REAR WIPER SWEEPS WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE IS OK. HONDA SERVICENEWS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Honda Odyssey visibility problems
severe Owners of the 2005 Honda Odyssey have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the visibility, typically surfacing around 47,000 miles at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Odyssey (this page) | 16 |
| 2006 Odyssey | 5 |
| 2007 Odyssey | 9 |
| 2008 Odyssey | 6 |
| 2009 Odyssey | 3 |
1crash
3injuries
What stands out
Of the 19 model years of Honda Odyssey we track for visibility problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 16.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering visibility on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
LEFT REAR POWER WINDOW GLASS LOWERS ONLY 1 INCH. HONDA SERVICENEWS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗LEFT REAR POWER WINDOW ONLY LOWERS 1. 8EH
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Windshield wind noise is the most common complaint. Owners hear whistling at 45+ mph, especially in windy conditions. The issue stems from moldings held only by double-sided tape clips that fail within a couple years. Dealers have tried replacing moldings, adjusting fenders, and applying service bulletin 04-078, but the noise returns. One dealer's desperation repair—stuffing shop towels into the fender cavity—damaged the fender and post.
Some windshields arrive defective with visible waves throughout the glass. One owner reports the driver-side distortion causes headaches and dizziness; the dealership acknowledged the flaw but refused replacement, saying all units are wavy.
Sunroofs are exploding spontaneously at highway speeds in mild weather, with no apparent cause and glass entering the cabin. Rear windows also shatter without impact. In one accident, a side window broke into chunks and lacerated a child's face badly enough to require 30+ stitches and future surgery.
The rear wiper motor activates itself when front wipers are on and the car is in reverse, and won't turn off even with the switch. Rear sliding door windows stick and require excessive force to operate. The windshield washer system fails to spray, and the low-fluid warning that the manual claims is available was never installed on US models—Honda includes it only on Canadian vehicles.
Failure modes owners describe
Windshield wind noise and molding degradation
Whistling or wind noise from the windshield, particularly at highway speeds (45+ mph). Owners report the noise returns repeatedly even after dealer repairs including molding replacement, fender adjustment, and service bulletin 04-078. Root cause appears to be windshield molding held only by double-sided tape clips that deteriorate over a few years. One dealer was caught stuffing shop towels into the fender/windshield area as a temporary fix, damaging the fender and windshield post.
When: As early as 7 months and 9900 miles; recurring at various mileages and speeds 45+ mph
Symptoms owners cite: Whistling or wind noise from windshield at 45+ mph, especially on windy days; Noise returns after repair attempts; Windshield moldings loose or flapping; Moldings held in place with tape or duct tape
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have replaced moldings, adjusted fender, performed service bulletin 04-078; one dealer stuffed shop towel into fender/windshield area; moldings are held only by double-sided tape clips
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service bulletin 04-078 referenced; no permanent fix or recall mentioned by owners
Windshield optical defects (waves/distortion)
Windshield contains visible waves throughout the glass causing visual impairment. Waves are more prominent on the passenger side but also present on driver side. One owner reports the driver-side wave causes headaches and dizziness due to optical effect. Dealership acknowledged the problem but refused replacement, claiming all units are defective.
When: Present at unknown mileage; complaint filed at 47,000 miles on one vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Visible waves throughout windshield glass; Visual impairment while driving; Headaches and dizziness from optical distortion; Waves more prominent on passenger side
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership refused replacement, stating all units are defective
Sunroof/moonroof spontaneous glass failure
Sunroof or aftermarket moonroof glass shatters without apparent cause or impact. One owner reports sunroof exploded while driving at 50 mph in 63-degree temperature. Another reports sunroof glass shattered during normal driving with no objects or cause identified by dealer. A third complaint documents rear window shattered in two places with no internal glass found. Aftermarket moonroof installation raises structural concerns: the main overhead beam was cut to install an aftermarket moonroof, and the dealership refused to certify safety of the installation.
When: At unknown mileages; one incident at highway speed (50 mph) in mild weather (63 degrees, 45 degrees); rear window failure at 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sunroof glass shatters spontaneously; Glass shatters with no discernible impact; Rear window shatters in multiple locations; No visible cause identified by dealer; Glass enters cabin and injures occupants
Repairs/costs cited: Sunroof glass replaced; rear window replaced; aftermarket moonroof installation involved cutting main overhead beam, compromising structural integrity
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda and dealership refused to certify safety of aftermarket moonroof installation; manufacturer did not provide recall or safety notice
Side window glass shattering on impact
Sliding door side window (tinted) shattered upon vehicle collision at relatively low impact speed (40 mph vehicle hit by 15 mph truck). Glass broke into chunks and flew with force into child's face, causing lacerations and requiring 30+ stitches and future plastic surgery. Owner states that shatter-proof windows should be standard on family vehicles.
When: At impact during accident; vehicle purchased June prior to October accident
Symptoms owners cite: Side window shatters on impact; Broken glass chunks fly into cabin with force; Glass causes significant facial lacerations to child occupant
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled; child required ER treatment, x-rays, 30+ stitches, and planned plastic surgery
Rear sliding door window regulator failure
Rear sliding door window regulator does not contact the lever arm properly, causing the window to not operate smoothly. Owner must apply excessive force to open and close the sliding door. Dealer diagnosed power window regulator failure requiring replacement.
When: At approximately 81,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rear sliding door difficult to open and close; Requires force to operate sliding door; Window regulator not contacting lever arm properly
Repairs/costs cited: Power window regulator replaced by dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified
Rear wiper motor malfunction (unwanted operation)
Rear wipers activate on their own without being switched on, particularly when front wipers are on and vehicle is in reverse. Wipers continue to run even when switch is turned off. Switch does not appear to function properly in controlling rear wiper operation.
When: Recurring issue; one specific incident on 8/27/06
Symptoms owners cite: Rear wipers come on when not switched on; Rear wipers activate when front wipers on and vehicle in reverse; Rear wipers continue running when switched to off; Switch does not control rear wiper operation properly
Windshield washer system failure
Windshield washer fluid does not spray out, leaving driver unable to clean windshield and resulting in poor visibility. Owner discovered that the low windshield fluid level warning feature, indicated as available in the owner's manual, was not installed by the manufacturer. Honda stated this safety feature is only installed on Canadian models.
When: During winter freeway driving; discovery prompted investigation of features
Symptoms owners cite: Windshield washer fluid does not spray; Unable to clean windshield; Poor visibility result; Low fluid warning not installed despite manual claiming availability
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda indicated low fluid warning is only on Canadian models, not US models
Windshield cracks and leaks
Windshield develops cracks that spread; one documented crack starts from lower passenger side and spreads upward about 9 inches. Another complaint references windshield leaks and whistles with needed replacement parts unavailable nationwide.
When: At various mileages; timing not fully specified
Symptoms owners cite: Windshield cracks; Cracks spread across glass; Windshield leaks; Windshield whistles
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement parts reported as unavailable nationwide
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had visibility trouble with your 2005 Honda Odyssey?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the visibility problem on the 2005 Honda Odyssey?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $350.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 5,800 and 85,000 miles, with the median around 47,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 5,800; a quarter make it past 85,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $350 for visibility repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Honda/Odyssey.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.