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Rough riding Honda Odyessy

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16K views 14 replies 12 participants last post by  OdysseyTE  
H
#1 ·
Is it me or just my imagination I just purchased a 2014 Odyssey EXL RES and I am seriously worried about the rough ride of this Honda I can feel the roughness of the road transmitted through the van or is it a vibration from the transmission that everyone is talking about. I am being a bit paranoid but seeing that I have just paid close to $38,000 I suppose I have every right to be concerned as normally when a person buys a new car they always run so much smoother than your old car. My trade was a 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan with a 127,000 miles on it and it road smoother than this Honda, this is my first Honda so is this normal for Honda or is this an Odyssey thing I am dealing with, as reading in this Forum there seems to be an issue with vibrations in the transmission.
I have reduced the PSI in the tires to 31.5 to see if this will help but it has not I am going to see the dealer where I bought it from tomorrow any suggestions on what I should discuss with them I would appreciate ....THANKS
 
D
#2 ·
Congratulation on your new van! I just got my new Touring Elite and it has a firmer ride as it come with 18 inch rims instead of the 17s on your EX-L and the recommended tire pressure is a whopping 35 PSI! It definitely rides firmer than the EX-NAV that I test drove.

I come from a long history of Hondas/Acuras and they absolutely ride FIRM versus Toyota and American brands. I traded in a Mazda CX-9 with 20 inch rims that allowed you to feel almost the texture of the road. I actually LIKE a firm ride as it usually is associated with a stiffer suspension and better handling when taking corners. I'm crazy enough to actually over inflate my tires by 2 to 3 psi to improve handling even further. The Sienna rides better but floats like a boat in corners. It's well documented. You can't change the suspension but you can adjust the tire pressures like you have all the way down to 30 psi. I wouldn't go any lower unless you want increased outer edge tire wear and decreased MPG and possible tire failure from overheating if you take it too far.

BTW, I am curious if you took a test-drive before you bought your Odyssey. I took out an EX for over 45 minutes to feel out the car knowing the one I bought would ride rougher and handle better. It all depends on what you are used to before the Ody and what your expectations are. Honda designs the Odyssey to be the sportiest of all vans out there. That is why I own one now and I am thrilled it drives like a much smaller vehicle due to the stiffer suspension.
 
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T
#3 ·
Do you think it is different than the one you test drove?

I much prefer a stiff ride. I have a TE and it is stiffer than the 17 inch rimmed vans but certainly not too stiff. Were you just used to your old van that may have had a suspension that had softened with time? Or do you think there is something wrong?
 
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T
#4 ·
I think it's a Honda characteristic. My 03 and 05 Accords rode like this (and car reviews everywhere say that this is a kew differentiator (positive) between Honda and Toyota. I can say I notice the firmness in the Odyssey saw ell and I like it. The Ody may not be a sporty car, but having the road feedback is something I like. My Pilot isn't like this but that's surely by design as it's an SUV of sorts.
 
H
#6 ·
Thanks to all that answered and made suggestions I am now used to the rough riding Honda so it OK (hey its only a Honda) no seriously it is a lot rougher than my Infiniti but it does drive great and my wife loves this van but now to a new problem I have a very high pitched whine from the tranny around 75 mph sounds like a turbine whine,.
I took it to the dealer and left it there for a week. The tech and a district manager rode it and also heard the noise(whine) they recorded the sound and sent it off to Honda engineering where it was determined that there is nothing wrong with the tranny as the whine is not a safety or mechanical issue and there is nothing that can be done (like I said hey its only a Honda) so I will have to live with it. Pity Honda does not sell their cars at a lower price so we all can say .......HEY ITS JUST A HONDA ITS CHEAP ...LIVE WITH IT.
 
P
#7 ·
2014 Stiff Suspension

Returning home to Guelph from Kingston on the 401 I seem to notice how stiff the suspension on my new 2014 EX was. I did a 7,200 km trip in July when it was brand-new but that was in the driving down to Texas and then over to Colorado. So the southern heat would have given my ride, maybe, a smoother ride. Now that the tempature in mid-August is cooler that maybe why the ride is stiffer.
 
D
#13 ·
Yup. All Hondas/Acuras ride a bit firm and is part of their heritage of improved handling. I specifically picked the Odyssey for that reason. The Sienna rode better but handled like boat. Love my TSX Sport Wagon for the same type of suspension setup...same as the firmer design as one on the V6 TSX Special Edition.
 
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Z
#14 ·
Transmission whine? I think probably the pinion gear (not sure if that is the name..but the gear that is angled 90 degree inside the transfer case) that is making the noise at high speed under load (even if you let go of the gas pedal it'll still whine but at a lower noise).
 
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