Common problems

Honda Odyssey Common Problems

We grouped the top NHTSA owner-complaint categories across 9 Honda Odyssey model years, then counted how often each issue recurs. The result shows patterns worth inspecting without pretending every vehicle will have them.

Data updated June 2026

Owner complaints
2,370

9 model years

Top recurring issue
Forward Collision Avoidance

9 affected years

Crash reports
38

Owner-reported severity signal

Fire reports
13

93 injuries · 3 deaths

Pattern overview

Most reported Honda Odyssey problem categories

#1

Forward Collision Avoidance

280complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 9 model years; highest in 2019.

#2

Electrical System

584complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 8 model years; highest in 2018.

#3

Unknown Or Other

236complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 7 model years; highest in 2019.

#4

Power Train

285complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 6 model years; highest in 2018.

#5

Engine

148complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 6 model years; highest in 2018.

#6

Structure

79complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 4 model years; highest in 2018.

#7

Service Brakes

10complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 3 model years; highest in 2022.

#8

Air Bags

22complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 2 model years; highest in 2021.

#9

Steering

7complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 2 model years; highest in 2023.

#10

Fuel System, Gasoline

61complaints represented

Appears among the leading issues for 1 model year; highest in 2019.

What owners reported

Issue summaries by Honda Odyssey model year

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Owners of the 2018 Honda Odyssey frequently report issues with the electrical system, particularly involving water leaks affecting the tailgate control module, leading to repeated failures and malfunctions of the tailgate. Complaints often describe the infotainment and media touch screen displays going blank, which affects the backup camera and climate controls, sometimes occurring more frequently when the vehicle's AC is used. Additionally, multiple reports highlight problems with the vehicle's cameras, such as the monocular camera overheating, causing numerous warning lights to illuminate and disabling various safety features like lane assist and cruise control. These issues are typically reported at mileage around 50,000 to 60,000 miles, and while no crashes are directly mentioned, the loss of critical safety systems and the potential for the tailgate to open unintentionally pose safety risks. This information is crucial for potential buyers considering a used 2018 Honda Odyssey, as these electrical issues could impact both convenience and safety.

Severity signals: 0 crash, 1 fire, 3 injury reports

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Owners of the 2019 Honda Odyssey frequently report issues with the electrical system, particularly involving the failure of multiple safety and driver-assist features such as the Lane Keeping Assist System, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Collision Mitigation Braking System. Common symptoms include warning lights on the dashboard, failure of power sliding doors and tailgate to operate correctly, and sudden vehicle shutdowns, sometimes accompanied by engine and transmission warnings. These problems often occur at startup or while driving and have been reported at various mileages. Safety implications are significant, with one complaint involving a crash and two injuries reported, highlighting the potential for loss of control or inability to use critical safety features. Buyers should be aware of these recurring electrical issues when considering this model.

Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 2 injury reports

POWER TRAIN

Owners report that the 2018 Honda Odyssey experiences frequent transmission issues, with common symptoms including hesitation when shifting gears, unexpected shifts into neutral or park, and a lack of response from the accelerator. Complaints frequently mention these issues occurring at lower speeds, such as 15-30 mph, and at higher mileages, often around 40,000 to 108,000 miles. Safety implications are notable, with reports of the vehicle unexpectedly losing power in traffic and some incidents leading to crashes and one reported injury. Prospective buyers should be aware of these recurring transmission problems and their potential impact on vehicle safety and drivability.

Severity signals: 3 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Owners report several electrical system issues with the 2020 Honda Odyssey, primarily involving failures in safety-related features and components. Complaints frequently mention malfunctions in the Honda Sensing safety systems, including adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and collision mitigation, often linked to a failing forward recognition camera or multipurpose camera unit. Symptoms such as warning lights, system disablement, and infotainment system failures are common, with issues appearing around 30,000 to 130,000 miles. Additionally, problems with the sliding doors and rear hatch not opening, attributed to water ingress or electrical faults, pose significant safety risks, especially in emergencies. These patterns suggest potential safety implications, as multiple owners describe instances where these failures could lead to dangerous driving conditions.

Severity signals: 0 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports

POWER TRAIN

Owners report several recurring issues with the 2019 Honda Odyssey's powertrain, primarily involving transmission problems. Complaints frequently mention symptoms such as transmission slipping, hesitation during acceleration, harsh or erratic shifting, and sudden loss of propulsion. These issues often occur at mileage as low as 66,000 and up to 133,000 miles. Safety implications are significant, with multiple reports of vehicles stalling or unexpectedly shifting into neutral, creating unsafe conditions particularly during merging or in traffic. Used car buyers should be aware of these potential transmission issues and consider the mileage when evaluating a purchase.

ENGINE

Owners report that the 2018 Honda Odyssey frequently experiences engine failures primarily due to connecting rod bearing issues, often necessitating full engine replacements. Complaints frequently mention symptoms such as knocking noises, engine stalling, and the presence of metal shavings in the oil, with failures occurring typically between 66,000 and 167,000 miles. Many owners indicate that these failures occur without prior warning lights or messages, posing potential safety risks such as sudden loss of power or stalling in traffic. Used car buyers should be aware of these recurring issues, especially considering that some vehicles with these symptoms fall outside the scope of existing recalls.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

Owners report frequent failures of the front monocular camera in the 2019 Honda Odyssey, leading to the inoperability of several advanced driver-assistance systems such as Collision Mitigation, Lane Keeping Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control. Typical symptoms include multiple warning lights and error messages on the dashboard, often appearing suddenly when starting the vehicle. These issues are commonly noted around 40,000 to 80,000 miles, with some reports indicating failures under varying weather conditions. The loss of these safety features presents potential safety implications, especially as drivers may rely on them for crash avoidance. Repair costs are mentioned as significant, often exceeding $1,500, which may be a consideration for used car buyers.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

Owners report that the 2018 Honda Odyssey frequently experiences failures in its forward collision avoidance systems, primarily due to issues with the front-facing monocular camera. Typical symptoms include multiple dashboard warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, collision mitigation, and other safety features, often occurring without prior indication. Complaints suggest these issues can emerge at varying mileages, including some vehicles with low mileage. Notably, two complaints involve crashes, highlighting potential safety implications when these systems fail. Potential buyers should be aware that resolving these issues may involve significant repair costs, as reported by some owners.

Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports

Pre-purchase inspection

What to check on a used Honda Odyssey

When problems are reported to begin

  • Auto Idle Stop failures9,000–12,000 miles on the 2025 model-year record
  • Transmission issues12,000–13,000 miles on the 2025 model-year record
  • Forward Collision Avoidance malfunctions4,000–5,000 miles on the 2025 model-year record
  • Idle-stop failures8,000–25,000 miles on the 2024 model-year record
  • Forward collision avoidance issues4,000–12,000 miles on the 2024 model-year record
  • Transmission hard shifts16,000–24,000 miles on the 2024 model-year record
  • Sliding door malfunction30,000–35,000 miles on the 2023 model-year record
  • Engine failure25,000–64,000 miles on the 2023 model-year record

Buyer red flags

  • Test Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) for unexpected activation during lane changes and highway driving
  • Verify adaptive cruise control does not cause unexpected speed changes on varying road textures
  • Inspect for any service records related to CMBS or adaptive cruise control malfunctions
  • Check for any outstanding recalls related to forward collision avoidance systems
  • Test Auto Idle Stop system for restart failures at stoplights
  • Inspect for transmission leaks or unusual shifting behavior
  • Check forward collision avoidance system for unexpected braking
  • Examine moonroof for signs of stress or previous repairs

How to interpret the counts

Complaint totals are not failure rates

A popular or older model can accumulate more complaints simply because more vehicles exist and have spent longer on the road. The categories above aggregate the counts embedded in each model year's leading issues. Use recurrence across years and severity signals to decide what to inspect; use the VIN and a mechanical inspection to judge one car.

Source trail

Where this Honda Odyssey data comes from

VinExposed combines model-level research with the vehicle-specific history you get from a VIN. Reliability scores and complaint patterns come from Auto Reliability Index's Honda Odyssey research, which analyzes NHTSA records and independent repair data.

Recall counts describe a model year, not the repair status of one car. Confirm the exact VIN with the official NHTSA recall lookup and a vehicle-history report before buying.

Buyer questions

Honda Odyssey research FAQ

What is the most common Honda Odyssey problem?

Forward Collision Avoidance is the broadest recurring complaint category in the available model-year records, appearing among the top issues for 9 years with 280 complaints represented.

Which Honda Odyssey year has the most reported problems?

The 2019 has the largest forward collision avoidance count among the years where that category appears. Compare the full year record because a different year may lead on another problem category.

Do NHTSA complaints prove a Honda Odyssey has a defect?

No. Owner complaints are unverified reports and can be duplicated or influenced by sales volume and vehicle age. They are useful patterns to investigate alongside recalls, service records, inspection results and the exact VIN.

Check the actual car

Model research narrows the list. The VIN confirms the car.

Check title brands, accidents, odometer history, auction records and recall status for the specific Honda Odyssey you are considering.