2018 Honda Odyssey: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2018 Honda Odyssey
On the 2018 Honda Odyssey, the failure owners report most often is lane keep or steering assist fault, and the reports cluster around 20,000 miles. The earliest to appear is ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure, reported by a median of 5,000 miles. Overall it scores 79 out of 100, severe risk for a 2018.
Severe risk for a 2018 — 60th riskiest of the 251 2018 vehicles we can rate. 1,674 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What owners report breaking
Owners have reported 84 named failure modes on the 2018 Honda Odyssey, and the three most-reported carry 27% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Lane keep or steering assist fault leads with 210 reports, about 1.9 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 7k to 45,000 miles.
Other powertrain problem follows with 123 reports, usually reported between 10k to 57,500 miles.
Cruise control failure follows with 114 reports, median 60,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into adas (439), electrical (197) and engine (196).
When these failures get reported
405 of the reports on the 2018 Honda Odyssey came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 24,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 69% by 50,000 miles, 88% by 100,000 miles and 96% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 2 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 34% of the dated reports.
60% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
In the order they tend to show up: ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure around 6k, backup camera failure around 9k, other body or interior problem around 10k and door latch or handle failure around 10k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 84. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 2 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 17 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 24 an injury and 3 a fatality. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 3.84, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: lane keep or steering assist fault at $200–$1,600, other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500, cruise control failure at $200–$1,400 and other electrical problem at $250–$2,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
25% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lane keep or steering assist fault | adas | 210 | 14 | 7k | 21k | 46k | 1.9 | $200–$1,600 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 123 | 38 | 10k | 30k | 57k | 1.1 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 114 | 5 | — | 60k | — | 1.1 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 108 | 45 | 3k | 13k | 37k | 1.0 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other engine problem | engine | 106 | 26 | 29k | 46k | 100k | 1.0 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 75 | 9 | 42k | 80k | 92k | 0.7 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 61 | 27 | 2k | 10k | 27k | 0.6 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 60 | 20 | 41k | 60k | 84k | 0.6 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 52 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.5 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 41 | 6 | — | 84k | — | 0.4 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 41 | 5 | — | 43k | — | 0.4 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 37 | 12 | 7k | 16k | 38k | 0.3 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Infotainment screen failure | infotainment | 35 | 7 | — | 7k | — | 0.3 | $400–$2,600 | Low |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 35 | 10 | 15k | 20k | 36k | 0.3 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Backup camera failure | infotainment | 34 | 13 | 745 | 9k | 10k | 0.3 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 33 | 10 | 34k | 45k | 97k | 0.3 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 29 | 11 | 23k | 50k | 112k | 0.3 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Overheating | cooling | 22 | 1 | — | 3k | — | 0.2 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 19 | 10 | 37k | 45k | 76k | 0.2 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 15 | 6 | — | 19k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 14 | 1 | — | 126k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 12 | 8 | 636 | 6k | 9k | 0.1 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 12 | 2 | — | 24k | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Door latch or handle failure | body | 12 | 9 | 8k | 10k | 10k | 0.1 | $250–$1,200 | High |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 12 | 5 | — | 14k | — | 0.1 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 11 | 1 | — | 38k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 11 | 2 | — | 142k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 11 | 2 | — | 2k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 9 | 3 | — | 65k | — | 0.1 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 9 | 2 | — | 130k | — | 0.1 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Harsh or jerky shifting | transmission | 9 | 3 | — | 29k | — | 0.1 | $600–$4,000 | Moderate |
| Transmission will not engage a gear | transmission | 9 | 1 | — | 118k | — | 0.1 | $1,500–$6,000 | Critical |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 9 | 2 | — | 71k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 9 | 1 | — | 6k | — | 0.1 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 9 | 4 | — | 80 | — | 0.1 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Fuel injector failure | fuel | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $450–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 7 | 1 | — | 93k | — | 0.1 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 7 | 2 | — | 71k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 7 | 1 | — | 45k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 7 | 1 | — | 4k | — | 0.1 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Audio or connectivity failure | infotainment | 7 | 4 | — | 7k | — | 0.1 | $150–$900 | Low |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 5 | 3 | — | 550 | — | 0.0 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 5 | 2 | — | 1k | — | 0.0 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 5 | 3 | — | 101k | — | 0.0 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure | engine | 4 | 1 | — | 86k | — | 0.0 | $1,200–$4,500 | Critical |
