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Vehicle Stats/Honda/Odyssey Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Jul 2026Methodology

Honda Odyssey Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls β€” NHTSA data

Poor reliability signalOur verdict from 3,008 complaints and 81 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used Honda Odyssey options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

3,008
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
81
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
46
Crash-Related
crash complaints
17
Fire-Related
fire complaints
112
Injuries Reported
across all years
10
Years Analyzed
2017–2026

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Found a Honda Odyssey? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns β€” they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.

  • Accident & damage history
  • Odometer rollback records
  • Open recalls & title brands
NMVTIS official data Instant results No signup for the preview
Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Honda Odyssey has 3,008 owner complaints and 81 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2018 drew the most complaints; 2026 drew the fewest.

Honda Odyssey β€” key reliability facts
Make
Honda
Model
Odyssey
Model years analyzed
2017–2026 (10 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
3,008
Safety recall campaigns
81
Crash-related complaints
46
Fire-related complaints
17
Worst model year (by complaints)
2018 (940 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2026 (20 complaints)
Top reported issue area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Β· Data last refreshed Jul 28, 2026
This Odyssey has 81 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free β†’

By model year

Honda Odyssey: which years to avoid & which to buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used β€” lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
2018940 complaints2019894 complaints2020430 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
202620 complaints201739 complaints202481 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β€” lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2018 Honda Odyssey? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year β€” averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free β†’

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

20262026 HONDA ODYSSEY PV N/A FWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
4/5
20252025 Honda ODYSSEY PV FWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
4/5
20242024 Honda ODYSSEY PV FWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
4/5
How to read NCAP stars
5 stars β€” Excellent
4 stars β€” Good
3 stars β€” Average
2 stars β€” Below average
1 star β€” Poor

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the complaint data suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

The HONDA ODYSSEY has 3,008 NHTSA complaints and 81 recalls on record. 46 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key findings
  • 3,008 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 81 federal recall campaigns
  • 46 crash-related complaints on record
Top concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Worst years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

Best years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to check before buying used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume β€” popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2017
39
2018
940
2019
894
2020
430
2021
130
2022
127
2023
89
2024
81
2025
258
2026
20

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

81 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Safety recall

AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

#26V227000AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARESeptember 4, 2026
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#24V064000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERJanuary 2, 2024
Safety recall

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS/SECUREMENT:LATCH/ANCHOR:

#25V877000EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS/SECUREMENT:LATCH/ANCHOR:
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#26V332000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Safety recall

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

#17V725000SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#23V858000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

STEERING

#24V114000STEERING
Safety recall

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS/SECUREMENT:LATCH/ANCHOR:

#25V877000EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS/SECUREMENT:LATCH/ANCHOR:
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#26V332000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

#23V431000BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Safety recall

STEERING

#24V114000STEERING
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#23V858000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS/SECUREMENT:LATCH/ANCHOR:

#25V877000EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS/SECUREMENT:LATCH/ANCHOR:
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#26V332000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

#21V010000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
Safety recall

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

#23V174000VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

#23V431000BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#23V858000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS/SECUREMENT:LATCH/ANCHOR:

#25V877000EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS/SECUREMENT:LATCH/ANCHOR:
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#26V332000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

Common problems

What goes wrong most often

The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 3,008 NHTSA complaints β€” these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM892 complaints
02
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE646 complaints
03
ENGINE594 complaints
04
UNKNOWN OR OTHER495 complaints
05
LANE DEPARTURE408 complaints
06
POWER TRAIN359 complaints
07
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM235 complaints
08
STRUCTURE211 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

3,008 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERJul 2026

When I stopped at a stoplight at a busy intersection during rush hour traffic my auto shut off engaged like it was supposed to. When I released my foot off the brake for the car to restart so I could drive the car's dash started flashing and displaying instructions to engage the brake and put the car into drive, except I was in drive. It would not restart and no matter how many times I pressed the brake and the drive button nothing changed and it kept flashing the same message at me. I attempted to the the car off and when I tried to restart it, it flashed the battery light and would not restart. All electrical systems would turn on, but the car would not restart. It took a solid 5 minutes and turning the car off and on for it to finally restart. Then subsequent times at following lights before I turn the auto shut off off it would restart but struggled to. I have taken it to the dealership and called Honda Corporate and both tell me it is not throwing a code and therefore nothing is wrong with it.

