2021 Honda Odyssey Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera display flickered on and off. The contact stated that while using the GPS, the display went blank. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer attempted to reset the rear-view camera display; however, the failure reoccurred. The dealer was made aware of the failure, and a diagnostic test was scheduled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact contacted NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V431000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,231.

NHTSA ID

11756220

Incident

Jun 11, 2026

Mileage

49,231 mi

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while stopping at a red light, the vehicle idled and automatically turned off while stopped and then the vehicle restarted but the vehicle stalled. The electronics on the vehicle were not operating as designed. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to start. The contact's brother was able to jumpstart the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as needed. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

NHTSA ID

11753593

Incident

Jul 17, 2026

Mileage

72,000 mi

2021 Odyssey EXL shuts off completely at a traffic stop light. Happened 2 times in a 2 week period. Without warning the engine switches off completely and puts itself in "P" mode, all light comes on as if in accessory mode, radio switches off, all doors unlocked. To get going, the driver had to press brake pedal and start the car again (via Engine Start /Stop button). This issue started in my car at 93K miles. Never had any issue with mine before that. But it is scary especially the engine switch off at stop lights and blocking traffic for a number of minutes before you know what happened and are able to restart the can. I have seen this issue reported a number of times on this site and it appears repetedly in web searches. Honda needs to identify the cause of this problem and issue a recall for it.

NHTSA ID

11752152

Incident

Jul 22, 2026

The infotainment screen randomly shuts off and displays the errors "Network communication lost" and "MOST Net Off". This has happened numerous times while in the middle of backing up and using the backup camera that normally displays on that screen. We took it to the dealership for repairs of the problem in 2025 and after changing a wiring harness, the screen itself, and then the harness again, they thought they had fixed it but the issue continued to happen and has increased in frequency since then. Honda has a recall that includes our model (NHTSA Recall No. : 23V-431) but we were apparently not included in it and their press release on it estimates 50% of vehicles of the year and model are affected. It's unclear what arbitrary data was used to determine effected vehicles but it's obvious by the amount of discourse about it online that it affects more than their initial estimate. Many people, like us, have tried to have it repaired at a dealership to no avail.

NHTSA ID

11751816

Incident

Jul 21, 2026

Our van is experiencing Auto Idle Stop failure to restart. We experienced it one time last month (June 2026) and then again 2 days ago. I also experienced it 2 summers ago in 2024. We noticed it seems to happen in the heat and when we have been driving a while. In 2024 and then June 2026, I was able to quickly turn off and restart the car. Two days ago, we were stuck at a busy intersection with the car unable to start but also unable to turn off the car nor switch gears. After 5 min with multiple security alerts flashing it seems as though the computer timed out and we were able to start the car. We drove another 300 miles this weekend on a road trip with no further issues but we were sure to manually turn off auto stop each time. We are concerned about the safety implications of being stopped at traffic stop due to auto stop.

NHTSA ID

11751420

Incident

Jul 17, 2026

COMPONENT/SYSTEM: The infotainment/audio head unit and instrument display, which communicate over the vehicle's MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport) fiber-optic network via FAKRA connectors. The vehicle is available for inspection on request. FAILURE: While driving, the center display and Carplay screen spontaneously reboot and show "Network Communication Lost." During these events I intermittently lose the rearview backup camera and other display functions and navigation as well as communication. The failures are intermittent, happen more often over bumps, and sometimes at startup, and even during smooth road conditions. SAFETY RISK: Losing the rearview camera is a hazard when backing up, and having the instrument/infotainment display reboot while driving is distracting and removes information the driver relies on constantly. CONFIRMED BY A DEALER: Yes, repeatedly. The manufacturer issued a safety recall (Recall 23-047, "MOST FAKRA service cables"), which a franchised dealer performed in May 2024, replacing MOST network components. About 15 months later, the same defect returned; the dealer found the audio-unit connection was not secured, reseated it, and confirmed the wiring had proper continuity (ruling out rodent or wire damage). The dealer otherwise offered only workarounds - an aftermarket Bluetooth adapter and recording video of the failure - not a durable repair. The issue still persists. INSPECTED BY MANUFACTURER: The manufacturer-directed recall remedy was performed by the dealer; there has been no police or insurance inspection. WARNING MESSAGES: Yes - a "Network Communication Lost" message accompanies each reboot. The problem was present before and after the May 2024 recall and had clearly recurred by mid-2025. KEY POINT: This is a failed safety-recall remedy. Recall 23-047 was performed at about 29,000 miles and the same defect returned by about 36,700 miles - a failure within roughly 7,600 miles. It persists today.

