2018 Honda Odyssey Visibility Problems

The vehicle previously received a manufacturer dash wiring recall repair. After the recall repair was completed, the vehicle began experiencing intermittent and cascading electrical and communication failures across multiple integrated systems. Affected systems include Apple CarPlay, the DVD system, in-vehicle camera systems, CabinWatch, and repeated “MOST network unavailable” error messages. These failures occur intermittently and result in multiple systems disabling simultaneously. The vehicle was inspected by a Honda dealership, which confirmed the issue involves wiring within the dash harness. The dealership stated the affected wiring is not sold or serviceable separately and that correction would require replacement of the entire dash harness, but that this portion of the harness is not included in the original recall coverage. Because these systems share common power and communication pathways, failures cascade across multiple modules. When the camera system fails, rear view camera functionality and related warnings are unavailable while backing up, reducing the driver’s ability to detect obstacles, pedestrians, or children behind the vehicle. When CabinWatch is unavailable, the driver is unable to visually monitor children seated in the rear rows while driving, which affects situational awareness and the ability to respond quickly to unsafe conditions inside the vehicle. These failures also impact driver information systems and create intermittent loss of critical visual feedback, increasing driver distraction as systems drop out unexpectedly while the vehicle is in operation. The condition began after the recall repair and appears to be related to or a continuation of the original recall defect. The vehicle remains available for inspection, and the condition has been confirmed by a manufacturer-authorized dealer.

NHTSA ID

11719241

Incident

Feb 19, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while his wife was dropping off their son at school, the sunroof was open, and the close button was depressed while the son’s hand was hanging out of the sunroof. The sunroof proceeded to close, and the sensors did not prevent the sunroof from continuously attempting to close. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that his wife was forced to push up on the sunroof to free her son's hand, and in the process received a minor cut on her right hand, while the son sustained bruising on his right hand. Medical treatment was needed for the injury. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the sunroof assembly was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.

NHTSA ID

11650821

Incident

Mar 26, 2025

Mileage

111,000 mi

Rear backup camera stopped working. Currently there is an active recall for 2018 Odysseys on all trim levels vin specific but somehow our vin number isn’t covered under the recall. I followed service bulletin 20-060 and it fixed the problem.

NHTSA ID

11620748

Incident

Aug 1, 2024

While driving multiple system failure- warning lights then failure of: blind spot alert, lane departure, back up camera, wipers, tailgate function. When able to stop, power locks did not function. Inability to access rear of car via sliding doors would pose serious risk if accident occurred due to system failure. Prior to all systems alert, tailgate warning light had been intermittently appearing for a few days. Dealer service center noted water leak from unsealed section between window and frame in back driver side panel that corroded body console module.

NHTSA ID

11514170

Incident

Mar 23, 2023

The Touring and Elite trim levels on the Honda Odyssey have 'rain sensing' wipers, as well as a low, high, and one-wipe function. The rain sensing function cannot be disabled, and takes the place of any intermittent feature. The rain sensing is always on and not disableable, unlike other vehicles that allow the operator to choose whether or not to use the feature, or simply set intermittent wipe speed manually. Honda's rain sensing function simply does not work, making the wipers go full speed in light mist or not work at all in heavy rain. Due to the fact the rain sensing function cannot be disabled, operators are either stuck with wipers off or on continual speed. This is both distracting as operators either must manually flick the wiper stalk for a one-wipe function in light rain every few seconds, or run the wipers continually, causing streaking and difficult visibility in lighter rain or snow events. This problem is well-documented on Odyssey and Civic forums, and I have purchased and replaced the rain sensor with no change in system performance. It's shocking Honda cannot allow a user to simply disable the feature via a software menu like almost every other manufacturer.

NHTSA ID

11445795

Incident

Dec 20, 2021

Sunroof shattered at highway speed without warning. No previous cracks in the window. All windows were rolled up an closed, conditions were dry, there was no immediate debris that caused the issue.

NHTSA ID

11438754

Incident

Oct 29, 2021

The Odyssey Elite has "rain sensing" wipers with no ability to disable them. The rain sensor fails to accurately assess water on the windshield, making the van's wiper choices either "off" or "low" or "high". I researched other Odyssey forum posts, and this issue is extremely common. This is a safety issue for two reasons. First, driver distraction trying to operate a non-functional system. Second, in light mist or rain as the "low" setting is too fast and smears and streaks, while "off" doesn't remove water. Other vehicles with rain-sensing wipers contain a disable feature in the software, allowing manual override for intermittent speeds. Honda offers no such bypass.

NHTSA ID

11424567

Incident

Jul 12, 2021

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 20V-439) FOR THE BACK-UP CAMERA ON MY 2018 HONDA ODYSSEY BY MAIL IN SEPTEMBER 2020. I HAVE REPEATEDLY CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIR MADE (3 TIMES IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS) AND HAVE BEEN TOLD EACH TIME THAT THE NECESSARY PARTS FOR THE REPAIR ARE ON "BACK ORDER" AND ARE UNAVAILABLE. THEREFORE THE LOCAL DEALER (UNDERSTANDABLY) WILL NOT SCHEDULE A REPAIR APPOINTMENT. I ALSO CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WHO TOLD ME THAT THEY ALSO HAVE NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PART'S AVAILABILITY AND THAT I SHOULD CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. IF PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO MAKE THE NEEDED REPAIRS, WHY IS A RECALL NOTICE EVEN ISSUED?

