2020 Honda Odyssey Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
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What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2020 Honda Odyssey, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Driver assistance19634.8%
- Electrical15828.0%
- Engine6611.7%
- Fuel system295.1%
- Body & structure295.1%
- Airbags183.2%
- Brakes183.2%
- Powertrain (other)162.8%
- Visibility91.6%
- Suspension91.6%
- Interior & seats50.9%
- Seat belts40.7%
- Steering40.7%
- Exterior lighting30.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Camera failed after 65,000 miles and is a known problem out there with thousands of these requiring a $2000 dealer replacement.
The electrical component is failing. I have brought in this vehicle 2 times for failed electrical issues over several years (around 2 years), and it only has 52,000 miles currently. The back up sensors no longer work, as well as warning lights for the following began to appear a year ago: collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation. Sometimes, our electrical side door will not close and will keep opening when trying to shut. This electrical issues has been draining our battery, and while driving, my car shut off in the middle of the street while I was waiting for a light. After a few attempts, I got my car started again. We replaced the battery, and a few days later the car would randomly turn on and I could not use an electrical key to open the car door. Only way to open it is with the physical key. The battery had to be unplugged in order to stop the car for randomly turning on. All electrical systems would turn on in the car, including the alarm and radio, even if the radio had been off when the car was last turned off. The car has been inspected by Honda mechanics, who told me the electrical component is dying, but they don't know why, the car isn't that old, and it has very few miles on it.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Right sliding door warning alarm and at the same time flashing message on cluster. It has happened dozens of times since new. Sets a service code in computer and has been in at local Honda dealer twice and they found failure code in computer but cannot duplicate problem. I also learned part associated with code is on back order. Dealership charges us for diagnosing each time. When this alarm goes on, it makes you panic that the sliding door may open at any time or may not close.
The electrical component is failing. I have brought in this vehicle 2 times for failed electrical issues over several years (around 2 years), and it only has 52,000 miles currently. The back up sensors no longer work, as well as warning lights for the following began to appear a year ago: collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation. Sometimes, our electrical side door will not close and will keep opening when trying to shut. This electrical issues has been draining our battery, and while driving, my car shut off in the middle of the street while I was waiting for a light. After a few attempts, I got my car started again. We replaced the battery, and a few days later the car would randomly turn on and I could not use an electrical key to open the car door. Only way to open it is with the physical key. The battery had to be unplugged in order to stop the car for randomly turning on. All electrical systems would turn on in the car, including the alarm and radio, even if the radio had been off when the car was last turned off. The car has been inspected by Honda mechanics, who told me the electrical component is dying, but they don't know why, the car isn't that old, and it has very few miles on it.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Vehicle: 2020 Honda Odyssey VIN: [XXX] Mileage at time of failure: 155413 Component: Engine — Connecting Rod BearingsDescription: My 2020 Honda Odyssey experienced a failure of the connecting rod bearings on 7/30/26, resulting in loud knocking noise. The failure was diagnosed by Luis Asturias at Jim Coleman Honda in Clarksville, MD. This vehicle falls within the scope of NHTSA's open Preliminary Evaluation PE25008, which covers 2018-2020 Honda Odyssey vehicles with the 3.5L J35 V6 engine for this exact failure mode. My dealer declined to cover the repair cost under warranty because no recall has yet been issued. I am filing this complaint to document my experience as part of the ongoing federal investigation. Repair cost estimate: $4573.00. The vehicle is not driveable without this repair.Thank you for your prompt attention,[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The vehicle is a 2020 Honda Odyssey. A recurring and dangerous safety failure occurs involving the Auto Idle-Stop system. With the system enabled and the vehicle at a complete stop, the engine shuts off as designed. However, upon depressing the brake pedal to resume driving, the engine severely struggles to restart and completely fails. Simultaneously, the vehicle immediately and automatically shifts itself into PARK, and the entire dashboard display illuminates with all available warning icons and messages. This malfunction creates an immediate, high-risk safety hazard. When the incident occurs, I am trapped, locked in PARK, in live traffic lanes, sometimes at busy intersections or during left-hand turns. It is impossible to shift back into drive or quickly restart the engine. I am forced to remain stationary in traffic for multiple minutes until the system allows me to cycle the ignition completely OFF and then back ON to attempt a full restart and shift back into Drive. This leaves my vehicle, my passengers, and other drivers vulnerable to rear-end collisions.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
The high pressure fuel pump has failed on this vehicle. This is a known problem for vehicles between 2017 and 2020 and has not been adequately addressed by the corporation.
