Honda Odyssey Complaints (2026)

27 consumer complaints on file.

#11760045August 27, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759963August 27, 2026
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11759648August 26, 2026
ENGINE
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!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756852August 13, 2026
ENGINE
Starter Failed
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754522August 3, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754409August 3, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#11753569July 29, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752324July 23, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751853July 21, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11750877July 16, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11750605July 15, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11750603July 15, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11750598July 15, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11750594July 15, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749390July 9, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
When i was driving, going about 45 MPH, the emergency braking system beeped and breaks were engaged. Not to a complete stop but like a "break tap". Nothing was in front of beside our behind me. It was terrifying and I'm unsure why this happened. Please be advised, this can cause an accident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11744414June 16, 2026
ENGINE
The Auto Idle/stop caused my engine to stall not once but twice in the past few weeks while on a major highway. Light turns green and my car won't start back up. I have to let the car sit for a second then restart the car while traffic is flying past me on this highway. Absolutely ridiculous that my brand new car is having these issues and that I am unable to turn this feature off permanently.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11743726June 12, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
This is a report on a design flaw- not a failed component- in the 2026 Honda Odyssey's "smart" computer automated safety features, including automatic braking, lane departure, and forward collision warning systems. There have been two types of incidents. These incidents have been repeated on this vehicle dozens of times in our first year of ownership. These incidents are potentially very dangerous because they involve erroneous automatic braking at interstate highway speeds. Unexpected erroneous braking at interstate speeds is a good way to cause a rear-end collision or loss of control. 1. Automatic emergency braking due to erroneous lane departure detection. On interstates in Arizona at highway speeds of 65 MPH, the vehicle's lane departure detection system throws erroneous warnings when it sees non-lane markings on the roadway, such as tar sealant strips or seams between pavement sections. This has resulted more than once in the vehicle erroneously applying emergency automated braking to slow the vehicle. This happens even when lane assist and adaptive cruise control are turned off by the driver. 2. Erroneous automated braking while overtaking another vehicle. On interstates in Arizona at highway speeds of 65 MPH, while passing in the left lane a vehicle that is moving much slower in the right lane (e.g. semi truck climbing a hill at 40 MPH), while using adaptive cruise control, automated braking is applied erroneously when there is no risk of a forward collision. The automated braking tends to kick in far earlier than a human driver would brake, and when there is no vehicle in the lane ahead, so it is unexpected and dangerous. This only happens while adaptive cruise control is activated by the driver.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11743032June 9, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
My 2026 Honda Odyssey was stopped at a traffic light with Auto Idle Stop engaged. When traffic was ready to move, the engine appeared to restart for about half a second and then shut down. The vehicle then shifted itself into Park and would not resume normal operation. The battery warning light was illuminated. Pressing the engine Start/Stop button caused all of the screens/displays to turn off briefly, but they came back on in the same failed state. The vehicle was disabled in traffic at an intersection. The component or system that failed appears to be the Auto Idle Stop / engine restart system, possibly involving the starter, starter relay, battery/charging system, or engine control software. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the vehicle unexpectedly failed to restart and became disabled while stopped at a traffic light, creating a traffic obstruction and risk of being struck from behind or causing other drivers to maneuver around the vehicle. The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. UNKNOWN whether diagnostic trouble codes were stored. The vehicle/component has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to the failure that I noticed. The battery warning light appeared after the engine shut down and the vehicle would not restart normally.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742115June 4, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
I was driving down a 35mph road, the car in front of me slowed down, I was about 2 car lengths behind it. No notice, no warning, my Odyssey SLAMMED on the brakes and brought me to an abrupt stop with no notice and no need. Everything in the van flew forward and in the floor. Luckily there was no one directly behind me. It gives me serious whiplash when this happens and it is uncalled for, the car in front of me did not stop it only slowed down, there was plenty of room between our vehicles (we were only going about 30 mph) and there was absolutely no warning- just BAM! and my van was stopped in the middle of the road. Something needs to be done about this, someone is going to be killed! I took it to the dealer the last time and they said the van did not record it. So another easy out for Honda! And nothing they can do...
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740995May 30, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Moonroof exploded while driving 55 mph. I took pictures. It was completely distracting while driving and a very scary incident. Searching online provided a class action lawsuit against Honda for this issue. We have not been able to get it looked at due to it being the weekend and the service department is not open. No police were called. Insurance claim started. No warning before it happened.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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