Problems with 2006 Honda Odyssey STEERING

Power steering problem and pump failure. *dt

Since early 2010, the steering pump in my 2006 odyssey has been making an intermittent whining noise. when it makes this noise, the steering wheel becomes difficult to turn. a few days ago it became bad enough to take in to the dealer for service. prior to taking it in, i noted that honda has 2 tech service bulletins for this issue, one to the replace the pump (dec 2010) and one to replace the steering fluid reservoir (2009). the bulletin for the pump specifically stated that the pump design was insufficient to provide enough power for the steering system, and needed to be replaced by a higher power pump with a new part number. i called american honda to try to get this covered by honda as a safety issue and a known design defect (bad steering), they offered to pay for $250 out of a $750 total repair bill. my car is approximately 1 1/2 years out of warranty time limit, but under warranty mileage (35000). i feel this is definitely a safety issue (steering) and should be subject to a recall before a steering failure and someone gets injured or worse. *tr

Power steering pump failing. nothing leads up to this, just the power steering stops working. the issue is mainly at low speeds and when trying to park - the power steering just stops working. we needed to have the power steering pump replaced and new fluid added. when taken to mechanic, told many customers have same issue as well as well documented complaints all over the internet. *tr

Consistent loss of steering at slow speeds. only when accelerating will steering work, almost as if at idle or in parking lots, not enough power to steering unit transpires. it generally requires several additional moves in a parking lot to get out of a space, but somewhat dangerous in that you have to allow for car to roll, in order for steering to work. the most dangerous situation is when you're coming to a stop and when you reach 10mph or so, on the way to a stop, you don't have steering for those few seconds. it's dangerous in a parking lot if you have to turn suddenly. this has happened consistently since we've owned the vehicle, everyone i know here at the office, friends and family who own one, have complained of the same problem. a related issue is, with increasing frequency, the power steering unit emits a hissing sound, almost as if the belts are about to snap, similar to the noise american power steering unis made in the 80's and 90's. i believe the unit is not engineered properly for the vehicle. both of these have been persistent problems, shame on me for not reporting it sooner, perhaps it's the aura of honda that makes one believe they're perfect vehicles. they are far from it. *tr

I own a 2006 honda odyssey minivan, with almost 70,000 miles on it. i brought the car in last week for service regarding a "moaning" noise when turning the steering wheel, right or left. the technician later informed me that the power steering pump and its components are no longer working and needed to be replaced... $700 dollars later. after getting the parts replaced because of this pump going bad, i checked online and discovered this is a known issue and has been reported previously. i contacted honda north america, who informed me that the given life span of this part is approx 120-140 miles, and that would prorate me back 50% the cost of my service charge. this was very nice and i am awaiting the check in the mail. my issue is that if there is a know issue with this part, and it "goes" out at various mileage on these vehicles, it would be have been more appropriate to have the part recalled and replaced all together. am sure most people don't bring their cars in at the first instance they hear a noise, etc. since i have children and car pool others, i never take any chances with my car. it would be very disturbing if the car loss its power steering at a time when its was most needed, as to avoid a serious accident. thank you for your time. *tr

2006 honda odyssey - power steering pump. the power steering pump whines, buzzes, or hums and intermittently becomes very hard to steer. mechanic said power steering pump was defective and has seen this many times on 2005-07 odysseys. local honda dealer confirmed that this was a common problem, but that honda had not issued a recall. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 honda odyssey touring. the contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to steer at low speeds and when parking. he also heard a noise in the engine while driving. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the power steering pump was replaced. the contact had not spoken with the manufacturer when the complaint was filed. the vin was unavailable. the current mileage was approximately 50,000. the failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

During low temperature driving after vehicle is warm, the power steering whines loudly. we noticed this condition in the early fall as temperatures fell and the noise has gotten progressively worse. the steering pump was previously replaced at approximately 9200 miles. the vehicle is at the local dealership now having the power steering system flushed, reservoir replaced and new synthetic fluid installed. i am concerned that the steering may have failed during operation causing an accident. *tr

Very loud power steering pump noise after a 25 minute drive to the local airport on a cold dec morning in fort worth tx. i've been able to reproduce the problem only one other time since then. nothing has been done to fix the issue because i can't reproduce the problem for the local dealer. i'm certain the problem is due to an issue detailed in a honda service bulletin 07-005. i seems they expect me to drive it until something breaks or i have an accident. *tr

