2018 Honda Odyssey
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 991 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 26 Odyssey model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 14 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 30 people were injured and 3 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraJul 1, 2026
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey vehicles. Water may enter into the rearview camera, which can cause the rearview camera image to fail to display when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is HOX. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 20V438. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 9, 2026.
Campaign 26V423000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classification, front passengerMay 21, 2026
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 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
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, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Campaign 26V332000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, air bag/restraint control module, softwareApr 9, 2026
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Odyssey vehicles. A software programming error can cause the side and side curtain air bags to deploy unexpectedly.
Air bags that deploy unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Dealers will reprogram the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ECU) software or replace the ECU, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is UNW. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 16, 2026. The information in your report suggests that Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) may have been aware of this issue more than five business days before filing a report with NHTSA. Please be reminded that under Federal law, this agency is to be notified of all safety defect and/or noncompliance decisions within five business days. 49 CFR 573.6 Significant civil penalties can be assessed for this violation.
Campaign 26V227000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpDec 18, 2023
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, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
Campaign 23V858000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engine, hard parts internal/mechanicalNov 13, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.
Campaign 23V751000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, display functionJun 15, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EEL, ZEM, and SFC.
Campaign 23V431000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, front, buckle assemblyMar 9, 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching.
An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are NDA, QDB, BDC, MDD, LD9. TDF, FDG, ODH, YDI, ZDE.
Campaign 23V158000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storageJan 14, 2021
Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Braun-modified Honda Odyssey vehicles. The fuel tank assembly installed by Braun may be susceptible to the fuel tank overfilling into the charcoal canister. If the charcoal canister fills with a sufficient amount of fuel, fuel may leak out.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Braun will notify owners, and dealers will inspect vehicles. If evidence of a fuel leak is present, a new fuel tank assembly and a new Honda charcoal canister will be installed, free of charge. The recall began February 22, 2021. Owners may contact Braun customer service at 1-800-488-0359.
Campaign 21V010000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraJul 28, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is T89.
Campaign 20V439000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchJul 28, 2020
Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey vehicles. Water may enter the outer door handle cables for the sliding doors. If this occurs, the outer door handle cables may freeze in cold temperatures, preventing the front and rear sliding door latches from securely latching.
A power sliding door that fails to latch may open while moving, increasing the risk of injury.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power sliding door outer handle cables, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is A88.
Campaign 20V437000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, wiringFeb 6, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey vehicles. The wire harness for the third row seat accessory power outlet may get pinched between the unibody and rear trim panel, possibly damaging the wires and causing an electrical short.
An intermittent electrical short could overheat the wire harness, increasing the risk of a fire.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row seat accessory power outlet wire harness for damage, replacing it as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and re-route the harness. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is T6U.
Campaign 20V066000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionApr 12, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Loose battery terminal connections or a degraded battery may cause the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) to unexpectedly reboot. Upon rebooting, the TCU may shift the transmission to the "Park" position, possibly damaging the parking rod.
A damaged parking rod can allow the vehicle to roll when parked, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will ensure the battery terminal connections are secure and will update the TCU software, free of charge. Additionally, the parking rod effectiveness will be checked. The recall began May 31, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Z4J, Y4K.
Campaign 19V299000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, air, antilock, wheel speed sensorMar 20, 2019
Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Honda Odyessy vehicles modified to be equipped with an in-floor wheelchair ramp conversion. The rear wheel speed sensor harnesses may have been routed to the incorrect rear wheels, resulting in the possibility that the anti-lock brake system will not recognize each rear wheel speed properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake System" and 404, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
If the rear wheel speeds cannot be correctly monitored, the anti-lock brake system may not engage properly to prevent the wheels from locking up, increasing the risk of crash.
Braun has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the rear wheel speed sensor harnesses, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 4, 2019. Owners may contact Braun customer service at 1-800-488-0359.
Campaign 19V213000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchNov 9, 2018
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2018 and 2019 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The latch assemblies for the power sliding doors may stick and not properly latch to the door strikers.
If the power sliding doors fails to latch, the doors may open while moving, increasing the risk of injury.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right power sliding door rear latch assemblies, free of charge. The recall began January 3, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Z33 and O36.
Campaign 18V795000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, disc, caliperNov 1, 2018
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Acura MDX, 2017-2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda HR-V and Honda Odyssey, and 2016 Honda HR-V vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating, causing gas pockets to form, reducing brake performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
A reduction of braking performance increases the risk of a crash.
Owners will be notified, and Honda or Acura dealers will bleed the brakes, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C31 and L30.
