2018 Honda Odyssey Powertrain (other) Problems

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, got home turned off windshield washers operated brittle with key off, remote key system problem displayed also hill hold, brake failure and steering message on dash prior, dealer picked up van inspected again found defective seal sealer on passenger side leak in water on wiring harness pins and soaking power distribution box said that was causing issues and stalling driving and safety system issues, van is at dealer, also tailgate after you open with ding when open and will close by itself, safety issues will close while you or small child in at back closes from behind you

NHTSA ID

11755762

Incident

Jul 22, 2026

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 dash and when codes were (finally) thrown I was told I needed a new transmission altogether.

NHTSA ID

11755352

Incident

Aug 4, 2026

My Honda Odyssey has always had continuous issues when sometimes driving the car at low speeds it randomly jerks, which can become an issue when driving. I believe this is related to the manufacturers reference to service bulletins #19-014 and 20-016 stating a software upgrade is required. However my local dealer is stating this software can only be carried out if it is diagnosed first and a fee will be charged and only if jerkiness is found then another fee will be charged for the software install. As this is a known issue - should this install of software be a recall item. As this to me is a safety hazard, when the car jerks unexpectedly and should not have a cost involved for diagnostic and then additional for the software update.

NHTSA ID

11750005

Incident

Jul 9, 2026

I purchased a 2018 Honda Odyssey and reported during my 7-day inspection window that the transmission was acting sluggish. The Carvana-authorized inspection service (Pep Boys) claimed the transmission was fine. Over time it showed more and more signs of failure until it completely failed. On the directive of the seller (Carvana) and warranty administrator (SilverRock), the vehicle was taken to an authorized Pep Boys facility for a complete transmission replacement. Less than two days after picking up the vehicle, the replacement transmission suffered a complete failure on a public roadway. The vehicle suddenly lost all acceleration and forced itself into 'limp mode' on a highway, and loss of steering control, nearly causing a severe collision. The vehicle is inherently unsafe, and the authorized repair network has failed to provide a merchantable or safe repair, creating an immediate life-threatening hazard.

NHTSA ID

11745146

Incident

Jun 13, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate upon depression of the accelerator pedal as the check engine and several other various warning messages appear on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for service; however, the dealer was unable to diagnose or duplicate the failure. The contact then stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly downshifted and failed to shift out of neutral(N). The contact pulled over and attempted to correct the failure; however, the vehicle shut off. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the diagnosed the vehicle with a failed torque converter and transmission. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was given a case number. The vehicle remained in the dealer's possession and was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11741245

Incident

Oct 1, 2025

Mileage

80,000 mi

When driving at speed, the car will lose power, and you cannot go anywhere until the transmission reengages Also when starting out there is a hesitation sometimes very dangerous at intersections

NHTSA ID

11737900

Incident

May 1, 2023

Vehicle driving at highway speeds and put itself into park while at speed without operator intervention. Vehicle became uncontrollable and an extreme hazard.

NHTSA ID

11737217

Incident

May 11, 2026

Car shifts out of drive and reverse to Park randomly. It also doesnt shift out of first gear on a cold start. I have to stop the vehicle, shift back into park and turn the car off then on again before it will shift out of first gear.

NHTSA ID

11729960

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

Our 2018 Honda Odyssey repeatedly and without warning completely loses acceleration power, creating extremely dangerous driving conditions. This occurs in two distinct situations:(1)while driving at highway speeds when attempting to change lanes or accelerate, and(2)when stopped at a stop sign or intersection and pressing the gas to merge into or turn into traffic. In both situations, pressing the accelerator results in little to no response — the vehicle will roll but fails to accelerate as needed. These failures have placed our family in multiple life-threatening situations. On Interstate 285 in Atlanta, Georgia — one of the busiest and highest-speed highways in the country — our vehicle has failed to accelerate during lane changes on multiple occasions, nearly causing serious accidents. Most recently, within the past week, my husband was driving on I-285 when he pressed the accelerator and the vehicle had absolutely zero acceleration response. He narrowly avoided a collision. We have also experienced complete loss of acceleration when turning from a stop sign into traffic and when merging — situations where immediate acceleration is critical to safety. The vehicle lags for several seconds before any power is delivered to the wheels, leaving us dangerously exposed in oncoming traffic. All manufacturer recalls have been completed, including the fuel pump recall. The problem persists and has not been resolved by any dealer service or recall repair performed to date. We are aware that this is a known, widespread defect affecting 2018 Honda Odysseys equipped with the ZF 9-speed automatic transmission. Hundreds of other owners have reported identical symptoms to NHTSA and to Honda directly. Honda has acknowledged the transmission's behavior to some owners but has stated it is "how the car is supposed to drive" — a response that is wholly unacceptable given the documented near-accidents this defect is causing.We are requesting that NHTSA open or expand its investigation

NHTSA ID

11729396

Incident

Apr 2, 2026

When driving the transmission is slipping meaning it jerks forward when accelerating on the road.

