[J Goug.]

I am new to the forum and have just recently purchased a Touring Elite. While I love pretty much everything about the vehicle already, I have noticed (along with my wife) that the van will often shift "hard or shutter of bounce". It is most noticeable when the van shifts from 2nd to 3rd, and especially when accelerating a little harder, like when going up a hill from a stop. This is my first Honda, and first Odyssey, so I am not sure if I am making more of this than it is, or if this is some type of chronic or widespread transmission problem with the 2011's. Anyone have any thoughts or insights? I am thinking of taking it to the dealer, but I first wanted to see if anyone else has experienced something like this.
Thanks!

 

[provench]

My wife and I are having the same exact problem. It is a shutter or "bucking" mostly between 1-2 and 2-3. We have the 2011 Touring Elite with the 6-speed auto as well. I have no idea what is wrong, but so far our repair attempts have been a computer/ECU/PROM/whatever update that seemed to help in the short term, but then same problem after a few days. Then after that, a few weeks ago we got the EGR valve replaced and that didn't seem to help at all. I can tell you this ... the hesitation is just enough to get me very concerned when pulling out as I never know when I am going to stand still for 1-1.5 seconds between shifts - YIKES !

Our van goes in tomorrow for yet another try (#3) to see what is wrong. Any progress made on your van? Anyone else seeing this??

 

[evel333]

New owner here. Same issue, but I just figured it was attributed to the ECO feature shutting down and firing up cylinders. Under WOT, it pulls and shifts just fine.

 

[danalin26]

Same issue here. We have the 6cylinder as well.....hmmmm...

 

[wakecumberland]

I have noticed the same issue but like evel333, I assumed it was the ECO kicking in and out. Hopefully its a normal occurance.

 

[provench]

I have a bit of an update and I can assure you this is not normal. My Honda dealership engaged Honda tech support / engineering to help diagnose the problem. In addition, I called and opened a case with Honda Customer support and now have a Regional Case Manager assigned to my problem and I STRONGLY encourage everyone who is experiencing this gear change "shutter" to do the same. One of the recommendations was already acted on by my deal when Honda engineering asked them to drain the transmission fluid and replace it with new. Two things is that 1) That fluid was captured and is being sent to them for analysis and 2) It had zero impact on the problem. The current thinking from lead dealer techs and Honda engineering is that it is not necessary the transmission but could be engine, computer or other related system that is affecting transmission shift performance.

I will keep you all posted, but please go to your dealer and also call Customer Service and get a Regional Case manager assigned as this is not an easy fix or a "it is just built that way" thing at all. I can tell you that my regional case manager already told me it would be another week to analyze all the records and they might even dispatch a corporate service engineer to Leith Honda (which is an big Honda dealer with an exceptional track record in their service dept) in Raleigh, NC to look at my van to look at everything going on.

In addition, I have already been told that they are forwarding my case to a team to look at the option of a buy-out or vehicle replacement so they are taking this seriously which to be indicates they did not like at all the initial data captured they were sent when my local service tech took readings when the transmission was stuttering which is very easy to recreate and seems to be getting worse.

Stay tuned and share your similar experiences.

 

[J Goug.]

Thanks so much for posting details of your experience! The dealer ran a diagnostic on our van and claims it is shifting normal. My wife, who drives the vehicle daily says the van is still stuttering when shifting primarily from second to third. It still does not happen all the time, but enough that we are constantly reminded of it.

In addition to the transmission, we kept hearing a very annoying squeaking coming from the third row. After driving it, the dealer brought in the "interior specialist" who only comes in once a week, they realized that the third row was put together improperly. I am really staring to wonder about the quality of my > $40,000 van!

 

[teamTMS]

Do you guys get this shuttering on an incline? We experienced it a few times and shrugged it off, but now I think my wife and I need to pay more attention to when it happens.

 

[f2000sa]

My EX-L experienced similar issue when I tried to get on the highway from the side lane this Saturday. I used auto D and might accelerate too much. I experienced the stuttering and the check-engine light on. I pulled over and restarted the car. The engine light turned off, and the van has been running normal since then.

My dealer checked the vehicle computer and did not find any record of the problem, and thought it was a random thing.

 

[provench]

teamTMS - our shuttering is between gear changes and doesn't depend on incline we are on at the time as it pretty much does it almost every time at this point. If there is any variable that makes is more/less noticeable it is the amount of throttle that is being applied.

 

[J Goug.]

TeamTMS - My wife and I have noticed it most when taking off from an incline. We also notice a wooshing sound coming from the air vent left of the steering wheel which happens when the stuttering occurs. More and more my wife and I realize that this is not just a minor issue. We seem to have something wrong with either our transmission or engine. Honda needs to figure this out. Taking it to the dealer again soon.

 

[richysh]

this happens to our ody quite often too and now with about 20k miles on the odo, i noticed that it even does it on the highway on 6th gear. So i was cruising around 65-80 today, a 300 mile trip, and as i was accelerating as hard as i can without having the car downshift to 5th gear, the car feels the same way as the 1-2-3 shutter shift thing, except that it's less noticeable. Is anyone having this issue? it's also more noticeable on an incline

 

[jnissen]

The current thinking from lead dealer techs and Honda engineering is that it is not necessary the transmission but could be engine, computer or other related system that is affecting transmission shift performance.

Exactly. I have a 2011 Touring with the six speed as well and notice this at very light throttle application. I drive the vehicle nearly 100% of the time and am very tuned into how the van sounds and runs.

Anyway the shifting between 1-2, 2-3, and even some times between 3-4 and 4-5 tends to have what I call "a power loss". In other words the van will accelerate and then as it makes the shift the added load on the motor makes the engine stumble a bit. Like it just falls off the torque cliff and you have to wait for it to work it's way out of it. I don't believe its from the ECO mode as I don't see the ECO light come on till I come to a steady throttle and speed. The cylinder disable (ECO mode) clearly makes the motor run a bit rougher and the power is obviously cut way back but the effect I have experienced tends to be in standard mode and only after the shift has taken place. I feel like it is an engine ECU programming issue. Obviously they have the system optimized for high mileage but I think they programmed the fuel delivery very weak after the shift and this is the stumble I have experienced. Now if you are experiencing real shake or rumble noises during the shift or after then it may be a different issue. The issue I have sensed mainly is the stumble feeling.

The van only has 2500 miles on it so far. Only noticed a few other issues. The struts when rolling very slowly on slightly uneven pavement will squeak slightly (known TSB issue to be addressed soon) and one other odd item that seems to have fixed itself. The left rear sliding door was making a rattle noise at about 30MPH under certain conditions. After parking on a steep incline and operating the doors while at that angle the noise has gone away. Not sure how but it may have been related to the motor/cable assembly for the power door. Been a few hundred miles since and no more noise! First oil change is still a way off so going to que up the known issues and take it to the dealer when the oil needs to be changed. Kill several birds with one stone - hopefully!

 

[J Goug.]

Mine is a definite "shake" or "bounce" when shifting. We are talking it out with a Honda tech this Thursday. I really hope something is figured out! I will keep everyone updated as to what they say.

 

[tl01]

OP, my car does exactly what you describe in the first post. What's odd though is that I only notice it at one stop sign. To make matters more interesting... this is my second 2011 Ody (see my siggy). Both of them do it and they were manufactured 7 months apart.

I can't imagine it is the ECO mode since I am accelerating up hill at the time it occurs. I have a few other warranty items that need fixing so I guess I'll take it in for this as well.

To me, it feels a little like having a stick shift car...when you are doing a bouncy shift... though much more mild.

 

[oddy03]

I have a bit of an update and I can assure you this is not normal. My Honda dealership engaged Honda tech support / engineering to help diagnose the problem. In addition, I called and opened a case with Honda Customer support and now have a Regional Case Manager assigned to my problem and I STRONGLY encourage everyone who is experiencing this gear change "shutter" to do the same. One of the recommendations was already acted on by my deal when Honda engineering asked them to drain the transmission fluid and replace it with new. Two things is that 1) That fluid was captured and is being sent to them for analysis and 2) It had zero impact on the problem. The current thinking from lead dealer techs and Honda engineering is that it is not necessary the transmission but could be engine, computer or other related system that is affecting transmission shift performance.

I will keep you all posted, but please go to your dealer and also call Customer Service and get a Regional Case manager assigned as this is not an easy fix or a "it is just built that way" thing at all. I can tell you that my regional case manager already told me it would be another week to analyze all the records and they might even dispatch a corporate service engineer to Leith Honda (which is an big Honda dealer with an exceptional track record in their service dept) in Raleigh, NC to look at my van to look at everything going on.

In addition, I have already been told that they are forwarding my case to a team to look at the option of a buy-out or vehicle replacement so they are taking this seriously which to be indicates they did not like at all the initial data captured they were sent when my local service tech took readings when the transmission was stuttering which is very easy to recreate and seems to be getting worse.

Stay tuned and share your similar experiences.

Agreed, that is NOT normal behavior on the new 6spd. Mine (6spd Touring Elite) shifts totally fine. None of those problems.

 

[richysh]

i just had an oil change today and asked my service advisor to file this problem under my vehicle, and indeed, the tech who drove my car felt the hesitation under the circumstances i described to him. He also said he had an update on the tranny, which he did on my vehicle, and the car shifted a lot better on the way back. That might have been a placebo effect, but we will see.

 

[m_lopez_h]

I have a bit of an update and I can assure you this is not normal. My Honda dealership engaged Honda tech support / engineering to help diagnose the problem. In addition, I called and opened a case with Honda Customer support and now have a Regional Case Manager assigned to my problem and I STRONGLY encourage everyone who is experiencing this gear change "shutter" to do the same. One of the recommendations was already acted on by my deal when Honda engineering asked them to drain the transmission fluid and replace it with new. Two things is that 1) That fluid was captured and is being sent to them for analysis and 2) It had zero impact on the problem. The current thinking from lead dealer techs and Honda engineering is that it is not necessary the transmission but could be engine, computer or other related system that is affecting transmission shift performance.

I will keep you all posted, but please go to your dealer and also call Customer Service and get a Regional Case manager assigned as this is not an easy fix or a "it is just built that way" thing at all. I can tell you that my regional case manager already told me it would be another week to analyze all the records and they might even dispatch a corporate service engineer to Leith Honda (which is an big Honda dealer with an exceptional track record in their service dept) in Raleigh, NC to look at my van to look at everything going on.

In addition, I have already been told that they are forwarding my case to a team to look at the option of a buy-out or vehicle replacement so they are taking this seriously which to be indicates they did not like at all the initial data captured they were sent when my local service tech took readings when the transmission was stuttering which is very easy to recreate and seems to be getting worse.

Stay tuned and share your similar experiences.

Any update for your particular case with Honda? I have my 2011 Odyssey Touring in for the exact same transmission problem and was told that Honda is aware of the problem but has no solution yet (this is obviously unacceptable).

 

[J Goug.]

I was told the same thing over a week ago by my local dealer. Honda is aware of this issue with 2011's, but still no solution. The first person to hear something, please post Honda's response.

 

[richysh]

After the update, i wasn't able to drive it for a few weeks since my family was using it, but i drove it a few days ago and noticed that the hesitation kind of got worse