VISIBILITY/WIPERJul 2026

Driving in city limits without any other vehicles nearby, the sunroof β€œexploded”. After immediately pulling over and inspecting the sun roof from outside the glass was buckled up, away from the interior of the car. The glass then all fell to the interior door.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERJul 2026

Intermittent Auto Start/Stop failure: When stopped at a red light or stop sign, the car sometimes completely dies. Fails to restart: Releasing the brake pedal does not automatically restart the engine. Manual restart required: I have to manually restart the vehicle and shift back into Drive to proceed. Traffic concern: This process takes 10 to 15 seconds, holding up the traffic behind me.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEJul 2026

I own a 2026 Honda Odyssey Elite. The vehicle has unexpectedly applied the brakes while driving even though there was no vehicle, pedestrian, or obstacle in front of me. The braking event occurred without warning and without any legitimate reason for the Forward Collision Avoidance system to activate. I first reported this issue to my Honda dealership on June 2, 2026 and again during subsequent repair visits. Although the dealership was initially unable to duplicate the concern, the issue remains unresolved. Unexpected braking at highway speeds creates a serious safety hazard because it increases the risk of a rear end collision and could cause other drivers to take evasive action.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINEJul 2026

I own a 2026 Honda Odyssey Elite. On multiple occasions, the Auto Idle Stop system shut the engine off while stopped at a traffic light. When I released the brake pedal to proceed, the engine failed to restart, leaving the vehicle disabled in traffic. I was forced to shift the vehicle into Park and manually restart the engine using the Start/Stop button. This defect has occurred multiple times. I first reported the issue to my Honda dealership on June 2, 2026. After two visits where the dealer was unable to duplicate the concern, I captured the failure on video. During my third repair visit, the dealership's engineer personally experienced the failure twice while testing the vehicle. Honda Customer Relations opened a case and worked with the dealership. The dealership ultimately replaced the battery but advised me that this was only the next diagnostic step and not a confirmed root cause of the failure. This defect creates a significant safety hazard because the vehicle can become immobilized in an active traffic lane after the light turns green, exposing occupants to the risk of being struck by other vehicles.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERJul 2026

Rear windshield with possible spontaneous shatter first noticed at noon today. No signs of impact or vandalism. Car last driven 2 days prior and appeared normal last night. Vertical line fractures at the very edge of the glass on both sides concerning for manufacturing defect. Police report filed, no repairs made yet.

Read 14 more owner reports
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHERJul 2026

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, every navigation voice prompt causes the movie playback to stop. After playback stops, the movie cannot be restarted from the vehicle controls. The only way to restore normal operation is to stop the vehicle, turn the vehicle completely off, restart it, reconnect Apple CarPlay, and restart the movie. However, the problem repeats the next time a navigation instruction is given. This creates a driver distraction because passengers immediately ask for the movie to be restarted, and the driver is presented with an infotainment system that does not respond as expected while the vehicle is moving. Drivers may attempt to troubleshoot or repeatedly interact with the infotainment controls instead of focusing on driving. My Honda dealership advised me they were able to reproduce this issue on multiple new 2026 Honda Odyssey vehicles on their lot, indicating that this is not unique to my vehicle. Honda Customer Relations has also been notified.

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEJul 2026

When i was driving, going about 45 MPH, the emergency braking system beeped and breaks were engaged. Not to a complete stop but like a "break tap". Nothing was in front of beside our behind me. It was terrifying and I'm unsure why this happened. Please be advised, this can cause an accident.

ENGINEJun 2026

The Auto Idle/stop caused my engine to stall not once but twice in the past few weeks while on a major highway. Light turns green and my car won't start back up. I have to let the car sit for a second then restart the car while traffic is flying past me on this highway. Absolutely ridiculous that my brand new car is having these issues and that I am unable to turn this feature off permanently.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTUREJun 2026

This is a report on a design flaw- not a failed component- in the 2026 Honda Odyssey's "smart" computer automated safety features, including automatic braking, lane departure, and forward collision warning systems. There have been two types of incidents. These incidents have been repeated on this vehicle dozens of times in our first year of ownership. These incidents are potentially very dangerous because they involve erroneous automatic braking at interstate highway speeds. Unexpected erroneous braking at interstate speeds is a good way to cause a rear-end collision or loss of control. 1. Automatic emergency braking due to erroneous lane departure detection. On interstates in Arizona at highway speeds of 65 MPH, the vehicle's lane departure detection system throws erroneous warnings when it sees non-lane markings on the roadway, such as tar sealant strips or seams between pavement sections. This has resulted more than once in the vehicle erroneously applying emergency automated braking to slow the vehicle. This happens even when lane assist and adaptive cruise control are turned off by the driver. 2. Erroneous automated braking while overtaking another vehicle. On interstates in Arizona at highway speeds of 65 MPH, while passing in the left lane a vehicle that is moving much slower in the right lane (e.g. semi truck climbing a hill at 40 MPH), while using adaptive cruise control, automated braking is applied erroneously when there is no risk of a forward collision. The automated braking tends to kick in far earlier than a human driver would brake, and when there is no vehicle in the lane ahead, so it is unexpected and dangerous. This only happens while adaptive cruise control is activated by the driver.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINEJun 2026

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 operation. The battery warning light was illuminated. Pressing the engine Start/Stop button caused all of the screens/displays to turn off briefly, but they came back on in the same failed state. The vehicle was disabled in traffic at an intersection. The component or system that failed appears to be the Auto Idle Stop / engine restart system, possibly involving the starter, starter relay, battery/charging system, or engine control software. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the vehicle unexpectedly failed to restart and became disabled while stopped at a traffic light, creating a traffic obstruction and risk of being struck from behind or causing other drivers to maneuver around the vehicle. The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. UNKNOWN whether diagnostic trouble codes were stored. The vehicle/component has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to the failure that I noticed. The battery warning light appeared after the engine shut down and the vehicle would not restart normally.

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEJun 2026

I was driving down a 35mph road, the car in front of me slowed down, I was about 2 car lengths behind it. No notice, no warning, my Odyssey SLAMMED on the brakes and brought me to an abrupt stop with no notice and no need. Everything in the van flew forward and in the floor. Luckily there was no one directly behind me. It gives me serious whiplash when this happens and it is uncalled for, the car in front of me did not stop it only slowed down, there was plenty of room between our vehicles (we were only going about 30 mph) and there was absolutely no warning- just BAM! and my van was stopped in the middle of the road. Something needs to be done about this, someone is going to be killed! I took it to the dealer the last time and they said the van did not record it. So another easy out for Honda! And nothing they can do...

UNKNOWN OR OTHERMay 2026

Moonroof exploded while driving 55 mph. I took pictures. It was completely distracting while driving and a very scary incident. Searching online provided a class action lawsuit against Honda for this issue. We have not been able to get it looked at due to it being the weekend and the service department is not open. No police were called. Insurance claim started. No warning before it happened.

LANE DEPARTUREApr 2026

The vehicle’s Blind Spot Warning system intermittently fails during normal operation. The warning message β€œBlind spot information system problem. See your dealer.” appears after driving or after restarting the vehicle. The system may function initially (for example, when leaving a garage), but then disables itself during driving or after the vehicle is parked and restarted. The issue first occurred within the first week of ownership and has persisted and become more frequent over time. The vehicle currently has approximately 4,500 miles. This failure affects a driver assistance safety feature intended to warn of vehicles in adjacent lanes that may not be visible to the driver. The malfunction creates a safety risk because the system becomes unavailable unpredictably during normal driving conditions. The failure is intermittent and cannot be consistently reproduced at a service appointment. The vehicle has been presented for service; however, the condition could not be diagnosed because the warning was not active at the time of inspection. The dealer advised that the issue could not be evaluated without the warning present. Proposed options included leaving the vehicle for an extended period to attempt to reproduce the intermittent condition, or returning when the warning is active. Due to the unpredictable and intermittent nature of the failure, this approach has not resulted in a diagnosis or repair. The failure remains unresolved. The system failure occurs during routine commuting and affects the ability to safely monitor adjacent lanes when changing lanes.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERApr 2026

Sunroof spontaneously exploded while driving. No object hit the sunroof.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERApr 2026

My husband and I are driving down the road to go to the store and the sunroof exploaded there was no car in front or behind us for something to of had hit it. It just burst into pieces

LANE DEPARTURE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEMMar 2026

The contact owns a 2026 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the blind spot monitor became inoperable with the message "Blind Spot Information Systems Failure - See Dealer" displayed. The contact also stated that while in the driver assist mode, the message "System Could not be Retrieved - Please try Again" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was determined that a systems update was needed but was not currently available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 6.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEFeb 2026

While changing lanes to an off-ramp the Collision Mitigation Braking system suddenly activated along with a collision warning beep even though there were no automobiles nearby to trigger the warning. No cars in front of me and no cars to the right of me in the exit lane. My car immediately braked and tried to steer back into the main roadway, away from the exit lane. The lane departure light did also come on due to me not using a turn signal prior to the lane change, but there was nothing else around to trigger a proximity alert nor to respond to.