Driving car and the steering started to whine and screech very loudly. turned wheel in both directions and noise continued. shut car off and started again and the noise continued. went online and found out that a lot of 06' models have issues with the steering reservoir design choking the steering motor. called the dealership, 50k on my van, and described the problem. the service tech new immediately what is was and suggested i replace the steering reservoir so has not damage the motor further at it was a $700 fix vs $85. asked how come this was not under recall as the reservoir had three (3) tech bulletins issued and 3 redesigns to solve the steering problem. said tech bulletins don't mean recalls and i was over the 36k warranty so i was on my own. i paid for the repair and the noise stopped. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 honda odyssey. while driving 10 mph there was a sound in the steering wheel. the dealer stated that the reservoir was clogged and needed to be replaced. the contact is concerned about the safety risk. the current mileage was 64,000. the failure mileage and vin were not available.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 honda odyssey. while parked, the contact heard a loud buzzing noise coming from the steering and the steering wheel became slightly stiff. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repair but was informed by the dealer of a technical service bulletin. the technical service bulletin number was not available. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

Steering locked up while driving resulting in head on accident. *tr

My honda odyssey has a manufacturers defect associated with the power steering system. it has an inconsistent buzz, whine, hum that can be heard predominantly at lower speeds. at times, the steering becomes tight making it difficult to steer the car. i have read about the service bulletins: tsb 2007 for the steering reservoir, and tsb 2010 for the steering pump. i will be calling the local dealer with hopes of correcting a poor design by honda. *tr

Whining noise coming from the power steering after driving more than 40miles in cold temperature (below 45deg f). also experience steering stiffness causing decreased ability to steer. had the ps fluid and reservoir replaced dec12 2009 and the problem was temporally solved. noise and stiffness solved but problem returned nov 21 2010. *tr

Loss of power steering at low speeds or while standing, making it extremely difficult to maneuver, particularly in and out of parking spaces. very dangerous when attempting to parallel park on a busy street, or merge into busy traffic from a parking place. *tr

Steering problem caused by a problem in our 2006 honda odyssey. *tr

Power steering on 2006 honda odyssey fails at low speeds requiring driver to quickly turn the steering wheel much harder than normal in order to turn the vehicle. *tr

Have had this vehicle since new (july 2006). vehicle/steering/wheels experience significant vibration at 65 to 70mph. have changed tires, all suspension parts and nothing seems to solve this problem. been going on since vehicle was new. have been to dealership many many times and spent a lot of money based on dealership service recommendation but still problem persists. this vehicle is defective and honda needs to issue recall for this generation of odysseys as i have read about this issue with many owners of this same type vehicle.

During 9/2009, i was informed by other driver's of my honda odyssey 2006 of difficulty turning my steering wheel at low speeds. i wondered about it and began to notice that i also had difficulty turning the steering wheel at low speeds especially while entering or leaving a parking space. in 9/2011, i had the steering examined and was told by the honda dealership that the power steering pump needs to be replaced and is inoperable at low speeds. apparently, american honda issued a warranty extension for this issue of which i was not informed. this warranty extended the time frame for replacement of the power steering pump to 100,000 miles or 7 years. by 2011, i had 160,602 miles on my vehicle and was closer to the 100,000 mile mark back in 2009. in 2012, i was informed by another car repair shop of the warranty extension with encouragement to call american honda. i did and was told that i didn't qualify, but could find document of the diagnosis and call back. in 2015, i find my receipt from honda dealership from 9/2011 diagnosing the problem. i call american honda. their representative is polite, listens to my story, places me on hold then returns to the line and tells me that this will still not be covered. i have been "negligent" since not contacting american honda back after my first call in 2012 or having the car repaired for this issue. obviously, i want american honda to assist since this is not an inexpensive repair. i understand their stance and wish they were more responsive to loyal customers. i have not experienced an accident due to the power steering pump not working correctly, but have worried at times especially when making turns and backing out of spaces. through this complaint, i am hoping that further investigation might occur which will cause the replacement of the power steering pump to become a recall versus a warranty extension.

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 honda odyssey. the contact stated as he was driving approx. 10 to 15 mph, he could turn the steering wheel but he had to force it to turn. no warning light came on and there was a noise when turning the steering wheel. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was told to replace the steering pump and the reservoir which will cost $800 for the repairs. the contact told the dealer he was not willing to pay that expense. the manufacturer was called at least three times but stated the mileage was over the warranty and there is no recall for the failure. the failure mileage was 85,000.

