Head-to-head reliability
Honda Odyssey vs Honda FIT
How the Honda Odyssey and Honda FIT compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Honda Odyssey vs Honda FIT: The Odyssey has 309.2 complaints per year, while the Fit has 112.9. The Odyssey's issues include false braking and fuel odors, while the Fit's include display failures and airbag recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Odyssey or Honda FIT more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey is a family minivan that, over the past decade, has generated a high volume of complaints, averaging over 300 per year. Owners report a mix of electrical gremlins, false activations of driver-assist systems, and engine-related issues, including a concerning fuel odor in the cabin. While it offers space and utility, the data suggests a need for vigilance with its complex electronics and safety systems.
Honda FIT
The Honda Fit is a subcompact hatchback with a lower complaint rate, averaging about 113 per year. Its issues are more concentrated in electrical system glitches, particularly with the digital display, and airbag concerns, including a recall for the front passenger airbag. Engine and fuel system problems also appear, but the overall volume is lower, suggesting a less troublesome ownership experience on average.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Odyssey | Honda FIT |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,092 | 1,129 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 81 | 51 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 46 Better | 59 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 309.2 | 112.9 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 118 | 60 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 0 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Honda Odyssey
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM922
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE662
- 03ENGINE619
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER507
- 05LANE DEPARTURE420
Owners report the Auto Idle Stop system causing the engine to shut down unexpectedly and the vehicle to shift into Park, as well as infotainment glitches when using Apple CarPlay with the rear entertainment system. These issues can be disruptive and potentially dangerous in traffic.
The Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) has been reported to activate suddenly without an obstacle, causing the vehicle to slam on the brakes. Owners describe this as a design flaw in the 'smart' safety features, leading to a lack of trust in the vehicle's automated systems.
There are reports of a strong exhaust/fuel odor entering the cabin, causing dizziness and nausea, which is a serious health concern. Additionally, some owners have experienced engine misfires and failures requiring replacement of ignition coils and spark plugs.
“My 2026 Honda Odyssey was stopped at a traffic light with Auto Idle Stop engaged. When traffic was ready to move, the engine appeared to restart for about half a second and then shut down. The vehicle then shifted itself into Park and would not resume normal…”
“I own a 2026 Honda Odyssey Elite equipped with the factory rear entertainment system and Apple CarPlay. When using Apple CarPlay navigation (Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze) while passengers are watching a movie on the factory rear entertainment system, ever…”
Honda FIT
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM309
- 02AIR BAGS225
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM145
- 04ENGINE139
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER130
A common issue is the digital display (showing fuel gauge, odometer, etc.) intermittently going blank or becoming garbled, especially in cold weather. This can leave the driver without critical information like speed and fuel level.
Owners have reported that airbags did not deploy in a crash, and there is a recall for the front passenger airbag inflator. This is a critical safety concern that requires immediate attention.
Some owners experience the engine light, steering light, and tire light coming on simultaneously, along with juddering and loss of power at highway speeds. This can be a frightening and dangerous situation, indicating a potential fuel or ignition system problem.
“The dealership changed the oil on my 2020 Honda Fit, and the Oil Life display was reset to 100%, on 1/8/24. Two days later the LCD panel, which shows the fuel gauge, odometer, remaining range, oil life, etc. began to intermittently go blank or become garbled…”
“DIGITAL DISPLAY (MILEAGE, OIL LEVEL, FUEL GAUGE, ETC) FAILS WHEN TURNING VEHICLE ON DURING COLD WEATHER. IT REMAINS BACKLIT, BUT ALL TEXT DISAPPEARS. TYPICALLY, THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON EITHER HIGHWAY OR CITY STREETS. THIS MEANS AS A DRIVER I'M UNABLE TO…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Honda Odyssey — 81 recalls
The defect: Vantage Mobility, LLC (VM) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Honda Odyssey, 2021-2025 Chrysler Pacifica, and Toyota Sienna vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.
The risk: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters was mailed January 27, 2026. Owners may contact Vantage Mobility customer service at 1-800-488-9082.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The second row outboard seats can slide sideways to one of two positions. If a seat is placed between either of the two positions when attaching the seat to the vehicle floor, the seat will not latch properly to…
The risk: If the seat tips forward during braking, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket to the second row outboard floor strikers, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2018. Owners may contact American Honda Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…
Honda FIT — 51 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022 HR-V vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the engine is started with a key, due to a design error in the audio display power circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of…
The risk: An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the display audio unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 13, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is 6DW. This recall has…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022 HR-V vehicles that were previously recalled under NHTSA recall number 23V-046. The rearview camera image may not display when the engine is started with a key, due to a design error in the audio display power circuit.…
The risk: An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the display audio unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Honda service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are TIQ and DIR. Vehicles previou…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…
Buyer analysis
Honda Odyssey or Honda FIT: which should you buy?
The Honda Fit has fewer complaints per year (112.9) compared to the Honda Odyssey (309.2), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. While both have their share of problems, the Odyssey's higher volume and more serious safety-related complaints (e.g., unintended braking, fuel odor) suggest that the Fit may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience on average.
Key differences
- The Odyssey has a much higher complaint rate (309.2/yr) than the Fit (112.9/yr).
- The Odyssey's top issues involve advanced safety systems (forward collision avoidance) and electrical gremlins, while the Fit's top issues are more basic electrical display failures and airbag concerns.
- The Odyssey has reports of a fuel odor in the cabin, a serious health and safety issue, which is not reported for the Fit.
- The Fit has a recall for the front passenger airbag inflator, which is a critical safety item, while the Odyssey's recalls include items like wheelchair restraints and fuel pumps.
- Check for any open recalls, especially those related to the fuel pump and steering, and ensure they have been completed.
- Test the Auto Idle Stop system and forward collision warning/braking in a safe area to ensure they do not activate unexpectedly.
- Verify that the airbag recall (NHTSA Campaign Number 24V064000) has been performed, as the part may have been unavailable.
- Inspect the digital display for any signs of intermittent blanking or garbled text, especially in cold weather.
Before you buy
- Check the NHTSA website for open recalls on the specific VIN and confirm all are completed.
- For the Odyssey, test drive at various speeds and engage the driver-assist features to see if they behave erratically.
- For the Fit, start the car in cold conditions if possible to see if the display works properly.
- Ask for service records to see if any electrical or engine issues have been addressed.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on the electrical system and any signs of fuel leaks or odors.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Honda Odyssey | Honda FIT |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 442 | 35 |
| 2019 | 915 | 134 |
| 2018 | 951 | 115 |
| 2017 | 39 | 42 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Honda Odyssey or Honda FIT in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Odyssey vs Honda FIT
- Honda Odyssey total complaints
- 3,092
- Honda FIT total complaints
- 1,129
- Honda Odyssey total recalls
- 81
- Honda FIT total recalls
- 51
- Honda Odyssey avg complaints/year
- 309.2
- Honda FIT avg complaints/year
- 112.9
- More reliable overall
- Honda FIT
- Honda Odyssey top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda FIT top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM