2021 Honda Odyssey Body & structure Problems

In mid-March 2026, the power tailgate on my [year] Honda Odyssey lost power entirely. It does not respond to the key fob, the tailgate button, or the dashboard button — it will not open or close by any control. I personally inspected the tailgate area and found corrosion and rust present, consistent with prior water intrusion. I have since learned that this is a widely reported issue among 2018–2021 Honda Odyssey owners, and that a class action lawsuit ([XXX] v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California) alleges a defect in rear body seam seals that lets water leak into the power tailgate control module, causing it to fail. The symptoms and physical evidence I found match those described by other owners and in the litigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11747727

Incident

Mar 18, 2026

Power tailgate problems caused by water leaking through body seams. A visible gap in the rear hatch allows water to flow into the vehicle and shorts out control module. This has ruined my control module, caused mold and I noticed a burning smell.

NHTSA ID

11733562

Incident

Apr 10, 2026

Leaking from the roof and tail gate caused the electronic control modules in the sliding door and rear gate to fail.

NHTSA ID

11730667

Incident

Mar 25, 2026

Both door latches have failed, the first was at 3 years and the second at 5 years. When this happens the door cannot close all the way. This should be a recall as it’s a safety issue and also very costly to repair.

NHTSA ID

11727640

Incident

Mar 27, 2026

the trunk door stopped working due to a leak from the rear left window seal causing the computer to become waterlogged the mechanic that fixed it said its a common issue with the Honda odyssey and should be recalled by Honda, I am therefore requesting the nhtsa to investigate this matter further so Honda should reimburse for the cost of the repair this issue can be a safety hazard in the event of a emergency egress from the trunk as it's not possible to open from the exterior and there was no prior warnings lamps or messages

NHTSA ID

11711166

Incident

Jan 5, 2026

Power tailgate stopped working. Warning indicator indicated Power Tailgate failure. Dealer found water to be leaking onto tailgate unit from driver’s side roof rail. Recommended replacing and programming new PTG unit and resealing water leak. Repair cost was $1,311.51

NHTSA ID

11711000

Incident

Jan 13, 2026

The power tailgate on my 2021 Honda Odyssey suddenly failed. A “power tailgate problem” warning appeared, and the tailgate became completely inoperable. It would not latch manually or automatically, even when applying force. The latch would spring back open, and no mechanical sound came from the door. Because the tailgate would not latch, the interior lights stayed on, and the vehicle continued to display “tailgate open” warnings. I could not secure the tailgate for driving, which created a safety hazard since the door could not be properly closed during travel. A few days later, both sliding doors also stopped functioning, and none of the powered doors (tailgate or sliding doors) would operate from the interior switches, exterior buttons, or key fob. The Honda service center inspected the vehicle and reported that the tailgate control module was corroded and had clear evidence of water damage. They stated that they would not replace the module until the vehicle was evaluated by a body shop because a water leak was likely present and would continue damaging components. The body shop later confirmed that water intrusion was entering through the upper left rear pillar, caused by a leak in the roof seam area. Water traveled into the rear side panel and damaged the tailgate control module and related electrical systems. Their findings were documented and also confirmed by my insurance inspector. Prior to the failure, there were no symptoms. The only warning occurred at the moment the system failed (“power tailgate problem”). The issue occurred without any impact, accident, or misuse. The defects caused multiple powered doors to become inoperable, which is a significant safety risk for both passengers and the driver. Based on publicly available information, this appears to be a recurring problem in 2018–2021 Honda Odyssey vehicles involving water leaks near the rear pillar leading to electrical control module failures.

NHTSA ID

11702776

Incident

Nov 20, 2025

The sliding door closed on my child's hand cutting the top of his finger off down to his finger bone.

NHTSA ID

11629558

Incident

Dec 8, 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the "Passenger’s Sliding Door Failure" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that the rear passenger’s side sliding door failed to fully open upon entering or exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to two dealers, Honda of Fort Myers (3550 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33966) and Coconut Point Honda (22240 S Tamiami Trail, Estero, FL 33928) and the contact was provided a diagnostic test fee to determine the cause of the failure, but the contact declined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.

NHTSA ID

11577127

Incident

Jan 13, 2024

Mileage

19,000 mi

The back-right passenger side door was opened by pulling on the outside handle after a hobbled passenger was cautioned that the door was going to slide open and moved a few inches away from the vehicle to allow for that. The door required more clearance than either of us anticipated. The passenger fell backwards either trying to avoid being hit by the door or by actually being hit by it, leading to a broken bone, hospitalization, cancellation of the pending surgery to address a pre-existing orthopedic issue, and many continuing expenses. I have not attempted to reproduce this accident (duh), and this is my first report of it. There were no warnings of which I am aware. The speed of door sliding open likely contributed to the accident, as did the required clearance from the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11489995

Incident

Oct 7, 2022