Used 2005 Honda Odyssey Minivan Consumer Reviews
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Amazing - Luxury Van
Outstanding vehicle. It actually feels more like a large European luxury sedan. Plenty of power, excellent handling, well thought out, luxurious interior. We've owned a 99 Odyssey and a 2004 Pilot. I thought the interior on the Pilot was a big upgrade on the 99 Odyssey. Well the 05 interior on the Odyssey is amazing. Honda could have slapped an Acura badge on this thing and it would have sold. Unless you need AWD, the Odyssey is the clear choice for families. By the way, it does nicely in the snow. The overall quality of the vehicle makes me feel like I'm driving a $50k+ luxury car. At less than $30k out the door for a EX-L, it's a steal.
Safe and fun witj lots of room
The Odyssey is by far the best auto buy we have ever made. It handles like a car instead of a top heavy mini van. My husband and I have 2 children and 2 dogs. We can all ride together and not drive each other crazy. The kids watch the local t.v channels or a movie from the flip down screen and, the dogs sit in the back area. We still have room for more. The fuel millage is great for a mini van. The "ECO" mode kicks in a lot and that really helps. Around town, we average 22-24 mpg. We just went on a 3.5 hour trip to the mountains in NC and going UP the mountains, our avg. we 24. Coming down and back to Greenville, SC our avg was 33 mpg.
- Touring Passenger MinivanMSRP: $2,49953 mi away
- Touring Passenger MinivanMSRP: $4,90065 mi away
- EX-L Passenger MinivanMSRP: $4,500157 mi away
Fix these things...
I like most things about the odyssey except the build quality wasn't up to todays standards. Door gaps too big and doors not aligned well. Wind noise from sliding doors noticeable at highway speeds. My main peeve is the road noise. It drowns out the radio and conversation on roads with a slightly rough surface. Only on super smooth asphalt highways is it nice and quiet. This should be fixed ages ago, since GM, Ford have never had a road noise problem. Mine is a 2003, incidently, and maybe the new van is better, but reports still mention road noise. Gear shifter blocks dash switch. Steering wheel blocks left side switches from view.
Unbelievable technology package
It is an incredible package, the amount of technology that is crammed into this car is just amazing!! Honda paid attention to almost every detail and made improvements in every area. This ody drives like a car and the body roll is minimal if not non-existent. However, Honda did not finish the job. They have added memory seats, well the feature appears to memorize only the seat positions and it does not seem to memorize the rear view mirror positions. Only one of the the power windows has an auto up and down feature. For a car costing 42k(drive out), I'd expect it all the Windows to have auto up and down feature.
Wind Noise Annoying
When there is an outside wind of 12 to 18 mph, the interior cabin noise is more than I expected especially from a Honda known for Fit & Finish. My Dodge minivan had less interior noise than the 2005 Honda EX. The Honda dealer acknowledged they have had some complaints about interior wind noise or whistle. They added additional sealant around the front windshield & it seemed to help somewhat. Nevertheless, I still encounter more interior wind noise than I believe is acceptable. Does anyone else share the same annoying problem? Are there other remedies than adding add't caulking around the edges of the windshield?
Not impressed!
We researched minivans for a year, hands down everyone said you can't go wrong with the Odyssey. Boy we we wrong. We have been in three times for the front bumber that was incorrect from the start because a clip was broken. We are still waiting for the new part. Then we have been in four times for the driver-side sliding door, which will not close unless the driver -side doors is open. Now we found out that the power steering pump is going and needs to be replaced. Our car only has 5,500 miles on it. A power steering pump should not go on a car that new. Also, I have been waiting two weeks for the new part to come in.
05 Ody = Love it, Hate it
I've owned this van now for just over a year. Initial ownership was bliss. However, at 6k miles, the joy turned to frustration with the grinding brakes. Being told there is a "fix" in the works and here we are almost a year later with no fix. This brake problem has limited our excursions. No big road trips for us. Mountain trips? Not! As if that isn't bad enough, the transmission is acting up. The low droning and slipping is telling me that a rental car is in our future. Yesterday it stalled on us and I won't drive it until I can call American Honda tomorrow (I know it'll need to be towed). I really wish that this van held up to what I thought it could be. It would have been great.
Problem Every Year
Well, let's just say I'm a bit disappointed with my 2005 Odyssey EX. Looks like a good mini-van (I'm a Honda fan), but since I bought this 2005 new model seems like every year I have some kind of problem with it. First year I had to replace brakes (twice), had whistling noise from the windshield (dealer replaced rubber gasket in 2006), in 2007 had to replace steering fluid pump (was making noise) and now in 2008 I just started to notice strange noises from fuel tank (taking it to a dealer next week), but out of warranty now. Can't wait to see what's the problem this time. I have learned a hard way never to buy a new model the first year it comes out. Hope that nothing happens next year.
Great car. Poor MPG!
One of the primary reasons I purchased my Odyssey was is EPA mpg ratings. It is nowhere close. I have had it for less than a month and I get about 16MPG combined.
Honda Mini Van
2 complaints...noisier ride than 3 previous Odysseys. Wind tunnel effect produced when rear windows are down unless front windows are also open
Never buy a first model year again!
Bought it new when it first came out and have had several recurring troubles, had a brake grinding noise, went several times until finally dealer got Honda to replace the pads and shave the rotors. PAX STINX, as everyone says they don't drive that great and they are so darn expensive, lasted us only 25-30K each set. Sliding door got stuck but fixed under warranty, keeps making clunking noise and hesitation at 2500RPM since 30000 miles, tried to get dealer to figure out several times, they just charged me a diagnostic fee of $120 and can't find a darn thing.
Think Twice
Van has 51000 mi. Brake Pads went out at 28000mi. Have replaced DVD player twice. Headphones have problems. Air went out at 50000 mi not covered under extended warranty. Power steering pump making noise at 38000 mi. First set tires lasted 28000mi, second set much better. Battery died at 3 years. Windshield whistles. Dealer is always trying to push unnecessary (and costly) service items. Gas mileage is ~24 mpg highway.
Update, new Odyssey!
Update: We couldn't find an SUV that could accommodate a rear lift wheelchair, AND transport 5 people, so we ended up getting a new Odyssey. It has electric doors, so we bought an extended warranty that should cover them because they WILL need work on our gravel roads. It was a bit pricey because we got an additional seat, clear coat, etc. We had the old one over 10 years and it was still going strong so we donated it to a veterans organization. If this is my last car, I'm very happy with it. However, I still would have liked a pilot. Previous van: Nobody told me that the drive train had to be replaced at 70,000 miles and the engine had to be removed to do it. It was $700 and a shock. We got manual doors because our previous experience with electronic doors on gravel roads was expensive and poor. The doors still have to have regular maintenance, and have been taken apart and cleaned by the dealer. At 230,000 miles, the rear door mechanism is worn out and has to be replaced at $500. I have a wheelchair lift, so it's got to be done, but I would have expected it to never be an issue. Otherwise, I love the van, the comfort and gas mileage and we've had nothing done except regular maintenance and wear issues like alignment. Our dealer has been wonderful, quick, and helpful in planning.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
THE BEST
WHEN COMPARED TO THE TOYOTA SIENNA THIS VAN HANDS DOWN BEATS IT. ITS FASTER, looks nicer, and is more technologically advanced. I actually considered buying a Lincoln Navigator but the fuel economy was too bad....the odyssey has 20/28 mpg, is just as spactious, and comes with more options for a lower price.....well not that low....About 40K with all the options
So much for Honda reliability
Purchased 05 Odyssey in March. Drive it about 1 to 2 times/week, plus take on trips. Have had numerous problems for the less than 2500 miles. 1) Passenger door hard to close, 2) Power sliding door stopped working, 3) CD player sometimes silent on some tracks, but comes back when switch tracks, 4) engine noise/steering wheel vibration at 1500-1600rpm and 50mph, 5) battery has gone dead after sitting for 3days to a week 4 TIMES. So far they only fixed #2, said #1 was "normal" although many customers complain, and look at me like I'm from another planet while they tell me "no problem found" on 3,4 & 5. Extremely dissatisfied with both vehicle, 2 dealers service areas, and Honda.
An excellent minivan
The new 2005 Odyssey is a wonderful vehicle. It is a delight to drive with ample power to handle just about everything you throw at it. Honda made a few decisions that are hard to understand, primarily the lack of HID headlamps. For a high end vehicle, this should be a must in 2005. The center console also only fits in the second row, it would have been much more useful in the first row.
OUTSTANDING!
Great vehicle! Just bought it this week after searching and searching. Plenty of room for our family of 5, and the DVD system makes the ride more than fun for our children. Plenty of "get up and go" for the highway. Interior is the most comfortable we were in among all the vans we test drove.
An incredible experience with ownership
The 2005 Honda odyssey is the very best vehicle that I have ever owned. The ride is unparalleled along with the many safety features. The fuel economy with this vehicle continues to go well beyond my expectations. I have had absolutely trouble free driving. Never a problem with my vehicle.
redesigned Honda Odyssey is nice but....
We have owned this van for about a month and we have taken several trips. We love everything about the van but the seats. They have to be the worst seats I have even been in. They are very unconformable. Friends of ours have a Dodge caravan and its seats are 1000 times better, but don't get me wrong I wouldn't buy anything but a Honda. We test drove every mini van out there and we decided to buy the best overall value and thats a Honda Odyssey.
Best Van Ever
I love this van! It has everything you would need or want with the two small exceptions. I would have liked it to have automatic lights on the EXL with the Entertainmet System. Also automatic locks when you put the car in reverse. However this doesn't deter me from loving this VAN! It's the BEST!
Greatest Minivan Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We had a 2000 Odysey EX, and wanted a newer van, so we looked at Toyota, and was so close to buying it, then we looked at the Honda and bought it hands down. The nav. and the DVD player are great. There are a few quality problems, like a space on the top of the DVD player where a DVD got stuck into. Other than that, this is the best minivan you can ever buy!
bad car
I thoughtn the car was cheaply made and it didn't last long before I had to have repairs....I would strongly reccomend American cars over Japanese cars because the Japanese are cheaply made....they're like tinker toys and the engine was slow as a dog.
A must for a Growing Family
After we had our first son we bought a Lexus GX470, Great SUV, but we quickly grew out of it. The Honda mini van was a tough sale to my wife, but after she drove it and realized how much more comfortable it was, she was sold. So now I drive the Lexus, but when it is time to go out with the family I drive the Honda, and it drives great. I like the features, the drive, the value and fuel economy much more than the Nissan Quest or the Toyota.
Lies....
Quieter cabin, better fuel economy... ALL LIES!! After only 18k miles, I'm selling it. The road noise is unbearable. Apparently, the ECO thing doesn't work, causes a major droning noise at 65 mph. Fuel economy is 16/24 at best. I will never buy another honda van. The navigation doesn't give accurate travel times, all of which are based on an avg. speed of 60 mph!!! Then, one day, the A/C stopped working. I bring it to the dealer. Before even looking at it, the mechanic says "I hope it is not a rock in the condenser." When on the lift, it was the condenser. Extremely poor design. The gaps in the grill are so big, it is insane. Look at German cars, even the economy ones like jettas.
NO MORE ODYSSEY!!!
Problems: electrical, alignment, noise, engine, breaks, steering. It was the last time I bought a Honda minivan. The trips to service shops have been constant. We spent almost $6000 in last year alone after the warranty ended. If you want to buy this van, be ready for the inconvenience and financial stress. When you buy a new and expensive car, you think that you are stress free for at least 5 years, that is not the case here. We had problem from the very first day till today.
Reliability stinks
I have never wrote a review before, but this one deserves it. I have had nothing but problems from day one with this Honda. Nav. will not work. Seats heaters smell like they are burning inside. Will not start in the cold or rain. Brakes squeak. Been in for service six times for a total of 38 days. Service at the dealership STINKS!
Good Van
Enjoy driving the van, it really does not feel like a van; nothing sluggish about it. Van has had some issues like brakes, a shaking as I approach 40 mph and a side door that is defective. All-in-all, I have to say I have enjoyed the van. My lease is up next week and I am considering keeping the van.
happyowner
The 2005 Honda Odyssey replaced another Odyssey that we owned and I really enjoy driving this van. It has a more quiet ride and it is very comfortable. My gas mileage is better in this Odyssey and some of the controls have been moved to more convenient areas of the van. The spare tire has been moved to a more easily accessible place and there is more storage space in this van.
Wonderful Minivan
I had this Odyssey for just one week. The whole family just loves it. Interior is very comfortable and more luxurious than a Sienna XLE. Making a U-Turn is a piece of cake. It feels secure to drive and has a smooth ride.
I'm picking-up my new Odyssey tomorrow
I bought the van with the idea that in retirement I could haul stuff, and that with the navi, travels would be easier and more fun. All that is spot-on and more. I love the way it rides & handles even in NC mountains. It has plenty of power to merge on I-85 or pass on NC158. We consolidated 2 houses into 1 at retirement, and the van more than paid for itself in hauling our belongings to the new house, the dump, the Goodwill, etc. I also feel very safe driving it, with all of the safety features built-in. I bought it thinking I would find it useful for travel (which it is), but I really just enjoy driving it every day, and that surprised me! Tomorrow I pick-up my new 2009, the 05 to my son.
Best Vehicle We Have Ever Owned
This vehicle surpasses all of our expectations when you consider average mileage of 23.10 MPG, no maintenance issues and a comfortable ride. We are sold on Honda if this vehicle is representative of their other models. We do normal suburban driving and occasional trips not exceeding 1000 miles round trip.
Even the base model LX is wondrous
Even the base model '05 Odyssey LX is a wondrous vehicle. Full side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes and stability control are standard. The drive is like riding on a cloud. Having driven a Chrysler minivan for over 14 years, this van is like a dream. The third row "Magic Seat" is stunningly easy to put up and take down. Second row seats are far more comfortable than the current Chrysler minivans with "Stow-n-Go." Can anyone really use 15 cup holders? Deep bin where third row seats go makes great space for groceries. The fit of trim pieces is tight. The entire vehicle seems to scream "quality."
66,000 Miles and Still Love It
We bought our Odyssey over three years ago and still like it as much as we did on day one. It's my wife's daily driver and with the nav. and DVD etc. the guys and gals she works with have her drive to lunch whenever they go out (even give her unsolicited gas money) because they like playing with the gadgets and it's really comfortable. With three kids ranging from 14 to 7, the long summer driving trips we've taken over the years have been a pleasure. We both like driving it and reliability has been typical Honda excellence. Just got back from a 2400 mile round trip summer vacation where we rolled over 66k--again, nothing but super review from us!
Odyssey 2005
Ever Since I purchased my odyssey 2005 I can't live without it. Excellent Handling, user-friendly features, smooth ride, excellent exterior design.
Very Happy so far
This is our first Honda we purchased our Odyssey last month, very happy so far. Took it on a road trip a very enjoyable drive, the DVD system is great the kids were very quiet the whole trip. The only thing that I feel hasn't lived up to their claim was the gas milage. I got a little less than what is stated, but not by much. I'm sure they have that rated at 55mph too. Oh well the van is great.
A New Benchmark...
Outstanding performance, never considered a mini-van until now, it has the style and power to be more than a family car. I will consider this over many SUV. The safety features are extra- ordinary; 6 airbags, ABS, Stability Assistance, Pedestrian protection, Unibody.... they just didn't stop in satey at all. Interior, without question the Navi- System in the market (yes!, better than Lexus, BMW and other top contenders. Great materials and space improvement (how is that no wheelbase change but interior increased by 2 long and 1 wide inches). Reliabilty, well.... we all know how Hondas are. Odyssey... the best mini-van is back.
Great Vehicle,lots of pep,great handling
Smooth,sporty design with lots of room and overall performance. A real pleasure to drive on long trips! We love the versitility of this van. Engine is smooth and powerful. Automatic climate control is simple and effective The salesman had excellent knowledge of the vehicle and the whole dealership experience was friendly,efficient,and comfortable. We also got a very good deal! The Honda Touring is head and shoulders above Toyota in giving a feeling of quality.
Best Family Vehicle
We bought this new. It's been the best vehicle we've ever owned. Great on road trips with us getting 28mpg. Room for all 4 of us, luggage and dogs. We've done all required service and never had a problem. Drives like a car with more room than a large SUV. I really can't think of anything that we don't like about it.
Super Odyssey Van.....Funmobile, PLUS
This van is the best I have ever had, or driven in!!! Handles bumps with ease with a smooth ride. Excellent performance, fun ride, awesome features. The seats are comfortable like sitting in a lounge chair. The interior appearance is luxurious and practical. I like all the extra features. The dealership was helpful and made you feel right at home.
Roger
Although we have only owned our 2005 Honda Odyssey for a little over 2 months, we are thrilled with all aspects of this vehicle. It drives likes a high-end luxury vehicle, it is quiet, and the Touring Model has as extraordinary list of options. The safety options are particularly impressive. I am thus far a very satisfied customer.
2005 Odyssey
Just got the new 2005 lx (base model)in December '04 and love it. Off the lot with all those extra fees and conveyance charges etc for just under 27K. So far so good. This is our first minivan and I am surprised at how well it handles and feels on the road. Super quite, super roomy,all the seats fold up easy etc. Did ALOT of research and test drove the Sienna and the Grand Caravan and we went with this one and love it.
Excellent Van
Bought the EX-L new. Bad: Paint job-scratches easily. Wind noise-Honda replaced seals as a recall, but still noisy. Steering pump-Honda also fixed steering pump under warranty. Good: The van is extremely comfortable. Drives excellent-like a car. Good power, handling,and brakes. Excellent in snow. Tons of room in back even with seats up. Fuel Economy=18city/27highway-great for a heavy and tall van w/244hp. Replaced tires at about 36,000 miles; not sure why other reviews say Michelins required b/c my replacements are GoodYear @ $120/tire. Few minor problems were unexpected for a Honda. Still much better quality and ride than my two Caravans. Would definitely choose the Odyssey again.
Excellent Car
The care handles extremely well. in the first snowfall, it was above average. I wish all wheel drive was an option. The heated outside mirrors was a big plus. My daughter loves the DVD. the leather is easy to clean. Easy to use fold up/down rear 60/40 split seat. Easy access to third seat even with second row middle seat in. The second row windows that open are EXCELLENT!!!
Superb Design in a minivan!
I chose the Ex over touring because I didn't like the price of a new set of pax tires, and I wanted the optional seat in the middle on 2nd row. Granddaughter loves to sit in front of the DVD player. DVD is a must from now on! Van handles well on the road, and cruise control never fluctuates on hills. Seats fold very easily for more cargo space. The nav. system is awsomely amazing! It's capabilities seem endless. It was well worth the money. Standard roof rails are nice, but almost senseless without the cross bars. The sunroof is refreshing at times, although I would opt for other features instead, like fog lights, automat lights, or auto tailgate closing. Auto side doors are great too!
2005 Odyssey Touring
Overall I love my Odyssey. The only real complaint I have is the rough ride over small bumps. I believe this is because of the run flat tires. It's a great ideal (run flat tires) but rough on the ride.
Sorry Honda lovers, our last van
We were originally so excited to trade our SUV and get one when they first came out. However, we are quite over the extreme cabin noise (dealer will say it is tires, but we changed to no avail), steering squeals, brake grinding and shimmy, and easily marred bumpers. #1 is noise - both the "roar" when we drive and loud squeals from turning. Wife, who once loved it, now cannot wait to trade it as the DVD volume has to be 20+ to cover the roar. Dealer serviced since day 1, they seem to resist really trying to seek out the issue. Thankfully we bought an extended warranty as otherwise all of service efforts on these issues would be out of our pocket. FYI - No loaners car for service on $31K van.
Most Overrated Minivan in the World
The driver's side power door opens a few inches and then stops, a real pain with a new baby which is the only reason we went the Honda route. Poor noise insulation, DVD works ok but the headphones have never worked correctly. Dome light barely lights up, Back seats are uncomfortable on a long trip. Traded a mid-level 1998 Olds Silhouette in on this much quieter, better ride, comparable power, and handled the same. 105K miles was time for a new vehicle, this is our last Honda.
Very Disappointed
We were so excited to buy this van, and were really looking forward to many years of service from the vehicle. Now, here's the reality we've dealt with the last 4 years: 3 power steering pumps Passenger side window assembly Drive shaft Front rotors and finally, rear engine mounts. What happened to Honda quality? Of course, Honda was no help on any of this. Should have gotten the extended warranty.
The greatest minivan ever!
This was love at 1st sight. It's the most comfortable minivan we testdrove, with the best design of space. The ride is VERY comfortable. The vehicle is simply beautiful inside, with plenty of storage bins and smart rear seat folding.
Love the van, hate the MPG.
First 3K miles have been fairly uneventful. Van rides and drives like a dream with plenty of pickup and a resonabley quiet cabin. The overall fit and finish seems to be quite good and all controls logically placed. Did encounter a flat tire at 2K (non-PAC) and no michelin dealer in town (Louisville, KY) carried the replacement, dealer had to order and it took five days. The biggest disappointment has been with the gas mileage. Neither my wife or I have gotten over 19MPG. We got as low as 13 in the city. Overall we've been averaging about 15-18 MPG. Well below what is stating as the range. The dealer has asked me to provide receipts with documented mileage to help track the issue.