Campaign 18V777000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat beltsJun 23, 2017
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The seat belt tongue for the third row center seating position may not be compatible with the latch, preventing the seat belt from latching securely. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
If in the event of a crash, the seat belt cannot restrain the occupant they have an increased risk of being injured.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row center seat belt to make sure that it has the correct tongue, replacing the seat belt, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 31, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is KF7.
Campaign 17V397000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
201 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 21, 2026
The Fuel Injectors are failing which is causing a safety concern with regards to moving the vehicle. There was a warranty extension on these items that does not go far enough to remedy the issue. The components have been inspected and confirmed by the Burns Honda Dealership in Marlton, NJ. Because the vehicle does not consistently accelerate, it is a safety risk.
Engine, Sep 17, 2026
crankshaft/rod bearing defect that is causing an audible knocking noise in the engine and located metal shavings in the oil.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 15, 2026
1. Component failed: The low-pressure fuel pump failed. The vehicle is currently sitting at my residence and is available for inspection upon request.2. Safety risk: The vehicle stalled completely while driving, causing an immediate loss of propulsion on a public road, creating a severe collision risk.3. Confirmation: The problem has been pulled and confirmed by an independent service center (AutoZone diagnostic scan tool), which pulled a code to replace the fuel pump.4. Inspection: The component has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives, as the manufacturer is currently refusing to authorize an inspection due to a salvage title.5. Warning lamps/Symptoms: Immediately prior to the stall, a complete cascade of warning lights appeared on the dashboard simultaneously, and the vehicle sputtered aggressively upon attempting to crank and restart.Assessment: This is the identical, textbook physical failure condition of NHTSA Campaign 23V-858 regarding defective factory-installed Denso fuel pumps in 2018 Honda Odysseys. American Honda Corporate is using an automated salvage title database filter as a pretext to deny mandatory federal safety recall remedies on a vehicle with zero structural fuel system damage.
Engine, Sep 3, 2026
NHTSA Recall 19V-299 / Honda Campaign Z4J. Sudden gear refusal, shifting malfunctions, and stalling. The premature structural failure of my 10-speed transmission is a direct consequence of the known factory software defect that violently shifts the car into Park while moving.
Electrical system, Air bags, Engine, Aug 28, 2026
COMPONENT THAT FAILED & AVAILABILITY: The vehicle's primary electrical architecture and data communications network (CAN bus) failed during a safety recall service for the SRS ECU and rearview camera. After attempting to complete the recall work, the vehicle is no longer able to start. SAFETY RISK: The manufacturer's federally mandated safety recall remedy compromised the vehicle's critical safety and control infrastructure. This rendered a previously reliable family vehicle entirely inoperable, destroying its ability to communicate, start, or turn on. It poses a systemic safety risk if the corporate recall procedure itself causes severe electronic failures in consumer vehicles. REPRODUCTION & DEALER CONFIRMATION: Yes. The failure was induced directly by Williams Honda ([XXX]) during service on Thursday, XXX. The dealership's Service Manager explicitly confirmed to me that their technicians compromised the electrical architecture while performing the SRS ECU and rearview camera recall work. The vehicle has remained dead at their facility ever since. INSPECTION BY OTHERS: The vehicle has been actively inspected by dealership technicians in coordination with Honda Engineering headquarters. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives, as no crash occurred. I have requested an inspection by a Honda Corporate Field Technical Specialist (FTS). WARNING LAMPS & PRIOR SYMPTOMS:NONE. Prior to this appointment, the vehicle was in perfect electrical and mechanical working order. There were absolutely no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms of any starting or electrical problems. The vehicle had just safely completed a seven-hour road trip immediately prior to being dropped off for the recall work. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Aug 13, 2026
Engine failed, rod shavings entering the motor, causing a full motor repair. This has caused our family to be stranded.
