2018 Honda Odyssey Common Problems & Defect Telemetry
Authoritative defect intelligence synthesized from 962 verified NHTSA owner complaints, 16 federal safety recalls, and interquartile failure mileage telemetry.
The 2018 Honda Odyssey receives a 3.6/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 962 verified NHTSA federal complaints and 16 safety recalls. The primary reported failure mode is Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports with a median failure point at 39,827 miles (IQR: 9,183 – 90,000 mi). Out-of-warranty repairs benchmark at $280 – $850 .
128.3 complaints / 10k sold
Verified US federal records
Crash, fire & stall audit
16 Active / Free Remedies
Top Reported Problem Clusters (7)
Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports
- Unexplained battery drain after sitting overnight
- Infotainment display / instrument cluster blackouts
- Accessory malfunction / alternator fault warnings
“2018 Honda Odyssey Elite I am reporting an unresolved issue stemming from a failed recall remedy for NHTSA Safety Recall 23V-431 (Honda TSB 20-049) regarding the MOST bus fiber-optic network. My vehicle has been taken to an authorized Honda dealership twice to receive the offi...”
“Early in a driving session, the accelerator pedal, when applied pressure, will not rev the engine and provide power to the wheels for 1-3 seconds. This issue happens once or twice in a driving session and then doesn't do it again until a future driving session. It is random an...”
“Our van recently started flashing multiple warning lights every time we started it up. These include "Collision mitigation system problem", "auto high-beam problem", "road departure mitigation system problem", "lane keeping assist problem", "adaptive cruise control problem", a...”
Engine Stalling, Oil Consumption & Cooling Defect Reports
- Engine sudden stall / hesitation while driving
- Abnormal oil burning / consumption
- Check Engine Light (MIL) flashing
- Engine overheating / coolant loss
“Early in a driving session, the accelerator pedal, when applied pressure, will not rev the engine and provide power to the wheels for 1-3 seconds. This issue happens once or twice in a driving session and then doesn't do it again until a future driving session. It is random an...”
“Engine failed, rod shavings entering the motor, causing a full motor repair. This has caused our family to be stranded.”
“Wife was going to the store engine lost power and died prior to that steering got loose like trying to turn itself, towed to dealer inspected dealer cleaned throttle returned vehicle after cost of 807.00 and drove van to church tailgate would not open without vehicle running, ...”
Transmission Hesitation, Hard Shifting & Slipping Reports
- Hard gear shifts / delayed engagement into Drive/Reverse
- Transmission shudder / jerking under acceleration
- Transmission slipping between gears
“Faulty transmission. Lags when you start to drive. Constant delay.”
“Wife was going to the store engine lost power and died prior to that steering got loose like trying to turn itself, towed to dealer inspected dealer cleaned throttle returned vehicle after cost of 807.00 and drove van to church tailgate would not open without vehicle running, ...”
“While driving the car lurches as it shifts gears. This had gone on for quite some time but no codes have been thrown. This last time the car lurched so badly at the beginning of acceleration that I thought it was going to stall. It did not, but lights began flashing on the das...”
Service Brakes, ABS Actuator & Master Cylinder Reports
- Spongy or hard brake pedal travel
- ABS / Brake warning light illuminated
- Extended stopping distance / pedal vibration
“Our van recently started flashing multiple warning lights every time we started it up. These include "Collision mitigation system problem", "auto high-beam problem", "road departure mitigation system problem", "lane keeping assist problem", "adaptive cruise control problem", a...”
“while driving at 35 mph a vehicle well ahead of me made a left turn exiting the roadway. My vehicle suddenly applied the brakes even though there was no longer a vehicle in my path. I tried to increase the accelerator, but the vehicle was slow to respond to this. luckily there...”
“Wife was going to the store engine lost power and died prior to that steering got loose like trying to turn itself, towed to dealer inspected dealer cleaned throttle returned vehicle after cost of 807.00 and drove van to church tailgate would not open without vehicle running, ...”
Fuel Pump Pressure Loss & Fuel Delivery Defect Reports
- Sudden loss of propulsion power at highway speeds
- Extended engine cranking / failure to restart
- Fuel odor near fuel tank / engine bay
“I am reporting American Honda’s ongoing failure to safely remedy critical safety defects and recalls on my 2018 Honda Odyssey (purchased new), resulting in severe vehicle degradation and a life-threatening traffic hazard. The vehicle has been to an authorized dealer over 21 ti...”
“Back in the fall/winner of 2024 (could have been 2025) my Honda Odyssey had a recall for a low pressure fuel pump. However, Honda and many other dealers were dealing with hundreds of thousands of recalls, and we’re only recalling the vehicles with actual symptoms. My vehicle w...”
“The contact owns a 2018 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. An independent mechanic was contacted. No warning light was illuminate...”
Electric Power Steering Assist & Suspension Noise Reports
- Sudden loss of electric power steering assist
- Steering wheel pull or highway wander
- Clunking / knocking noise over bumps
“Wife was going to the store engine lost power and died prior to that steering got loose like trying to turn itself, towed to dealer inspected dealer cleaned throttle returned vehicle after cost of 807.00 and drove van to church tailgate would not open without vehicle running, ...”
“The rear spring suffered a catastrophic failure, breaking while driving with occupants inside vehicle. The rear coil springs suffer from poor materials or paint protection causing premature failure and rust.”
“The Infotainment System in my 2018 Honda Odyssey is malfunctioning, just as is reported by many other Honda vehicle owners. I am experiencing the same issues as others where the speakers are crackling, the audio fails, the screen turns off intermittently while the vehicle is o...”
Airbag Occupant Detection & Inflator Defect Reports
- SRS Airbag warning lamp illuminated
- Passenger occupant classification sensor failure
- Seat belt retractor lockup
“The rear spring suffered a catastrophic failure, breaking while driving with occupants inside vehicle. The rear coil springs suffer from poor materials or paint protection causing premature failure and rust.”
“While my child was riding in the second row drivers side captains chair of my 2018 Odyssey, she fell asleep and unknowingly moved the shoulder strap portion of the seat belt behind her head/ upper body. I was driving and could not see that the belt had been moved because she w...”
“I am reporting American Honda’s ongoing failure to safely remedy critical safety defects and recalls on my 2018 Honda Odyssey (purchased new), resulting in severe vehicle degradation and a life-threatening traffic hazard. The vehicle has been to an authorized dealer over 21 ti...”
Official NHTSA Safety Recalls (16)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Summary: 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Summary: 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."
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Summary: 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
Summary: 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."
SEAT BELTS
Summary: 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."
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Summary: 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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Summary: 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."
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Summary: 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
Summary: 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.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Summary: 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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Summary: 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."
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Summary: 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.
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
Summary: 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:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Summary: 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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Summary: 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."
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist for 2018 Honda Odyssey
Before purchasing a used 2018 Honda Odyssey, perform the following targeted inspections based on reported federal defect patterns:
Scan the OBD-II port under the dash for pending freeze-frame codes (e.g. P0300 misfires, P0087 fuel rail pressure, P0420 catalytic efficiency).
Test vehicle at low-speed stop-and-go and highway merges. Check for delayed reverse engagement or gear shift shudder between 2nd and 3rd gears.
Verify that all 16 NHTSA safety recall campaigns have been performed by an authorized dealership using the VIN.
Ensure the instrument cluster, center screen, and auxiliary charging ports operate with stable 12.0V–14.4V alternator voltage.
Defect & Reliability Q&A: 2018 Honda Odyssey
Is the 2018 Honda Odyssey a reliable used car?
The 2018 Honda Odyssey earns a 3.6/10 MazicBay Reliability Index based on 962 federal owner reports. Vehicles maintained under factory service schedules exhibit strong longevity past 150,000 miles.
What is the most frequent defect reported on the 2018 Honda Odyssey?
The leading complaint category is Electrical Parasitic Drain, Infotainment & Harness Reports, with a median failure point around 39,827 miles (IQR: 9,183 – 90,000 mi).
Are there free recall repairs available for the 2018 Honda Odyssey?
Yes, the NHTSA records 16 safety recall campaign(s) for this model year. All safety recalls are performed 100% free of charge by authorized franchise dealerships regardless of vehicle warranty status.

