2011 Honda Odyssey

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Electrical system is the leading concern among 233 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 18th highest complaint count among 26 Odyssey model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 233

Of the 2011 reports, 11 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.

Primary concernElectrical system65 reports · 28% of complaints
Owner complaints233Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship5 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Electrical system65
  2. Service brakes45
  3. Engine25
  4. Structure20
  5. Power train19
  6. Other or unspecified17
  7. Seats14
  8. Tires12

Recalls and investigations

  1. Seats, mid/rear assemblyNov 17, 2017

    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 seat striker, allowing the seat to tip forward unexpectedly during braking.

    If the seat tips forward during braking, it can increase the risk of injury.

    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. Honda's number for this recall is S0G.

    Campaign 17V725000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Seats, mid/rear assemblyDec 27, 2016

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Odyssey vehicles manufactured August 17, 2010, to October 1, 2015. The affected vehicles have second row outboard seats that have a release lever that allows the seats to move for easier access to the third row of seats. This release lever may remain in the unlocked position allowing the seats to move unexpectedly.

    An unlocked second row outboard seat increases the risk of injury to the seat occupant during a crash.

    Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional bracket and spring to both second row outboard seats, free of charge. Interim letter has been mailed, and a second notification will be sent . Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KD5.

    Campaign 16V933000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Air bagsJan 18, 2013

    Honda is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Pilot and 2011-2013 Odyssey passenger vehicles manufactured from March 13, 2008, through December 21, 2012. One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover may be missing.

    The absence of more than one rivet could alter the performance of the driver's airbag during deployment. This could potentially increase the risk of injury during a crash.

    Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda dealer. The dealer will inspect the driver's airbag module and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.

    Campaign 13V016000 on NHTSA.gov

  4. VisibilityMar 21, 2011

    HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY VEHICLES. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FAILURE WITH THE DRIVER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR POWER WINDOWS IN WHICH THE WINDOW MAY COME OFF THE TRACK CAUSING THE WINDOW TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND PREVENTING IT FROM BEING ROLLED UP OR DOWN OR IT COULD DROP INTO THE DOOR.

    THE WINDOW MAY SHATTER INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN CAUSING A RISK OF INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

    DEALERS WILL REPLACE EITHER THE PASSENGER'S AND/OR THE DRIVER'S FRONT DOOR WINDOW GLASS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009.

    Campaign 11V181000 on NHTSA.gov

  5. Visibility, windshield wiper/washerMar 15, 2011

    HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY VEHICLES. IF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES BECOME FROZEN TO THE WINDSHIELD AND THE WIPER MOTOR IS SWITCHED ON, ONE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE RODS MAY BEND OR SEPARATE FROM THE MOTOR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT STIFFNESS OF THE ROD.

    THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY FAIL TO OPERATE, DECREASING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER ROD FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009.

    Campaign 11V180000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified

17 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Other or unspecified, Sep 6, 2026

    GPS clock stuck on time 0:00.

  2. Other or unspecified, Feb 2, 2024

    The transmission has failed at 186, 000 miles, right outside the warranty.

  3. Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 23, 2023

    Check engine light would pop on for a small amount of time periodically since I purchased it, took it to shop where they stated everything was fine..as check engine light was no longer on. Just started smelling burning when drove for long periods of time. Yesterday, on the way home with my 8 year old daughter, in freezing upstate NY temps, the gears totally went out. Thankfully I was right next to house and able to put in park and back into drive to get it to click into first gear to get us to house. Gears went out in mid drive, going 60 mph.

  4. Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 22, 2023

    The passenger side electric door cord snapped while children were getting out of the vehicle and no we cannot open the door any longer. The safety of my children were put at risk since there was no warning that this was going to happen; the door made a loud noise and started to shut quickly. The problem has been confirmed by an independent auto repair center and we were quoted $1,100 to repair (the entire motor and door pulley system needs to be replaced; we cannot ONLY fix the cord - we have to replace the entire thing). Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? NO. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? NO WARNING.

  5. Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 2, 2022

    I seen a recall for a lawsuit agsinst Honda the VCM or engine but it’s just starting to make problems. Whoever owned it before me had until April 2014 to submit a claim and therefore I’m out a van and can’t claim it.

  6. Other or unspecified, Jul 13, 2019

    THE VAN'S AC SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE AIR CONDITIONING WILL BLOW COLD AIR ON THEN PASSENGER SIDE AND WARM AIR IN THE DRIVER SIDE AND REAR. THIS IS THE SECOND ODYSSEY THAT HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. ON MAY 7, 2019, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO A NON-HONDA SHOP FOR AN AC PERFORMANCE CHECK AND PAID FOR AN EVACUATION AND RECHARGE. AT THE SAME TIME A DYE WAS PLACED TO IDENTIFY ANY LEAKAGE SHOULD IT OCCUR AGAIN. THE AC WORKED FINE FOR TWO MONTHS. ON JULY 9, 2019, THE UNIT STARTED BLOWING HOT AIR AGAIN. WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP, THE DYE SHOWED UP ON THE AC CONDENSER. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT WE REPLACE IT. A SEARCH ON THE ISSUE SEEMS THAT SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN DEFECT. HONDA NEEDS TO FIX THIS DESIGN FLAW FOR ITS CUSTOMERS BY EITHER SHIELD THE CONDENSER OR MOVE IT TO A LOCATION LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROAD DEBRIS IMPACT. THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR EXPOSING THIS VITAL PART. WHEN LIVING IN GEORGIA IN TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT, THIS CAN QUICKLY BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE.

  7. Other or unspecified, May 21, 2019

    THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY, I GET OIL CHANGE STATION TO TURN IT OFF. THAT USUALLY LAST FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THEN USUALLY AT A GASOLINE FILL UP, WHEN THEY PUT GAS CAP BACK ON, I CRANK UP, AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR COMES ON AGAIN! THEY TELL ME THAT IT IS AN OXYGEN SENSOR CODE.

  8. Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 6, 2019

    AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS OPENING BY THEMSELVES, EVEN WHEN DOORS ARE LOCKED. HAPPENED WHEN SITTING IN HOME DRIVEWAY AND PUBLIC PARKING LOT,STATIONARY AT BOTH LOCATIONS. ALSO,STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT,APPLYING BRAKES, ON A CITY ROAD AND AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS UNLOCKED AND LOCKED AGAIN, ON THEIR OWN. UNKNOWN REASONS FOR THESE OCCURRENCES. ALSO WHILE SITTING STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY, MY VEHICLE STARTED UP WITH NO ONE INSIDE, NO KEY IN IGNITION, AND DOORS LOCKED.

  9. Other or unspecified, Nov 19, 2018

    I REPORT AN ISSUE WITH OUR VAN DOOR LAST YEAR THAT I FELT WAS PRETTY SERIOUS. I NEVER HAD A FOLLOWUP ON YOUR END TO THIS ISSUE. REFERENCE NUMBER PROVIDED WAS 10983098. HONDA OFFERED A DISCOUNTED REPAIR BUT I FELT THIS A BIGGER SAFETY ISSUE. I DID NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR.

  10. Seats, Other or unspecified, May 10, 2018

    THE CABLES ON BOTH REAR PASSENGER DOORS BROKE ( SNAPPED) WHILE WE WERE PUTTING OUR SONS ON THEIR CAR SEATS AND TRIED TO CLOSE THEM SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE REAR AUTOMATIC BUTTONS, WHEN THEY GOT TO THE END OF THE FRAME THEY WOULD REOPEN.WE WERE PARKED AND COULDN'T GET THEM TO CLOSE. SO FINALLY WE HAD TO CUT THE CABLE IN ORDER TO CLOSED THEM. WE CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING ANY RECALLS ON THIS , BUT UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T GET ANYWHERE. PLEASE HELP...THANK YOU . WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM WORKING . ALSO THE HEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME....WE DEALT WITH IT OPENING THE MANUALLY FOR MONTHS. PLEASE HELP ON THIS

  11. Air bags, Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2017

    AN UNLOCKED SECOND ROW OUTBOARD SEAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. RECALLED ON LAST DEC 2016, BUT STILL INCOMPLETE

  12. Other or unspecified, Sep 16, 2015, crash

    I WAS PARKED IN OUR LEVEL DRIVEWAY, WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING, AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR AFTER MAKING SURE IT WAS IN PARK. SHUT THE DOOR, AND THE CAR ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY OVER A SMALL HILL AND HIT THE RAILROAD TRACKS IN FRONT OF OUT HOUSE. NO ONE WAS INJURED.THE PARKING MECHANISM ON THIS VEHICLE DID NOT OPERATE EFFECTIVELY, THE SHIFTER SAID IT WAS IN PARK,AND THE CAR JUMPED INTO GEAR.

  13. Other or unspecified, Sep 15, 2015

    WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP ON WET ROADS, THE TIRES SPIN AND THERE IS NO TRACTION; THE CAR FISHTAILS AND STARTS VERY SLOWLY. I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE INITIAL TIRES WERE CHEAP, BUT I RECENTLY BOUGHT NEW TIRES (NOT FROM HONDA) AND SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED TIRES THAT WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I NO LONGER THINK IT IS A "TIRE" ISSUE, BUT A CAR AND WEIGHT-DISTRIBUTION ISSUE. DRIVING IN THE RAIN OR ON WET ROADS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN A HONDA ODYSSEY.

  14. Other or unspecified, Aug 28, 2014, fire

    MY CAR DIED ON MONDAY, AUGUST 25, SO I CALLED HONDA OF MARYSVILLE TO GET MY BATTERY REPLACED. WENT IN ON TUESDAY, THEY QUOTED ME $168+ REPLACE BATTERY, SO I CALLED KLEIN HONDA AND WAS QUOTED $99 + TAX. LEFT MARYSVILLE HONDA AND WENT TO KLEIN TO HAVE MY BATTERY REPLACED. AFTER THEY REPLACED MY BATTERY, THE GENTLEMAN TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW ALTERNATOR. HE PROVIDED ME A WRITTEN QUOTE OF $800. I CALLED SIMS HONDA (BURLINGTON, WA) FOR A SECOND OPINION AND WAS VERBALLY QUOTED $550, BUT THEY WANTED TO SEE THE CAR. WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 0930, I LOADED MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF INTO OUR VAN TO GET THE SECOND OPINION. NOT MORE THAN A MILE FROM HOME MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I PULLED OVER. WITHIN MINUTES MY CAR WAS FULLY ENFLAMED. *TR

  15. Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Sep 8, 2013

    WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND MISFIRING. CEL WAS FLASHING AND CHECK VSA AND EMISSIONS CAME ON. FOUND OUT ENGINE OIL LEVEL WAS LITERALLY ZERO. CALLED HONDA. LATER FOUND OUT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS ISSUE. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOLLOWED TSB11-033. HONDA REP CALLED BACK AND SAID THEY NEED TO MONITOR ENGINE OIL LEVEL AND TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IN 1000 MILES TO CHECK OIL LEVEL. DID THAT AT 50000 MILES AND DEALER FOUND NORMAL. AGAIN AT 53000 MILES THE PROBLEM REPEATED TODAY SEP 8, 2013. WILL BE CALLING HONDA TODAY OR MONDAY. SEEMS LIKE THE ISSUE MAY BE WITH VCM. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS HONDA VEHICLE.

  16. Other or unspecified, May 18, 2011

    DANGEROUSLY POOR HANDLING IN SNOW, DESPITE TRACTION CONTROL; IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE IT UP HILL EVEN FOR DRIVERS WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE DRIVING IN THE NORTHEAST.

  17. Other or unspecified, May 3, 2011

    THE LOW BATTERY LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL WARNS AND FLASHES EVERY TIME THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE REAR SLIDING DOORS ARE OPEN OF THE 2011 ODYSSEY. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AT MY HONDA DEALERSHIP (SPORT HONDA, 3101 AUTOMOBILE BLVD., SILVER SPRING, MD) AND BOTH TIMES WERE TOLD BY MY SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE VAN IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT PREMATURE BATTERY FAILURE AND THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. THIS ISSUE DIDN'T START TIL 2 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOW HAPPENING MORE FREQUENT. I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE (MAY 3, 2011) FROM THE HONDA CORPORATION AND TOLD THEM OF THIS ISSUE. THEY DOCUMENTED EVERYTHING AND TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINEERS ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A FIX FOR THIS.