Timing Tensioner Problems of Honda Odyssey

I had bought my 2007 Honda Odyssey used in August 2017 prior to our second child being born. It was one family owned with approximately 75k miles on it. About 6 months into it the ac compressor broke causing the car to cease being drivable and requiring a tow to our mechanic. He found that not only did the compressor break but also the serpentine belt and the tensioner had gone. We had the repair done and everything seemed fine until about another six months went by and the same thing happened again. The ac compressor stopped working, the car would not accelerate at all and required a tow and the serpentine belt and tensioner were broken again. All was covered under warranty, but the inconvenience factor is more problematic. This issue has happened four times in the two years that we have owned the vehicle. I have seen similar complaints from other owners of 2007 Honda Odysseys. I have indicated the most recent date of the incident.

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Pivot bolt on the auto-tensioner broke twice. The first time the pivot bolt broke was after I had the alternator replaced and I was driving down the highway to take children to school in subzero winter conditions. I barely made it home as my van was running only on the battery. If I had stalled along the road, me and my children were at risk of hypothermia or possibly death due to frigid -40 cold weather. I then had a new tensioner pulley bracket installed and after driving down the highway and the pivot bolt broke off completely again. This is very dangerous condition that can cause serious harm or death due to defective pivot bolt. .

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The tensioner bolt has sheared off 3 times since the serpentine belt was replaced. In both cases the car was in motion and power steering was lost making it nearly impossible to steer the car safely. Fortunately this did not happen on the highway and occurred on city streets. In all cases our mechanic used original factory parts. This is a significant safety concern for my wife and 5 children. It appears others have experienced similar problem that can be referenced on the following website. . Read more...

On approximately 7/1, I was driving home. The car wouldn't switch gears and lost a bit of power. I was able to drive down an interstate during rush hour at approx. 40 miles per hour. I had the van towed to a friends house. The next day, I drove it to Hondaman, a certified Honda repair shop, they did a valve adjustment. The valve adjustment didn't work. There was a clicking, vibrating, knocking noise at 2800rpms while the car was in park (metal on metal noise) and then when driving. Replaced the timing belt and tensioner as recommended, this did not solve the problem. Did another valve adjustment (according to the TSB) and that did not work. Recommendations was that the engine be replaced or rebuilt. At no point ever did the car have a check engine light, low oil light, or any other signs of problems. I took the car to brown's Honda, they recommended a cylinder head replacement, valve replacement and camshaft replacement. The items had shown metal on metal wear. The shops and based on research, this a sign of no lubrication. They shop told me that this happens and it is a fluke. I also notified them that there are numerous tsbs on my car and if I move forward with the front cam replacement, I am worried that since the issue could not be identified, that the rear cam and pistons' or camshaft would need to be replaced. I did have my oil pan and oil plug replaced 2 years ago and after researching more about my car, found that this was a defect in the model I purchased. I also called the misfire settlement and was notified that since no diagnostic codes showed up, there was nothing they can do to extend my warranty. Since the notifications only occur due to emission issues, the car engine would have blown up while I was driving with no warning. I had all maintenance with Honda and truly scared that this will effect other buyers.

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The large bolt that goes through the belt tensioner roller into the bracket attached to the motor has sheared off twice in the last 3 months after driving less than 5000 miles. This has happened once when driving at 50+ mph and most recently when driving 25mph. The first incident occurred after a Honda dealer replaced the timing belt, t-belt tensioner and serpentine belt. I'm unsure if they replaced the bolt in question at that time. However, within 500 miles of driving the bolt sheared off. Then a different Honda dealer replaced the broken bolt, tensioner roller and serpentine belt all of which were damaged when the bolt failed. Once again after driving less than 5000 miles the same bolt has broken. This is a potentially dangerous situation as well as being costly. The dealer is claiming no fault, yet these are parts that Honda dealers are installing in their own shops. This needs to be looked at to protect the consumer and avoid potentially dangerous driving situations.

I heard a strange noise coming from the engine when I accelerate. I took it to headquarter Honda who does my service. I was told by carlos that they would have to diagnose it and the there would be a charge for it. When he got back to me he said that it was the left axel. I said that I couldn't believe that. I said that even though it only happens when I accelerate it is the axel? he said yes. I left it to get it done. I was told a few hours later that it was ready. I picked it up and about five miles away it started making a loud noise and oil went everywhere. The car behind me had oil all over the windshield. The axel repair didn't go well. They came and got the car. Later that day they told me the car was ready again. When I picked it up the engine noise was still there. The manager came over and I told him that it sounded like the engine. He told me that it was not the engine. He said that Honda engines never go bad. I believed him because I looked up Honda engine problems and couldn't find anything. They kept the vehicle for further investigation. The next day they called and said that it was the tensioner and they recommended that I get the timing belt changed. I told them that I was coming to get my car because it seemed like they don't know what they are doing. Carlos called me back and said that they would fix the tensioner at no charge because of all of the problems they caused me. They ended up rebuilding the engine. New engine is consuming a lot of oil. Dealer doesn't want to fix problem. I have much more information.