NHTSA ID

11729304

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

I am reporting a dangerous and recurring transmission defect in my 2018 Honda Odyssey equipped with the ZF 9-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle experiences sudden and unpredictable delayed acceleration, particularly at low speeds. When attempting to accelerate from a complete stop or at speeds below 25 mph, the transmission fails to engage properly, leaving the vehicle stranded in the middle of traffic with no power response for several seconds. This creates an extreme safety hazard, as other vehicles may collide with mine while I wait for the transmission to respond. The condition is intermittent and unpredictable, making it impossible to anticipate when it will occur. It happens most frequently when accelerating from intersections, merging into traffic, or navigating through slow-moving areas. Honda has acknowledged this defect through TSB 19-124 (issued December 2019), which addresses harsh and jerky upshifts in 2018–2019 Odysseys with the 9-speed transmission. However, the TSB does not fully resolve the issue. A class action lawsuit [XXX] et al. v. American Honda Motor Co., Case No. 5:23-cv-05011-BLF, N.D. [XXX] ) is currently pending for this exact defect. I am requesting that NHTSA open a formal investigation and consider issuing a safety recall, as the delayed acceleration constitutes a serious risk of collision and injury. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11728689

Incident

Mar 1, 2025

Bought vehicle new at Millennium Honda, Hempstead New York.Vehicle is not going into reverse when vehicle gets hot. My mileage is 40,512 took it Millennium Honda on October 4, 2025, for diagnostic testing error code P0736 was diagnosed and that my transmission would need’s replacing at a cost of $11,495 for parts and labor, because I was a couple months out of warranty. I have since reached out to Corporate but negative response. I am unable to use my vehicle since which have been at an additional expense to me as I have to maintain insurance and pay for bus, train and taxi services. Not sure what kind of assistance you can offer or even assist in investigating why a vehicle with 40,000 would need a new transmission after moderate use. Thanks for your consideration on this matter.

NHTSA ID

11718404

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

Upon pressing the accelerator from a complete stop, the vehicle does not respond right away. The main incident was when traveling around 50 miles per hour on a highway, the van shifted into neutral on its own and the accelerator would not respond. An error message of transmission failure showed on the dash briefly. The van had to coast through traffic an eventually push off the road.

NHTSA ID

11716819

Incident

Feb 7, 2026

2018 Honda Odyssey (10-speed automatic transmission) What happened: The vehicle is experiencing intermittent loss of reverse and delayed gear engagement from a stop. When shifting into reverse or drive, the engine revs but the vehicle does not immediately move, then jerks into gear. The issue is worse when cold. Warning lights / codes: Check Engine Light on. Honda dealer retrieved diagnostic trouble code P0763 – Shift Solenoid C Electrical. The code returned as a hard code after being cleared. Safety risk: The vehicle hesitates or fails to move when shifting into reverse or from a stop, creating a safety risk in traffic, parking situations, and when backing up. Current status: Diagnosed by Honda dealership. Repair recommended. Honda corporate case opened.

NHTSA ID

11713730

Incident

Oct 14, 2025

Vehicle lags in acceleration from a slow rolling start, at random times. There is a clear 1-2 second lag in the acceleration, then a sudden harsh shift into gear. Mostly happens during turns, and if traffic is present, may cause an accident. Also when traveling at low speeds 20-35 mph, there is a transmission jutter. Have spoken with service reps at dealerships and they claim to have no knowledge of these transmission issues

NHTSA ID

11713623

Incident

Jan 27, 2026

After I received a software update for my 2018 Honda Odyssey Elite the car has been stalling when idle. It is very dangerous because I will be at a stop light in drive, and the vehicle will shut off with no power. Cars will be behind me or no cars, and I have almost been rear ended. I did not have this problem until I received the new software update. It keeps occurring more and more often.

NHTSA ID

11711338

Incident

Jan 14, 2026

The transmission failed at 108k miles. Honda is charging 10000USD for repair. They want to replace the 9 speed transmission. This transmission is notorious for failure and Honda hasn’t issued a recall yet.

NHTSA ID

11706897

Incident

Nov 28, 2025

My vehicle repeatedly and unexpectedly shifts into neutral while in Drive, causing a sudden loss of power in traffic. This has happened multiple times without any input from me and has nearly caused a crash.

