10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
22,920 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Honda Odyssey steering problems

steering problem

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2013 Honda Odyssey Owner Comments

problem #14

Sep 282018

Odyssey

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We purchased this vehicle brand new. Overall it has been excellent, but it does have one horrible safety flaw. The brakes heat up and warp on even a small hill and cause the steering to shake terribly when breaking. The dealer will fix the problem, for a premium of course, and you are good to go for several months. Then it comes right back. This is a known problem, and I'm really surprised that Honda hasn't been forced to do a recall since they won't do one on their own. They call it "wear and tear". yeah, right. It's so common that the dealer specifically asks about it every time we come in for an oil change or whatever. "any issues with shaking during breaking"" sorry, but you will never get me to believe that this is a normal question every time a car comes in for service. We've paid for the "repairs" a few times, but I can't afford to keep paying for the same parts over and over again. So now I just answer yes, but that it's not shaking enough to pay for the temporary repairs again. Really, it's kind of scary and horrible. This seems like it's a serious safety issue, but no one seems to care. This is a minivan. Minivans are usually filled with kids. Hopefully someone at Honda or the us government will finally realize that parents shouldn't be struggling to hold onto their steering wheels just so that Honda can sell new brakes every few months. I'm only bringing it up now because it's so common that I'm starting to receive letters from attorneys about class-action suits. I'd rather Honda just issue a recall and fix the problem. Do the rotors simply need to be better quality steel" I would even be fine if I had to pay for the brakes yet again, as long as the problem is actually fixed once and for all. The minivan only has about 59K miles on it.

- Clayton, CA, USA

problem #13

Jan 072018

Odyssey

  • 44,000 miles
My brakes vibrate when slowing down on the freeway, occasionally while driving on surface streets when slowing down for lights. I first noticed this several months after purchase. I took the van in asked for the brakes to be checked. The vibrating stopped for several weeks then started back up. I returned to the dealership and they checked the tires. It stopped again for several weeks then started back up again. I took the van in and asked for the rotors to be turned. That again helped for a few weeks and the vibrating returned. It is frustrating and scary to feel the vibration in my steering wheel and if I brake hard to feel the van pull to the right. I have explained this problem to the service technician but there seems to be nothing they can do to fix this problem. I complain about it but cannot afford to continue to take it in and get no satisfactory repairs. At one point I came home and aired up my tires and that seemed to help for about 3 months. Then the vibration is back again. This problem has been going on since I purchased the van in December, 2014 and continues to this day. Is there any solutions that have been found for this problem"?"

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #12

Jun 072017

Odyssey

  • 35,000 miles
Original owner of 2013 Honda Odyssey, noticed significant steering wheel vibration at 35K miles while going down or at highway speeds while slowing down unexpectedly. It made me grab the steering wheel harder to try to steady the wheels so we don't drive off the cliff. I believe it poses a danger as it creates a situation where such steering wheel vibration and tires vibration can cause a dangerous situation in which the control over vehicle could be lost along with lives of those in the car. I have just replaced the tires, which was not the cause of the vibration. The car is in good standing as all recommended services were completed timely. When contacted the local Honda dealer, they said that rotors needs to be resurfaced. But as I am reading on this site and others, this could be an endless and expensive recurrent service. This vehicle is designed to be a family vehicle, therefore it shouldn't be a standard when rotors come out of functionality as soon as vehicle is out of factory.

- Pleasanton, CA, USA

problem #11

Jul 182015

Odyssey

  • 46,854 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We purchased a 2013 Honda Odyssey exl 1 year ago (7/18/16). We immediately experienced excessive vibration of the steering wheel while driving, and also braking at highway speeds. The dealer replaced the front tires about 4 months out to correct the problem. I didn't work. We asked them to consider the rotors as the issue, but they were reluctant since they were just resurfaced them before we bought the vehicle. Eventually, they did agree, and all four rotors needed resurfacing. The service dept told us our 8 month old tires had wear beyond the normal amount, and suggested it was probably caused by the vibration problems. We're getting another set of tires from the dealer, but are concerned that we will soon be having to resurface the rotors again based on the history I've already spoken of here, and other complaints that have been filed. We feel Honda should be forced to recall and replace the rotors on the 2013 Honda Odyssey. There is certainly enough documentation of the problem.

- Haven, KS, USA

problem #10

Nov 012015

Odyssey

  • 16,000 miles
My Odyssey is 19,600 miles. I'm experiencing vibrations in brake paddle, accelerator paddle and steering wheel when braking and while accelerating between 35-40 miles. Took this vehicle to service center, they wrap rotors. So, braking vibrations are gone, but accelerator vibration is on. Honda service center cannot resolve it as vibration is not heavy. This seems to be common problem with many Honda Odyssey owners. I request you to help resolving this issue for me and all owners for once and all.

- Mount Laurel, NJ, USA

problem #9

Jun 032016

Odyssey

  • 21,000 miles
From reading forums and blogs on this particular Odyssey year and experiencing first hand, I'm just in disbelief that Honda won't recall this situation! the van only has 21000 miles on it (bought it certified) and I'm hoping that when I call Honda they'll do the right thing for this is a safety issue in plain sight! breaking when coming down a steep grade of highway and suddenly getting a violent shaking on the steering wheel and feeling the tires skip and bounce...how can that not be a recall issue?! especially having family in the vehicle! I'm going to call Honda customer service line (like others have) and voice it out too. Hopefully they will see the importance of this situation and stand by their quality and name. They do have the best vans, believe me I've had 4different makes, but to read and experience the breaking issue and Honda not recalling it...that's not right especially if families lives are at hand! Honda, please do the right thing!

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #8

Aug 092014

Odyssey

  • 15,823 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We bought this vehicle brand new - single owner car equiped with genuine Honda parts. The front rotors quickly and prematurely ware down causing severe braking and steering issues, mainly hard vibrations of the steering wheel and it feels like the whole car shakes and you could easily lose control if not having both hands on the steering wheel. The problem usually occurs or is most noticeable during longer road trips (after ~120 miles) once the rotors are hot and the degree of the problem is definitely worse as you drive down (decline) or up (incline) and it does not subside rather gets worse if pressure is applied to brakes going down hill. Rotors should last much longer than 16K miles. We are cautious, safe drivers and have not put a lot of miles on this car and drive mostly highway and interstate roads. The dealer temporarily fixed the problem by rotating/sanding down the rotors at 15,823 miles but now with only 31, 287 miles on it, the problem has resurfaced with the vibrations slowing getting more frequent and stronger to the point the whole steering wheel column shakes. It is very scary as the van "thumps thumps thumps" and the steering wheel shakes rapidly going down inclines and/or whilst braking. Now the dealer is saying the rotors shouldn't be rotated again and are no good, at only 31K miles, and need replaced.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #7

Jun 102015

Odyssey

  • 28,000 miles
While reducing speed with brake, steering shaking badly. It happens especially when reducing speed by braking from highway speed like 5,60mph or higher. This feels me dangerous especially braking while not in straight road. Especially suddenly reaching to the end of traffic jam in curved road, hard to control driving along the curve with such steering shaking. This shake is that much bad. I researched online and many people claiming about this issue of this make of this model but how the dealer deal with this issue is different depends on dealer.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #6

Aug 122014

Odyssey

  • 26,000 miles
Front end began to shake on braking, more noticeable at higher speeds and going downhill, very dangerous condition, dealer said it was warped brake rotors and the alignment was off, rotors were ground car was aligned to fix problem even though it was almost new and one of the more expensive models, after 12000 more miles the same problems have reoccurred, again no sympathy from the dealer, he blamed it on normal wear and potholes.

- Cary, NC, USA

problem #5

Apr 272014

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 41,000 miles
I have owned six Honda Odyssey's and the last three starting with the 2007 model all needed to have a new power steering pump because it starts to whine and not pump well. Previous models have all failed under warranty. I currently have a 2013 Odyssey that has 41000 miles on it and once again the pump started E steering has given out twice in the last week. It is random and without warning all of a sudden I can't steer without great effort. I about got hit the first time as I was turning around on a main road and the steering just quit, no power steer at all. It usually recovers quickly but if I were not an experienced driver I would have been in two accidents because of this problem already. Honda will not replace their known defective pump under warranty because the car has over 36K miles. I think Honda should replace the defective pump under warranty as this is not a new issue for them and I personally have had two of these vehicles since 2007 that have had a bad pump. This is a serious safety issue and perhaps Honda needs some government help to be forced to deal with this issue that continues to plague their vehicles with a dangerous situation that needs corporate action to remedy.

- Apex, NC, USA

problem #4

Jul 042013

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 18,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car is 2013 ex-L. when mileage was around 18K, car started vibration when braking between 45 to 75 miles per hour. Dealer told me it happened because of my driving habit..wow..so funny... I have 3 more cars..but only this Honda Odyssey has problem... also I found lots of 2013 Odyssey owners has same break problem on the internet.. Honda should recall this problem.

- Collierville, TN, USA

problem #3

Jul 102014

Odyssey

  • 19,200 miles
I have a 2013 ex-L with 18K miles, started noticing slight vibration when braking from approx 50 mph in the steering wheel. I live in Florida and thought nothing of it more than an annoyance. This past 4th of July went to nc when driving about 45 mph while going down a hill and applying brakes the vibration became terrible, the vibration became a safety issue as the whole van would rattle and shake. Took notice of this and videoed the occurrence. When I got back to my city took the van to Honda and showed the master technician my issue, stated that it could be warped disks, and quite common on Odyssey and Pilot. He did state he had not seen the vibration as high as on the video, again I give credit to the flatness of the Florida peninsula. Honda resurfaced the front disks at no cost, but said that usually they do not as the braking warranty is 12 months or 12K miles. I did call and raise a ticket w/ Honda of America, letting them know all that had occurred and offered them the video as well, also discussed with the Honda rep. That warped disks at less than 20K miles should be a design flaw, and that maybe if enough people complain something may be done. Currently my van is running well, but wondering if in 20K miles I have to resurface the disks again or buy high performance disks to avoid this.. again for a car over a new street value of $40K I believe certain wear and tear parts should be designed to last at least more than 25K or at least two years of use.. just my two cents.. hope this helps others.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #2

Jan 312014

Odyssey

  • 10,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the front driver's side emitted a loud noise as the steering wheel moved abruptly to the left. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the failure however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 10,000.

- Bluff City , TN, USA

problem #1

Jul 012013

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 1 miles
The car pulls to left at speeds above 60 mph and get worse the higher the speed. I am familiar with Honda Odyssey as I have owned this one since 2003 and it has 180000 miles. This new one drives fine in town and at speeds 60 or below. I have taken it back to dealer and they did re alignment and lowered tire pressure to 30 psi but I like to run at least 35 psi. Can you let me know if anyone else has had a similar problem. I love the car otherwise. It is no fun to fight a car trying to pull to the left at 75 mph. It is a dangerous problem.

- Millbrook, AL, USA

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