RoadVitals

2008 Honda Odyssey Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
163
Latest Mar 17, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
33%
of 499 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
21
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Honda Odyssey submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 163 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 163, in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Mar 17, 2023

The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a grinding noise was present coming from the front brakes. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the front brake rotors but after retrieving the vehicle the failure persisted. Additionally, while driving, the braking system would erroneously activate causing the vehicle to suddenly stop. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who was unable to identify the cause of the failure. The vehicle continued to experience the failures and the Vehicle Stability Assistance (VSA) light started to continually flash off and on. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the ABS module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired due to the part being on backorder. The failure mileage was 209,000.

NHTSA ID
11512394
Incident
Jan 15, 2023
Mileage
209,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 12, 2020

01-017 BRAKE PETAL SOFT GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11363929
Incident
Oct 10, 2020
Mileage
131,046 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 4, 2020

DANGEROUS BRAKING DUE TO SOFT BRAKE PEDAL; RELATIVE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V098000. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY ADDRESSED ON THIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE, VEHICLE HAS A TENDENCY TO ROLL THROUGH STOP SIGNS OR STOP LIGHTS IF DRIVER IS NOT CAREFUL TO BEGIN STOPPING EARLIER THAN NORMAL. VEHICLE HAS A NEW MASTER CYLINDER INSTALLED YET THE PROBLEM REMAINS. ELEVATED VEHICLE ON JACK STANDS TO CHECK CALIPER FUNCTION. DISCOVERED ONLY TWO WHEELS ARE BRAKING. WITH ENGINE RUNNING, WHILE ON JACK STANDS, I HAD MY WIFE PRESS AND HOLD THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE I ATTEMPTED TO ROLL EACH WHEEL; THE LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR WHEELS ROLLED FREELY WITH BRAKE PEDAL PRESSED, AND THE RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT REAR WERE UNABLE TO BE ROLLED WITH BRAKE PEDAL PRESSED. WITH BRAKE PEDAL PRESSED AND A PROPER BLEEDING SEQUENCE, I OPENED THE BLEEDER VALVE ON THE CALIPERS. THE LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR CALIPERS EXHIBITED NO FLUID PRESSURE. IT IS KNOWN THIS VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM IS MADE UP OF TWO HYDRAULIC CIRCUITS LINKING THE LEFT FRONT WITH THE RIGHT REAR, AND LINKING THE RIGHT FRONT WITH THE LEFT REAR. SOMETHING LINKED TO THE PREVIOUS RECALL IS CAUSING THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO FAIL AND CONTINUE TO EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11327221
Incident
May 1, 2020
Mileage
145,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 13, 2020

BRAKE PEDAL HAS BECOME VERY SOFT AND STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED. THIS HAPPENS IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. LOCAL MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES OR BRAKE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID
11298917
Incident
Oct 1, 2019
Mileage
160,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL APPROXIMATELY 2/3 OF THE WAY DOWN BEFORE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED IN 2010 FOR AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE VSA MODULATOR CONTROL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED BROWN HONDA (LOCATED AT 6155 W CENTRAL AVE, TOLEDO, OH 43615, 888-531-7712) AND WAS INFORMED OF TSB 10-017, NHTSA ID NUMBER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11265344
Incident
Mar 1, 2018
Mileage
130,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 9, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ABS WOULD ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY DECELERATE. DURING THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. HUNTINGTON HONDA (1055 E. JERICHO TURNPIKE, HUNTINGTON, NY) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 234,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11254120
Incident
Aug 1, 2019
Mileage
234,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 4, 2019

MY CAR MAKE NUSA WHEN I HAD THE BRAKE I JUST FIXED

NHTSA ID
11217856
Incident
May 26, 2018
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 1, 2019

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN SHIFT CHANGE AND SLOW DOWN YOU WILL FEEL A JERKING FEELING OR IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS PULLING THE CAR BACK BEHIND AND PUSHING IT AT THE SAME TIME, A FRIEND WHO IS A MECHANIC TEST DROVE MY VAN AND HE SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS THE GIVING UP, I RESEARCH ABOUT THE HONDA MINI VAN IT HAS BEEN NOTORIOUS TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, MY VAN ONLY HAS 108274MILES ON IT AND IT IS CONSIDERED LOW MILEAGE TO HIS AGE, AND IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF SUDDEN JERKING WHILE RUNNING ON 40MPH TO 60MPH

NHTSA ID
11183373
Incident
Feb 28, 2019
Mileage
108,274 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 24, 2019

VSA RECALL. BREAKS BY IT SELF EVERY DAY AND MAKE THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE. ITS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT COMES AND GOES SINCE I OWN THE VAN 2016

NHTSA ID
11171770
Incident
Jan 23, 2019
Brakes
Filed Oct 25, 2018

2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. BED BREAK GETS SOFT ON THE FLOOR. TODAY I PASS RED LIGHT. BRAKE PADS ALL GOOD LIQUID GOOD. I SEE ON NET MOST OWNERS HAVE SAME PROBLEM.ON THAT MODEL AND YEAR.

