10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,569 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2018 Honda Odyssey Owner Comments (Page 3 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #107

Aug 312023

Odyssey

  • miles

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

While the van was in motion, the power tailgate unlocked and opened on its own. The dashboard displayed tailgate open warning message. I slowed down and the lock re-engaged to to close the tailgate. It happened again later that evening. Fortunately, I was within city limits, driving about 40 mph.

- Everett, WA, USA

problem #106

Jul 302023

Odyssey

  • miles
After rainfall water is leaking into the rear fuse box compartment located behind the 3rd row seats and causing the tailgate control module and other parts to fail. The tailgate does not have any power and cannot be opened or closed with the fob or the push buttons located in the tailgate or in the dashboard area. The tailgate cannot be locked as the latch does not engage and it can be very risky to drive the vehicle as the tailgate might come open while driving. There might be some opening on the roof of the vehicle from where water is leaking into the fuse compartment and causing this hazardous situation.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #105

Jul 272023

Odyssey

  • miles
My car has stalled on multiple occasions when the auto-idle feature is engaged. A message on the dashboard flashes stating -??collision mitigation system-?? and then the car just stalls and the battery light comes on. Typically this requires turning the car off and turning back on to begin driving. Very scary and dangerous when in the middle of a busy road/traffic light/stop.

- Cherry Hill, NJ, USA

problem #104

Jun 222023

Odyssey

  • miles

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

Water leaking in from roof or driver side windows into rear electronics at the fuse box and the tailgate control module. When control module was removed there was gross evidence of water saturation in the control module and multiple areas of corrosion, rust and fouling of electrical components causing battery to drain dead.

- St. Augustine, FL, USA

problem #103

Apr 012022

Odyssey

  • miles
Vehicle was taken into Honda dealer due to trunk not opening and closing properly & receiving -??Power Tailgate Failure-?? warning and rear entertainment system not working. After many hours, I was told the power tailgate control unit and floor wire harness would need replaced due to corosion from water damage "?" This was at 42,653 miles!! They couldn-??t explain how the damage could have happened and Honda refused to do anything about fixing it.

- Cecil , PA, USA

problem #102

Jun 162023

Odyssey

  • miles
Our 2018 Honda Odyssey has randomly failed to start three times. No warning no advance warning messages or alerts. These appeared once after being parked overnight and twice immediately after being driven a short distance. First time was in June of 2021, second time in May of 2023 and third time in June of 2023. When trying to start the vehicle either the dash would flash with unknown information before going blank or was blank and wouldn-??t crank the starter motor. We replaced the battery after the third failure.

- Derwood, MD, USA

problem #101

Aug 012022

Odyssey

  • miles

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

Rear hatch on our Odyssey EX-L started giving a "Power Tailgate Problem", and it would not open at all except by mechanically releasing the hatch from the emergency access panel. I replaced the rear hatch control module and the hatch could now again be opened from the outside as normal, but the power tailgate still did not function up and down, and requires manual lifting open and pushing closed. Upon inspection, the removed/malfunctioning control module appears to have failed due to water infiltration, meaning water has entered the inside of the vehicle and then shorted electrical components, potentially creating a fire hazard.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #100

May 262023

Odyssey

  • miles
I have 2018 Odyssey EXL. on instrument display got message "Power Tailgate Issue". The tailgate can not open either by control button or manually. I have already had this issue 2 times. I sent it to dealer and been told the power tailgate control module was intruded by water. I replaced the control module, and after several months, the issue recovered. The power tailgate can not open and close will cause my trip in danger. I hope the honda can fix this issue for the customers free.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #99

May 232023

Odyssey

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

- Richwood , OH, USA

problem #98

Apr 262023

Odyssey

  • miles
several times when stopped at a light, the vehicle's auto idle engine engages and shuts the car off. When the brake has been released, the vehicle has failed to start. Most recently, this occurred while waiting in a car line of traffic and it took many different attempts to get the car engine back on - about 10 minutes before the engine could be started, resulting in myself and my children stuck on the road while we opened doors, the hood of the car, tried to start the car and turn it completely off. It was in a stuck position until it wasn't. that was the first time the vehicle wouldn't start after numerous attempts to start the engine. We have been told there is no way to fix this - only to manually turn the function off every time the car is started.

- Stafford, VA, USA

problem #97

Feb 122023

Odyssey

  • miles

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

Vehicle has roughly 32,000 miles. KEY SAFETY ISSUES [with vehicle parked, engine off and doors closed] (1) vehicle randomly and without warning locks driver out (cannot open car with key fob by pressing unlock button, cannot open car manually by entering key into door). Had to call AAA on 4 different occasions to pry open door with specialty tools. After that, had to leave window fully open in order to ensure we would not get locked out. (2) when vehicle locks driver out it also sets off the alarm, turns the car on to idle, and turns on the radio (even if its off) thus draining the battery until its dead. Why this is a major safety issue? -- Scenarios I though of (1) child/toddler getting accidently locked into car with no way to open and AAA not readily available (2) getting locked out of your car in a remote location with no cell service (mountains, desert, etc) When this issue happened the dash screen would show an error of "Auto Engine Idle Stop System Problem". I took the van to Honda and they diagnosed the problem to be a faulty keyless access control unit. Fees to replace were +/- $1,100. Honda decline to provide any cost reduction or assistance stating that warranty for the part had expired.

- Fullerton, CA, USA

problem #96

Mar 242023

Odyssey

  • miles
Just bought the car used with 60240 mi at the end of March on a Friday. 30 minutes after leaving the dealership the Auto Idle Stop warning notice appeared on the dash stating this feature was unavailable. It would not engage when idle at a light and as a result, when the gas was pressed to accelerate the car would hesitate and jerk into gear. This happened the entire 1.5-hour ride home, whether for a short pause or longer pause. It was a bit scary because the car would hesitate to move and clearly there were cars behind me. At any point and time, someone could've rear-ended me thinking I was able to accelerate properly. About 1 hour into the ride the brake lights came on flashing red at the bottom of the dash the entire time and would not go out. I immediately called the dealership once I reached my destination to announce the problem. The following Monday I took it back for a look over. In their investigation, they found a tracker attached under the dash and assumed this was interfering with the transmission of messages for the Auto Idle stop to engage. The dealer claimed there were codes, but after removing this attachment the auto idle stop feature engaged and they cleared all the codes. To my surprise, after 4-5 hours of being there, I drove home to find as I neared by destination all error codes returned including the brake lights flashing. I immediately called the dealer again and complained. This time to not further inconvenience me with the back and forth, they came and picked up the car on a Thursday with the intent of troubleshooting it over the course of some days. They had the car from a Thursday to the next Friday for me to arrive after them saying it was good, to find it was still doing it. This time the codes were reviewed with me in the car and the issue was "it was unlearned". After the reset, it started working again. Four days later it's still happening. Engages when it feels like it which causes a rough drive and acceleration. Honda help!

- Edgewood, MD, USA

problem #95

Apr 062023

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • miles
Electrical issues with camera, screen & infotainment system. Terrible crackling noise coming from stereo system. Screen randomly goes black for prolonged periods of time. While in reverse and relying on camera-??.all of a sudden you do not have visibility. Screen will stay off as well as the music and randomly turn back on. Car has been in shop 5 plus times for this issue and several remedies tried-??..nothing seems to work. Whatever remedies have been tried, problem is now worse and more frequent.

- Elgin, TX, USA

problem #94

Mar 232023

Odyssey

  • miles
While driving multiple system failure- warning lights then failure of: blind spot alert, lane departure, back up camera, wipers, tailgate function. When able to stop, power locks did not function. Inability to access rear of car via sliding doors would pose serious risk if accident occurred due to system failure. Prior to all systems alert, tailgate warning light had been intermittently appearing for a few days. Dealer service center noted water leak from unsealed section between window and frame in back driver side panel that corroded body console module.

- Portsmouth, NH, USA

problem #93

Mar 182023

Odyssey

  • miles
This issue been going on for a while now. I Have taking it to the dealer for issue. They said was the battery i replace the battery. Still doesn-??t fix the issue. Last week we stuck on the hogging in traffic with my family of 5 including children. We came to a stop and it went into idle stop then it when i released brakes the engine didn-??t turn back on tell me to shift in park in the middle of the highway. I could have been hit from the rear with this issue especially if you-??re stuck in traffic. This issue has been going on a few times thinking it was because of a battery. I replaced my battery twice because that what Honda said is the issue.

- Ocoee, FL, USA

problem #92

Nov 162022

Odyssey

  • miles
The radio goes out on my van and the van shifts into neutral while I'm driving. This has been going on for months I've had it to the Honda dealership twice this last time thay said the only thing they could come up with is that the alternator is losing power but alternator is on back order until June and still no guarantee this will fix the problem since none of there test showed up anything other then they were able to get it to go into neutral for them while they were driving it.

- Paris, KY, USA

problem #91

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 #90

Dec 032022

Odyssey

  • miles
Car was parked at home. Entered car to get something, noticed car smelled of faint smoke. Didn't think much of it. Next day when I went into the car noticed a large burn hole in passenger side seat.

- Hatboro, PA, USA

problem #89

Feb 222023

Odyssey

  • miles
On 2 occasions, the "Auto Engine Idle Stop" has caused my vehicle to completely die while stopped at a stop light. The car did not start, leaving me stalled in active traffic. Eventually the car reset itself and I was able to restart the car. After this happened the first time the battery in the vehicle was replaced. The second time this happened the battery was only 2 years old. The manufacturer should fix this problem with a recall.

- Adel, IA, USA

problem #88

Nov 232022

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • miles
GOODMORNING, I bought my car honda Odyssey 2018 model, on August 20th, 2018, from Honda of Clearlake, in League City, TX, the day they opened new location, this car has been giving us trouble since then. when under warranty the sunroof motor became faulty. I agree that they repaired it but took more than a week to get repaired. The car has less than 30000 miles now, last year November when I was driving car started showing up multiple warning lights, and tail gate not closing and locking and took the car dealer service center and without proper multi point inspection they ruled out its poor battery and changed it. Within a week again the same problem started appearing, took the car to dealer service center and took almost more than week to do inspection and stated that, there is a faulty weld and leak on back tail gate hinges in car and water is seeping into electrical system which is on driver side rear in between plastic trim and main body. this caused a short circuit and multiple warning lights turning on. electrical system and carpets were damaged, and they recommended to change whole harness and electrical components which will be more than $6000 After a week they stated that it has a faulty caulk on roof were water seeping through, Honda of clear lake service advisor [XXX] agreed that he have come across multiple cars (3 or 4) in same dealer ship with same problems. nobody knows how many dealers service centers had same problem. This is clearly manufacturing defect and Honda corporate don't want to make this issue a recall. they agreed to replace components, but we have to pay the labor which we agreed, but it's been more than a month which they can't repair and give back our car. now I think this leak issue and the issue, I mentioned earlier (faulty sunroof motor) is somehow related. I would request you to probe an enquiry into this issue which, can be an electrical and fire hazard and rule out to be a recall from Honda side. Thanking you INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORM

- Friendswood, TX, USA

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