NHTSA ID

11703760

Incident

Dec 8, 2025

Summary: Engine seized due to internal bearing failure with metal shavings found in oil filter. Full Description: My 2018 Honda Odyssey experienced a sudden engine failure around 116,500 miles. The dealer confirmed the engine is seized and showed significant metal shavings in the oil filter and pan. I have performed all maintenance according to Honda’s recommended schedule using the correct oil and filters. Honda corporate denied assistance based solely on mileage, even though this issue matches symptoms described in current NHTSA investigation PE25-001 (connecting rod bearing failure in Honda 3.5L V6 engines). There were no prior warnings other than a brief check-engine light and rough running before the engine locked up. The vehicle was in motion at the time and could have caused a hazardous stall, serious injury, or death. Given that Honda has issued recalls for similar rod bearing defects in other model years (2015–2020) and this failure mode presents a clear safety risk (loss of power, engine seizure), I request NHTSA include my case in its investigation and compel Honda to extend recall coverage to 2018 Odyssey owners. I can provide dealer diagnostic reports, photos of the oil filter debris, and all maintenance records if needed.

NHTSA ID

11698306

Incident

Oct 8, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the message "Engine Management System Failure" was displayed on the instrument panel. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, with an abnormal clicking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that there was a failure with the engine and the transmission. The dealer was then notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN related to the engine or the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11692033

Incident

Sep 1, 2024

Mileage

150,000 mi

Recently had the fuel pump recall completed. Within days had intermittent dash emissions light come on then go away. Then a few weeks later, while driving, my odyssey put itself into N and I coasted to a stop. It would not allow me to put the car into P or anything. I had to put the emergency brake on in order to not roll forward. The van at that point would not shift into any gear. It was towed to dealership and I was given the following 2K dollar repair needs. PROBLEM. ADVISE. [Other]: TCM (TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE) AND TRANSMISSION SUB-HARNESS Needs replaced.

NHTSA ID

11692005

Incident

Oct 6, 2025

On [XXX], while driving in traffic, my 2018 Honda Odyssey suddenly and without warning shifted itself into Park. The vehicle slammed to a stop in the middle of an intersection, stranding my family and creating a serious risk of collision and injury. The vehicle would not move afterward and had to be towed from the scene. After the failure, the dashboard displayed multiple warnings: “Transmission Problem,” “Stop Driving When Safe,” “Emission System Problem,” and *“Blind Spot Information System Problem.” The gear shift indicator also blinked. The Odyssey has remained undrivable since the incident. The vehicle is at Stockton 12 Honda in Sandy, Utah, where the dealer confirmed a hard transmission failure (RO #[XXX]). Honda Corporate opened two cases (#[XXX] and #[XXX]). Despite my repeated calls and emails, Honda’s assigned case manager verbally denied coverage on Sept 12, 2025, stating the denial would only be reflected in Honda’s internal case notes. This failure is identical to the defect described in NHTSA Recall 19V-299, in which the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) can reboot due to low voltage and cause the transmission to shift into Park while driving. Although my VIN is not currently flagged, my Odyssey EX-L uses the same ZF 9-speed transmission and TCU as affected trims. I have a tow record, witnesses, and video evidence documenting the event. The vehicle remains disabled, leaving my family without safe transportation. This is a serious safety defect that should require investigation and expansion of the existing recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11686916

Incident

Sep 7, 2025

2018 Honda Odyssey gear shifting switch letters are rubbing off. This caused the drive to click wrong button as they do not have letters to identify the functionality of the each button. This can cause accidents. I see many online forums customers are discussing the same issue. [XXX] [XXX] / [XXX] [XXX] This is manufacture defect and please be kind to investigate it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11685260

Incident

Aug 31, 2025

Engine has been running very rough the last 20k miles, and East Coast Honda in Surfside Beach, SC noted engine bearing wear prior to the rough engine performance during a service visit in May 2023. In June-July 2025 driving on [XXX] driving between Washington D.C. and Surfside Beach, SC, we went to pass and the engine cut RPM's drastically and went into 'limp mode' nearly causing an accident with the sudden decrease in speed. We have asked American Honda Customer Service [800-999-1009] to provide an engine evaluation but they have declined and have stated our VIN is not included in the rod bearing recall/TSB. We did mentioned about the further investigation for 2018 Honda Odyssey's but was advised any action we take would not be compensated since the vehicle is out of warranty by date and mileage (73,000 miles). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11683176

Incident

Jun 28, 2025

Vehicle has a vibrating shake when you go about 26 to 40 miles per hour like it does not know on what gear to be me I took the car multiple times to the dealership, and after charging me hundreds of dollars they had the face to say it is what it is. That the design of the car. I even called the corporate and no one really cared. I am always scarred that engine or transmission will fail and cause an accident. On the last trip, as I was stuck in traffic, stop and go was hard on this condition as car wants to think on what gear to be.

NHTSA ID

11683026

Incident

Feb 1, 2002