NHTSA ID
11142770
Incident
Oct 23, 2018
Mileage
149,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 28, 2018

VEHICLE HAS A SOFT BRAKE, MY WIFE HAS BEEN COMPLAINED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS SOFT AND WOULD GO LOW TO THE FLOOR FOR SOME YEARS NOW, I CONTINUED TO SERVICE THE BRAKES, PADS AND ROTORS AND SHORTLY AFTER SHE WOULD SAY THE PEDAL IS LOW AGAIN. I STARTED TO LOOK INTO THIS AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY COMPLAINTS ON IT AND FOUND A NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 10V-098 THAT DESCRIBES EXACTLY WHATS GOING ON AND MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER SAYS MY VIN SHOWS NO RECALLS. MY HONDA WAS MADE IN NOV OF 2007 AND FALLS INTO THE YEARS THAT IS AFFECTED. CAN YOU LOOK AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY MORE COMPLAINTS IN THIS? AND THIS IS WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING OR STATIONARY THE PEDAL GOSE WAY TO LOW TO THE FLOOR.

NHTSA ID
11122935
Incident
Aug 28, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 30, 2018

SOFT BRAKES. I BLED THE BRAKES, PUT NEW BRAKE PADS ROTORS AND BLED THE BRAKES AGAIN SAME PROBLEM. THESE ARE THE SOFTEST BRAKES THAT I'VE EVER FELT IN A VEHICLE. I BOUGHT A 2015 HONDA ACCORD AND THE BRAKES ON THAT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPARED TO THIS HONDA ODYSSEY. THESE BRAKES ARE TERRIBLE AND I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER HONDA MINIVAN BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY MANY HONDA ODYSSEY OWNERS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND HONDA SAYS ITS NORMAL.

NHTSA ID
11114667
Incident
Mar 1, 2010
Brakes
Filed May 9, 2018

BRAKE PEDDLE GOES TO FLOOR BEFORE BRAKES ARE ENGAGED.

NHTSA ID
11092792
Incident
Aug 18, 2012
Mileage
80,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 27, 2017

MY VAN HAS SOFT BRAKES. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. FROM ONLINE, I FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT IS QUITE NORMAL FOR ODYSSEY. WHEN I CHECKED WITH HONDA CUSTOMER CARE, THEY AID THERE WAS A RECALL AND THEY FIXED IT AND SINCE I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING. OBVIOUSLY THE FIX THAT THEY DID IS NOT WORKING NOW. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VAN WITH WIFE AND TWO KIDS. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE FOR THIS ISSUE?

NHTSA ID
11048820
Incident
Nov 1, 2017
Mileage
102,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 23, 2016

I HAVE READ THAT A LOT OF 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY HAVE A BRAKE PEDAL THAT GOES TO THE FLOOR AND MY BRAKE PEDAL DOES THE SAME. I HAD TO DRIVE VERY SLOW SO THE CAR WILL STOP, PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR BEFORE SLOWLY STOPPING. HONDA DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER $600.00 DROVE HOME, WENT BACK NEXT DAY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THE RIGHT FIX. DEALER HAD IT ALL DAY, SAID HE TALKED TO HONDA TECH DEPT. ON PHONE CHECKED COMPUTERS AND OTHER THINGS AS PER TECH ADVICE, EVERY THING IS WORKING AS IT SHOULD, NO COST TO ME BUT BRAKE PEDAL STILL GOES TO THE FLOOR. MY WIFE CAN NOT DRIVE THIS CAR, IT IS PARKED TILL YOU CAN TELL ME HOW IT CAN BE FIXED AND SAFE FOR US TO DRIVE AND EVERY ONE ON THE ROAD. I COULD NOT LIVE WITH MYSELF IF MY FAMILY WERE HURT OR IF THIS 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY COULD NOT STOP AND HURT OR KILLED OTHER PEOPLE. PLEASE MAKE HONDA FIX THESE BRAKES.

NHTSA ID
10909361
Incident
Aug 20, 2016
Mileage
100,154 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 17, 2016

SOFT BRAKE PEDAL HAVE TO DRIVE EXTRA CAUTIOUS PEDAL GOES WAY DOWN BEFORE BRAKES START TO GRAB, WAS TAKEN IN FOR VSA RECALL BUT BRAKES STILL DONT FEEL RIGHT, MOST LIKELY WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER HONDA DUE TO THIS EXPERIENCE. PLANNING ON CONTACTING HONDA TO SEE IF THEY HAVE A FIX YET FOR THIS BIG SAFETY ISSUE CAR ONLY HAS 60K.

NHTSA ID
10907406
Incident
Sep 16, 2016
Brakes
Filed Aug 10, 2016

I RECENTLY BOUGHT VEHICLE HAVE NOT MADE FIRST PAYMENT. SALESMAN TOLD ME SOFT BRAKES ARE COMMON ON HONDA. BRAKES HAVE FAILED THREE TIMES AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS. HAVE SERVICE REPORT FOR THIS VEHICLE... BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED OFTEN. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE. THERE'S AIR IN THE BRAKE LINES.

