2026 Honda Odyssey Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2026 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while pulling halfway into a parking spot with her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle suddenly accelerated, turning slightly right to miss a handicapped spot, crashed into a palm tree, and drove over rocks before the vehicle stopped. The vehicle went from 0 to 30 MPH within seconds. The ignition was turned off during the failure. The driver’s side seat and top air bags deployed and struck the contact in the face, causing a burning of the face. There was smoke inside the vehicle. The driver was able to exit the vehicle. The contact sustained bruises. The driver's son was seated in the driver's side rear seat. The air pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for an oil change the day before the failure. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then later towed to a Geico lot. The insurance company had inspected the vehicle. The vehicle was scheduled to go to a body shop for further inspection. A Police report was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 6,338.

NHTSA ID

11765824

Incident

Sep 13, 2026

Mileage

6,338 mi

The vehicle has now on two occasions failed to restart after the auto idle off feature has engaged. I now have to remember to turn it off every time I drive. It has left me stranded in the road waiting and hoping I can get it to restart. This has nearly happened on two other occasions as well.

NHTSA ID

11765543

Incident

Sep 19, 2026

I was stopped at the light on Maple and Naper in Naperville. My car engine had turned off as part of the auto idle feature. When I took my foot off the brake, my car did not restart. A message came up telling me to put the car in park. It had already automatically shifted to park and I had to turn the car off and back on to get it to work again. This is a busy intersection and people behind me were honking.

NHTSA ID

11764602

Incident

Aug 18, 2026

At stop lights, the car engine will shut off. It is supposed to turn back on as you lift your foot from the break to accelerate. Three times now, most recently around 4pm yesterday, the car has not restarted. It shifts to park and an error message comes up on the dash. I’m not exactly sure what the message says but it’s something like car failed to restart, shift to park. I have had to power off my car and power it back on all 3 times to get it to work properly again.

NHTSA ID

11764598

Incident

Sep 15, 2026

At a stop light the van turned off and would not turn back on...finally was able to get it to auto zone who said it was a bad battery, we then took it to honda with it only having 7k miles on it. They determined it was the starter from the auto/start/stop feature. What if this was the highway? A 2026 vehicle this should not happen to.

NHTSA ID

11764398

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

My AIS system kicked in causing the engine to shut off. Unfortunately, the engine did not restart. I was unable to start my car or even shift it to neutral for a helpful bystander to help me push my car off of the road. I was blocking traffic on a busy road and I am very fortunate that I was not rear ended. Eventually, after about half an hour, was able to get the car restarted (even then, lots of “clicking” and hesitation with starting). I then drove the vehicle home. I took it to Honda and they made me aware today that they were unable to get the car to repeat this problem, nothing was wrong, I could pick it up and let them know if it happened again.

NHTSA ID

11764140

Incident

Sep 9, 2026

Sitting at a light, the auto stop system activated and shut the engine off. When the light turned green, I took my foot off the brake and the engine failed to. Start and the entire electrical system shut off. The card was completely dead. I sat there for several minutes and I was able to restart the car.

NHTSA ID

11763755

Incident

Sep 11, 2026

While driving my 2026 Honda Odyssey, I stopped at a red light and the engine shut off through the Auto Idle Stop system. I pressed the Auto Idle Stop OFF button because I wanted the engine running again before proceeding. Instead of restarting the engine, the vehicle completely shut down and became inoperable in traffic. I repeatedly attempted to restart the vehicle, but it remained unresponsive for approximately 20 seconds before it finally restarted. This created a serious safety hazard because I was unable to move the vehicle while positioned in active traffic. This was not normal Auto Idle Stop operation, as the engine should have restarted when I pressed the button. This has happened several times already, where the car will not restart the engine. Requesting that NHTSA investigate possible Auto-Idle Stop/failure-to-restart problems affecting the 2026 Honda Odyssey.

NHTSA ID

11763518

Incident

Sep 10, 2026

While my 2026 Honda Odyssey was parked and stationary, I operated the driver-side power sliding door normally. The door began opening but became stuck. When I activated the power sliding door again, there was a sudden mechanical failure involving the sliding-door mechanism. The sliding-door rail was severely damaged/deformed, the mechanism appeared to disengage from its normal track/rail path, and the fixed rear quarter/third-row side window shattered. Exterior molding covering the rail was also dislodged and fell to the ground. There was no collision, accident, external impact, obstruction, or other outside force involved. The failure occurred during normal intended use of the power sliding door. Fortunately, my three children had already exited the vehicle. The shattered glass is directly adjacent to a passenger seating position normally occupied by my children, creating a serious risk of injury had a passenger been seated there. There were no warning lights, messages, or known prior symptoms before the door became stuck. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by Honda or a dealer. It is currently parked at my residence and is available for inspection. I have extensive photographs taken immediately after the incident documenting the damaged rail, shattered glass, displaced molding, and debris. After the incident, because I was approximately three hours from home with my three children, I was able to carefully reposition the door enough to close and secure it, temporarily cover the shattered window, and drive home. The affected sliding door has remained closed and locked since, and I am no longer operating the vehicle pending inspection.

