Common Honda Odyssey Sliding Door Problems and their Fixes

The Honda Odyssey is a dependable family car renown for its electric sliding doors. The Honda Odyssey sliding doors are always convenient when they work well. However, when they start developing opening and closing issues, one might wish for regular car doors. Both manual and electric sliding doors develop similar problems, but the electric mechanism can be slightly more challenging to fix than the manual doors.

The most obvious sign of a malfunctioning sliding door is it won’t open or close properly when you push the button. Another problem is a beeping sound from the door or a sliding door that won’t latch. The article below will discuss how to fix the most common issues and give maintenance tips for your Odyssey sliding doors.

Honda Odyssey Sliding Doors won’t close.

You do not have to take your car to a mechanic for sliding doors that won’t close. However, troubleshooting the issue will vary depending on the model year of your vehicle.

Honda Odysseys between 1999 and 2011.

There can be two possible reasons why vehicles produced between 1999 to 2011 refuse to close and stay open.

Go to the second-row seats and locate the inside handle near the doors on either side.
- Pull the handle and test if the problem is solved. If not, proceed with troubleshooting.
- Locate the sliding door buttons on the driver’s side dashboard.
- If the back doors are stuck, press and hold the rear door button.
- If the front doors are the ones stuck, press and hold the front door buttons.
- The stuck doors should close completely.
If the doors still do not close, go to the stuck door and inspect the rubber bumper between the rail and the door opening near the top of the door. Over time, the rubber bumper becomes dry and brittle, then falls off. Replace the rubber bumper which fits any Odyssey from 1999 to 2004 directly from Honda through Amazon.
To fix the bumper;
- Open the sliding door partway using the driver’s control button.
- Position the bumper such that the hook edge is facing the rail.
- Push the bumper through, and it should slide right in, then test if the door closes.

Honda Odysseys after 2011.

Follow the troubleshooting tips below for newer Odysseys that won’t close.

Find the toggle switch around the steering wheel.
The switch moves up and down, and if you push the switch down, it automatically prevents the door-opening buttons from working.
To fix the issue, push the toggle switch back up.

Honda Odyssey manual sliding door won’t latch.

If your Odyssey’s sliding doors are manual, and the door will not hold when closing, below are some possible causes for this problem and their solutions.

Fuse needs resetting

Look for the 13^th fuse in the passenger fuse box. The fuse should be the fourth one on the top row.
Some Odysseys models show “clock reset” on the fuse.
To reset the fuse, disconnect it for about 30 seconds and then reconnect it.

Dirty sensors

Depending on your Odyssey’s model, find the sensors on your vehicle’s door and body.
The sensors signal the car’s computer that the door is open or closed.
Get a mechanic to clean the sensors to get your manual sliding doors working again.

Stuck latch

Another problem that could prevent your sliding doors from closing could be a stuck latch. You can open the locked latched using a screwdriver. If the problem persists, replace the closing motor unit.

Honda Odyssey sliding door is beeping.

The beeping you hear driving your Odyssey, whether continuous or intermittent, is the safety alarm. The alarm comes on to alert you when the door is not closed because the power lock is not engaging.

To fix this issue, first, check if the smart entry remote is inside the vehicle or the vehicle is not off, and you left with the remote transmitter.
If that does not fix the issue, continue with troubleshooting. You need first to put your sliding door into manual mode. Then, switch off the power supply to the door using the rear door buttons, and the beeping will stop.
Locate the black rubber bumper at the top back corner of the door opening. The rubber bumper prevents the door from slamming into the metal edge if you manually open the door too quickly.
When the door is opening automatically, it stops before touching the edge of the aperture.
Check if this rubber bumper is loose. When it is loose, the vehicle’s computer will read it as a partially open door, thus triggering the safety alarm to go off. The solution is to replace the rubber bumper and insert it correctly.

Honda Odyssey sliding door has no power.

If the power sliding door will not open or close automatically, if it is not receiving power, the battery terminal is disconnected, or the fuse (No. B16 (10 A) in the under-hood fuse box detaches. So you have to reset the battery terminal or fuse to get the door to start working automatically.

Remove the No. B16 (10 A) fuse located in the under-hood rely box to erase the sliding door DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes).
Shut off the door’s main switch.
Push the ignition switch to the lock position.
Fully close the sliding door manually. The vehicle’s control unit should see the latch switch closed and the ratchet switches open simultaneously.
Switch on the ignition button.
Turn on the door’s main switch.
Test the sliding doors for proper operation using a power sliding door switch, remote transmitter, and door handles.

