Odyssey Battery Warning

[blackcat]

I have owned many Odyssey batteries over the years with mostly good long life results and purchased a new one on April 15,2025  from Amazon Prime as I’ve done in the past with no issues. By December 1st, 2025 it was completely dead. While this was an Amazon supplied(not third party) purchase, they note that after 30 days to contact the manufacturer for warranty claims. I filled out the online Odyssey warranty form and submitted it on December 18,2025 and received an email with a claim number. Then nothing, emails and phone calls were not replied to so I just assumed that it was the holidays. I finally got a human to pick up the phone today and she rudely informed me that they will not approve a warranty claim. Evidently, the warranty on their batteries begins on their manufacturer date, NOT the sell date and if I had purchased this battery from them at their inflated price or an approved dealer at their inflated price I would have received an up to date battery instead of some old piece of their junk sitting on a shelf. Maybe this applies to Yuasa,etc so I will take note of that for my next purchase. While I was waiting for them to respond over the last few weeks I did some hunting on the internet and Odyssey has a bad reputation for approving warranty claims so I wasn’t surprised. Buyer Beware.

After I hung up the phone with them, I contacted Amazon and five minutes later they approved a full refund and full shipping costs back to their warehouse.

I will never purchase another Odyssey battery ever again.

[Dirk_S]

With all due respect, I just don’t see this being Odyssey’s fault. When I buy tires through third party on eBay, I take note of the super cheap ones, and assume they may very well be new tires that have sat for a few years. I don’t think Odyssey can be expected to police every vendor who decides to sell their products. That’s why they have licensed vendors.

Still though, I sympathize. Those batteries ain’t cheap!

[blackcat]

From the Odyssey warranty page, it doesn’t say anything about third party purchase and I provided the receipt.

“When Does the Warranty Period Begin?

The Applicable Warranty Period begins from the date of first purchase with original receipt, or if no receipt is available, from Manufacturer’s shipping date
as stated on the battery.”

[StuCorpe]

Out of curiosity what was the manufacture date and or shipping that was stamped on the battery?  Or wasn't there one?

[Kev m]

From the Odyssey warranty page, it doesn’t say anything about third party purchase and I provided the receipt.

“When Does the Warranty Period Begin?

The Applicable Warranty Period begins from the date of first purchase with original receipt, or if no receipt is available, from Manufacturer’s shipping date
as stated on the battery.”

First purchase was made by the Amazon retailer from the OEM in that 3-step supply chain.

[blackcat]

First purchase was made by the Amazon retailer from the OEM in that 3-step supply chain.

I understand what you are saying but that above wording should clarify that the purchase date begins at the wholesale level, NOT the retail level. Once again, buyer beware of their warranty and inquiries have to be made as to where on that battery that build date is located. These are not cheap batteries, I expect more than a oops, you didn't read the deceptive print.

The numbers provided for the battery: 0572WD243020346.  Somewhere in there is the build date, other than the 24 the month date is not clear to me but maybe Amazon can sort it out because they want the battery back in their warehouse.

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

That's the serial. There should be a different label for the date code unless someone removed it prior to you receiving the battery (possible, to hide the long shelf life).

https://www.odysseybattery.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/odyssey-battery-date-codes-and-serial-numbers.pdf

[blackcat]

This is all that I provided to them and I shipped off the battery a few minutes ago, but I still defer back to the purchase date.

"Case Number   00498959
Description   
Total Claims Raised   1
Case Raised Date   12/18/2025
Claim Number   Application   Model Number   Serial Number
WAR-000137194   Powersports Starting (gas / diesel powered engine)   ODSAGM15L-B   0572WD243020346

Thanks, Transportation Warranty Team"

[rocker59]

purchased a new one on April 15,2025 

By December 1st, 2025 it was completely dead. 

I'd also like to know what the date code was.  That's an unusually short life for those batteries.  I've been getting 6-8 years from them. 

Also see similar life from the Yuasa AGM batteries.

[2dogs]

I have owned many Odyssey batteries over the years with mostly good long life results and purchased a new one on April 15,2025  from Amazon Prime as I’ve done in the past with no issues. By December 1st, 2025 it was completely dead. While this was an Amazon supplied(not third party) purchase, they note that after 30 days to contact the manufacturer for warranty claims. I filled out the online Odyssey warranty form and submitted it on December 18,2025 and received an email with a claim number. Then nothing, emails and phone calls were not replied to so I just assumed that it was the holidays. I finally got a human to pick up the phone today and she rudely informed me that they will not approve a warranty claim. Evidently, the warranty on their batteries begins on their manufacturer date, NOT the sell date and if I had purchased this battery from them at their inflated price or an approved dealer at their inflated price I would have received an up to date battery instead of some old piece of their junk sitting on a shelf. Maybe this applies to Yuasa,etc so I will take note of that for my next purchase. While I was waiting for them to respond over the last few weeks I did some hunting on the internet and Odyssey has a bad reputation for approving warranty claims so I wasn’t surprised. Buyer Beware.

