Pardon my ignorance, but which is the A pillar? (I'm considering buying an '06 Ody.) Is it the one behind the driver's left shoulder on the rear of the vehicle?

 

"A" is the front pillar, for the windshield.

B is behind driver head, C behind second row...see a pattern??

I don't notice any problems with the Ody A-pillar, but I've been driving trucks/SUV's for years and you get used to looking around that spot. Just be extra careful while you "adjust".

 

Blind spot???? Nothing special about that pillar at all to me.

I guess if you have driven a car all your life and went to a van it might be a bit different... That would be characteristic about ANY van or SUV.

I never EVER read on here about a single complaint reguarding the A pillars.

Tom

 

Alright... may be it's just me.

Yea, I've been driving cars all my life. The van's A pillar is much thicker than my previous cars.

Thanks for you guys input.

- DT

 

Being a car-only driver all my life before getting my Oddy I had the same difficulties at the beginning as well. It does take some getting used to, especially if you're not used to driving cars that large. It took me a good 3 months to get used to the van's dimensions and "quirks".

 

"A" is the front pillar, for the windshield.

B is behind driver head, C behind second row...see a pattern??

I don't notice any problems with the Ody A-pillar, but I've been driving trucks/SUV's for years and you get used to looking around that spot. Just be extra careful while you "adjust".

This is a serious often overlooked problem. There are studies about this problem.
http://www.whatcar.com/news-special-report.aspx?NA=178348&EL=2577499
http://www.safespeed.org.uk/smidsy.html

I attribute an accident I had with my 04 Sienna to this. I had been driving it for 2 years, and one time, I neglected to double/triple check around the passenger side A pillar and BINGO. Driver error? Sure. But it can happen, esp on the drivers side with pedestrians and bicycles.

 

When I started driving minivans the biggest issue
I had was judging where the car ends (especially when
backing in)

(ok not a problem with the touring (camera))

I always ended about 5 feet away from someone
elses bumper with the nose sticking out of the spot.

Listen every car will have its quirks, but with a little
time and adjustment we get to love what we drive.
Its just too bad that some people here have vans
the seem to have many more mechanical issues
than others.

Personally I love the darn thing. Its one of the most
comfortable vehicles for long trips.

 

Tang6, I'm with you on this one. It was a big adjustment for me to make as well. It happened to me twice that I didn't see a car coming when I was at an intersection that is at a weird angle about to make a left onto a slow moving road. The first time it happened I was freaked out that a car had "appeared out of nowhere" as I started to turn. I had looked right twice before making the turn and know that I did not see the car before turning. I didn't know how I could possibly have missed seeing the car and wondered if the Japanese had invented "cloaking devices" - that car had just appeared out of nowhere!

Anyways, it wasn't until the second time it happened that I finally put two and two together and realized what had caused me to miss seeing the car. Thankful that I was not losing my mind, I later counted the seconds for a car to disappear and reappear from behind the "A pillar" at that intersection and it was 2.5 seconds. I now avoid that intersection and double and triple check and lean forward to look around the darn thing before turning!

 

It's not a problem with G3 Ody only but most modern vehicles especially light trucks/vans and cars with strong "roll cage" design.

Automakers have enlarged all pillars and cross beams that connect these pillars.

I've noticed harder to see forward tnx to lower inside rear view mirrors (larger cross beam connects top of A-pillars). I often bang my head getting in and out of Civic.

 

I have a blind spot at the drivers A pilar but only because I have the window visor. I have been thinking of removing them because of this problem.

 

I test-drove an '06 Ody EX-L RES yesterday for about 20 miles after posting to this thread and experienced no blind spots anywhere on the vehicle. I'm 5-foot-7, 5-foot-8 on a good day.

 

Thanks for your input.

But I think it's more dangerous rolling in the parking lots. Since you are not doing stop-check-n-go, you are moving. And most pedestrians in the US NEVER look before they cross the road. They just assume drivers will yield the way regardless. (Or they will get millions of dollars by suing the driver and retire early...)

- DT

Tang6, I'm with you on this one. It was a big adjustment for me to make as well. It happened to me twice that I didn't see a car coming when I was at an intersection that is at a weird angle about to make a left onto a slow moving road. The first time it happened I was freaked out that a car had "appeared out of nowhere" as I started to turn. I had looked right twice before making the turn and know that I did not see the car before turning. I didn't know how I could possibly have missed seeing the car and wondered if the Japanese had invented "cloaking devices" - that car had just appeared out of nowhere!

Anyways, it wasn't until the second time it happened that I finally put two and two together and realized what had caused me to miss seeing the car. Thankful that I was not losing my mind, I later counted the seconds for a car to disappear and reappear from behind the "A pillar" at that intersection and it was 2.5 seconds. I now avoid that intersection and double and triple check and lean forward to look around the darn thing before turning!

 

Alright... may be it's just me.

Yea, I've been driving cars all my life. The van's A pillar is much thicker than my previous cars.

Thanks for you guys input.

- DT

It is not just you. I find myself looking through the door window
when I go around coners becuase of the blind spot.

 

No, it's not just you.
Those pillars are very large and require triple checking at all times.

 

Yeap, it is quite large.

 

I had not really noticed a blind spot on my Ody so I looked closely yesterday. I have my seat back all the way and really don't have much issue. If I lean forward, I can see what everyone is talking about though. It's still not as bad as many trucks I've owned. My 1-ton truck has HUGE mirrors that you have to look carefully around along with the A-pillars. My 1/2 ton A-pillars really aren't too bad, but the mirrors are much bigger than the Ody's as well. Maybe I sit back far enough that it's more the mirrors than anything.

 

test drove today and agree

Those pillars are kind of big and bulky -- they will take some getting used to.

 

I also almost hit a couple cars coming the other way because I couldn't see them coming around a corner. It keeps you on your toes but since I became aware of why it happens, it has not been a problem.

 

It's possible to have approaching cars from the right side completely disappear behind the "A" pillar. Approaching a four way stop, the car off the right can be masked completely behind the pillar! It's important to stop completely and really look vigilantly.

Doug

 

It's possible to have approaching cars from the right side completely disappear behind the "A" pillar. Approaching a four way stop, the car off the right can be masked completely behind the pillar! It's important to stop completely and really look vigilantly.

Doug

Motorcycle, or car?

 

Motorcycle, or car?

Remarkably, both. It seems unlikely; however, if the car is traveling at just the right speed as you both approach a intersection, you may never see it.

I'm not writing this to be critical as other minivans may have the same problem. But, if you own an Odyssey and have not noticed the blind spot, be careful.

Doug

 

pillar peek-a-boo

I have also had this problem, particularly while exiting parking garages and 'peep and creeping' across the sidewalk I have nearly hit pedestrians coming from the left. I, too, am a first time van/suv/non sedan driver, so I guess it just takes getting used to.

Jenny

 

I'm sure you'll appreciate those beefy pillars if you have a rollover...

 

No doubt! Let's just hope it doesn't contribute to any.

 

Tang, I agree with you. Due to the airbags in the A pillar, they are large and stick out quite far. Much more so than the '02 Ody we just traded.

We live in a hilly area and one corner I almost hit someone in the street. It's a slight upslope on the approach and the A pillar combined with huge side mirror puts you in a position where you can not see the intersection and any cars or people in it.

Pretend you are taxiing a tail-dragger airplane. You have to weave it a little and move your head side to side to be able to see around the nose. I've gotten used to it now.