Engine, Jul 28, 2026
The contact’s daughter owns a 2018 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that after the vehicle was idling at a stoplight and then attempting to accelerate after the light turned green, there was a loud clanking sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The owner then became aware of white smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road and the vehicle stalled. After the vehicle stalled, there was no smoke coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact became aware that vehicles of the same year, make, and model were known to experience engine failures at approximately100,000 miles. The contact stated that the vehicle was inspected at approximately 100,000 miles and the rear main seal was replaced during the routine service and maintenance. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 7, 2026
I own a 2018 Honda Odyssey EX-L (VIN [XXX]). The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power and entered limp mode, with multiple safety and driver-assistance systems shutting down at once (adaptive cruise, braking assist, lane/road departure mitigation, EPS, etc.). A Honda dealer (Allen Honda, College Station, TX) retrieved DTC P0369 and documented that the front camshaft is worn and has thrust forward, contacting the camshaft position (CMP/TDC) sensor and damaging the thrust plate. The dealer is recommending an internal engine repair costing several thousand dollars. I am very concerned because Honda has already acknowledged serious engine defects in this same J35 V6 family under Recall 23V751 (connecting rod bearing wear leading to engine damage and stall) for 2018–2019 Odyssey, yet my dealer states my VIN is “not part of the recall” and that this is a “separate issue.” In practice, I am seeing a major internal engine failure that causes sudden derate and disables multiple safety systems, but I am being told there is no recall coverage or assistance simply because my individual VIN falls outside Honda’s current recall production range. I am requesting that NHTSA review this incident as a potential recall exclusion problem: owners with the same engine family and serious internal failures are being denied recall coverage on a technical VIN cutoff, even though the safety consequence—loss of power and shutdown of critical safety systems while driving—is similar to the failures already recognized under Recall 23V751 and the ongoing engine defect investigation. I believe this situation may warrant expansion of existing recall coverage or a new recall campaign for currently excluded VINs like mine, and reimbursement for owners who have already paid for these repairs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine, Jun 29, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine started making knocking sounds. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be disassembled for further diagnostic tests. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Action Number: PE25008 (Engine). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 23, 2026
All warning lights began flashing after a SRS recall fix at Honda of Joliet, Illinois. Dealer wanted to do a in depth vehicle scan for $279. I brought it to an independent care repair shop where they did the scan for $199. They found engine damage per attached report. My vehicle’s VIN was not included in the initial recall for the same problem for the same vehicle, year, and engine type. Contacted Honda Customer service a more or less ‘good luck’ response.
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 21, 2026
Warning lights began flashing on dash. Brought van to repair shop and was told and show leakage of oil into cylinders with metal shavings visible. Also heard a ticking sound while idling for a few weeks. Van only has 145,000 miles on it and was regularly serviced.
Engine, Jun 1, 2026
I own a 2018 Honda Odyssey 3.5L V6 and while my wife and 9 year old daughter were driving down the highway at 70mph that car decided to throw a rod throw the bottom of the motor leaving my family stranded on the roadside with no motor oil left in the car. This is a known issue for the 2018 Honda Odyssey but only for certain VIN numbers. I think it's pretty clear from all of the online complaints from this same year that it's not only those VIN numbers. We have always replaced the oil at 3,500 miles with Mobile 1 syntenic 0w-20 and always check the oil level to make sure none is missing. For the car to just throw a rod at 157k miles is pretty concerning as this will require a entire engine replacement out of pocket cost as Honda will not take ownership of this even though this year and model is known to have issues. I would like to see more VIN numbers added to their recall because this isn't fair to the people who buy a car for reliability and are left stranded on the roadside for a known issue they are not being forced to stand behind and make right. PLEASE HELP ME
Engine, May 20, 2026
2018 Honda Odyssey with 3.5L engine, Honda dealership diagnosed engine noise to worn/failed connecting rod bearing. Vehicle has 109,000 miles. Noise started within last 6 months. No other symptoms experienced. Oil services and other maintenance performed per maintenance minder using fully Synthetic MobileOne oil and extended life filter. Pictures and bearing measurements from tear down and diagnosis show significant bearing wear beyond normally expected wear for vehicle with only 109k miles. clearly not normal wear, and is consistent with failure seen on other Honda rod bearing stories for 3.5 L engines.
Engine, May 13, 2026
While driving down an interstate going approximately 70 mph, the engine, all of a sudden started losing power and showing a check engine light. I immediately pulled over to a safe location. Check the oil which appeared okay and called a tow truck. Bring my vehicle to a local shop. The shop did some inspections and found that there was some failures on the connecting rods. Nothing else has been done at this point
Electrical system, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 28, 2026
When accelerating from a stop position while pushing on the accelerator the vehicle will not move. Takes a couple seconds. Almost struck by oncoming car when attempting to turn left onto Main road. Happens frequently. Next: left sliding passenger door doesn’t close all the way then opens back up. Takes several attempts before it decides to close or with my assistance. Third: rear cargo door shuts without me pushing the button. Alarm sounds and immediately shuts. Been hit in the head once while closing. I’ve seen complaints about this and Honda is apparently aware. Last; the car will inadvertently emergency brake when an oncoming vehicle approaches from the front. Very disturbing when traveling at any speed going into an instant stoppage.
Engine, Apr 22, 2026
My 2018 Honda Odyssey began exhibiting intermittent acceleration lag several years before the repair, and the condition progressively worsened. At the time of repair, the vehicle had 68,957 miles. The safety concern occurs when accelerating from a stop, such as at a red light, stop sign, or when merging into traffic. I depress the accelerator normally and the vehicle does not respond. There is a delay where the engine and transmission fail to engage, leaving the vehicle stationary while surrounding traffic begins to move. To compensate, I must press the accelerator further. When the vehicle finally responds, it does so abruptly, causing a sudden surge of acceleration. This creates two safety hazards: (1) loss of control due to the unexpected “kick” when power finally engages, and (2) increased risk of collision when attempting to merge or cross traffic, because the vehicle does not accelerate when expected. I have been honked at by other drivers and have experienced near‑miss situations because the vehicle failed to move when it should have. Owner forums show many similar reports from other ~2018 Odyssey owners describing the same acceleration lag and abrupt engagement. Based on these reports, the commonly recommended fix is a throttle body cleaning and a transmission “teach‑in” procedure. An authorized Honda dealership performed these procedures on my vehicle at my expense (approximately $500–$550). These procedures are not listed in Honda’s factory maintenance schedule, yet appear necessary to correct a drivability issue that presents a safety risk. Given the frequency of similar owner reports and the safety implications of delayed or unpredictable acceleration, this issue may indicate a design or calibration defect in the throttle body, engine air‑management system, or transmission control logic.
Engine, Apr 21, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Odyssey. While driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle. The accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact became aware that there was smoke coming from the exhaust. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a loose rod bearing. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced or rebuilt. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 172,750.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 19, 2026
Multiple times of driving the vehicle as I am trying to press the gas pedal while driving it acts like it is not working and suddenly it stutters and stalls. The car will shut off and put you into to neutral while you try and pull over to the side of the road without being hit. It happens randomly and without rhyme or reason. After it shuts off codes are thrown such as brake failure, emissions failure, hill assist failure, steering failure, and lane assist failure. The car will be really hard to restart and if eventually will and then everything will disappear and go back to normal. Codes leave and car drives fine until it messes up again. First time it happened was months ago from this report, and then it happened monthly, weekly and now almost daily but only when you try and drive. Very unsafe and there’s no reason cars should stall at high speeds going down interstates!
Engine, Apr 16, 2026
Noise coming from engine. No engine light nor warnings otherwise. Van was taken to dealership where it was confirmed that a rod bearing inside the engine assembly is faulty, which could cause sudden stalling of the vehicle, even while traveling at high speeds on the highway. This is a known issue (Honda Service Bulletin 24-003) with this model van manufactured at the same time, for which a national recall notice was issued. However, my vehicle’s vin was not included in the recall.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 6, 2026
Our 2018 Honda Odyssey repeatedly and without warning completely loses acceleration power, creating extremely dangerous driving conditions. This occurs in two distinct situations:(1)while driving at highway speeds when attempting to change lanes or accelerate, and(2)when stopped at a stop sign or intersection and pressing the gas to merge into or turn into traffic. In both situations, pressing the accelerator results in little to no response — the vehicle will roll but fails to accelerate as needed. These failures have placed our family in multiple life-threatening situations. On Interstate 285 in Atlanta, Georgia — one of the busiest and highest-speed highways in the country — our vehicle has failed to accelerate during lane changes on multiple occasions, nearly causing serious accidents. Most recently, within the past week, my husband was driving on I-285 when he pressed the accelerator and the vehicle had absolutely zero acceleration response. He narrowly avoided a collision. We have also experienced complete loss of acceleration when turning from a stop sign into traffic and when merging — situations where immediate acceleration is critical to safety. The vehicle lags for several seconds before any power is delivered to the wheels, leaving us dangerously exposed in oncoming traffic. All manufacturer recalls have been completed, including the fuel pump recall. The problem persists and has not been resolved by any dealer service or recall repair performed to date. We are aware that this is a known, widespread defect affecting 2018 Honda Odysseys equipped with the ZF 9-speed automatic transmission. Hundreds of other owners have reported identical symptoms to NHTSA and to Honda directly. Honda has acknowledged the transmission's behavior to some owners but has stated it is "how the car is supposed to drive" — a response that is wholly unacceptable given the documented near-accidents this defect is causing.We are requesting that NHTSA open or expand its investigation
Engine, Mar 16, 2026
While driving on the highway, the engine light came on and off. Pulling over, I inspected the engine compartment and heard what I believe was cylinder knocking, but could not obtain an engine code with an OBD code reader. Oil was of sufficient level as it had just been replaced within 1,000. After this I attempted to drive it to the dealership, where on going 45 MPH, I pulled to the right lane for emergency police vehicles and when the vehicle was stopped, the engine stopped and seized up. After not being able to start the vehicle, I could not find the neutral safety switch to put the transmission in neutral to move the vehicle from the flow of traffic (turns out the switch is not readily accessible and is on the side of the transmission underneath the air intake and battery compartment. Police officers pulled behind the vehicle and assisted me in getting a tow truck to take the vehicle to the dealership for inspection. At Coggin Honda in Jacksonville, the vehicle was inspected and the engine would not turn over manually by the crankshaft. The engine was deemed to have catastrophic failure and would need to be replaced at 126,000 miles. This vehicle is a 2018 which is on TSB 24-003, however is not listed on the applicable VINs. This TSB is for connecting bearing rod failure which would lock this vehicle’s engine the way the dealership found it. I believe this to be the issue as several Honda engines have had this failure. The vehicle was maintained per Honda’s maintenance programs and even had an extended warranty of up to 100,000 miles which when the TSB the vehicle was underneath that mileage and would have been covered by Honda if they had released the full list of VINs for that year to be inspected instead of a sub list of VINs of the production. Honda needs to be investigated to see if that TSB needs to be expanded since 2023-2024 timeframe other users have had a similar failure and seized engines.
Engine, Mar 16, 2026
Our 2018 Honda Odyssey (Elite) has been diagnosed by our local Honda dealer with engine failure due to rod knock (rod bearing failure). This vehicle is well maintained with only 72,500 miles when the issue became noticeable. The dealer has verbally quoted $8,800 to replace the engine with another used engine, which I refuse to pay given the relatively low mileage and age of this vehicle (and history of other costly inexcusable issues). I opened a complaint/goodwill case (#16188784) with Honda Corporate, which was denied. This Honda Odyssey was our primary family vehicle (the only vehicle we can all travel together in), and it is now siting in our garage completely inoperable. Honda America's lack of care here is beyond frustrating.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 9, 2026
One week ago, I was driving on a highway, accelerating to the 65 MPH speed limit on that road, my van's accelerator completely stopped responding. Despite pumping the pedal repeatedly, I was unable to control my speed at all, and the car continued to lose speed. I had my three children in the car at the time, and given that people regularly go in excess of 70 MPH on that road, I was in danger of not being able to exit the road and/or being hit. I was able to coast off of onto an exit, and the car started responding at speeds of 30 MPH, but it was lurching and jerking while driving. We immediately had the vehicle inspected by an independent mechanic and have been advised that the transmission needs to be replaced. There were no warning lights for this failure. The car also had an incident about a year ago where all lights came on and it stopped responding. At that time, we had Honda dealership examine it, and they said they could not find any issues. Additionally, the car has been jerking slightly while shifting, but the issue improved when we had the transmission fluid flushed at the Honda dealership again about a month ago, and no issues were noted by them at that time. We have performed regular maintenance and safety inspections on this vehicle.
Engine, Mar 5, 2026
Over a year ago, my vehicles engine began ticking. On 12/14/2024, while driving the vehicle, it developed a rod knock, went into a limp mode and was towed back to our house. I eventually took the vehicle to Honda in Beaumont, Tx where they did an inspection of the vehicle and verbally told me it was the crankshaft, but would not provide me any documentation stating that. According to the lady at the desk, the service tech had never seen or heard of an issue like this in these vans. I was quoted almost $10,000 to replace the engine with a salvage yard engine with almost as many miles on it. I knew prior to taking it to Honda that there was a recall that did not cover my vehicle regarding this same issue. The vehicle is still parked at my house being started occasionally to keep battery charged.
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 3, 2026
Vehicle experiences engine stalling and failure to restart at intersections when the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature is engaged. This creates an immediate life-safety hazard as the vehicle becomes non-functional in live traffic. This has occurred 2 times. Once on surface streets and once on the highway in stop-and-go traffic. This issue persists despite Service Bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. Honda Corporate and Honda Dealership refusing to cover the repair. Separately, during a 37-day repair attempt (Jan 22 – March 2, 2026), AutoNation Honda Chandler admitted the vehicle was sold with an 'incorrect' battery type (Lead Acid instead of required AGM), which caused electrical instability. The dealership attempted a repair on Feb 13, but the vehicle failed to start again on Feb 11 during a pickup attempt. The dealer has since refused to provide accurate service records or further communication. The vehicle remains unsafe to drive as it continues to stall randomly.