Have there been any problems reported with the 2012 and 2013 Audio (Radio) system?

Asked by Lannalidr May 29, 2013 at 02:57 PM about the 2013 Honda Odyssey EX-L FWD with Navigation

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

About 1 week ago, on May 18, 2013, I purchased a 2012EX-L w/Nav.  and when driving it home noticed that the FM Public Radio Station 99.5 (I live in Mpls. St. Paul, MN) was sputtering every 5 to 10 seconds.  I took it back to the dealer whose service department spent 4 hours and could not find a problem. One service person seemed not to hear the problem but when the head salesman took a test drive with me, he said he coule hear it and "it would dirve you crazy" listening to that all the time.  After spending $34,000 (including tax and fees) for the 2012 for a vehicle where something simple like a radio did not work, I was upset that the problem could not be found, worried what else might be worng with the 2012 vehicle (even though new)  and requested I be able to return the 2012 and purchase a 2013 EX-L w/Nav. as I thought the problem was unique to the 2012 vehicle I purchased.  The Honda dealership let me return the 2012 and in exchange I purchased the 2013.  As noted earlier, I thought the problem was isolated to that paticular 2012 vehicle.  I picked up the 2013 last night May 28, 2013 and while sitting in the dealer ship garage, I listened to the FM 99.5 station with my sales person and when the radio played it was clear and was not sputtering.   I said good bye to my sales person and left for home happy the radio sounded clear and was not sputtering / crackeling.  I put the car in drive and before I was out of the dealership parking lot, the radio in the 2013 EX-L Odyssey w/ Nav. was doing the same thing as the 2012, the 2013  was sputtering consistently while listening to 99.5 FM Public Radio.  When driving into work today, May 29 (25 minute drive) the radio sputtered while listening to the 99.5 MPR FM station.  When I arrived at work, I put the car in park and listened for about 4 minutes.  While in park the radio seemed to work fine (no sputtering or crackeling).  I have not as yet had an opportunity to listen to FM stations other than 99.5 MPR to see if it is also occuring on all station options or to do another test of  pariking for an extended period of time to see if it sputters.  It seems to me that there has to be something wrong with the radio (audio system) for this to happen in both a new 2012 with 45 miles on it and a 2013 with 100 miles (both new vehicles).  The probability, I think is low ,that it would be a fluke occurance or coincidence that there is the same problem on both vehicles happing to one person .  I spent an additional $2,000.00 to upgrade to the 2013 for a total spent of $35,800 plus for for my 2013 new vehicle where basic radio does not work.  Has this problem been reported?  Can you help?  I do not have confidence that the dealership service department will resolve the problem as they could not find anything wrong after 4 hours working on the issue in the 2012 vehicle .    I will not be able to return yet another vehicle   I have been sold on Honda's as prior to my Odyssey purchase that I made this week m y current vehicle (prior to buying the Odyssey) is  a 1995 Honda Accord.  I have driven to to 300,000 miles on it and my mechanics say it still has many miles left in it (still a good vehicle).  It has been a wonderful vehicle and 99.5 FM Public Radio does not sputter or crackle in this vehicle with 300,000 miles on it.  Thank you.  I very much like the Odyssey but I want a radio that plays clear.  I hope you can help as it will be of help to me and also others who most likely will experience a same / similar issue.    Thank you.

2 Answers

10,085

try listening to other radio stations and see if you have the same issue. im not familiar with the odyssey but does it have an external antennae? or is it integrated in the back window with the rear defroster? i only ask because i have a 2007 accord with no external antennae and its integrated into the rear defroster. whenever i have the rear defroster on my radio reception is worse.

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