NHTSA ID

11750723

Incident

Jul 14, 2026

I have a 2021 HONDA Odyssey ,40K miles, some lights on about few months ago, then i went to dealer on June 29,2026. I paid for a dealer diagnoses, they told me is the VSA modulator faulty. I don't believe that is over 36K miles warranty , so i search it on Google, shows Honda had some recall on different model and year car with the VSA modulator, so i think we must check it ,if on odyssey need recall it too.

NHTSA ID

11750699

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

My 2021 Honda Odyssey Touring has experienced a severe engine stalling defect that creates an immediate traffic hazard. On multiple occasions during warm weather conditions, the Auto Idle-Stop system has engaged at a stoplight, but the vehicle completely failed to restart automatically when pressing the accelerator. Instead, the engine completely stalled out mid-drive, leaving the vehicle stranded in active traffic and requiring a manual cycle of the ignition button to turn back over. There were no dashboard warning lamps, error messages, or check engine lights prior to the engine stalling. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership (Honda of Middleburg Heights) for an emergency safety evaluation. The certified technician physically tested the starting system and explicitly confirmed the physical hardware failure on the invoice, stating: "The starter motor can be heard cranking slower than usual during start up. Recommend replacing the starter motor and relays." Despite this official mechanical diagnosis of a failing starter component causing an immediate traffic stall, regional management issued a flat refusal of coverage because my specific VIN was omitted from the automated database recall screens for Service Bulletins A23-008 and A23-010. I am filing this complaint to ensure federal investigators document this rigid VIN exclusion loop under the active NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA25004.

NHTSA ID

11750213

Incident

Jul 3, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the rear hatch failed to release or open as needed. The contact had to enter the rear seats of the vehicle, crawl towards the rear hatch, and manually release the rear hatch from inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that there was corrosion on the PTG control unit and harness caused by a water leak from the roof guard stud. The dealer found that the spot weld was not sealed properly. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer confirmed that the vehicle was not covered under warranty or recall. The failure mileage was 32,329.

NHTSA ID

11750008

Incident

Mar 11, 2026

Mileage

32,329 mi

While driving approximately 75 mph on I-77 S our van stopped accelerating without warning. The engine would rev but no acceleration was occuring. There had been no signs of any issue prior and no warning lights appeared. We were able to make it to the side of the road and immediately called a tow truck to take us to the nearest Honda dealership. We had to wait on the side of a very busy interstate with our one and three year old and then get all of us safely to the dealership after the tow truck arrived. We were lucky that the sudden stop to our acceleration did not cause an accident and that we were not hit while parked on the shoulder (the tow truck driver indicated that there had been two collisions of that nature in that area in the month before our incident). The dealership confirmed that the transmission needed to be replaced a couple of days later. When asked what the issue was we were really only given a vague explanation of a part inside potentially failing and causing a ripple effect. The van was 6 months out of the five year warranty and only 272 miles over the 60k warranty. It had previously been serviced by a Honda dealership in March of this year and nothing was noted at that time about the transmission needing attention (such as a transmission fluid change). At no point had the onboard "Maintenance Minder" indicated that we needed a transmission fluid change as well. The service technician who diagnosed the transmission failure also indicated that there was nothing in the transmission fluid (like parts or metal shavings) to show where the failure occurred. The fact that a transmission would have a complete failure with zero warnings beforehand or any real explanation at 60k miles seems like a serious design flaw.

NHTSA ID

11747846

Incident

May 22, 2026

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

Engine locked on the crank, not part of the recall apparently. Car had no lights come on. It Could have happened as I was driving just 5 minutes prior with 4 children in the car. It has 107,000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11747500

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

When stopping at an intersection the engine fails to restart after stopping due to the auto start/stop feature. The car tries to start and stalls and dies, and must be completely turned off before it will restart. This has happened 5-6 times now. There are no warning lights on the dash.

NHTSA ID

11747208

Incident

Mar 1, 2026

The van suddenly died, thankfully on a lower traffic neighborhood road. It would not start and we had it towed to the dealership. Upon troubleshooting, the "low pressure" fuel pump was bad. This resulted in a $1,500 repair for a vehicle only 5 years old. Thankfully this did not happen on the highway, but this is dangerous and should not happen on a car only 5 years old and well maintained.

NHTSA ID

11746889

Incident

Jun 18, 2026

Stopped at a stoplight, the engine will just die. It won't start again by pressing the gas peddle. It will require a few moments to try to restart it. It is very stressful and dangerous when people are waiting behind you. This is not safe. It won't happen every time but the few and far between are not good. We have replaced the battery and it sounds like other people have had this problem but no recall has been made to fix it.

NHTSA ID

11744223

Incident

Jun 14, 2026

Vehicle shuts off completely when stopping at a light or sign. It does restart but you don't know it until you need to go. It is a safety concern!

NHTSA ID

11744196

Incident

Jun 13, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The Auto Start/Stop function only works intermittently on our 2021 Honda Odyssey. Occasionally, when the Auto Start/Stop function does shut off the engine when the vehicle is at a complete stop, the engine fails to restart on its own. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? This malfunction occurs intermittently and without warning when the vehicle is at a complete stop in traffic. The vehicle cannot be driven under its own power in this condition, often leaving it disabled in a traffic lane with other vehicles stuck behind and/or passing by at normal travel speeds. As such, it endangers both the occupants of my vehicle and the other vehicles in the vicinity. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. My local Honda dealership acknowledged the problem and completed a PGM-FI software update. However, this update did not correct the issue, and Honda refuses to take financial responsibility for the repairs necessary to correct the problem. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes. The following timeline details my interactions with my local Honda dealership regarding this issue: 4/13/23 - The dealership inspected the vehicle and claimed the Auto Start/Stop system was "operating as designed"; 9/6/24 - The dealership completed a PGM-FI update as directed by a Honda product update campaign; 2/12/26 - The dealership inspected the vehicle, suggested battery replacement (which tested good on 3/3/26), and if still not corrected, advised replacement of the starter at my expense. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? The problem has occurred without notice since purchase on 3/11/21.

NHTSA ID

11742470

Incident

Mar 11, 2021

System crackles through the speakers and infotainment system shuts down completely. It may or may not reboot.. Most recently the screen was completely unresponsive, the radio would not turn off manually, and it did not turn off when the car turned off and the door was opened. Occurrence is random. The system may work fine for a few months and then crash multiple times daily and then go back to working normal again for a few months.

NHTSA ID

11738180

Incident

May 9, 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

Rear passenger side shock absorber snapped on a family road trip. Vehicle began to fishtail with every bump in the road leading to excursions very close to lane markings at times. Inspection by dealer not only confirmed the damage but also found older damage involving the right front control arm which also had to be replaced. Owner had noticed a rattle in the steering column before original new car warranty expired. Original dealer could not locate the source years ago. Problem completely vanished after the current control arm repair. Owner is concerned that had rear passenger side shock absorber and front swing arm completely failed at the same time that vehicle would have departed.the road surface at speed. Vehicle has 64,000 miles on it, relatively low, light mileage for a vehicle of this age. A Google search reveals many other owner of this same make and model year have experienced the same problems.

NHTSA ID

11726851

Incident

Mar 11, 2026

The forward collision prevention system engages the brakes when nothing/no one is in front of us. It will also engage the lane departure warning, which also engages the brakes, when construction zones remove the actual lane lines and temporary lines are put down. The car gets confused and brakes the car to a stop in the middle of a highway.

NHTSA ID

11724497

Incident

Mar 15, 2026

The rearview camera that does not display an image which can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. I had the vehicle inspected by a third party which believes this could be from insufficient repairs as part of the prior recall NHTSA ID Number: 23V431000 related to this same issue. Honda's recall service center's only solution is that I take the vehicle to a Honda dealership for inspection, at my expense, and that they will reimburse me if they determine it is related to this recall. The issue with the display not working has been going on for several weeks. The display will work temporarily when the battery is reset, the fuse is reset, or when the display itself was removed/replaced by the party I had inspect the unit.

NHTSA ID

11721957

Incident

Feb 4, 2026

The error message “Power Tailgate Problem” appeared on the dash. Following the error message, the power tailgate stopped working. It would not open or close with the remote, the button on the dash, or the button on the tailgate itself. I discovered water had been leaking in the tailgate and the trunk area of my vehicle as well as the back seat that was folded down in storage had gotten soaked. I took my van to the service center and they told me it was the seal above the door and that the leak had ruined the power module controlling the door. They repaired the issues. That was in April 2025. The same thing happened last week (January 2026). After looking into the error message and the tailgate problem, I’m finding that the door may open or close at any time on its own. The water in the electrical module may also start a fire. I have two small children and this van is our primary vehicle. I’ve reached out to the dealership from which I purchased the van, I reached out to a local Honda dealer and I contacted Honda customer service and no one is willing to fix this issue. I will be required to pay out of pocket again. I’m requesting a recall on this defect in design.

NHTSA ID

11712381

Incident

Apr 16, 2025