAL SHIFTS BETWEEN 30-45 MPH. SEEMS LIKE TRANSMISSION IS "HUNTING" FOR GEAR. WHEN GOING DOWNHILL AND BRAKE IS APPLIED A NOTICEABLE DOWNSHIFT IS FELT. FIRST TIME THIS WAS OBSERVED WAS ON WINDING AND HILLY ROADS. ASSUMED IT WAS THE "ECO" KICKING IN/OUT OR THE TRANSMISSION SIMPLY DOWNSHIFTING.
2007 Honda Odyssey
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Odyssey years
Owner complaints for the 2007 Honda Odyssey are substantially higher than the model-year median of 249.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Odyssey years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1490–25K
15625–50K
12650–75K
7675–100K
105100–150K
60150K+
672 reports with mileage · 158 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 139 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 134 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
38 crash reports15 fire reports48 injury reports
Power Train complaints
78 reportsTHE "D" / DRIVE LED STARTED BLINKING SEVERAL TIMES AT AROUND 104.660 MILES. SO FAR NO OTHER FAULT LED WAS FLASHING. HOWEVER I DISCOVERED SINCE A WHILE THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD WHEN DRIVING SLOWER AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 3RD GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. THE HONDA TECHNICIAN HOWEVER TOLD ME THAT THIS ROUGH SHIFTING IS …
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THE "D" / DRIVE LED STARTED BLINKING SEVERAL TIMES AT AROUND 104.660 MILES. SO FAR NO OTHER FAULT LED WAS FLASHING. HOWEVER I DISCOVERED SINCE A WHILE THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD WHEN DRIVING SLOWER AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 3RD GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. THE HONDA TECHNICIAN HOWEVER TOLD ME THAT THIS ROUGH SHIFTING IS NOT AN ISSUE.
I WAS DRIVING TO A SUPERMARKET, I PULLED INTO PARKING LOT AND THEN I SAW A LOT OF SMOKE COMING UNDER THE HOOD, I HAD MY THREE CHILDREN INSIDE THE CAR AND IN MINUTES MY CAR WAS TOTALED COMPLETELY BURNED. HONDA SHOULD PAY MY VAN, NONE NOTICED ANY PROBLEM BEFORE. SIDE DOORS WON'T OPEN AT THE MOMENT OF THE FIRE, VERY DANGEROUS DESIG…
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I WAS DRIVING TO A SUPERMARKET, I PULLED INTO PARKING LOT AND THEN I SAW A LOT OF SMOKE COMING UNDER THE HOOD, I HAD MY THREE CHILDREN INSIDE THE CAR AND IN MINUTES MY CAR WAS TOTALED COMPLETELY BURNED. HONDA SHOULD PAY MY VAN, NONE NOTICED ANY PROBLEM BEFORE. SIDE DOORS WON'T OPEN AT THE MOMENT OF THE FIRE, VERY DANGEROUS DESIGN FOR AN EMERGENCY LIKE THIS, IMAGINE I MOTHER WITH CHILD ON A CAR SEAT AND NOT HAVING ACCESS TO THE REAR SEATS, WHEN THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION TAKES MINUTES TO BURN THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,640.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS TWICE WHILE THE GEAR WAS IN PARK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS TWICE WHILE THE GEAR WAS IN PARK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP GEARS WITH SLIGHT HESITATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANU…
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TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP GEARS WITH SLIGHT HESITATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. JS
WHILE PULLING OUR 2007 HONDA ODYSSEY INTO PARKING SPACE AT LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER, TAPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL CAUSED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION. TACHOMETER REVVED TO > 2500 RPM. TWO OTHER WITNESSES IN THE VEHICLE VERIFIED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT BEING PRESSED AT ANY TIME DURING THE INCIDENT. THE ONLY WAY TO BRING VEHICLE TO S…
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WHILE PULLING OUR 2007 HONDA ODYSSEY INTO PARKING SPACE AT LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER, TAPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL CAUSED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION. TACHOMETER REVVED TO > 2500 RPM. TWO OTHER WITNESSES IN THE VEHICLE VERIFIED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT BEING PRESSED AT ANY TIME DURING THE INCIDENT. THE ONLY WAY TO BRING VEHICLE TO STOP WAS TO PUSH THE BRAKE WITH GREAT FORCE, POP THE SHIFTER INTO PARK AND TURN VEHICLE OFF. IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO HONDA DEALER. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NOTHING WRONG WAS FOUND. NO ERROR CODE FOUND. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING ON FLAT, LEVEL SURFACE STREETS AT ROUGHLY 40MPH, CAR WOULD SPONTANEOUSLY DOWNSHIFT (TO 1ST GEAR?) CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW VERY QUICKLY/LOTS OF DRAG (LOCKING UP SEATBELTS) AS IF THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED QUICKLY. THE VEHICLE WILL THEN RESHIFT BACK INTO A HIGHER GEAR WITH LITTLE TO NO RESISTANCE AGAIN. THIS MA…
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WHILE TRAVELING ON FLAT, LEVEL SURFACE STREETS AT ROUGHLY 40MPH, CAR WOULD SPONTANEOUSLY DOWNSHIFT (TO 1ST GEAR?) CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW VERY QUICKLY/LOTS OF DRAG (LOCKING UP SEATBELTS) AS IF THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED QUICKLY. THE VEHICLE WILL THEN RESHIFT BACK INTO A HIGHER GEAR WITH LITTLE TO NO RESISTANCE AGAIN. THIS MAY HAPPEN 1-4 TIMES WITHIN A 60 SECOND PERIOD. PULLING THE CAR OVER, TURNING OFF AND TURNING ON AGAIN SEEMS TO FIX ISSUE. SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR, SEEMED TO FIX ISSUE. SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, POWER CYCLING CAR SEEMED TO FIX ISSUE. OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS OR SO, THIS HAS HAPPENED ~2X MONTH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FISH TAILED. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR A POWER TRAIN SOFTWARE UPDATE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE YEARS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FISH TAILED. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR A POWER TRAIN SOFTWARE UPDATE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE YEARS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,771. *TR