After I hung up the phone with them, I contacted Amazon and five minutes later they approved a full refund and full shipping costs back to their warehouse.

I will never purchase another Odyssey battery ever again.

What did you do as far as maintenance/charging when you received the battery or afterwards?

[Ncdan]

Incidents like this is the very reason there are some things I’d rather go to a business and purchase in person than order online and vehicle batteries are a prime example.
However I do order lots of parts, tools, clothing/boots and such online. Just not batteries and stuff that’s a PITA to ship back.

[blackcat]

What did you do as far as maintenance/charging when you received the battery or afterwards?

The same maintenance that I've done with every Odyssey battery that i've owned for years. This battery was the replacement for the one in my Daytona that has been in the bike for 7 years. Most of my past Odyssey batteries last for many years and I currently have four bikes with those batteries but never again when they go bad.

[blackcat]

I'd also like to know what the date code was.  That's an unusually short life for those batteries.  I've been getting 6-8 years from them. 

Also see similar life from the Yuasa AGM batteries.

The rude Odyssey representative said it was made in 24 and my claim was in December of 25. How she got that it's past the 2 year warranty is beyond me.

And yes, I usually get many years out of those batteries so this was a bit of shock when it went dead.

[blackcat]

Incidents like this is the very reason there are some things I’d rather go to a business and purchase in person than order online and vehicle batteries are a prime example.
However I do order lots of parts, tools, clothing/boots and such online. Just not batteries and stuff that’s a PITA to ship back.

In this case, Amazon picked up the shipping costs and they have already notified me now that the battery is in route that I will get the refund in 3-5 days. I have a SigmasTek in my CX with more CCA's than the Odyssey I just shipped back, and for $55 bucks I will just splurge on the 3 year extended warranty for $8 bucks. And this is through the Sigmas store on Amazon so I think I'm covered for it possibly being an old battery.

[Tony F]

What did you do as far as maintenance/charging when you received the battery or afterwards?

On the MV Agusta forum which I also frequent much is made of the need to initialise a new battery by charging for 24 hours with a trickle charger before fitting. MVs tend to have a high parasitic drain on the battery so they need everythhing in their favour!

[Moparnut72]

When I worked in a NAPA store we had quite a few of these come back. When customers would ask me if they should buy one my response was just that, the return rate seemed to be high. I have never owned one and I will stick to lead, acid flooded batteries until it can be 100% confirmed that Odyssey batteries and similar makes will last and not cause a fire. My shop burned down 6 six years ago, never again if I can help it. Due to my being crowded out of the house I lost most of everything I owned. It was my sanctuary and the new one more so.
kk

[PeteS]

I never saw the point of AGM batteries. $35 Lead acid garden tractor batteries typically lasted 5-6 years in my LeMans and EV.
Then found they were installing them on new vehicles. The one in my 2017 Ridgeline only lasted three years and about 16,000 miles. The one is our 2024 Toyota didn’t last a winter. I didn’t know you have to charge them every week or they die. Both were replaced with lead acid.

Should be a law against using “Maintenance Free” in their description.

Pete

[Moparnut72]

I used garden tractor batteries in my R75/5. THey only lasted a couple of years but rode the bike year around in Colo. A lot of really cold weather put a lot of strain on them though. That bike sure didn't want to start below zero but it did most of the time. A genuine BMW battery in the early 70's was $80, a lot of money back then. On the short framed one I had I removed the air box to make room and ran K&N pod filters.
kk

[kingoffleece]

We used AGM and Odessey batteries in all our plow equipment.  Never an issue in 20 years.  NOTHING harder in the world (almost) than all the cycles a snow plow goes thru.
I have an Odessey in my Jackal.  6 years old.  Tests fine.  I do buy them right from the company and have the recommended dedicated charger/maintainer for them.

My friend's Guzzi shop uses Odessey and/or Yuasa AGM batteries and has for a long long time.  If the failure rate was abnormal he wouldn't.  All batteries are conditioned for 24 hours prior to install.

[n3303j]

Bought my '98 V11EV with acid burns through the paint on the rear fender. You can keep your flooded lead acid batteries. Tip over and you have another problem. It's also often fuzzy around the terminal posts.

