The Lemon Index2018 Honda Odyssey.
The 2018 Honda Odyssey is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 229 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 213, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 16 recalls, and it gets 22 mpg combined. The best Honda Odyssey year is 2017.
Lemon alert. 2.1× the average car's complaints.
Best year 2017
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 100 YouTube videos about the 2018–2024 Honda Odyssey, 19.3M views. The 2018 is the same generation.
- Infotainment, battery & electrical254K views
Replace Honda Odyssey Car Battery AGM | 2018 - 2025dial2fast · 146K views · 3 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors191K views
2011-2020 Honda Odyssey Sliding Door Not Opening or ClosingTheDriveTrain · 150K views · 2 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring80K views
2018 Honda Odyssey How to reset oil service maintenance lightDouble B’s DIY Shop · 43K views · 2 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors34K views
2019 Honda Odyssey Sensor CleaningOdysseyHowTo · 34K views
Before you buy, watch
10 Common Problems Of A Honda Odyssey (2011 - 2020)MaxTheCarGuy · 152K views
2019 Honda Odyssey problems Owner’s Review updateMyks Garage · 54K views
Honda Odyssey Review | Should You Buy a Used 2018–2024 Honda Odyssey?CarMax · 44K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 1,004 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Honda Odyssey year. 2018 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 6K to 78K miles on the car (271 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- electrical complaints mostly came at 2K–38K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 23K–116K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 7K–56K miles
Recalls 16
- back over prevention 2026
Water may enter into the rearview camera, which can cause the rearview camera image to fail to display when the vehicle is in reverse.
- airbags 2026
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
- airbags 2026
A software programming error can cause the side and side curtain air bags to deploy unexpectedly.
Show all 16 recalls
- fuel system, gasoline 2023
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
- engine 2023
Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
- back over prevention 2023
Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display.
- seat belts 2023
A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching.
- fuel system, gasoline 2021
The fuel tank assembly installed by Braun may be susceptible to the fuel tank overfilling into the charcoal canister.
- latches/locks/linkages 2020
Water may enter the outer door handle cables for the sliding doors.
- back over prevention 2020
Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle.
- electrical 2020
The wire harness for the third row seat accessory power outlet may get pinched between the unibody and rear trim panel, possibly damaging the wires and causing an electrical short.
- transmission & drivetrain 2019
Loose battery terminal connections or a degraded battery may cause the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) to unexpectedly reboot.
- service brakes, air 2019
The rear wheel speed sensor harnesses may have been routed to the incorrect rear wheels, resulting in the possibility that the anti-lock brake system will not recognize each rear wheel speed properly.
- latches/locks/linkages 2018
The latch assemblies for the power sliding doors may stick and not properly latch to the door strikers.
- brakes 2018
The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating, causing gas pockets to form, reducing brake performance.
- seat belts 2017
The seat belt tongue for the third row center seating position may not be compatible with the latch, preventing the seat belt from latching securely.
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 278 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Service bulletin - The transmission end cover leaks on vehicles with a 9-speed A/T
- Service bulletin - There is a buzz, hum, booming, or vibration noise from the front driver…
- Service Bulletin - The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenNo restart after auto start/stop engages2025
- OpenEngine failure2025
- ClosedInadvertent deployment of side air bags2025–2026
- ClosedEngine failure2024–2025
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 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
I am older and I believe the turn signal volume is too low especially due to road noise. This is the only car I drive where it is difficult to hesr the turn signals. Honda cannot fix the volume..
2018 Honda Odyssey owner · NHTSA complaint 11072688
More owner reports
All warning lights popped up and continued to cycle through when I was driving causing the vehicle to go into a safety/limp mode. Shifting became very difficult and the maximum speed topped out at 45mph.
NHTSA complaint 11387613
The pinch sensor keeps breaking which then causes the door panel to separate and the window to detach from the vehicle. This is not the first time since we bought it that this has happened.
NHTSA complaint 11329618
Quick answers
Is the 2018 Honda Odyssey reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 2.1× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 213; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Honda Odyssey year by this measure is 2017.
What are the most common 2018 Honda Odyssey problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (32%), transmission & drivetrain (21%) and body structure (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2018 Honda Odyssey have?
16 safety recalls (latest: back over prevention). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Honda Odyssey get?
22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2018 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 2018 Honda Odyssey problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 6,000 and 78,000 miles. The middle report was at 24,000 miles, from 271 complaints.
Does the 2018 Honda Odyssey have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 21% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2018 Honda Odyssey cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2018 Honda Odyssey have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Honda Odyssey year is better than the 2018?
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