Basically, LKAS on my Odyssey does not work 99% of the time even when it's detecting lanes. I have had experience with the system in many other Hondas so I have a good baseline understanding of how it works.

If confirmed that my steering isn't how the Odyssey is supposed to function (the lack of return on center) then I suspect the two issues may be related.

 

When your LKAS is "On" do you see the two little angled chevrons on the display behind the steering wheel? They should appear solid, not just the outlines of a chevron. Also, make sure there is no dirt on the top center of your windshield. I believe the camera resides there, and the LKAS will not work if there is a bit of dirt in the way. LKAS engages only after 70 km/h.

The road lines must also be fairly distinct. I've had occasions where the weather was perfect, the sun out, and one road line slightly faded - and the LKAS didn't work. If you're sure of all these things, take it to the dealer. Sounds like it may be a connection problem. Other ideas, anyone?

 

Yes, I've noticed that too, and it was really odd at first, especially since this is my first vehicle with LKAS. My assumption was LKAS was keeping the steering wheel slightly turned as long as the road had a slight turn. It may also have something to do with the "Dual-Pinion Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion Steering (EPS)".

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I do see the angled chevrons and solid lines. I've had years of experience with LKAS on other Hondas like the Accord. The same system is also in my MDX. There is no dirt on the top center of the windshield (car is brand new). I may have detracted from my original problem statement by bringing LKAS into the conversation. My real issue is that the van does not return to center (with or without LKAS on). If given the space to do so, it will drive in a large circle indefinitely. Between 10 and 2 o'clock positions the steering wheel stays in the last angle/position from driver input until changed. It's a strange sensation, and I believe whatever is causing it (suspension issue, tires, etc.) is also causing LKAS to not work.

So...

Steering does not return to center. This is outside of any considerations with LKAS.

LKAS does not work, even with solid lines. 300 Mile road trip and cannot get it to center on the lane at all. Lane Departure is able to correct the van but then it results in ping ponging within a lane.

 

You definitely have a safety issue when it comes to malfunctioning steering. I assume you're still under warranty? I'd make my way to the dealer and have it fixed. Good luck with it, and please let us know what they find. Thanks...

 

Every time I hear no-return-to-center I think of a bad alignment. Did you check that yet? I had my Subaru get re-alligned a week after I drove it off the lot.

 

This all makes me wonder if we're collectively dealing with poor design quality and poor assembly by the "buy American" attitudes in the Alabama plant.

I've been most fortunate in that, I have only had warranty issues with "build quality." Everything works on my EX. Some of the designs features are pathetic, but that's another topic for a chapter called, "Why Did Honda let the North Americans Sour the Milk?"

 

Hi
If any vehicle will not self center the steering wheel it most likely is alignment. If the caster angle of both LF and RF are out of spec low then the "caster" effect will not center the vehicle when in motion. The "caster" effect is similar to what you see on a shopping cart front wheels. As long as you push forward the wheels angle is parallel with the direction of forward motion because they are mounted with their rotation hub off of the virtical axis from where their attaching hardware adheres the assembly to the chassis. Same thing for vehicles. Also having toe or camber issues will cause your vehicle to sluggishly resist centering. Return to the dealer and demand a four wheel laser alignment.

 

Most Honda dealer service departments do free alignment checks -- at least the dealers in my area do. I would suggest starting there because what you are explaining is not normal by any means.

I have been able to drive my Elite in nearly autopilot mode with LKAS and ACC activated. For the most part it does well keeping center while driving through Texas 5-stack interchange flyover ramps. Every now and then it would bounce left and right to correct itself between the lines, but overall did a good enough job turning the wheel in the correct general direction and returning to center with minimal intervention.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

SwornAllegiance,

I also have a 2019 Odyssey Elite (June 2018 build date) and a 2017 MDX Tech. I haven't had an opportunity to play with LKAS on the Odyssey yet, but have an upcoming 1,000+ mile road trip. I'll report back on the LKAS functionality, but based on what others have said on this thread, it's likely there is an issue with your vehicle.

 

I have absolutely experienced this as well. I have a 2018 Odyssey Touring and I've noticed the LKAS system seems to do a poor job of maintaining the vehicle in the lane. So much so that sometimes I feel I have to actually apply pressure to the wheel to keep it straight. It makes me wonder if I'm sometimes applying pressure against the LKAS system, as if I let go of the wheel with LKAS on, in my van, it'll tend to bear right in the lane almost immediately, far enough to actually drive itself into a lane departure warning on a totally straight road with clear lane lines. I found it really odd because I also have a 2016 Civic and that thing works so well that it could probably drive itself if they disabled the timeout for LKAS, that's how accurate it is in that vehicle. So I know how the system is supposed to work, it just doesn't work that way on my Odyssey.

 

Good points, guys. It's no doubt a complex system. It also makes me wonder if the camera alignment has very tight tolerances. That makes sense. If the info the camera sends to the software is unreliable, the LKAS correction will be way off as well.

I've noticed that on perfect weather days and well marked roads, the LKAS will allow the car to wander, and then shake the wheel to correct itself. Why is it talking to itself in the first place? Shouldn't it be accurate enough to never shake the wheel?

I think Honda has a lot of homework ahead of them in the coming years. Electronically, the car leaves a lot to be desired in way too many departments.

 

Greetings all. I recently purchased a 2019 Odyssey Elite. So far we love everything about it, but as I've had more use over various highway driving scenarios I have noticed an oddity in the steering. If the steering wheel is turned anywhere between 10 o'clock (left) and 2 o'clock (right) while driving at almost any speed, there is no returnability to center if you let go of the wheel. The steering actually feels somewhat heavy in this zone. The vehicle will continue to turn at that angle with no driver input, to what seems like indefinitely. My question... Is this normal?

Yes - that is exactly how steering works in every car, under normal circumstances.
Your later refer to LKAS, so I assume the above scenario applies to your expectations under LKAS.
LKAS does not track towards the center of the lane, rather, it tends to follow the painted edge of the lane. Therefore, your steering wheel will be rarely dead center under LKAS, though not by more than 2-5% (10 & 2 o'clock is way off).

The reason I bring up LKAS in the conversation is that it appears to work very seldom, if at all. It almost seems like something is affecting the steering tension to a point that LKAS' minor inputs are not affecting the wheel angle at all.
[...]Basically, LKAS on my Odyssey does not work 99% of the time even when it's detecting lanes. I have had experience with the system in many other Hondas so I have a good baseline understanding of how it works.

Yes, Honda LKAS is an off-the-shelf poorly calibrated implementation of Mobileye's camera and steering auto-correction kit.
It either does not engage, or does not work 90% of the time, and when it does, I don't trust it for $#@%.

For reference, I have a Tesla with autopilot, and it engages on 90% of the roads, and works really well about 95% of the time (there are known limitations - story for another thread).

If any vehicle will not self center the steering wheel it most likely is alignment.

Our loose terminology is leading this discussion astray.
Odyssey's steering wheel behavior without LKAS should be as you describe.
But under LKAS control, the expectations and feedback are different. In the case of current generation Odysseys, those are highly unpredictable.

I've noticed that on perfect weather days and well marked roads, the LKAS will allow the car to wander, and then shake the wheel to correct itself. Why is it talking to itself in the first place? Shouldn't it be accurate enough to never shake the wheel?

I think Honda has a lot of homework ahead of them in the coming years. Electronically, the car leaves a lot to be desired in way too many departments.

Agreed.
I find Honda LKAS system does not track straight, even when it is engaged and working. It tends to wonder from one edge of the lane to the other, corrects, then drifts to the other edge. Repeat as necessary.
Sometimes, it fails to correct course when hitting the edge of a well marked driving lane, and wonders onto the shoulder, towards the ditch.

Basically, I don't trust to engage LKAS anywhere other than the middle lane of a well-marked highway, with plenty of margin for correcting LKAS errors.

a

 

Yes - that is exactly how steering works in every car, under normal circumstances.

a

I disagree. I've had over 20 cars and 7 different Hondas. A wide range of vehicles and brands. I currently have a '15 MDX and a '17 C300. Almost all the vehicles I've had return to center almost completely, if not completely. Both the MDX and C300 return to center by as close as a quarter inch, completely on their own. Some cars have lighter steering and follow dips/road crown more than others. The Odyssey has very distinct steering in that it a) follows the last input in the 10 / 2 o'clock zone and b) does not pull to road crown. It appears to be by design as I tested another one that did the same thing. It really is an acquired feel and probably intentional to match previous generations / minivan driver preferences.

 

Basically, I don't trust to engage LKAS anywhere other than the middle lane of a well-marked highway, with plenty of margin for correcting LKAS errors.

Agreed too...and no one else within miles of your car !

 

Thanks for all the comments. I took the van in and it appears to be operating as normal. Tested another 2019 Odyssey Elite and it does the same thing. It's something with the steering tuning between 11 and 1 o'clock (probably even tighter) that causes the last input to stay firm until new inputs are provided by the driver. Most steering tuning has a very narrow on-center calibration with a return to center when the driver gives no input. This is completely outside of LKAS but it seems this tuning has an impact on LKAS' ability to stay in the center of a lane. This would explain why LKAS on other Hondas does not have the same issue. For comparison, the Acura MDX has a very light on-center feel and the wheel returns to center almost immediately when you let go of the wheel. Ditto for the Honda Accord.