The 925 in my T3 is now over 16 years old. It's never seen anything but an occasional Battery Tender. It's been run to totally empty over a winter (above freezing). It didn't care. I'm on the bike everyone charges their phone or computer off of at the campsites. Starts without hesitation summer or winter.

Offhand I don't know the age of the Odyssey in the Ural or V11 but they are both over 9 years old. Excellent product, worth the price, maintenance free. Reliable as a hammer. But I do wash them off if they are out of the bike.  Love the Orange case!

BUT EACH BIKE AVERAGES ABOUT 100 MILES PER WEEK.

[Kev m]

I try to use nothing BUT AGM batteries.

I've had a acid battery blow up in my shop while on a tender. No thanks

I've had a number of Odysseys and they were great.

Also I've never heard of an AGM battery being a fire risk. Now Lithium, that's another issue.

[PeteS]

Sealed lead acid batteries have been around for over 30 years. They don’t leak. Use what you like, we all have choices, thankfully.

Pete

[Kev m]

Sealed lead acid batteries have been around for over 30 years. They don’t leak. Use what you like, we all have choices, thankfully.

Pete

Uh, they most certainly CAN though.

[rocker59]

  I will stick to lead, acid flooded batteries until it can be 100% confirmed that Odyssey batteries and similar makes will last and not cause a fire. 

AGM / Absorbed Glass Matt does not equal Lithium Ion.

It's the Lithium Ion which overheats and causes fires which are hard to put out.

[Moparnut72]

I know I should have worded it differently. In an previous post I said that a lot of AGM batteries came back to the NAPA store where I worked. I will stick with regular flooded batteries for now.
kk

[blackcat]

Once again, I’ve had Odyssey batteries for years with only a few issues over that time and  this battery was replacing a 7 year old Odyssey battery. But never again, and from my reading online there are a LOT of people who had bad experiences with their customer service. Oh, and all of those Odyssey batteries I purchased were from online dealers. Amazon has returned the $162.00 for the Odyssey and I’ve purchased a SigmasTek battery with a higher CCA for $62 bucks and a 3 year warranty which is one year longer than Odyssey.

I’d like to add that if their Customer service wasn’t so rude I would have been inclined to buy another battery from one of their authorized dealers but that wasn’t going to happen given my experience.

[TN Mark]

Buying the battery at your local dealer or from Amazon should be the same. In both instances, the battery is coming from an authorized dealer. In most cases, their ‘authorized’ dealer sends it to you when you purchase it through Amazon.
Manufacture using the ‘third party’ excuse are simply telling you to go away because you didn’t pay full MSRP.
For me, Amazon has been absolutely wonderful to purchase through. They give you lots of time to return the item if need be. I’ve always been treated great by Amazon.

[blackcat]

For me, Amazon has been absolutely wonderful to purchase through. They give you lots of time to return the item if need be. I’ve always been treated great by Amazon.

I bought this battery from Amazon on April 15, 2025 and they didn't even give me the least bit of resistance about refunding my money and that tells me one thing, they must have had problems with these batteries in the past. I told Odyssey customer service that I would tell anyone who asked about my bad experience with their product and she laughed at me.

[Kev m]

Buying the battery at your local dealer or from Amazon should be the same. In both instances, the battery is coming from an authorized dealer. In most cases, their ‘authorized’ dealer sends it to you when you purchase it through Amazon.
Manufacture using the ‘third party’ excuse are simply telling you to go away because you didn’t pay full MSRP.

Thing is - how do you KNOW the third party (4th?) Amazon retailer is actually authorized?

When you buy anything from a retailer your relationship is first and foremost with that retailer.

They may be selling counterfeits (unlikely in this case but relevant to the discussion), they may be selling old stock (which doesn't matter with many hard parts but sure can with things like batteries), they may be selling something recovered from another retailer that went out of business etc.

So the OEM is well within their rights to impose some sort of restrictions to the warranty.

Amazon changes the relationship somewhat because under their umbrella a tiny retailer can gain the leverage of a large one which can change the rules.

Still all of this is why I avoid Amazon for many automotive/motorcycle parts, even if their return policy might benefit me.

I'll continue to buy batteries from a will known battery or automotive retailer or direct from the OEM if possible.

[Kev m]

I bought this battery from Amazon on April 15, 2025 and they didn't even give me the least bit of resistance about refunding my money and that tells me one thing, they must have had problems with these batteries in the past.

That could equally mean they've never had a problem but we're willing to stand behind their policy because that's what they do and it's less likely for them to receive pushback since defects will sometimes occur.

Look I don't blame you for being missed with Odyssey and I'm not happy with their attitude, but I don't think your conclusion is proven.

Actually it could also be the retailer that is eating this and not Odyssey.