WHILE PULLING OUT FROM WORK PARKING LOT, VSA LIGHT CAME ON, D LETTER GEAR WAS BLINKING, AND ENGINE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. RPM COULD NOT GET PASSED 3000. ALSO, CHECKED ENGINE OIL WHEN GOT HOME AND IT APPEARED TO BE LOW. THE VEHICLE JUST GOT OIL CHANGED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. *TR
Official recalls
414V112000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Mar 14, 2014
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain 2005-2010 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured June 23, 2004, through September 4, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the fuel pump strainer cover may deteriorate allowing fuel to leak out.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Parts to permanently repair the affected vehicles are not currently available. Honda will notify owners with an interim letter during May 2014. A second notice was mailed to owners October 6, 2014 when the remedy became available. Any vehicles that are currently leaking from the fuel pump cover will get a replacement, original cover. All vehicles, including those receiving the interim repair, will get an improved cover when they are available. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. The recall numbers associated with this campaign are JD9 (inspection and/or preliminary part replacement) and JE0 (final parts replacement).
13V500000 · Electrical System:software
Nov 1, 2013
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured August 8, 2006, through September 8, 2008. Due to a combination of system components and software, the Vehicle Safety Assist System (VSA) may apply the brakes unexpectedly.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The vehicle may suddenly and unexpectedly brake hard, and without illuminating the brake lights, increasing the risk of a crash from behind.
Remedy: Parts to remedy these vehicles will not be available until the spring of 2014. Honda will send owners an interim letter notifying them of the issue and instruct them how to prevent unintended braking. A second notification will be sent when the parts become available. Interim notification was mailed in December 2013. The recall began on April 29, 2014. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009 or visit their website at www.recalls.honda.com. Honda's recall number is JC5.
10V504000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Oct 22, 2010
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ODYSSEY AND ACURA RL VEHICLES. BRAKE FLUID CONTAINING POLYMERS IS USED THAT ACTS AS A LUBRICANT FOR CERTAIN BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. IF REPLACEMENT BRAKE FLUID IS USED THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN SUCH POLYMERS, OR THAT CONTAINS ONLY SMALL AMOUNTS, A PART OF THE RUBBER SEAL LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BECOME DRY, AND THE SEAL MAY CURL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON. IF THIS OCCURS, A SMALL AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID COULD SLOWLY LEAK FROM THE SEAL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID COULD LEAD TO A CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL FEEL AND OVERTIME A DEGRADATION IN BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER SEAL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
10V098000 · Service Brakes, Air
Mar 16, 2010
HONDA HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 ODYSSEY AND ELEMENT PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 28, 2006 AND AUGUST 21, 2008. AIR CAN ENTER THE VSA MODULAR PUMP DURING AN INITIAL SELF-CHECK PROCESS THAT OCCURS SHORTLY AFTER EACH TIME THE ENGINE IS STARTED. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ENOUGH AIR TO ENTER THE SYSTEM TO RESULT IN A BRAKE PEDAL THAT FEELS SOFT OR LOWER TO THE FLOOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE OWNER DOES NOT HAVE ANY BRAKE SERVICE OR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS OR YEARS, THE SYSTEM CAN CONTINUE TO ACCUMULATE ENOUGH AIR TO AFFECT BRAKING PERFORMANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNER AND HONDA DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VSA MODULATOR BY REMOVING ANY EXISTING AIR IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM THEN APPLY SEALANT AND CAPS TO PREVENT AIR FROM ENTERING THE BRAKE SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 3, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3PE13024 · Inappropriate Autonomous Braking
Opened Jun 25, 2013 · Closed Nov 4, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electronic Stability Control
In a letter dated October 31, 2013, Honda Motor Company (Honda) submitted a recall notice to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation describing a defect in the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system in approximately 344,187 model year (MY) 2007 and 2008 Honda Odyssey vehicles produced from August 8, 2006 through September 8, 2008 (NHTSA Recall 13V-500, Honda Recall JC5).The report describes a defect condition caused by a combination of VSA system components and software that is unique to the MY 2007-2008 Honda Odyssey vehicles.The condition may result in unexpected brake application by the VSA system with no brake lamp illumination.The braking forces resulting from the condition can approach the maximum braking capability of the vehicle.Honda's investigation determined that (1) if the yaw rate sensor off-set exceeds a certain value, (2) the sensor calibration is not completed before the vehicle starts moving after start-up, and (3) the vehicle is driven in a specific manner; the VSA system may build hydraulic pressure in the brake system resulting in heavy, unexpected braking without the driver applying the brake pedal.Honda estimates that the parts necessary to correct this condition will not be available until March 2014.Pending part availability, Honda will send interim letters to affected owners including instructions to avoid the defect condition using a procedure to ensure proper VSA system calibration after each vehicle start-up, as well as instructions about what to do if unexpected brake application occurs while driving.Once the remedy parts are available, Honda will send a second notice advising owners to bring their vehicle to their dealer for installation of a redesigned yaw rate sensor.This investigation is closed.
