2015 Honda Odyssey: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Oct 23, 2026 · Engine · FL

Vehicle Information:Year/Make/Model: 2015 Honda Odyssey EX-L VIN: [XXX] Mileage: Approximately 45, 200 miles Component / Defect: Engine Oil Leak leading to Alternator Failure (Front Spool Valve / Valve Cover Gasket Leak onto Alternator) Summary of Incident and Service History: My car overheated and would not start on several occasions over the last year and a half starting in July 2025, leaving me stranded and requiring it to be towed. My car has been in service at the dealer multiple times for approximately 2 weeks each time. Oil Leak and Alternator Hazard: The vehicle experienced engine oil leaking directly onto/into the alternator. According to communications from Honda service personnel ([XXX]), oil leaking from the front spool valve and valve cover gaskets penetrates the alternator, causing component failure. The dealership explicitly warned that failure to complete these repairs would result in repeated alternator failure. XXX Service: The vehicle was brought in for diagnostic work and repairs at Brickell Honda Performed services included diagnostic procedures, engine oil & filter replacement, radiator fan motor replacement, A/C condenser fan motor replacement, and tire rotation. Total Paid: $2,443.60 Additional Repair Estimates Provided: Valve cover gaskets & spark plug replacement: $1,901.18 plus tax Front spool valve replacement: $1,641.70 plus tax Prior Related Invoices: An earlier invoice was issued on XXX for $2,096.29 by Brickell Honda for alternator replacement and other maintenance services. Safety Risk Statement: An unaddressed oil leak dripping onto the alternator poses a serious electrical component failure hazard while operating the vehicle. Sudden loss of electrical power while driving can cause engine stalling, loss of power steering, loss of headlights/lighting, and disablement in traffic, presenting a significant risk of collision and vehicle safety hazard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Dec 7, 2015 · Lights, Visibility · 9,000 miles · OH

While parked, when starting the vehicle, the headlights and windshield wipers will not come on. After about an hour, they come back on. Happened twice so far. Only 9000 miles on the vehicle. The dealer says they have never heard of this. Can't find the cause of the problem.

Filed Nov 16, 2015 · Lights · 3,000 miles · MN

During rain at night, very little of the low beams reach the road way. The pattern of light from the projector type low beam is such that there is a bright line about 2 - 3 feet above the ground at 25 feet. Above that it sharply fades to almost nothing. Below that line, it gradually fades to darkness at ground level. At the factory setting, there could be more light higher up. The real issue is that very little light gets to the road. During rain, roadway center and side lines are not visible, however, reflective material about 1 foot off the ground is incredibly bright. Oi have taken the van to the dealer and they told me there is no solution. It is incredibly dangerous as there is insufficient light to illuminate roadway lane lines.

Filed Jul 31, 2015 · Lights · 150 miles · NY

This was our first experience driving our new 2015 honda odyssey after dark. It was frightening when we found ourselves on a familiar country road and unable to see the usual landmarks which tell us where we are. The problem is with the low beam headlights. Illuminated vision is very bright on the road close to the vehicle but there is a line midway up the windshield above which it is totally black. This line bobs up and down with curves and dips in the road in a distracting manner which prevents your vision focusing. The light also does not extend very far in front of the vehicle even on flat parts of the road. This is begging for an accident. We could easily have hit a deer or even a human being walking or bicycling on the road had there been one. We stopped driving after dark until we could get an appointment with our dealership. Our dealer's mechanic informed us that cannot be fixed. He also said the chevy malibu has the same problem. I have located an online forum where the same problem is described for a 2011 honda odyssey and honda's response to them was the same as to us. Http://answers.edmunds.com/question-2011-honda-odyssey-ex-headlights-aim-low-is-easy-fix-can-road-enough-112164.aspx. Honda is obviously aware of the issue and has not addressed it for 5 vehicle seasons. We were not informed of this "design flaw" when we purchased the car. Either the problem should be fixed or a disclosure made to the customer. We owned and drove a 2006 honda odyssey for 6 years and the headlights, low and high beam, were the best we ever experienced. This vehicle is not safe to drive after dark except in illuminated areas or behind another vehicle using its lights. Honda shouldn't be waiting to collect enough bodies to necessitate action.

Filed Jun 7, 2015 · 1,347 miles · FL

We embarked on an 8806 mile, 22 day road trip through the south and southwest to the midwest with our new 2015 honda odyssey ex. Driving was done during daylight hours only with the headlights on and instrument cluster lights as high as they could be set. All windows are tinted. 21 of the days were bright and sunny. We could not see the instrument cluster display on bright days. Neither the speedometer or the tachometer were readable. My wife monitored our speed with a garmin GPS. This cluster has white numerals and a pale grey background. This is a design flaw which makes operation unsafe on bright days.