NHTSA ID

11396349

Incident

Feb 15, 2021

Mileage

38,000 mi

THE REAR CAMERA SYSTEM HAS 'CAMERA SYSTEM FAILURE' ERROR. ANYTIME THE CAR IS PUT IN REVERSE, INSTEAD OF THE REAR CAMERA VISIBILITY, THE SCREEN GOES BLACK WITH AN ERROR MESSAGE OF CAMERA SYSTEM FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11309802

Incident

Jan 25, 2020

Mileage

15,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE 400 IN WEST SENECA NY AND A TRUCK ENTERED AT THE UNION RD EXIT. THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLE AROUND ME AND SOMETHING CAME OUT OF THE UNCOVERED DUMPSTER THE TRUCK WAS CARRYING AND HIT MY WINDSHIELD LEAVING A CRACK.

NHTSA ID

11258950

Incident

Sep 13, 2019

Mileage

23,222 mi

MY BACKUP CAMERA DOES NOT FUNCTION OR CANNOT BE VIEWED DUE TO ERROR MESSAGES, SYSTEM FREEZING, CAMERA ERRORS WHICH IS UNSAFE. THE RADIO IS EFFECTED AND THE HVAC CONTROLS, TOO. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING, WHEN STARTING THE CAR AS WELL. I HAVE REAR WINDOWS THAT WILL NOT ROLL UP, WHICH IS UNSAFE. WIPERS ALSO DO NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THEY WIPE TOO SLOW OR TOO FAST AND CANNOT BE CONTROLLED, WHICH IS UNSAFE. THESE CONDITIONS HAVE HAPPENED SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW AND CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. HONDA DOES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THIS.

NHTSA ID

11240788

Incident

Mar 27, 2018

Mileage

745 mi

VAN WAS PARKED INSIDE A GARAGE WITH NO DAMAGE. WALKED INTO THE GARAGE HOURS LATER AND NOTICED THE DRIVERS REAR QUARTER PANEL WINDOW CRACKING AND BREAKING APART ON ITS OWN. GLASS BREAKAGE PATTERN APPEARS TO BE SPONTANEOUS WINDOW FAILURE POSSIBLY DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MAY CAUSE SAFETY HAZARD IF I WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH KIDS IN THE REAR SEAT AND IT GAVE WAY THEN.

NHTSA ID

11204064

Incident

Apr 24, 2019

Mileage

26,000 mi

ON THE US 2018 HONDA ODYSSEY MODEL, THERE IS NO LOW WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID WARNING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS I FOUND THIS OUT ON A SLOPPY, SALTY WISCONSIN INTERSTATE NEXT TO A SEMI WITH MY WIFE AND KIDS IN THE VEHICLE. SALT ON A WINDSHIELD GIVES YOU ZERO VISIBILITY WITHOUT WASHER FLUID, AND LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE AND MAKE IT TO A GAS STATION TO FILL WITH WASHER FLUID WITHOUT INCIDENT. MY 2000 EXPLORER AND 2010 RAV4 HAVE LOW WASHER FLUID WARNING LIGHTS. WITH THE 1000S OF DOLLARS OF ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY FEATURES BUILT INTO THE ODYSSEY, CONSUMERS EXPECT THE INEXPENSIVE SIMPLE THINGS LIKE A LOW WASHER FLUID WARNING. THIS SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11181045

Incident

Feb 10, 2019

Mileage

23,700 mi

IF I BUY A NEW 2018 HONDA ODYSSEY AT AROUND 4000 MILES START HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT AROUND FIVE TO SIX THOUSAND MILES I START GETTING A HORRIBLE TOXIC BURNING CHEMICAL SMELL COMING FROM INSIDE THE CAR SOMEWHERE DO YOU TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAY NOTHING'S WRONG OBVIOUSLY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH HIS DOING WHAT IT'S DOING

NHTSA ID

11114414

Incident

Mar 3, 2018

Mileage

4,000 mi

THE FRONT WINDOW WASHER WILL NOT DISPENSE FLUID WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD. DEALERSHIP SAID FLUID FREEZES IN THE BOTTLE, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE BECAUSE BACK NOZZLE WORKS. FRONT NOZZLES WORK IF VAN LEFT IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT. THIS MORNING, AFTER 15 MIN OF DRIVING IN 10 DEGREES, FRONT NOZZLES DO NOT DISPENSE. HONDA DEALERSHIP SHRUGGED WHEN I SAID IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. DRY SNOW, SALT, ICE, MUD THROWN ON WINDSHIELD WHEN DRIVING, AND NO WAY TO EFFECTIVELY CLEAR IT OFF. WASHER FLUID WAS FILLED BY DEALERSHIP ONE WEEK AGO. DISPENSER BOTTLE IS 95% FULL. THE ISSUE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN DISPENSER BOTTLE AND FRONT NOZZLES. THIS FIRST HAPPENED YESTERDAY EVENING WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME IN THE DARK (ABOUT 10 DEGREES OUT). WINDSHIELD WAS DANGEROUSLY DIRTY BY THE TIME I GOT HOME.

NHTSA ID

11067409

Incident

Feb 6, 2018

Mileage

6,000 mi