High pressure fuel pump failed on a low mileage 2020 Honda Odyssey. Upon initial inspection the Honda mechanic reported the area around the fuel pipe was saturated with fuel.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
While traveling from Florida to our home in Pennsylvania in December 2022, we were on [XXX] and after going over a pothole, the side curtain airbag, and the driver seat side airbag inadvertently deployed. It was very traumatic and we are fortunate that we were able to pull off the side of the highway without getting hit by vehicles., The repair, which totaled over$16,000 was done by GERBER COLLISION AND GLASS Easton, PA. we personally are trying to recoup our out of pocket expenses of $781.08 from HONDA. And now, a month ago, May 2026,(almost 4 years after our incident) we received a SAFETY RECALL notification from explaining the exact issue we had.NHTSA Recall number26V227. we can provide photos and documentation, invoices, out of pocket expenses, etc if necessary but we have no idea how to include them on this form. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power tailgate won't stay open. It is a known issue (Honda service bulletin 22-018) and has tried to close while people are underneath - including my small children. I have knocked my head into it numerous times since the issue started. It almost always slowly closes, and sometimes it beeps a few times then closes automatically and if I'm under it I have to forcefully hold it open. A small child would not be able to.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
NHTSA Campaign 26V227000. My vehicle VIN: [XXX] Vehicle modified by Vantage Mobility International (VMI) into a Mobility Van. Van submitted to dealer 7/16/2026. Dealer claims they cannot perform work until factory clearance obtained. I cannot get information on when repair can be completed. VMI engineer Andrew Socha (602) 304 3294 informed me on 7/20/2026 there was nothing in the VMI modification that would interfere with this safety upgrade I called American Honda Motor Co, Inc Headquarters in Torrance, CA (800 999 1009) pn 7/22/2026 where safety recall department employee Antonio (would not give last name) commiserated with my situation but had no authority to ameliorate the situation I can't get a straight answer from American Honda Motor Co. Inc. and when or whether this repair is done. The 30 day window for this repair is closing in 5 days. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My SRS light went on without being in an accident. Around the same time I noticed that there was a recall reported (NHTSA Recall Number 26V-227) which states that the vehicle may deploy airbags without cause by going over a pothole etc. I took my vehicle in to the Honda dealership and they confirmed that my SRS ECU needs to be replaced bc it detected an airbag deployment but since it already deployed they will not replace it under the recall. However, the recall states that they need to update the SRS ECU to prevent this exact scenario from happening without proper cause and if it already happened the SRS ECU will need to be replaced. The worst part is, that they cleared the recall through the database for my vehicle but did not actually fix any issues and the SRS system is still not functioning. I already made a complaint with Honda corporation over two months ago but so far they have not provided a resolution.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
Vehicle has all time on the brake system, front collision, auto high beam, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist abd road departure warnings. Sometimes the vehicle turns off suddenly when stop, and the steering wheel gets hard when parking.
Receiving ACC, lane keep assist, front collision , auto high beam errors on the instrument screen. None of the safety features work. Cruise control does not work.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
At roughly 5,000 miles, this 2020 Honda Odyssey was brought into an authorized Honda dealership due to transmission concerns. The dealership service department improperly evaluated the 10 speed transmission, and diagnosed a 9 speed transmission system, assured me that what I was feeling was completely normal, and instructed me to only bring the vehicle back if the issue got worse. At approximately 60,000 miles, after experiencing a transmission slip, I immediately took the vehicle to an ASE Blue Seal Certified shop for a complete transmission service to ensure proper maintenance was performed by qualified technicians. At approximately 80,000 miles, while driving on a highway during a family trip, the transmission suffered a sudden, catastrophic failure, resulting in a total loss of motive power at speed. Losing all propulsion on a high-speed highway created a severe safety hazard for my family and surrounding traffic. The complete mechanical failure was subsequently confirmed by a service center, and the failed transmission assembly remains available for inspection upon request. Initial symptoms were presented directly to an authorized Honda dealer in Annapolis MD while under factory warranty and the vehicle was properly maintained by certified technicians thereafter, but the underlying defect went unaddressed until complete failure occurred on the road.
The vehicle is a 2020 Honda Odyssey. A recurring and dangerous safety failure occurs involving the Auto Idle-Stop system. With the system enabled and the vehicle at a complete stop, the engine shuts off as designed. However, upon depressing the brake pedal to resume driving, the engine severely struggles to restart and completely fails. Simultaneously, the vehicle immediately and automatically shifts itself into PARK, and the entire dashboard display illuminates with all available warning icons and messages. This malfunction creates an immediate, high-risk safety hazard. When the incident occurs, I am trapped, locked in PARK, in live traffic lanes, sometimes at busy intersections or during left-hand turns. It is impossible to shift back into drive or quickly restart the engine. I am forced to remain stationary in traffic for multiple minutes until the system allows me to cycle the ignition completely OFF and then back ON to attempt a full restart and shift back into Drive. This leaves my vehicle, my passengers, and other drivers vulnerable to rear-end collisions.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
Dealership has not resolved the problem since they are waiting for parts
Backup camera stopped working for no reason, says camera system failure and is a black screen. Research says this is a recall but my dealership says it is not.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
The driver side rear coil spring broke abruptly on both the top and bottom leaving the majority of the spring mechanically unattached. The driver side rear shock also broke from the additional strain on it. With a complete loss of suspension on the rear driver side, as I hit bumps on the freeway, I could feel the van jerking quickly nearly sending me out of the lane. If it was slippery with rain or snow, I felt like the van would spin out. The broken parts were confirmed and shown to me by an independent service center. The shop also informed me that he has seen many Honda Odysseys from the same model year with broken coil springs. When he called to order parts from the Honda dealer, none of the 3 nearby dealers had springs in stock and all had vans in their service center waiting to replace their broken springs. There were no warning signs before this happened. I perform all regular maintenance such as brakes, tire rotations/replacements, and oil changes by auto shops so the car is regularly looked at. This happened at 6 years old and 60,000 miles. While springs generally lose some tension, snapping through in two places is unacceptable. Honda has recalled other vehicles for rear suspension failures and needs to expand that recall to additional vehicles. Specifically the Odyssey.
The rear coil spring snapped with no warning. My safety was at risk because the spring broke and collapsed on the suspension while driving on a tollway. The bottom of the spring that was snapped off completely which presents a safety risk to others as it becomes a heavy sharp steel projectile flying into traffic. The problem has been confirmed by a service center and it is a large issue as the parts are extremely hard to source due to the frequency of these coil springs breaking in Honda Odysseys. They can’t make them fast enough to replace. They are not supposed to break and are not part of any scheduled maintenance. The component has been inspected by a Honda service center. There were no warning lamps or symptoms. The part broke suddenly and without warning.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
2020 Honda Odyssey EX-L, 49k miles, no prior collisions. 1. Faulty system: SRS airbag module, defective factory aluminum clip (official Honda recall defect). EDR data verified this component failure by dealer technicians. 2. Safety risk: Driver airbag spontaneously deployed at 41MPH with zero impact. Seven occupants suffered soft tissue injuries and PTSD; sudden deployment created severe risk of secondary crash. 3. Dealer confirmation: Bay Ridge Honda (Brooklyn NY) diagnosed and confirmed the airbag clip defect via EDR readout and physical teardown, filed service records for this issue. 4. Inspectors reviewed vehicle: Honda dealer techs, EDR forensic specialists, and GEICO adjuster all inspected the car and confirmed no pre-crash damage. 5. Pre-fault warnings: No SRS warning lights, error codes or abnormal electrical symptoms appeared before the airbag deployed unexpectedly.
The rear passenger side tire hit a pothole and it caused all of the airbags to deploy on April 6, 2026. The impact should not have set the airbags off. This has caused a severe rash/burn on my son's face and neck. The vehicle is now being totaled by my insurance company and forcing me to have to purchase a new vehicle and my insurance rates to go up. Three days later, April 9, 2026, a safety recall on the over-sensitive airbags was issued for this Odyssey. There were no other warnings leading up to this. Insurance has inspected the vehicle and deemed it a total loss.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
My son turned around in his second-row seat of our Honda Odyssey, causing the seat belt to cinch tightly around his waist. Even after the buckle was released, the seat belt continued to tighten instead of loosening. It became so tight that he could barely breathe, and we ultimately had to cut the seat belt to free him. There was no way to manually release or loosen the belt once it had locked. This presents a serious safety hazard. Seat belts should include an emergency release or override mechanism that allows a locked belt to be loosened during an entrapment situation.
While traveling from Florida to our home in Pennsylvania in December 2022, we were on [XXX] and after going over a pothole, the side curtain airbag, and the driver seat side airbag inadvertently deployed. It was very traumatic and we are fortunate that we were able to pull off the side of the highway without getting hit by vehicles., The repair, which totaled over$16,000 was done by GERBER COLLISION AND GLASS Easton, PA. we personally are trying to recoup our out of pocket expenses of $781.08 from HONDA. And now, a month ago, May 2026,(almost 4 years after our incident) we received a SAFETY RECALL notification from explaining the exact issue we had.NHTSA Recall number26V227. we can provide photos and documentation, invoices, out of pocket expenses, etc if necessary but we have no idea how to include them on this form. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
I have been getting front end clunking noise since I bought vehicle. Honda is not able to identify and resolve issue after taking to multiple dealers. And after 5 years and 45k miles white paint started flaking in different penal of car
Was driving to work while raining.hit a water puddle hydroplaned, The stop brake warning light came,vehiical slammed on the brakes, and the steering wheel locked up. There where not other vehicals on the road.Rolled the vehical 3 times. On several occasions our honda van has slammed on the brakes without any vehicle or obstacle present.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
Tailgate control module damaged by water leaking from faulty rear body seam seals on left top of vehicle Doors would lock and unlock on their own while driving and tailgate signaled it was open but never unlatched Manual tailgate opening/closing did not work at all Constantly beeped when unlocked and alarm went off randomly All electrical activity drained battery and made vehicle undriveable; tow was necessary First sign was "power tailgate problem" light on dash 5 days before vehicle battery was dead Honda charged for and replaced Tailgate control module and recommended an outside company to repair leak issues; outside company confirmed issue and noted repairs for same issue on similar models
Car would randomly die while I was driving, causing my children and I to be in severe danger in the middle of a busy road multiple times
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .