10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
11,989 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 5 of 6)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #26

Dec 302019

Odyssey

  • 41,000 miles

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

I have had this very problem in my 2018 ex with nav res. I'll be on the highway, going 65mph+, and I will accelerate to change lanes or pass and the engine will seemingly stall for several seconds. As I press the gas, the car actually decelerates as if it's coasting in neutral. After a few seconds, it reengages, the engine revs a little, and the car begins acceleration. I also often notice that the van does a similar thing when I'm accelerating from a stop to enter traffic or make a turn. When I hit the gas, the car coasts forward for a second before actually accelerating. It is actually dangerous, especially since it has happened when there has been oncoming traffic. I have had it into the dealership multiple times and they 'can't replicate the problem.' Today my dealership told me that I should open a case with Honda, which I did. I was told that the 9-speed transmission was discontinued because consumers 'complained' and 'didn't like it.' They further said that they could not replicate the problem and therefore could not fix it. In the case of my van, it is defective and dangerous. My son is learning to drive and I am fearful for his safety. I have felt in danger in this car myself. When I asked about to whom I could speak to address my concerns, I was directed to 'page 2 of the online owner's manual.' This has happened on numerous occasions and has been into the dealership frequently without resolution.

- Libertyville, IL, USA

problem #25

Dec 092019

Odyssey

  • 2,500 miles
The 10-speed transmission on my 2018 Honda ex-L Odyssey van slips. This has intermittently happened since the vehicle was new, but it is getting worse over time. The slippage occurs most often when starting after a stop. The engine will rev for to a full second before the transmission "catches" and starts to move the vehicle. Sometimes the vehicle will start with a jerk, other times, the acceleration will be slow. This unpredictable acceleration makes it dangerous to pull out into traffic. I've had several "near miss" incidents where the unpredictable transmission performance almost caused accidents. This is a safety hazard and Honda needs to repair it immediately lest lives be lost.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #24

Nov 262019

Odyssey

  • 29,500 miles
Owner of 2018 Odyssey exl resnav w/ 9speed at wife is primary driver and we recently returned from a road trip. Vehicle performs very smoothly 95% of the time. The other 5% you can expect abrupt and violent up and down shifts. Further, this is the safety vs annoyance issue, the vehicle will hesitate when accelerating from a stop. This is a factor threat when pulling into traffic. Hesitation can and will cause an accident. Honda of na needs to get to work and take responsibility for this unacceptable safety issue. Someone is going to be hurt.

- Collierville, TN, USA

problem #23

Jan 212019

Odyssey

  • 30,000 miles

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

I had the Honda Odyssey in at least 8 times for a jerky transmission. It was actually replaced at 15,000 miles (1/21/19) with a new one, no problem for another 15,000. Then in Sept of 2019 the problem reappeared after 3 service calls and numerous fax and telephone calls basically Honda customer care said I did not have a problem. Then one day while driving thru busy downtown grand rapids the Odyssey downshifted on its own while the wife and mother in law were driving. My wife almost lost control but was able to pull of the road. At that point I traded the car in. And sent a letter to Honda customer care and betten Honda in muskegon that I suggest the car comes off the road. As I know the next person will have the same problem. The issue is that transmission problem is random and unpredictable and can not be recreated or detected by a computer check. But it is very real. To the point where I was willing to lose 12,000 dollars. Not an easy pill to swallow. My hope is that no one else gets hurt due to this problem, but I can see it coming.

- Whitehall, MI, USA

problem #22

Jul 032019

Odyssey

  • 32,000 miles
Vehicle experiences rough shifting when slowing down and speeding up in stop in go traffic. It is like it falls into gear, and not a smooth shift. Very disappointed for a $33,000 purchase. This happens on the highway, or on residential roads.

- Vassar, MI, USA

problem #21

Aug 302018

Odyssey

  • 28,000 miles
When decelerating at the speed around of 25 makes a loud knocking sound and ships a radically

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #20

May 212019

Odyssey

  • 12,179 miles

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

Transmission slipping when accelerating from stationary position or whenever more speed is needed. Happens when going uphill or lane changing when more speed is needed.

- Trabuco Canyon, CA, USA

problem #19

Mar 292019

Odyssey

  • 17,000 miles
The vehicle is having intermittent issues with the transmission shifting. The speed seems to vary, the range is between 24 and 33 mph. It seem to be most prevalent after being on the highway for a longer period of time, 45 minutes and longer. Then when aaccelerating gently from a stop it can lurch when shifting, or shift hard and make an audible clunk. Other times, not having been driven for any length of time, in the same speed range, 24 to 33 mph, during gentle acceleration it does not shift easily or smoothly. There is not necessarily a clunk (there can be), but it does not shift normally or smoothly, I would describe it a miss or lurch. In both cases it will shift, but not as it should. This began around 17,000 miles. I am noticing very fine vibrations in the steering wheel and throughout the front end, its not all the time, but it does not seem right. I am unable to associate it with any particular speed or stretch of road, but it did not do this when the vehicle was new.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

problem #18

May 012019

Odyssey

  • 24,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Odyssey. While driving various speeds, the vehicle shifted into neutral gear without warning. The failure occurred intermittently. The check engine and collision warning indicators illuminated. Honda of olathe (1000 N rogers rd, olathe, ks 66062, (913) 782-3636) diagnosed that the fuse and the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 24,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Gardner, KS, USA

problem #17

Jan 202019

Odyssey

  • miles
Auto shifting anywhere from 20-30mph results in hard shift or knock. When van is downshifting there is an acceleration or knock. Transmission was replaced at 22,000 miles. No explanation for the cause. This was noticed about 3 months into owning the vehicle brand new at 8 miles from a Honda dealership. It took them 13 months of a continuous cycle of going into the Honda certified shop for them to believe us. Now our vehicle at 25,000 miles continues to reproduce the same problem.

- Keizer, OR, USA

problem #16

Apr 012019

Odyssey

  • 28,500 miles

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

Auto shifting anywhere from 20-30 mph results in hard shift and knock. When van downshifts around 20-30 mph there is a jump of acceleration and knock. Sometimes when accelerating and gears shift there is un expected jump in acceleration

- Waldorf, MH, USA

problem #15

Apr 262019

Odyssey

  • 14,000 miles
Tried to pull out of parking lot across 2 busy lanes to make my turn and car went into idle while driving, hit the gas pedal since cars were coming at high speed at me and it woke up. A day later received a recall notice on my Honda app called update park logic safety recall and scheduled appointment immediately for 4/29/19 to be told they get the same complaint often and cars brought in. The auto idle that comes on automatically should be activated by break pedal and woken up when let go but what they are saying is, it actually could get activated if someone with bigger feet accidentally touches the gas pedal. Not sure that is true because nobody has that big of feet to press fully both gas and break pedal and idle does not come on unless break pedal is pushed all the way. This is serious issue if you try to pull out of parking lot into traffic and car just refuses to go but Honda keeps sticking to same story and basically wants to make me believe both break and gas pedal were pushed at same time in the middle of the road which is not possible with my size 7 shoe and if that was the case why did the car move out of parking lot and die in the middle of the street? I possibly touched the gas pedal but definitely not pushed it and Honda is telling me "safety system for the brake override is working as designed, if brake and gas pedal are pressed at same time the system thinks you are trying to slow down the vehicle so it cuts power to prevent accidental acceleration". but if I am pulling out in the busy street why would I be pressing brake and gas pedal, only gas to get away before I get taken out or cause an accident, this sounds like an excuse before someone gets seriously hurt.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #14

Apr 132019

Odyssey

  • 9,500 miles
While driving on a 50 mph, two lane road, the vehicle abruptly shifted into neutral autonomously after experiencing a transmission failure and prohibited the driver from retaking control of the vehicle. With no power available, the driver was ultimately forced to coast to a stop on the shoulder of the road. Warning messages indicated a transmission failure, emission control failure, and blind spot monitoring failure. The car was towed to the nearest Honda dealer.

- Hollywood, MD, USA

problem #13

Jun 012018

Odyssey

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Odyssey. While parking, stopping, and shutting off the engine, the vehicle rolled 4 to 5 inches when the brake pedal was released. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to brad barker Honda (1602 general electric road, bloomington, il 61704, 309-663-9591) where it was determined that it was performing as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was 30,000.

- Minonk, IL, USA

problem #12

Feb 042019

Odyssey

  • 2,630 miles
I've had my 2018 Honda Odyssey touring for 2 months; it has 2600 miles. My vehicle shifted into park while driving 70mph on the interstate! the car made a popcorn/gravel slamming against the car sound while felt as though the bottom half of the van was trying to separate from the top!! talk about frightening! it briefly flashed ""collision mitigation"-something, , but it was just on the screen for a half-second. I pulied over to the side of the highway, put my foot on the brake and pressed the drive button. It happened again maybe 10 minutes later on a busy road traveling at 45mph. I arrived at my first destination, researched how to turn off the collision mitigation system, and continued to my second destination. It happened twice on the highway on the way to that destination, flashing the same warning so quickly that I couldn't read it, same noise, vibration. I called the dealership from which I bought it. They towed the vehicle to the dealership. They could not reproduce the problem. "best educated guessed" that the battery was the problem, though I never received a low battery warning from my vehicle, and they performed a battery reset procedure. The dealership expects me to drive my family home in this vehicle without changing or even inspecting the transmission or parking pawl, which was the cause of the load popcorn/gravel noise. I have contacted Honda and a case has been opened.

- Whiteman Afb, MO, USA

problem #11

Sep 102018

Odyssey

  • 7,000 miles
Usually at lower speed(15~30mph), transmission struggles to shifting gear. And hesitates to shift. Also, there is shift shock at low speed. It is worst in the morning. I went to dealer to check that condition and technician said that is normal.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #10

Aug 262018

Odyssey

  • 9,000 miles
Twice in the first year of ownership, the car was parallel parked and I put the vehicle in drive (push button sifter). Upon the vehicle beginning to move in forward motion it would immediately shift back into park. I repeated an it did the same over and over again. Even after shutting down the engine and restarting; I had the same issue. Both times this occurred, had to go in reverse for a short distance in order to get the van to then move forward without almost instantly shifting back into park. In the second case there was no vehicle parked in front or behind me and I still had the same issue. I did record a video of the erratic behavior on 8/26/2018 (second time).

- Arlington Heights, IL, USA

problem #9

Nov 012018

Odyssey

  • 8,000 miles
With approxinately 10,000 miles on the vehicle, the transmission under performs. While driving, usually at speeds under 30mph, the transmission struggles to shift smoothly. It also makes a loud jerking sound and motion when shifting gears. The transmission also sometimes hesitates to shift, allowing you to be able to feel the van slow down while in process of shifting, approximately 2 seconds later you can hear and feel it go into gear. Lastly, the pick up on the van is slower than most cars I have driven.

- Westfield, IN, USA

problem #8

Jun 152018

Odyssey

  • 4,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Odyssey. While driving approximately 15 mph, the vehicle jerked and the engine revved. The contact stated that the engine remained on, but the vehicle did not shift into drive or reverse. All the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. Prior to this, while driving different speeds, the vehicle decelerated, lost power, and shut off. The vehicle was taken to perfection Honda (2603 american rd SE, rio rancho, nm 87124, 505-221-5084) where it was determined that there was no failure. The failure recurred several times and the vehicle was taken to the same dealer who was unable to duplicate the failures. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and stated that they would be investigated. The contact stated that nothing was done. Also, whenever the spare tire was in use, all the safety systems, such as the lane keep assist, lane departure warning, collision mitigation system, and the adaptive cruise control system turned off. The contact took the vehicle back to the same dealer who was unable to duplicate the failures and stated that the vehicle was operating as designed. The contact was provided a loaner vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #7

Aug 142018

Odyssey

  • 7,000 miles
On several occasions, I thought I put the car in park, only to have the car start rolling again, even if I got out of the car or took my foot off the brake. On one occasion, it rolled into my garage entry door to my home. Caused hundreds of dollars damage to my door, and minor damage to the front bumper. Warning system in car sounded, but auto brake system didn't activate to stop the car.

- Springboro, OH, USA

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