| Lifter, cam or cylinder-deactivation failure | engine | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,800–$7,000 | High |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 4 | 1 | — | 55k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 4 | 2 | — | 86k | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Torque converter failure | transmission | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,100–$3,200 | High |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 3 | 2 | — | 43k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 3 | 1 | — | 150k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Airbag deployed without a crash | airbag | 3 | 1 | — | 17k | — | 0.0 | $2,500–$8,000 | Critical |
| Parking sensor failure | adas | 3 | 1 | — | 6k | — | 0.0 | $180–$900 | Low |
| Engine bay fire | engine | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $4,000–$20,000 | Critical |
| Electrical fire or melted wiring | electrical | 2 | 1 | — | 15k | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$9,000 | Critical |
| Oil leak | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 68k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| Thermostat failure | cooling | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$900 | Moderate |
| Transmission slipping | transmission | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,200–$5,500 | High |
| CVT failure | transmission | 2 | 1 | — | 76k | — | 0.0 | $3,000–$8,500 | Critical |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 2 | 1 | — | 75k | — | 0.0 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 2 | 2 | — | 17k | — | 0.0 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 2 | 2 | — | 15k | — | 0.0 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 2 | 1 | — | 9k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 2 | 2 | — | 65k | — | 0.0 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Water pump failure | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,200 | High |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Fuel gauge or level sensor failure | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 16k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Automatic braking for no reason | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $0–$1,500 | Critical |
| Blind spot monitor failure | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 87k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Tire pressure monitor failure | wheels | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $80–$600 | Low |
| Air conditioning failure | hvac | 1 | 1 | — | 44k | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,800 | Moderate |
| DPF, EGR or DEF system failure | emissions | 1 | 1 | — | 56k | — | 0.0 | $800–$5,000 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 109 | 42 | 1k | 7k | 28k | 1.0 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2018 Honda Odyssey draws about 15 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 93rd percentile of complaint rates among 2018 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 108,529 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2018 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Lane keep or steering assist fault
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 honda odyssey. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle jerked and the engine revved. The contact stated that the engine remained on, but the vehicle did not shift into drive or reverse. All the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. Prior to this, while driving different speeds, the vehicle decelerated, lost power, and shut off. The vehicle was taken to perfection honda (2603 american rd se, rio rancho, nm 87124, 505-221-5084) where it was determined that there was no failure. The failure recurred several times and the vehicle was taken to the same dealer who was unable to duplicate the failures. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and stated that they would be investigated. The contact stated that nothing was done. Also, whenever the spare tire was in use, all the safety systems, such as the lane keep assist, lane departure warning, collision mitigation system, and the adaptive cruise control system turned off. The contact took the vehicle back to the same dealer who was unable to duplicate the failures and stated that the vehicle was operating as designed. The…
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 honda odyssey. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle jerked and the engine revved. The contact stated that the engine remained on, but the vehicle did not shift into drive or reverse. All the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. Prior to this, while driving different speeds, the vehicle decelerated, lost power, and shut off. The vehicle was taken to perfection honda (2603 american rd se, rio rancho, nm 87124, 505-221-5084) where it was determined that there was no failure. The failure recurred several times and the vehicle was taken to the same dealer who was unable to duplicate the failures. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and stated that they would be investigated. The contact stated that nothing was done. Also, whenever the spare tire was in use, all the safety systems, such as the lane keep assist, lane departure warning, collision mitigation system, and the adaptive cruise control system turned off. The contact took the vehicle back to the same dealer who was unable to duplicate the failures and stated that the vehicle was operating as designed. The…
Other powertrain problem
We were driving on i75 north on sat june 10. We were right before the atlanta macon split. The vehicle completely shut down at highway speeds. The dvd player turned off. The engine turned off. The entire instrument panel went dark. There was no power to anything. The vehicle turned back on in "park" creating a horrible popping noise. The dealership (willett honda) in morrow ga looked at the vehicle and cannot find the source of the power failure. They have been instructed to return it to us. The case number at honda is 06075564. Jerry hogan at bommarito honda in hazelwood mo is the sales manager and he wants us to drive the vehicle in spite of the obvious safety defect. Honda cannot detect the cause of the issue.
Having issue of acceleration at road speed. When doing road speed I have had flat acceleration when pressing gas pedal. Almost feels as if vehicle is about to stall or decelerate. Dealer with vehicle and they can't find issue. Dealer claims they have not had any honda company reports about this. This event has happened several times. Last event interesting is that this has happened when decelerating to enter ezpass express toll at at 50mph and then trying to accelerate to flow of traffic
Recalls on the 2018 model year
NHTSA has issued 16 recall campaigns covering the 2018 Honda Odyssey, affecting an estimated 702,108 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover back over prevention: sensing system: camera, air bags:sensor:occupant classification:front passenger, air bags: air bag/restraint control module:software and fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
325,588 vehicles 2026-07-01- Defect
- 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."
- Consequence
- A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
98,892 vehicles 2026-05-21- 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 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…
- Consequence
- Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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.
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
440,830 vehicles 2026-04-09- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- Air bags that deploy unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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…
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2,490,460 vehicles 2023-12-18- 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, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
- Consequence
- Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
248,999 vehicles 2023-11-13- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
- Remedy
- 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…
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
1,209,673 vehicles 2023-06-15- Defect
- 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."
- Consequence
- A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- 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.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
448,613 vehicles 2023-03-09- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
1,258 vehicles 2021-01-14- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
- Remedy
- 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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
324,196 vehicles 2020-07-28- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- A power sliding door that fails to latch may open while moving, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
607,786 vehicles 2020-07-28- Defect
- 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…
- Consequence
- Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
241,339 vehicles 2020-02-06- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- An intermittent electrical short could overheat the wire harness, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
50,504 vehicles 2019-04-12- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- A damaged parking rod can allow the vehicle to roll when parked, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2018 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
Severe risk for a 2018 — 60th riskiest of the 251 2018 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 31 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 1997 comes out best at 59 and 2018 worst at 79, with 2018 itself at 79.
If the model year is negotiable, 1997, 1998, 2017, 1996, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2000, 2004, 2001, 2023, 2021, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2002, 2003, 2013, 2025, 2024, 2026 and 2020 score lower than 2018 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2018–2020 generation specifically, 2020 is the strongest year at 76 and 2018 the weakest at 79.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2018-2020 generation, 2020 Honda Odyssey scores best at 76 and 2018 Honda Odyssey worst at 79.
What the numbers say to check
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure from about 636, backup camera failure from about 745, other body or interior problem from about 2k and other electrical problem from about 3k.
On a 2018 Honda Odyssey with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
Where these figures stop being useful
1,674 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 1,674 reports, 405 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 24% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Honda Odyssey?
The most-reported failures are lane keep or steering assist fault (210 reports, median 20,000 miles), other powertrain problem (123 reports, median 30,000 miles) and cruise control failure (114 reports, median 60,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2018 Honda Odyssey problems start?
Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 5,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 600 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 24,000 miles.
Is the 2018 Honda Odyssey reliable?
It scores 79 out of 100 on our risk index, which is severe — 60th riskiest of the 251 2018 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2018 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Honda Odyssey is best?
Within the 2018–2020 generation, 2020 scores best at 76 out of 100 and 2018 worst at 79. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed