2011 Honda Odyssey Receives Second Recall in a Month

Less than two weeks after Honda issued a recall on 33,341 Odysseys from the 2011MY over a potential problem with the windshield wiper linkage rods, the Japanese automaker has announced a second recall for its latest generation minivan. This time Honda said it will voluntarily recall approximately 2,800 Odysseys from the 2011MY because of a problem with the side windows.

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Honda Sued over Godzilla Copyright Infringement on Odyssey Commerical [with Video]

It seems that the movie monster Godzilla is not only a threat on the silver screen, but in real life too. And if you’re wondering, no, it hasn’t actually come out of the ocean to wreak havoc on the Japanese shoreline. However, Honda could end up paying a...sea of money to Toho Co., the Japanese film studio that owns the rights to the Godzilla trademark, due to the allegedly unauthorized use of the sea monster’s likeness in an Odyssey minivan commercial.

The dispute concerns the part of the commercial showing off the MPV’s split screen entertainment system, which features a barely visible head shot of the mythological creature -no, really.

According to Toho Co. spokesman Junichi Tamaki, the studio filed a law suit on February 2 in Los Angeles and wants to ban Honda from further using Godzilla’s image.

“We took a legal action because Godzilla was used without authorization in the Odyssey commercial,” Tamaki said. “It is an infringement of copyright.”

Toho Co. has a long history of suing everyone suspected of benefiting from the Godzilla trademark, including fast-food restaurants, various publishers or even rock bands.

Contacted by Autoweek, a Honda spokesman declined to comment on the matter, but added that the automaker is still running the Odyssey commercial, which is available below.

Honda Recalling 2009MY Odyssey Minivans in the U.S.

Owners of the 2009MY Honda Odyssey minivan need to pay attention as the Japanese firm is recalling 421 vehicles in the States over a problem with the braking system. According to Honda, during assembly, incorrect front brake hoses were installed on these particular cars. The brake hose may come in contact with the caliper bolt and over time a hole may develop allowing the brake fluid to leak and consequently, result in reduced brake system performance. Honda's dealers will inspect both front brake hoses and replace with the correct brake hoses free of charge.

2009 Honda Odyssey

Honda has presented the facelifted 2009 Honda Odyssey for the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM). The Odyssey features a low-floor and low center-of-gravity package, advanced safety technologies and the new Multi-view Camera System.

The 2009 Honda Odyssey is powered by a 2.4-liter i-VTEC engine and torque converter-equipped CVT (ratios ranging from 2.470 – 0.450) for the FWD model which enable the vehicle to achieve fuel economy of 13.2 km/liter. To further improve the fuel economy, the Odyssey is equipped with DBW (drive-by-wire) control and ECON mode. The engine is able to produce 173PS at 6000 rpm and 222 Nm of torque at 4300 rpm. A 5 speeds auto with dual overdrives is fitted for the AWD model.

The high-spec Honda Odyssey Absolute meanwhile is powered by a tuned K24A engine and mated to a 5-speed automatic for both FWD and AWD and thanks to a higher compression ratio of 11:0:1, the powertrain produces 206 PS at 7,000 rpm and 232 Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm for the FWD variant and 204 PS and 230 Nm of torque for the AWD variant.

Besides that, the new Odyssey also features 3D self-illuminating gauges and indicator lamps, centrally positioned speedometer and audio, climate control and navigation controls positioned for easy operation.

The vehicle is 1,545 mm tall and could comfortably accommodates 7 passengers. The second-row seats are designed for an extra 40 mm of legroom and 20 mm for the third-row passengers. The seating positions of the left and right second-row passengers have each been moved 25 mm toward the center of the vehicle, creating a V-shaped layout for the first- to third-row seating positions.

The 2009 Honda Odyssey is also equipped with Active Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Motion Adaptive EPS, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), optional Multi-view Camera System, Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS) with E-Pretensioners, a side-curtain airbag system, ISO FIX-compatible child seat anchoring bars and tether anchors (left and right second-row seats). As for the Odyssey special mobility-assistive vehicle with lift-up front passenger seat, the vehicle is equipped with a fully electric lift-up front passenger seat that can be easily raised, lowered, and rotated with a single switch. The vehicle is also equipped with a wireless remote, enough space to store a wheelchair even with the third-row seats up, and a wheelchair securing net and protective cover.