Honda Odyssey sliding door is not closing all the way

Follow the troubleshooting guide below if the sliding door does not fully close when you try closing it remotely.

Check if there is any object activating the auto-reverse feature. When the sensor detects an obstruction on the door sill, the door will reverse or not close at all. Remove any obstacle from the door sill.
The sliding door will refuse to fully close if a piece of rubber has fallen off or is in the wrong position. Check the position of the rubber and ensure the door is in the correct position.
If that does not fix the issue, manually reset the power sliding doors. Disconnect the car battery first.
Manually close the doors.
Disconnect the negative battery terminal and then reattach it.
Remove the positive terminal and return it.
Turn on the car, turn off the toggle switch for about a minute, and then turn it back on. Long press the two sliding door buttons simultaneously, and the doors should close all the way. If the doors do not move, repeat the manual reset.

Honda Odyssey sliding door closes then opens.

Another commonly reported problem by Odyssey owners is the sliding door closes completely then opens by a quarter-inch or slightly more. The open sliding door will beep when this happens, and a “door open” light will display on the dashboard depending on your Odyssey model. To fix this:

Switch off the master switch on the dashboard.
Then, open all the doors manually.
Inspect the door pillars and contacts and clean them with rubbing alcohol and a clean rag.
Examine the rubber door button on the back and if they are misplaced, reposition them. If they have come off, replace the rubber components.
Turn on the master switch while the doors are slightly open.
Press the sliding door switch and check if the door remains closed.
If the problem persists, there could e a blown fuse that needs repairing by a professional mechanic.

How to reset an electric sliding door on a Honda Odyssey

The power sliding doors by Honda on your Odyssey van will need resetting now and again to restore their functions. Resetting the door is necessary after replacing the battery or disconnecting the battery for a few minutes. Also, if the power sliding doors are not responding when using the door switch or keyless remote control, a hard reset on the doors can correct the issue. Follow the steps below to reset the Honda Odyssey sliding doors correctly.

If the battery is disconnected;

Manually close both sliding doors.
Connect the positive battery terminal and then the negative battery terminal.
The doors will automatically reset.

If the battery is connected;

Turn on the car ignition.
Locate the power sliding door switch on the left of the steering wheel, labeled “Main.”
Push the sliding door switch to the “Off” position.
Then push the switch back to the “On” position.
Press and hold both sliding door buttons until the doors close completely.
If it does not fix the issue, move the sliding door switch to the “Off” position and manually close the doors.
Move the sliding door switch back to “On,” and this should reset the doors.

How do you manually close a Honda Odyssey door?

You can manually open or close the Odyssey sliding doors following the steps below.

Make sure the main switch is in the off position.

To close the door, pull the outer or inner door handle and push the door frontwards.

When the door is nearly closed, the auto-closer feature will pull the door shut.

To open the door, pull the inside or outside door handle and slide the door backward. The door will latch automatically in the open position.

NOTE: When closing the sliding doors, make sure there are no obstacles on the door pillar. The auto-reverse feature turns off when the door is close to the latch, and the auto-close feature activates to ensure the door closes properly.

Care and maintenance for your Honda Odyssey sliding doors

Although the sliding door mechanism in a Honda Odyssey is quite simple, most door problems occur if not maintained properly. Proper maintenance and care of the sliding doors help preserve your car’s functionality and performance. Follow these preventative measures to prevent your sliding doors from developing problems.

Clean the sliding door track to ensure it moves smoothly and closes correctly.
Lubricate the bearings on the sliding doors every two months with some silicone-based spray lubricant. Greasing the doors allows it to move smoothly across the track and maintains your door’s rubber components. Friction will wear down these rubber parts and cause frequent repairs.
Restrain from pushing the door against the motor to avoid wearing it out. One common reason sliding doors fail is when someone pulls on the door when the motor is moving it in the opposite direction.
Avoid damaging the pinch sensors on the front edge of each sliding door; otherwise, the door will not operate properly.
Take your vehicle to a professional at least once a year to inspect, diagnose and repair issues concerning your sliding doors. These professional check-ups can help catch a problem before it gets worse.

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Conclusion

When your Honda Odyssey sliding doors malfunction, it could be due to a reason as simple as the door switch is in the off position or a rubber falling off. Other problems are as complicated as a stuck latch or blown fuses that may require a mechanic’s help. Either way, regularly maintaining and caring for your sliding doors can prevent most of these problems.