NHTSA ID

11762163

Incident

Sep 3, 2026

The blind-spot monitoring system on our 2026 Honda Odyssey Elite fails to operate properly in hot weather. When ambient temperatures are high, the system does not detect or alert to vehicles in the adjacent blind-spot areas, and an error message appears stating “blind spot detection unavailable.” This failure increases the risk of collisions during lane changes or merges because the driver does not receive the expected visual or audible warnings of vehicles in the blind spots, potentially endangering the occupants of this vehicle and other road users.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

NHTSA ID

11762024

Incident

Sep 1, 2026

While stopped at a red light, the Auto Stop/Start system shut off the engine as designed but then failed to restart it. The vehicle remained stalled in the intersection for several minutes while I attempted to restart the engine manually. This left the vehicle and my family stopped in traffic, creating a potential safety risk from surrounding vehicles. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to this incident or after.

NHTSA ID

11762021

Incident

Sep 3, 2026

There is a very strong exhaust smell in the cabin. This occurs under the flow and recirculate HVAC options and is not improved by changing the engine and cabin air filters.

NHTSA ID

11760045

Incident

Aug 27, 2026

While stopped at a red light- the idle stop engaged, but when released brake to go again, the engine failed to engage and I was not able to go- it then showed up on the instrument cluster to in order to drive- I needed to restart my vehicle. This has happened now 7 times in 9 months. 3 being in the last week.

NHTSA ID

11759963

Incident

Aug 26, 2026

Three times in the past week my van has shut off while I was preparing to move forward at a stop light. My car begins to idle as soon as it’s stopped, but when I lift my foot off the brake, instead of turning back on, my van engine shuts all the way off or jerks hard before acceleration. Resulting in me having to hurry and put my car in park & restart the engine. It’s very dangerous!

NHTSA ID

11759648

Incident

Aug 26, 2026

Starter Failed

NHTSA ID

11756852

Incident

Aug 12, 2026

2026 Honda Odyssey: Strong Exhaust/Fuel Odor in Cabin Causing Dizziness and Nausea I am submitting this complaint to report a potential safety issue involving a vehicle that is less than one year old. Beginning this past weekend, the vehicle suddenly began filling the passenger cabin with a strong exhaust-like odor during normal operation. The odor is severe enough that multiple occupants have experienced symptoms such as dizziness and nausea after spending approximately 10 minutes inside the vehicle. I visited my local Honda dealership to report the issue and seek assistance. According to the representatives I spoke with, Honda believes this is a known and widespread issue affecting multiple makes and models and that it is allegedly related to recent changes in gasoline formulation. I was further informed that Honda is aware of the issue, that engineering teams are working on a solution, and that there is currently no corrective action available to consumers. Honda also stated that, despite the odor, the condition does not involve toxic fumes and is only an odor concern. I am not ready to accept that explanation without further investigation. At this time: The condition began suddenly and without warning. The odor is strong and persistent. Occupants have experienced dizziness and nausea while riding in the vehicle. Honda has not identified a repair or mitigation. Honda has indicated that this may be a broader issue rather than an isolated vehicle defect. I am requesting that NHTSA review this matter to determine whether similar complaints have been reported and whether this condition warrants further investigation as a potential safety defect. I have also requested that Honda provide written documentation supporting its statements regarding: The alleged fuel-formulation cause of the issue. The assertion that occupants are not being exposed to harmful fumes. Any technical bulletins, engineering analyses, or communications related to this condition.

NHTSA ID

11754522

Incident

Aug 1, 2026

Gasoline fuel vapors enter the passenger cabin of my 2026 Honda Odyssey while driving. The problem began XXX, the day after a dealer oil change, and has recurred repeatedly, growing stronger each time. It is worst in high ambient heat (100 to 116 F), with the fuel tank above half full, and after extended idling or stop-and-go driving on a heat-soaked engine. It initially occurred only after idling but now also fills the cabin at cruising speed. No warning lights or messages precede it. On XXX in about 116 F heat, the cabin filled with gasoline vapor with my two children (ages [XXX] and [XXX]) aboard. Onset was immediate: nausea, lightheadedness, and sore throat. I had to shut off the A/C and open the windows in extreme heat to reduce exposure, and the children had to be taken home in a different vehicle. Poison control was contacted the same day, opened case files for all three of us, and assessed the symptoms as consistent with short-term gasoline vapor exposure. A pediatric follow-up is scheduled. The dealer has confirmed the problem. Repair Order XXX (Tempe Honda, XXX 14,032 miles) states the advisor and tech did confirm smell coming from vehicle, and that the issue is currently under investigation by AHM, with no work done. An earlier dealer inspection onXXX found nothing. American Honda has an open corporate case, and no repair path has been provided to date. In-cabin TVOC air readings of about 2.0 mg/m3, peaking at 6.0 mg/m3, were captured on video. The vehicle is available for inspection, and repair orders, videos, and manufacturer correspondence are available on request. The vehicle is no longer driven with children aboard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11754409

Incident

Aug 1, 2026

Idle stop function error during waiting at red light. Engine failed to restart so i had to turned it off and restarted the engine at the traffic light. Happened twice already. Idle stop system is defective need to be recalled

NHTSA ID

11753569

Incident

Jul 25, 2026

When I stopped at a stoplight at a busy intersection during rush hour traffic my auto shut off engaged like it was supposed to. When I released my foot off the brake for the car to restart so I could drive the car's dash started flashing and displaying instructions to engage the brake and put the car into drive, except I was in drive. It would not restart and no matter how many times I pressed the brake and the drive button nothing changed and it kept flashing the same message at me. I attempted to the the car off and when I tried to restart it, it flashed the battery light and would not restart. All electrical systems would turn on, but the car would not restart. It took a solid 5 minutes and turning the car off and on for it to finally restart. Then subsequent times at following lights before I turn the auto shut off off it would restart but struggled to. I have taken it to the dealership and called Honda Corporate and both tell me it is not throwing a code and therefore nothing is wrong with it.

NHTSA ID

11752324

Incident

Jul 15, 2026

Driving in city limits without any other vehicles nearby, the sunroof “exploded”. After immediately pulling over and inspecting the sun roof from outside the glass was buckled up, away from the interior of the car. The glass then all fell to the interior door.

NHTSA ID

11751853

Incident

Jul 20, 2026

Intermittent Auto Start/Stop failure: When stopped at a red light or stop sign, the car sometimes completely dies. Fails to restart: Releasing the brake pedal does not automatically restart the engine. Manual restart required: I have to manually restart the vehicle and shift back into Drive to proceed. Traffic concern: This process takes 10 to 15 seconds, holding up the traffic behind me.

NHTSA ID

11750877

Incident

Jul 10, 2026

I own a 2026 Honda Odyssey Elite equipped with the factory rear entertainment system and Apple CarPlay. When using Apple CarPlay navigation (Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze) while passengers are watching a movie on the factory rear entertainment system, every navigation voice prompt causes the movie playback to stop. After playback stops, the movie cannot be restarted from the vehicle controls. The only way to restore normal operation is to stop the vehicle, turn the vehicle completely off, restart it, reconnect Apple CarPlay, and restart the movie. However, the problem repeats the next time a navigation instruction is given. This creates a driver distraction because passengers immediately ask for the movie to be restarted, and the driver is presented with an infotainment system that does not respond as expected while the vehicle is moving. Drivers may attempt to troubleshoot or repeatedly interact with the infotainment controls instead of focusing on driving. My Honda dealership advised me they were able to reproduce this issue on multiple new 2026 Honda Odyssey vehicles on their lot, indicating that this is not unique to my vehicle. Honda Customer Relations has also been notified.

NHTSA ID

11750605

Incident

Jun 15, 2026

Rear windshield with possible spontaneous shatter first noticed at noon today. No signs of impact or vandalism. Car last driven 2 days prior and appeared normal last night. Vertical line fractures at the very edge of the glass on both sides concerning for manufacturing defect. Police report filed, no repairs made yet.

NHTSA ID

11750603

Incident

Jul 15, 2026

I own a 2026 Honda Odyssey Elite. On multiple occasions, the Auto Idle Stop system shut the engine off while stopped at a traffic light. When I released the brake pedal to proceed, the engine failed to restart, leaving the vehicle disabled in traffic. I was forced to shift the vehicle into Park and manually restart the engine using the Start/Stop button. This defect has occurred multiple times. I first reported the issue to my Honda dealership on June 2, 2026. After two visits where the dealer was unable to duplicate the concern, I captured the failure on video. During my third repair visit, the dealership's engineer personally experienced the failure twice while testing the vehicle. Honda Customer Relations opened a case and worked with the dealership. The dealership ultimately replaced the battery but advised me that this was only the next diagnostic step and not a confirmed root cause of the failure. This defect creates a significant safety hazard because the vehicle can become immobilized in an active traffic lane after the light turns green, exposing occupants to the risk of being struck by other vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11750598

Incident

Jun 25, 2026

I own a 2026 Honda Odyssey Elite. The vehicle has unexpectedly applied the brakes while driving even though there was no vehicle, pedestrian, or obstacle in front of me. The braking event occurred without warning and without any legitimate reason for the Forward Collision Avoidance system to activate. I first reported this issue to my Honda dealership on June 2, 2026 and again during subsequent repair visits. Although the dealership was initially unable to duplicate the concern, the issue remains unresolved. Unexpected braking at highway speeds creates a serious safety hazard because it increases the risk of a rear end collision and could cause other drivers to take evasive action.

NHTSA ID

11750594

Incident

Jun 15, 2026