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEDec 2025

On November 12, I was on the highway in the right lane, there was a car about 4 car lengths ahead of me in my lane and the car in the middle lane was quite a distance ahead. Just as I got in the middle lane, BOOM! the vehicle's CMBS malfunctioned and slammed on the brakes - no warning, visual or audible, just came to an abrupt stop. Thank goodness no one was behind me or I would have been dead. It was an instant whiplash effect as well And then as I was then merging back into the right lane to exit the highway, it did it again! There were NO cars anywhere near me as I had slowed down due to the trauma from the first braking malfunction and all the cars were quite a distance ahead and thank goodness there were no cars behind me. Then on November 25, the same thing happened again. Driving down the highway, no cars near and BOOM! I am brought to an abrupt stop in the middle of the highway! The CMBS malfunctioned again in the middle of the highway. I took it to the dealer and conveniently there were no codes so they said there was nothing they could do. Someone needs to do something about this! To answer your questions 1) CMBS system is malfunctioning and has been for quite some time on Honda vehicles 2) If there would have been a vehicle behind me, I most likely would have been killed. If my dogs would have been in the van, they would have been injured. It gave me whiplash 3) I took it in and they did nothing until I complained, then they kept it a second day and drove it and said it didn't do it. But they weren't even going to do anything until I pushed the issue. This is a known issue with Honda as I found out AFTER it happened to me. 4) the dealer 5) Absolutely NO warnings before it happened

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCENov 2025

Observed repeatedly while operating at highway/interstate cruising speed, with adaptive cruise engaged: any changes in road texture - concrete to blacktop, between different types of blacktop or concrete, separation joints, etc - such as when crossing a bridge, crossing state lines, entering open-road toll plazas, etc - results in a sharp lifting of the throttle and at times will also automatically engage the brakes. This results in rapidly and unexpectedly cutting speed by 10-15 mph before automatically resuming set speed 1-2 seconds later. This has resulted in trailing vehicles to think I am brake-checking them or otherwise caused them to abruptly brake or swerve out from behind me. It also can cause driver and occupants in the Odyssey to lurch forward and back unexpectedly - which has had a residual affect of unintended input on the steering wheel, cascading into unintended direction change and amplifying vehicle instability issues already introduced by the sudden speed change. There are multiple other owners of 2018+ Odysseys on the forum [XXX] which have reported similar situations. I have tried to encourage them to register their observations here. I believe this issue poses a significant risk to the operator and occupants, as well as surrounding motorists. Rental/fleet vehicles with drivers who are otherwise unfamiliar with the issue would be at exceptional risk. I have experienced this issue numerous times as I live near & frequent highways and interstates with these types of road conditions nearby. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Showing 20 of 3,008 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact Honda Odyssey

These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

The basics

How to read this data

Complaints, recalls, investigations β€” here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Honda Odyssey, in plain English.

01

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β€” but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Honda Odyssey has 3,008 complaints on record across 10 model years.

02

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Honda Odyssey has 81 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 46 of the Honda Odyssey's 3,008 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β€” a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

04

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

05

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β€” simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

06

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Honda Odyssey vehicles on the road β€” not any specific car. Two Honda Odyssey vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

07

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β€” NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Honda Odyssey has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

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By state

Check a Honda Odyssey by state

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Honda Odyssey.

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Research more

Keep researching before you buy

Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.

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Honda Odyssey reliability β€” frequently asked questions

Is the Honda Odyssey reliable?

Poor. The Honda Odyssey has 3,008 NHTSA owner complaints and 81 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.

Which Honda Odyssey years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2018 (940 complaints), 2019 (894 complaints), 2020 (430 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.

What are the most common Honda Odyssey problems?

Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (892 complaints); FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (646 complaints); ENGINE (594 complaints).

Does the Honda Odyssey have recalls?

Yes β€” 81 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Honda Odyssey. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

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