Odyssey (RL6)
Verdict Buy a 2021-2023 van with every recall verified, confirming the 24V114 steering fix on a 2023; that window misses the worst 2018-2019 bearing and software campaigns. Price a 4th-generation Toyota Sienna before paying the Honda premium.
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
J35Y7
3.5L 6-cyl / 280 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
Honda Odyssey Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
Show 1 additional engine variant with limited data
J35A7
3.5L 6-cyl / 255 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
Reliability Overview
The Odyssey RL6 carries one of the heaviest complaint loads among current-production mainstream minivans in our data. Owners filed 3,346 NHTSA complaints across 2018-2025, with 16 fires, 116 injuries, and 3 deaths against the single J35Y7 3.5L V6 powertrain. The J35Y7's 3,296 complaints work out to 412.0 per year. Honda offers no hybrid Odyssey, so buyers have no second drivetrain to fall back on the way Pacifica shoppers can choose gas over PHEV. The recall record backs the reading: 27 NHTSA campaigns across this generation.
The V6 itself is not the problem. The J35Y7 3.5L is a proven Honda architecture shared with Pilot, Passport, Ridgeline, and Acura MDX, and owners do not report widespread block or supporting-hardware issues outside the connecting rod bearing campaign. The 10-speed automatic has not generated meaningful long-term failure complaints either, once the 2018-2019 TCU reboot software was patched. Suspension and steering complaints sit near the bottom of the distribution. The mechanical platform is solid.
The complaint volume concentrates in five categories. Electrical leads at 1,036 complaints, including an extensive rearview camera defect chain that produced four separate recalls between 2020 and 2023 (20V438, 20V439, 20V440, 23V431). Safety Systems follows at 937, much of it Honda Sensing false alerts and AEB phantom-braking reports. Engine complaints at 733 include reports tied to NHTSA campaign 23V751, the connecting rod bearing wear and seizure issue on 2018-2019 cars also covering MDX, Pilot, and Ridgeline. Transmission at 384 includes the 19V299 TCU reboot that could damage the parking rod on 2018-2019 Odysseys. Fuel System at 360 includes reports tied to two Denso low-pressure fuel pump campaigns (23V858 and 21V215) that hit most of the Honda and Acura lineup. The recall stack also includes airbag weight sensor failures (24V064 on 2020-2022 cars), steering gear box water intrusion (24V114 on 2023-2024), and a 2019 timing belt teeth separation campaign on the 3.5L V6.
The reliability profile leaves a thin buyer pool. A used Odyssey shopper hunting a 2021-2023 car with verified completion of the rod bearing, fuel pump, and rearview camera recalls is the best position. That window sits after the worst 2018-2019 software and bearing campaigns and before the 2023-2024 steering corrosion issue. Buyers cross-shopping the Pacifica gas V6 or the Toyota Sienna should weigh the Sienna's standard hybrid drivetrain as the segment's cleaner reliability bet. The Odyssey's interior packaging and family ergonomics remain segment-leading. The complaint record is the price for those features.
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Honda Odyssey, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
Buyer's Guide
A used 2021-2023 Odyssey with verified recall completion is the strongest reliability pick in this generation. That window sits after Honda's worst 2018-2019 software and connecting rod bearing campaigns and before the 2023-2024 steering gear box water intrusion issue. There is no hybrid or alternative drivetrain to recommend; the J35Y7 V6 is the only choice across all trims and years. Buyers who want a cleaner minivan reliability profile should price the 4th-generation Toyota Sienna instead. The Sienna ships standard with a hybrid drivetrain and a different complaint pattern.
Before buying any 2018-2019 Odyssey, run the VIN through recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov and confirm 23V751 (connecting rod bearing wear), 19V299 (TCU reboot), 19V298 (timing belt teeth separation), 18V664 (SRS airbag/pretensioner), and 17V397 (third-row seatbelt latch) campaigns are completed. The bearing recall is the most serious item; an unrepaired bearing failure can require complete engine replacement. On 2018-2020 cars, also confirm 23V858 and 21V215 (Denso fuel pump) work. On any year 2018-2023, verify the rearview camera recall stack (20V438, 20V439, 20V440, 23V431) and the sliding-door latch recalls (18V795, 20V437) are closed out and test the camera in different lighting conditions during the test drive. On 2023-2024 cars, confirm 24V114 (steering corrosion) is completed.
Used pricing on the Odyssey holds firm because Honda's minivan name carries weight independent of the data. Expect to pay a Honda premium over the Pacifica for similar trim and mileage. The reliability data argues that premium is hard to defend in this generation. The Sienna and Pacifica gas V6 both warrant first-look attention from a minivan shopper who does not require Honda specifically.
What to check on a used 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey
On a used 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the electrical system (1,036), the airbags and driver-assist systems (937) and the engine (733). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 1,036 owner complaints on the 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey about the electrical system.
- Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 937 owner complaints on the 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
- Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 733 owner complaints on the 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey about the engine.
- Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 384 owner complaints on the 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey about the transmission and drivetrain.
- Let the engine idle for five minutes, walk around the car and smell for fuel.Safety. NHTSA has 360 owner complaints on the 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey about the fuel system.
Recalls (27)
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."
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.
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.
Vantage Mobility, LLC (VM) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Honda Odyssey, 2021-2025 Chrysler Pacifica, and Toyota Sienna vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Odyssey and 2024 Acura RDX vehicles. The steering gear box assembly may not have been tightened properly, allowing water to enter the assembly and cause corrosion and binding gears.
Show 22 older recalls
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
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.
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.
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."
Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
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.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022 Odyssey vehicles equipped with Bridgestone tires. The affected vehicles may have a tire that contains a pinhole, causing a slow air leak. As such, these tires fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 139, "New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles."
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022 Odyssey vehicles. The second-row outboard seats may have deformed seat rail locking mechanisms, which could prevent the seat rails from locking into place.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
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.
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.
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."
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Odyssey vehicles. Water may get into the rearview camera mounting holes and enter the camera lens and cause a distorted image, or no image at all. Additionally, if the rearview camera view mode is set to top-down view, or switched from that view to another mode in a bright environment, the image may not display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
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.
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.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura MDX and Honda Pilot vehicles and 2019 Acura RLX, RLX Sport Hybrid, TLX and Honda Odyssey and Ridgeline vehicles. The timing belt teeth may separate from the belt.
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."
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.
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."
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Honda Insight, Odyssey, and Ridgeline vehicles. The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) control unit may have a manufacturing error, possibly resulting in the air bags or seatbelt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.
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."
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey complaints?
Owners have filed 3,346 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey. The systems they name most often are the electrical system, the safety systems and the engine.
Is the 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 3,346 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey have?
NHTSA has 3,346 owner complaints on file for the 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA lists 27 recalls covering some 2018-2025 Honda Odyssey vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Honda Odyssey?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the electrical system, the safety systems and the engine, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Odyssey?
The 2025 Honda Odyssey received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 5 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (13.6% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Standard. Lane Departure Warning: Standard. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 3,346 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.