674 of the 3,165 complaints about the Honda Odyssey (21.3%) concern Engine, making it the model's second-largest problem area. That share is 1.0× the Engine share across all tracked vehicles.
674Complaints · Engine
21.3%Share of complaints
0.96×vs. all vehicles
352Last 12 months
1.5%Share involving a crash or fire
2Related recalls
Analysis
By model year, Engine complaints peak with the 2018 model (197, 20% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2023 model (14). 352 Engine complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 131 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
Owners most often describe: “restart”, “idle”, “engine”, “auto” and “van”. 10 of these reports (1.5%) describe a crash or fire, with 7 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.
2 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 23V751000 (2023-11-13, model years 2018 and 2019).
On May 2nd, we drove our 2019 Honda Odyssey XL-E to church, and as soon as we pulled into the parking lot, we started to see smoke coming from our front hood. We exited the car.
Engine · 2026-05-02 · ODI 11735301 · Fire
I was driving to work on April 7th, 2026 and parked the vehicle at my company parking lot. Prior to parking, I noticed unusual smell and then parked the vehicle.
Engine · 2026-04-07 · ODI 11729801 · Fire
Mileage: 121000 When stopped and the auto idle initiated, we have had numerous incidents where the van has shutoff and required a restart.
Engine · 2026-09-02 · ODI 11761544
The Auto Idle-Stop system is causing the vehicle to stall at stop signs, requiring a full shift into Park, engine turnoff and turn to restart to get moving again. This has happened two times in four days
Engine · 2026-08-31 · ODI 11760933
2025 Honda Odyssey Elite. Approximately 12,000 miles. Vehicle has experienced 4–5 instances where Auto Idle Stop engages while stopped and the engine fails to restart.
Engine · 2026-08-29 · ODI 11760614
Engine failed to restart after turning off at idle at a stop. When releasing the brake the engine tried to turn on but stalled out. It is available for inspection upon request.
Engine · 2026-08-29 · ODI 11760646
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL Campaign 23V751000 · 2023-11-13 · Model years: 2018, 2019
Summary: 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.
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, 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS Campaign 19V298000 · 2019-04-12 · Model years: 2019
Summary: 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.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected timing belt free of charge. Vehicles receiving a replacement timing belt will also have the engine inspected and any damaged components will be replaced for free. The recall began June 7, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is L4M. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Acura's number for this recall is Z4L.
Why modern engines burn oil, and what owner complaints revealThe design choices that make many recent engines consume oil, the warning signs owners describe, what counts as normal, and which tracked models draw the most engine complaints right now.
Frequently asked questions
How common are Engine problems on the Honda Odyssey?
674 of the 3,165 complaints about the Honda Odyssey (21.3%) concern Engine, making it the model's second-largest problem area. That share is 1.0× the Engine share across all tracked vehicles.
Which Honda Odyssey model years have the most Engine complaints?
By model year, Engine complaints peak with the 2018 model (197, 20% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2023 model (14).
Is there a recall for Honda Odyssey Engine problems?
2 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 23V751000 (2023-11-13, model years 2018 and 2019).