The Lemon Index2013 Honda Odyssey.
The 2013 Honda Odyssey is better than average by owner complaints: 82 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 52, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 6 recalls, and it gets 21 to 22 mpg combined. The best Honda Odyssey year is 2017.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 210 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Honda Odyssey year. 2013 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 16K to 78K miles on the car (149 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 35K–105K miles
- brakes complaints mostly came at 15K–36K miles
Recalls 6
- fuel system, gasoline 2023
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
- seats 2017
The second row outboard seats can slide sideways to one of two positions.
- seats 2016
The affected vehicles have second row outboard seats that have a release lever that allows the seats to move for easier access to the third row of seats.
Show all 6 recalls
- engine 2013
During manufacturing of the engine piston, it is possible that the heat treatment process was not properly applied, resulting in the piston having an insufficient hardness level, making it more susceptible to premature w…
- transmission & drivetrain 2013
During sub-freezing temperatures, the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism may become slow and allow the gear selector to be moved from the Park position without pressing the brake pedal.
- airbags 2013
One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover may be missing.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Honda told dealers about
Honda sent dealers 136 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Repeat complaint of the check engine light being illuminated
- Service news article - while driving under steady cruise (between 30 and 65 mph) or light…
- "techline summary article - if the engine is overheating and theres engine oil mixed in the…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedInadvertent deployment of air bags2026
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Odyssey VAN FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Violent shaking through steering wheel when braking from high speed (50 to 70 mph).
2013 Honda Odyssey owner · NHTSA complaint 10630266
More owner reports
After ~20k miles, while braking at highway speeds there is a violent shaking in the vehicle and steering wheel. Mostly prevalent going downhill where this is even more dangerous.
NHTSA complaint 10873636
Car began shaking when braking at around 20,000 miles. At around 30,000 miles, dealer agreed to turn rotors this one time only. Problem returned around 40,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint 10599131
Quick answers
Is the 2013 Honda Odyssey reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.9× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 52; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Honda Odyssey year by this measure is 2017.
What are the most common 2013 Honda Odyssey problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (48%), engine (15%) and steering (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2013 Honda Odyssey have?
6 safety recalls (latest: fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Honda Odyssey get?
21 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2013 Honda Odyssey safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2013 Honda Odyssey problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 16,000 and 78,600 miles. The middle report was at 34,000 miles, from 149 complaints.
Does the 2013 Honda Odyssey have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2013 Honda Odyssey cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2013 Honda Odyssey have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Honda Odyssey year is better than the 2013?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2017, 2013 and 2010.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works