NHTSA ID
10894708
Incident
Jul 18, 2016
Mileage
105,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Jun 25, 2016

EVEN AFTER REPAIR BREAK FEW TIIMES AND WHEN APPLY BREAK IS NOT STOP AS REQUIRED MANY TIME GIVE US DAM HARD TIME TO STOP IMMIDEATLY, AND STEARING IS GETTING HARD AND JAM EVEN UNDER WARRNTY REPLACED

NHTSA ID
10876589
Incident
May 10, 2016
Mileage
50,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 4, 2016
Crash reported

MY 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH TODAY BECAUSE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES IT DID NOT WANT TO STOP. MY PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR BUT MY VAN DID NOT STOP. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 25 MPH BUT HAD NO STOPPING POWER. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ON A FEW OTHER OCCASION BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PAST RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10853415
Incident
Apr 4, 2016
Mileage
140,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jan 19, 2016

PERSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM SINCE THE 2010 VSA/ABS MODULATOR RECALL. THEY SYSTEM CONTINUES TO HAVE A SOFT PEDAL WHICH REQUIRES PUMPUNG THE PEDAL TO GET EFFECTIVE BRAKING, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOP DISTANCES. THE SYSTEM REQUIRES PERIODIC BLEEDING OF THE BRAKES DESPITE REPEATED ASSURANCES FROM HONDA DEALERS THAT THE SYSTEM IS/WAS FIXED CORRECTLY UNDER THE RECALL. THE VSA MODULATOR HAS NOW FAILED AND HONDA IS QUOTING OVER $1,600 TO REPAIR THE SYSTEM DESPITE ONGOING SERVICE DOCUMENTATION ILLUSTRATING THE SYSTEM APPARENTLY WAS NOT FIXED UNDER THE RECALL - AT LEAST NOT EFFECTIVELY.

NHTSA ID
10821102
Incident
Jan 6, 2016
Mileage
50,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Oct 23, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGED ON ITS OWN. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V098000 (SERVICE BRAKES, AIR), BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10785495
Incident
Jan 1, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 6, 2015

WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 MILES PER HOUR AND MY CAR STARTED BARKING WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE BRAKES. I PULLED OVER AND STARTED AGAIN. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES WITHIN A TEN MINUTE PERIOD. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VSA BUT HONDA FAILED TO NOTIFY ME. I WAS ALMOST HIT THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID
10780015
Incident
Sep 20, 2015
Mileage
98,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 23, 2015

WHEN WE WENT DOWN HILL ON FREEWAY 5 AT LOS ANGELES AND BAKER FIELD COUNTY , CA. THE CAR STARTED SHAKING WITH THE SOUND LIKE DRIVING ON THE DEEP AND BUMP ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT VIGOROUSLY WHEN I TRIED TO APPLY SLIGHTLY BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE SPEED OF THE CAR. IT WAS SCARED TO DEATH WHEN YOU GO DOWN HILL WITH THAT PROBLEM. IT IS TOO DANGEROUS FOR OUR FAMILY. PLEASE RECALL THIS VAN FOR SAFETY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10678654
Incident
Jan 1, 2015
Mileage
81,800 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 19, 2014
Crash reported

ON I69E HEADING NORTH AT 65 MPH AFTER CRESTING AN OVERPASS HILL, VEHICLE STOPPED IN MIDDLE LANE NO BRAKE LIGHTS LIT, HIT BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP BUT THE BRAKES NEVER REACTED AS NORMAL. PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD BUT THE TIRES NEVER SQUEALED ON THE DRY PAYMENT. UNABLE TO CHANGE LANES DUE TO OTHER TRAFFIC AND ENDED UP HITTING STOPPED VEHICLE STILL GOING ABOUT 20MPH. $2,700 DAMAGE TO MY ODYSSEY AND OTHER CAR HAD HEAVY REAR DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10667250
Incident
Nov 24, 2014
Mileage
34,400 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Nov 15, 2014

I PURCHASED THIS 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY IN 2011, WITH APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES ON IT. DURING THE WINTER OF 2013, I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE GROANING (AND SOMETIMES "HUMMING") NOISES FROM THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN AT LOW SPEEDS. I ASSUMED THE VEHICLE WAS LOW ON FLUIDS SO WITH EVERY OIL CHANGE (AT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP) , I INSISTED THE POWER STEERING FLUID BE FILLED. THE HONDA DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY NOISES. HOWEVER, LAST NIGHT ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 10PM, THE NOISE RE-APPEARS. THE STEERING ISSUE IS NOW FOLLOWING THE NOISE MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A SAFETY ISSUE IN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. I KNOW I SHARE THESE CONCERNS WITH OTHER HONDA ODYSSEY OWNERS AND OUR COMPLAINTS ARE FALLING ON DEAF EARS WITH THE DEALERS. I REALLY WANT TO SEE THESE CONCERNS ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10655178
Incident
Nov 14, 2014
Mileage
92,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .