Honda Odyssey LX 1996 would not start in a parking lot so I called for a towing service. Towing service tried to unlock engine using door lock trick and the engine started. Two days later the engine died while on the highway. I had to coast to an exit ramp, and it would not start at all after that. Modot truck stopped to check it out and recommended to have it towed. Vehicle was towed to Honda dealer; said it was an ignition switch defect.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

Vehicle began having starting problems - would crank but not always catch and run. Then engine stopped while driving several times, an unsafe situation. Finally would not start again. Replaced ignition switch, works fine. Noted that similar (model, year) vehicles in australia and Japan had the ignition switch recalled for same symptoms - is there a link?

- Boulder, CO, USA

In the past 2 months my 1996 Honda Odyssey died numerous times while stationary and 3 times while driving, including 2 incidents on the highway at high speed in rush hour traffic on a busy highway. I was able to recognize the power failure and react quickly enough to get off the road and avoid being rammed into by other vehicles, but it was a frightening and dangerous situation. After the first episode on the highway, I took it to my local mechanic, who suspected either a fuel line problem or ignition switch problem, but given that the vehicle was not dead, they could not identify the problem with certainty. On January 3, 2007 the car died while driving on the highway, and I had the vehicle towed back to my local mechanic. They were able to determine that the problem was a faulty ignition switch. It is clear from searching online about this problem that this year and model has had many reported problems of this nature. There are also numerous bulletins about this problem for the 1996 Honda Odyssey. There is a report of a recall for faulty ignition switches by Honda of over 484,000 vehicles in Japan and china for models including my vehicle model and year. www.themoneytimes.com/articles/20060615/honda_recalls_484_626_cars_to_fix_faulty_ignition_switch-id-10585.html I had no help from multiple calls to Honda customer service on Jan. 3, 2007. They tell me there is no recall on my specific VIN and that there is nothing further I can do other than file the report with NHTSA. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Note that I called NHTSA twice to report this and was instructed to leave my name and phone # which I have done. Updated 04/13/07.

- Atkinson, NH, USA

NHTSA 02V120000 ignition problem occurs on 1996 Honda Odyssey too. Honda dealer will not fix under recall because 1996 VIN numbers are not flagged for recall.

- Frisco, TX, USA

2 related incidents -- car no longer runs or shuts off if ignition key is not fiddled with. Solder from ignition switch melted, dripped and burned my wife's foot.

- Houston, TX, USA

Ignition switches I have a 1996 Honda Odyssey van and the vehicle completely shut off while driving on the freeway. This was extremely dangerous and I had three children in the vehicle at the time.

- Omaha, NE, USA

I have a 1996 Honda Odyssey LX and it has stalled out many times with my four year old daughter in atlanta, ga rush hour traffic. I drive thirty miles to work each day and is very dangerous to not know when the car will just quit. I took the car to catherine's automotive repair & service and they determined it was an electrical problem with the ignition switch. They have seen many other Honda with the same problem and are aware of Honda recalls. My car is a '96 and was not under the recall. I believe this is unfair that a certain year should be disqualified when it has exactly the same problems as other Honda.

- Suwanee, GA, USA

Consumer states that while drving, vehicle will stall or sometimes will not even start. Vehicle has been serviced 6 times for the same problem. Dealer is unable to fix. Finally consumer asked to have ignition switch replaced. Found out that it had repeatedly failed. Tsconsumer requests reimbursement of monies paid for repairs because of a recall issued regarding this same problem.

- Columbus, OH, USA