10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
11,438 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.

2018 Honda Odyssey drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2018 Honda Odyssey Owner Comments (Page 3 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #83

Aug 102023

Odyssey

  • miles

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

The transmission in my 2018 Honda Odyssey clunks and shutters and jerks forward when accelerating and jerks slow down when decelerating. Stop and go traffic I either can barely accelerate or rapidly accelerate after upshidting and almost hit the car in front of me. The transmission shudders and clunks and jerks

- Sandwich, MA, USA

problem #82

Jan 012019

Odyssey

  • miles
When accelerating from a stopped position, the car occasionally hesitates and then suddenly surges, especially when turning into traffic with vehicles fast approaching. After hesitating, the car accelerates rapidly with the tires screeching. Similarly, when travelling at slow speed, perhaps 40 MPH, and accelerating into a neighboring lane, the car quits accelerating for a brief moment before rapidly accelerating again. I can hear the transmission clunk occasionally as it selects another gear. It's as if the electronic communication between the engine and the transmission is lagging. The Honda dealer indicated the transmission and engine are fine. The brief second or two acceleration delay before overreacting has been embarrassing and I fear dangerous. The car has always behaved this way but it has gotten worse the last couple years. Currently have 54k miles.

- Grosse Ile, MI, USA

problem #81

Jun 242022

Odyssey

  • miles
My 2018 Honda EX-L RES has ZF 9 speed transmission and noticed following safety issues. 1. When I stop at the stop sign or red lights, then I push a gas pedal to take off right away the transmission is not engaged, rather booming sound and 3 second after it squeals the tire. It is very dangerous when I make right turn after I stop as cars in the main lanes may have hit me as my transmission does start right away. 2. When I drive local in 20-30 mph, the gear is 2,3 and 4 and the gear is shifting down hardly when I am off the gas pedal and it make my card terriblely slow down as I feel like I push the stop pedal and cars behind me honks as they think I doing a sudden stop.

- Cypress, CA, USA

problem #80

Jul 192023

Odyssey

  • miles

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

The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration, or the MIL comes on with DTC P0756. The vehicle would be unable to shift into reverse thus causing potential traffic issues by stalling on the road. The shift would not engage in reverse, appears to be stuck in neutral and slowly slides.

- Cypress, TX, USA

problem #79

Nov 012022

Odyssey

  • miles
Our van regularly hesitates when to accelerate from a stop. Example, when turning right on red pushing the gas pedal will provide some speed to get into the roadway, then it becomes unresponsive. Letting up and pushing the accelerator will cause the van to move again after about.5 to 1 seconds. Often the accelerator has to be pushed all the way to the floor, which causes the van to move aggressively once it does start to respond causing the tires to spin out. While the performance issue is annoying, this becomes a safety issue when stranded out in traffic.

- Puyallup, WA, USA

problem #78

Jun 232023

Odyssey

  • miles
I am having an identical issues as described in NHTSA ID Number 11526094. Vehicle hesitates when accelerating from a stop. Have been almost hit a couple times as it is unpredictable when this happens. This is a dangerous behavior and I cannot in clear conscience sell this minivan to another family. I have returned it to the dealer multiple times and they were eventually able to reproduce the problem and captured the behavior on diagnostic equipment. Their finding is that when the accelerator is slightly pressed, and then release (like one might do when entering an intersection to make a left hand turn) the transmission jumps to 5th gear. When the accelerator is pressed to complete the left turn, the transmission spends several seconds shifting from 4th to 3rd to 2nd before finally accelerating. This delay opens up the opportunity to get hit. The dealer concurred that this was a problem but then contacted Honda and they said this is normal characteristic with 2018 and 2019 model Odyssey's with the 9 speed transmission. This may be a normal characteristic with this model year according to Honda but it is not acceptable behavior for any type of vehicle. It is just a matter of time before an accident will happen. It happens often and seems to be getting worse over time including irregular/rough shifts while driving. See attached documentation.

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

problem #77

Jun 192023

Odyssey

  • miles

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

There are no warning lights illuminating. The 2018 Odyssey inconsistently will not accelerate when needed and it puts the driver and passengers in dangerous situations if there is other traffic. When the driver pushes down on the foot pedal for acceleration, the car acts as if it can't engage for a moment (like it is thinking about what it needs to do), it briefly freezes, but then will suddenly jerk into gear and jump. It is dangerous because it can happen when trying to accelerate onto the freeway or when trying to turn onto a busy road and there is no rhyme or reason as to when it is going to happen. There have been 2 close calls in which the other drivers acted defensively preventing crashes and on 1 instance, there were children in the car. We should not have to wait for an injury to have a problem considered and corrected.

- Willis, TX, USA

problem #76

Jun 082023

Odyssey

  • miles
The problem is with the 9 speed automatic transmission system. Yes, it is available for inspection. There is a delay in acceleration which has caused the vehicle to "stall" in dangerous situations such as pulling out onto a road with traffic, making a left turn with oncoming traffic, or needing to accelerate at a green light. There have been multiple incidents when an oncoming car has had to brake to avoid a collision because I have stalled temporarily in their lane. I have also nearly been rear ended as I stall after moving forward at a green light. The vehicle accelerates too slowly from a stop, then stalls for several seconds before over correcting and too much power causes the tires to spin and the car can get a little squirrelly if I am not extra careful. It happens often but not always and is getting worse and more frequent. There are also problems with rough shifting and delayed shifting that have been an issue since I bought it in 2018. I have taken it to the dealer many times and while the issue has been reproduced, they have never been able to identify a cause. One Honda mechanic said that his 2018 Pilot acts the same way and it is "normal" for that engine. The issue was reproduced during a recent inspection from an independent mechanic who sent me to a specialty transmission shop who said the transmission was fine and suggested that it was due to a tech issue and sent me back to Honda. The mechanics at Honda have not gotten stuck in front of an oncoming car on a road test so they treat the issue as a mild annoyance. No warning lights have gone on. The severity and frequency of this problem is increasing and I no longer believe the car is safe to drive. Honda does not have a fix and I am ready to sell it but I don't think it is safe for others to drive either and I don't know what to do. It is only a matter of time until this causes an accident.

- Maple Valley, WA, USA

problem #75

Jun 012023

Odyssey

  • miles
On Monday, March 27th While driving at various speeds, the collision mitigation system message flashed on the instrument panel without anything provoking it/no real cause. I observed while driving the vehicle, the warning message repeatedly flashed on the screen before the entire instrument panel went blank. This includes the infotainment system restarting as well, alternatively, I was driving going between 40-60mph and the all-dashboard notification lights started flickering (lane departure warning, odometer, blind spot warning, Collision Mitigation System etc.) it continues to happen randomly while driving at unpredictable times the wheel does lock up for a short time and the vehicle is temporarily not under driver control. It was able to restore, and I was able to regain control of the vehicle other times its last for several seconds. I have captured this incident on video. Additionally, there is also an issue with the vehicle hesitating while accelerating from a stop even with Auto Stop disengaged. On Thursday, June 1st same issue as described above occurred at 8:10AM when issue occurred again the vehicle steering for a 5-8 Second Period was locked and not able to move. Shortly after, I began to record the vehicle. Within a 7-8 Minute Period I was able to capture on video it happening an additional 3 Times.

- Garner, NC, USA

problem #74

Feb 122023

Odyssey

  • miles
When the accelerator is depressed and the vehicle is in drive, it does not accelerate. This has happened multiple times, the date provided is a representative date where others witnessed the issue and is not the first or last time it occurred.

- Oxnard, CA, USA

problem #73

May 232023

Odyssey

  • miles

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

When driving the dash and instrument cluster will restart suddenly and the van will shift out of drive suddenly.

- Richwood , OH, USA

problem #72

Apr 012020

Odyssey

  • miles
when starting from a stop, occasionally when the accelerator is first pressed, the van doesn't immediately accelerate, there is about a two second hesitation where the car does nothing, and then finally it engages and starts to move forward. This happens occasionally in DRIVE, but I don't think I have ever seen it in reverse. It seems to happen more right after the vehicle is first turned on. I have seen many others complaining in various forums about the same issue. Here's one site: https://www.odyclub.com/threads/2018-odyssey-having-1-3-second-acceleration-lag-from-stopped-or-rolling-on-9-speed-transmission.368250/ This has been happening for a long time, I don't recall when it first started to happen. the date I put below is pretty much a random date

- Seal Beach, CA, USA

problem #71

Mar 132023

Odyssey

  • miles
On March 13, 2023 my Honda Odyssey 2018 would not shift out of "Park". The message, -?? Stop Driving When Safe. Transmission Problem. See Manual-?? appeared on my dashboard. I turned off the Odyssey and started it back up. After this I was able to shift into drive. This message never appeared before March 13, 2023. Later as I was driving, the Odyssey shifted into "Neutral" by itself without any action on my part. The vehicle became unresponsive, the Odyssey lost all drive train power as we were driving on a steep decline. I was only able to slow the Odyssey with the foot break. This was an extremely dangerous situation that put the safety of my whole family at risk. I was able to steer the vehicle to the shoulder of the highway out of on coming traffic. The next day, March 14, when I started the Odyssey it would not shift out of "Park" and the same error message about the transmission appeared. We were left stranded on the side of the road with freezing temperatures.The mechanic at the Honda dealership stated he could not get the Odyssey to shift out of Park until it had been running for 45 minutes. The problem was confirmed by the Honda dealership. The Odyssey was inspected by the Honda dealership. He could not determine the exact cause and suggested a new battery. I purchased a new battery, and the Honda technician installed it. I had the old battery tested at AutoZone, the battery passed the test, it was a good battery The Honda Dealership changed the Transmission fluid and updated the software of theOdyssey. After being serviced and repaired by the Honda Dealership, the same transmission problem happened again on March 21 as I was driving my boys to school in the morning, going down a decline, again the Odyssey shifted into "Neutral" by itself without any action on my part. The power train lost all power, I could not shift it into "drive". Again this loss of control put my family's safety at risk. This was the third time my family was left stranded.

- Broken Arrow, OK, USA

problem #70

Oct 152020

Odyssey

  • miles
I have a 2018 Honda odyssey 9 speed and I am well aware of the many issues people have been complaining of and I am experiencing many of those same issues. My number one issue is my acceleration. I need to step down all the way on the gas pedal to make the car move and once it does my rear tires spin because of the acceleration. I have also had many instances where my car will not accelerate fast enough while turning causing me to sometimes be stopped in on coming traffic. I have had my main screen turn off while driving but did not affect the car however and a handful where I will be stopped at a light and my car shifts to park. I have had the car brought into the dealer 3 times for these issues and all that was done software updates. I did have one instance where my check engine light was on and they replaced the fuel injectors which did not solve the problem.

- North Ridgeville, OH, USA

problem #69

Feb 132023

Odyssey

  • miles
My Honda Odyssey 2018 has a problem that sometimes, particularly during winter, that a lot of check lights are on, and sometimes the car starts to slide. The check lights may include the check engine light, the power steering light, the power brake light, and the transmission light. An independent mechanic determined that this is addressed by the Honda Service Bulletin 20-100, but Honda service representative denies a warranty coverage as they say the VIN is not in the range even when the Model, Make, and the diagnosis all matches (Honda Service representative: case # [XXX], [XXX]). INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Paoli, PA, USA

problem #68

Jan 112023

Odyssey

  • miles
I was on a road trip with my family and stopped at a gas station. When we were ready to leave I attempted to place the vehicle in drive but it was stuck in park (vehicle has a push button shifter) and multiple warnings started to show up including transmission disabled, blind spot monitoring disabled and one other warning that I can't recall. There were no prior warning signs and we did all of the recommended services. There were prior issues with the transmission not seeming to engage. You would press on the gas and nothing would happen (It almost seemed as if you were just cruising) and then, after a lengthy delay the transmission would suddenly engage. There was also some issues with the transmission slipping. We brought this up several times with different dealers and were always told that they couldn't replicate the issue and that there were no recalls on our vehicle.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #67

May 182022

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • miles
The PowerTrain in my car has been giving me nothing but headaches since I purchased it in January 2022. Multiple times at intersections, the car stalls and starts going backwards, causing me to put the car in park and restart it to go forward. The problem is so severe that it happens almost every time I come to a stop. It's not just inconvenient, it's downright dangerous. I can't even begin to describe the feeling of helplessness when my car starts reversing in the middle of a busy intersection with oncoming traffic heading my way. I have taken my car to the dealer multiple times and they have attempted to fix the issue by replacing the transmission and a camera, but these repairs have not resolved the problem. I even had to have my car towed back to my hometown after it stalled in Dallas. The dealer assures me that the problem has been fixed, but it continues to happen, and it's getting worse. Yesterday, on January 18, 2023, the issue occurred again while driving in slow traffic, nearly causing a collision with the car behind us. My family and I were put in a very dangerous situation, all because of this faulty PowerTrain. I have been to the dealer over 5 times and they have yet to fix the issue. I am beyond frustrated and disappointed with this car and the dealer's inability to resolve the problem. I am a loyal customer, and I expect better from a brand that I trust. This car needs to be recalled, and I demand that the dealer and the manufacturer take responsibility for their faulty product and take immediate action to rectify the situation. I should not have to continue living in fear every time I get behind the wheel of my car, and I should not have to continue to waste my time and money taking it to the dealer for repairs that don't work.

- White Oak, TX, USA

problem #66

Jan 022023

Odyssey

  • miles
Own a 2018 Honda Odyssey Touring w/10 Speed Transmission just outside the powertrain warranty. The current Mileage is 115,863 miles. On 1/2/2023, while my wife was driving, she experienced severe jerking and gears slipping in Drive. The car continued to drive, but there was hesitation in gearing. The following day (1/3/2023), hesitation rapidly turned into the complete failure of the van to go into reverse. The car would not engage reverse, started blinking R, and was freewheeling like it was in neutral. Suddenly, the dash indicated transmission system failure + blind spot warning failure. All modes, Drive, Sport, Neutral, and Reverse, were flashing. Wife was able to get the van home, and I immediately took it to the dealership. The following morning, 1/4/2023 (today as of this writing), the dealership notified me the tech observed what he called -??a death code, -?? indicating the transmission must be replaced. $11,000 repair is underway as of this writing. The problem is exactly similar to this reported and others in Odyssey Consumer Forums. It appears to be a Transmission Manufacturing Defect by Honda Car. Answers to questions: 1) Component Malfunction is Transmission System - and ADAS/Blind Spot. 2) Car was slipping and jerking on the motorway in the middle of high-speed traffic and trucks, endangering our safety. 3) Problem was reproduced 100% of the time personally and by the dealership personnel. 4) The dealer indicated a -??death code-?? and that the transmission must be replaced. 5) Transmission system failure + blind spot warning failure, all modes, Drive, Sport, Neutral, and Reverse, were flashing the letter associated with the gear/mode selected.

- St. Johns, FL, USA

problem #65

Dec 222022

Odyssey

  • miles
The vehicle has a very significant delay in accelerating from a stop or slow roll. Often the delay is up to 2 or 3 seconds and has caused several near misses when attempting to cross traffic. It's inconvenient and more important, a safety problem. Upon research I have discovered it is a wide spread issue among Odysseys in this generation. It seems to be an issue with cars equipped with either the 9 speed or the 10 speed transmission.

- Medford, OR, USA

problem #64

Jul 012019

Odyssey

  • miles
The transmission does not accelerate properly from a rolling stop. When at a stop and slightly depressing of the accelerator to get the vehicle moving prior to making a turn (for example), if you take slight pressure off the accelerator pedal the vehicle will not accelerate until the engine RPM's fall below 1,000RPM. This causes a slight delay in acceleration as the vehicle is rolling but unable to accelerate. This poses a collision risk from oncoming traffic. I reported this issue multiple times with my local Honda dealership and was told each time that there was no issue, this is normal for a Honda and "this is a known issue with no fix". Three times with three different excuses. This has been occurring from around 30K miles and continues today with 72K miles. There are no warnings or lights. The dealer has reprogrammed the transmission computer and I have paid for a transmission fluid change hoping for improvement but nothing has worked. I have sent a message to Honda Motors about 4-6 months ago and has not heard a response from corporate or the dealership.

- Munster, IN, USA

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