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Need to swap in Nav unit

dan browne

New member
Joined
Aug 11, 2025
Messages
4
Apparently, the navigation system in my 2017 Honda Odyssey can't be updated anymore. Yep, no new maps, no fresh POIs, nothing. I got this message months back but I've been too non chalant to act on it until it started to dawn on me. I dont want to get rid of the whole van over it, but I use the built-in nav a fair bit especially when I'm in areas with patchy phone reception, so I'm wondering if there's a way to swap the current unit out for something Honda compatible that runs the Garmin system instead.

I'm hoping there's an OEM upgrade path here rather than going down the aftermarket path. Has anyone successfully replaced their factory unit with a Garmin equipped Honda setup? If so, what year/model did it come from, and was it a straightforward or did it need serious wiring and software magic? really need to start weighing my options here
 
Oof, that's a bummer! Unfortunately, there's no OEM swap for the whole unit. The newer Garmin units are too integrated into their specific vehicle's systems too, and you'd be looking at a wiring and software nightmare trying to make it work. I think you're best option is to go aftermarket. A modern head unit with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto will give you access to up-to-date maps with offline capabilities, and it's a much more realistic and common solution for this problem. It's not OEM, but it's the most practical one.
 
I have a 2016 Honda Odyssey Touring and ran into the same GPS issue, no more updates. I use it in places with weak signal, so I looked into switching to Garmin. Newer Hondas use it, but swapping into older models is hard and needs a lot of work.

I got a Garmin DriveSmart and mounted it on the dash. It's not built-in, but it works great without needing cell service. If you want a factory setup, check with a dealer as it might be tricky.
 
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