Whenever I drive my Odyssey for a little while (say 15 minutes) and then slow down and start driving slower, the engine makes a whining noise that sounds like the engine of a very tiny car. Really high pitched and all. It is annoying and concerning. I have read that a bad power steering pump can cause this noise but I had it replaced under a recall in August of 2011. Of course when I took it to Honda Morristown to have it replaced under recall, they replaced it but told me that a power steering fluid flush would cost me $119.95. They said it was not included in the recall? Sounds completely crazy to me. My husband said that if Honda thought it was important they would have included it in the recall work (sounds logical). Anyway, is this a normal noise or is it the power steering pump again? It ticks me off if it is because they replaced it and it happens again this soon? I have always bought Hondas (we have owned 4) but I don't think I will again after all this trouble.

At around 20,000 miles, I noticed an intermittent whining noise. I chose to not bring it in to the dealer unless it was doing it while I had time to bring it in. Of course those planets never aligned. I figured if it was something serious, it would gradually worsen and then I could bring it in.

Now, at 52,000, it is still intermittent, but at a greater frequency. Thought maybe the belt was bad (had one Honda dealer tell me the belt was glazed and that I had a bad drive belt tension assembly). Belt never really looked bad, and had another Honda dealer tell me it was fine.

Finally I tired of hearing it and brought it to an independent mechanic today. Lo and behold, it was making the noise, which became really pronounced when I turned the wheel. He put a long screw driver on the power steering assembly housing and you could hear the bearing a rattlin'.

Just made a call to the dealer to see what they'll do. Not holding my breath, but will update this when I get resolution.