When driving my 2006 honda odyssey at speeds under 10 mph, the steering wheel is extremely hard to steer. when driving above this speed, the steering seems to be function properly. *tr

2006 honda odyssey ex-l, steering wheel at low speeds freeze and does not turn in any direction. it happens very often on the highway when there is slow moving traffic, in a parking lot and reversing. i was told by the dealer who wanted 600 to fix this issue as being steering pump related issue. we had an extended service plan in which the dealer did a power steering flush that did not help at all. we wen to the dealer with this issue after about 1 year latter and since then there was nothing done regarding this. recently our honda warranty expired in july 2009 and the miles on the car are about 35k. all these days we were able to atleast navigate the wheel even it was tight but recently since last 1 month the car on slow speeds or on neutral does not turn the wheel at all. i request nhtsa to please investigate this issue with honda vans. i spoke to several people and couple of them did mention this same problem. i feel very uncomfortable with the problem. when i take it to the dealer he avoided until the warranty is over and now is trying to cheat us. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 honda odyssey. while driving approximately 30 mph, she noticed it became difficult to control the steering wheel and park the vehicle. the mechanic cleaned the power steering reservoir; however, that did not correct the failure. the dealer stated that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. the manufacturer stated that someone would call the contact in reference to the failure. the estimated repair cost was $600.00. the failure mileage was 30,000 and the current mileage was 69,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 honda odyssey. the contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mpd, the power steering failed and he heard a screeching and winding noise. he took the vehicle to the dealership and was told that the power steering pump failed and needed to be replaced. furthermore, he also noticed that when driving down hill and trying to apply the brakes, the steering wheel would shake violently. he took the vehicle to the dealership and the dealer told him that the rotors were warped and there was nothing they could do. he had not called the manufacturer to-date. the power steering pump was being repaired at the time of the complaint. the current mileage was approximately 41,000. the failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

Power steering pump failure for 2nd time in 2 years. beyond warranty. honda will not replace under warranty. power steering reservoir has been re-designed due to known issue. honda should fix this at no charge due to loss of power steering at low speeds. *tr

Hard steering occurs when car is hot. honda dealer doesn't want to cover the repairs. needs to change steering wheel pump. *tr

Steering becomes stiff and difficult to steer after driving 25mins. noticing whining power steering noise. started at 40,000 miles and it is now 55,000 miles and the dealer will not over even part of the $600 cost. *tr

At low speeds, the power steering pump on my 2006 honda odyssey ex-l looses all ability to turn. this is especially troublesome when trying to park. the only way to alleviate this is to put the transmission in neutral, apply a foot to the brake, and apply slight pressure to the throttle pedal. this obviously speeds up the power steering pump which allows me to turn the steering wheel. this is not a safe solution to perform for any reason. *tr

I have a 2006 honda odyssey mini van. since feb 2009, the power steering assisting system failed to work at low speed. it's hard to operate the steering wheel at this moment. most time it happened when i try to make a turn in park lot or local road. this problem also happened when i divert from high way to the ramp. this could be a safety issue. *tr

The power steering went out on my 2006 honda odyssey. it appears too be happening on all the 2006 honda odyssey van. the power steering does not work at all. i feel it is unsafe especially at low speeds. i believe it could easily lead too an accident. *tr

Power steering flywheel fell off and the car completely died draining the battery. this resulted in loss of power steering at approx 35mph. when tried to pull to the side of the street, the car power system failed. the battery was drained completely and lost all electrical functions of the car. the car had to be pushed to the side in busy street. it required the assistance from good samaritans. safety hazard if in remote area and or busy street. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 honda odyssey. after the vehicle was driven for approximately 35 minutes, the contact heard a loud noise and the steering became difficult to move. the failure occurred while driving 30 mph. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the power steering reservoir filter needed to be replaced. the contact feels that the steering high pressure hose should be replaced. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 40,000 and current mileage was 42,000.

Power steering failure. began during colder weather with whining noise from power steering when weather below 40 f. this occurred two years in a row. currently at slow speeds < 30 steering input is more difficult and requires much more effort to strain against the steering wheel. honda was contacted first year of whining and stated problem was due to cold weather. since then i have learned that three service bulletins have been distributed for same complaint. honda tsb 07-005 dated 01/26/07 then replaced by tsb 07-005 dated 06/17/08 then tsb 07-005 dated 08/21/09. this was a known complaint during my initial questions and now problem has gotten much worse. now i am being told vehicle is out of basic warranty and they will not cover under powertrain warranty. the tsb state directly on the honda bulletin this is caused by a defective power steering pump reservoir. my concern is the possibility at higher speed loosing steering input or control. *tr

Steering & control difficult at low speeds. power steering pump failure at 52, 749 miles--required replacement. same problem at 105,000 miles--required power steering pump replacement...again. same problem at 159,000 miles--required power steering pump replacement a third time. *tr

The power steering just gives out at low speeds, parking lots etc, hard to avoid other cars, scary. *tr

Power steering pump seems to whine after the van has been driven for an hour and the outside weather temp. is cold. please see this website for other complaints: http://www.carcomplaints.com/honda/odyssey/2006/steering/noise_from_power_steering_pump.shtml. *tr

Occasionally during heavy rain, we loose our power steering for a period of 20-45 seconds or more. at the same time the battery warning indicator lights up. it is almost impossible to control the vehicle when this occurs. fortunately it has not happened in heavy traffic and have not had an accident as of yet. this is dangerous and could cause a very serious accident with serious injury or death. we have notified the honda dealer whom tried to remedy the problem by changing the power steering pump but this failed to solve the problem and the issue remains. the dealer has been unable to fix the problem. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 honda odyssey. the contact stated that while driving 25 mph the steering wheel became very difficult to maneuver. the power steering malfunctioned sporadically. the power steer pump and reservoir were replaced by the dealer. two years after the vehicle was repaired the power steering malfunctioned again. the contact took the vehicle back to the dealer who replaced the identical parts. the contact noticed complaints regarding the power steering issue and stated that the manufacturer should issue a recall because of the safety issue. the failure mileage was 80,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 honda odyssey touring. the contact stated that the power steering pump would exhibit a loud, abnormal noise when the engine was warmed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the power steering system was defective. the manufacturer was contacted who offered to pay fifty percent of the repair costs. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 24,000 and the current mileage was 42,000.

At around 25,000 miles, my 2006 honda odyssey developed a noise in the engine bay, while and after driving at highway speeds. the power steering at times seemed without assist. when taken to the dealer, the problem was impossible to replicate, and the problem is increasing in severity and frequency. the vehicle is now out of warranty, and no remedy has been offered by honda motors, despite many claims of identical safety issues found upon a simple internet search. it is just a matter of time before complete power assist failure will cause a collision, property damage and injury. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 honda odyssey. after driving 15 mph in cold weather for an hour or longer, the contact hears a whining noise coming from the engine compartment. the noise intensifies as the rpm's increase. the dealer stated that the source of the noise may be the power steering; however, the vehicle has not been inspected. the noise is heard only after the vehicle has been driven for more than 60 minutes. the contact has found numerous complaints on this failure and believes that the manufacturer should issue a recall. the failure mileage was 40,000 and current mileage was 48,000.

After a 45 min drive we began to hear a jingling whining sound. took the van to the dealership the next morning and the noise was gone. i was told that with no noise they couldn't find the problem. after a week i took it in and said that there was a problem with my van and they needed to keep it until they located the cause of the noise. i was informed after a few hours that my power steering pump needed to be replaced to the tune of $600.00. after some discussion they agreed that they had been having complaints/problems with the power steering pumps and they would be willing to pay for the parts if i would pay for the labor. i have been told that this is huge danger because the power steering could completely fail at high speeds causing complete loss of control. *tr

Van steering jerks when braking at high speed

Power steering pump noise. led to harder steering during cold temperatures. two instances: 1) outside temp 20f degrees trying to make a u-turn in front of my house, had to use more force and effort than normal to stay in the u-turn. would have been a dangerous situation if there were cars on either side of the street. 2) outside temp below 30f degrees. drove to the mall 20 minutes away on the highway. when entering the parking lot the power steering pump noise was loud. as i tried to park in between two cars, encountered a slight increase in effort to direct the van properly and without hitting the cars on either side into the parking space. would have been a dangerous situation if there was someone standing to get into the car on either side. these incidents occurred sometime in dec and jan not sure of dates, but when it was cold outside. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 honda odyssey. while driving in temperatures below 45 degrees or making turns the power steering would fail. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. since the technician could not duplicate the failure they could not provide a remedy. the failure mileage was 60,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 honda odyssey. the contact noticed that when the steering pump became hot the wheel made a loud winding noise similar to a siren, causing the front end of the vehicle to lunge forward. the dealer was notified and advised the contact that it was normal and there were no recalls. the contact did not inform the manufacturer of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the current mileage was approximately 52,000. the failure mileage was approximately 6,000.

Hi, our 2006 odyssey has been extremely difficult to steer at low speeds since new. it also makes a loud whine when wheel turned to side at low speeds. we heard that a recall or service bulletin was done for known power steering issues, but when took to dealer were told that our vin was not included, and they said it was a known issue but would cost hundreds $$ just to diagnose, and possibly thousands to repair... please help! which vin are covered? are they correct or simply extorting us? thanks, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 honda odyssey. while driving approximately 30 mph she experienced difficulty steering, and heard a loud grinding noise. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection. the technician was unable to duplicate the failure. she also heard metal grinding coming from the rear brake system. the vehicle has not been repaired for the malfunction. the vehicle identification number was unavailable. the failure mileage was 50,000 . the current mileage was 69,000.

While driving 2006 honda odyssey at highway speed noticeable steering wheel shimmy while accelerating and coasting. changed wheels tires powersteering pump rotation of tires brake rotors and nothing has changed. all tires were balanced. *kb