EA09014 · Air In Brake System
Opened Oct 19, 2009 · Closed May 11, 2010
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
By letter dated March 15, 2010, American Honda Motor Corp. (HMC) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA Recall No. 10V-098) to address a defect in approximately 412,000 model year (MY) 2007 and 2008 Honda Odyssey and Element vehicles equipped with an ABS/VSA/TCS modulator. The recalled Odyssey vehicles were built from August 2006 August 2008.The recalled Element vehicles were built from July 2006 to July 2008. According to Honda, during an initial self-check process that occurs shortly after each engine ignition cycle, the self-diagnostic software for the VSA modulator allows a vacuum condition that can exist for several hours, allowing air to enter the VSA modulator pump.Over time, and thousands of engine ignition cycles, it is possible for enough air to enter the system to result in a brake pedal that feels soft or lower to the floor.If the customer does not have any brake service or maintenance performed over a period of months or years, the system can continue to accumulate enough air to affect braking performance.To correct the safety defect, Honda dealers will remove existing air in the brake system then apply sealant and caps to the VSA modulator to prevent air from entering the brake system, free of charge. The action taken by Honda is sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation. The agency will continue to monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.
PE09024 · Air In Brake System
Opened May 13, 2009 · Closed Oct 19, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS RECEIVED 69 COMPLAINTS, AND HONDA HAS RECEIVED 613 COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS, ALLEGING LOW/SOFT/SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2006 THROUGH 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY MINIVANS.TWENTY-SIX ODI COMPLAINTS WERE ALSO REPORTED TO HONDA, RESULTING IN A TOTAL COMPLAINT COUNT OF 656.SOME COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE CONDITION RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES, INCLUDING SOME REPORTS OF ROLLING PAST STOP SIGNS OR TRAFFIC LIGHTS.THERE ARE 14 ALLEGED CRASHES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION RELATED TO LOW/SOFT PEDALS. IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST FOR PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE09-024, HONDA INDICATED THAT SMALL AMOUNTS OF AIR MAY ENTER THE BRAKE SYSTEM DURING INITIAL DIAGNOSTICS OF THE VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA) MODULATOR WHILE THE PUMP IS BRIEFLY ACTUATED FOR SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED.THE AMOUNT OF AIR GRADUALLY INCREASES WITH EACH SUCCESSIVE ENGINE START CYCLE, RESULTING IN PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING BRAKE PEDAL STROKE.ACCORDING TO HONDA, THE CONDITION DOES NOT PRESENT A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY BECAUSE THE PEDAL STROKE GRADUALLY INCREASES, PROVIDING THE DRIVER WITH INFORMATION THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HEIGHT IS CHANGING AND REQUIRES ATTENTION.HONDA HAS FURTHER INDICATED THAT THERE IS NO DETERIORATION OF BRAKING PERFORMANCE CAUSED BY THE SUBJECT CONDITION, EVEN THOUGH THE PEDAL HEIGHT AND FEEL ARE DIFFERENT, UNTIL PEDAL STROKE HAS REACHED THE END OF TRAVEL AND THE DRIVER CANNOT PRODUCE ANY ADDITIONAL BRAKE LINE PRESSURE.HONDA STATES THAT IT IS UNAWARE OF ANY VEHICLES THAT HAVE REACHED SUCH A CONDITION AND HONDA TESTING USING A LEAKING FIELD RETURN MODULATOR INDICATES THAT IT WOULD TAKE OVER A YEAR BEFORE THE PEDAL TRAVEL WOULD REACH ITS LIMIT DURING HARD STOPS WITH 200 N (45 LBF) OF PEDAL EFFORT - THE NOMINAL FORCE REQUIRED TO REACH ABS BRAKING MODE. ODI'S ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY DATA INDICATES THAT THE MY 2007-08 ODYSSEY VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT A RATE OF 0.67%.THE MY 2006 ODYSSEY VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RATE (0.04%) THAN THE MY 2007-08 ODYSSEY.HONDA IMPLEMENTED A DESIGN CHANGE IN THE MY 2007 VEHICLES TO CHANGE THE VSA DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-014) FOR THE MY 2007-08 ODYSSEY VEHICLES TO CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY, AND SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.