The Lemon Index2020 Honda Odyssey.
The 2020 Honda Odyssey is worse than average by owner complaints: 112 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 143, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 14 recalls, and it gets 22 mpg combined. The best Honda Odyssey year is 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 2020 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 484 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Honda Odyssey year. 2020 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 2K to 50K miles on the car (61 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 0K–42K miles
Recalls 14
- 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 14 recalls
- airbags 2024
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
- fuel system, gasoline 2023
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
- 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.
- visibility 2023
The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach.
- 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.
- back over prevention 2020
Water may get into the rearview camera mounting holes and enter the camera lens and cause a distorted image, or no image at all.
- electrical 2020
Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying.
- 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.
- latches/locks/linkages 2020
Water may enter the outer door handle cables for the sliding doors.
- 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.
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 197 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Video Message - It concerns how to replace a leaky front rocker arm oil control valve
- Dealer message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
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
20v-438 is for a camera recall. However the two dealerships in my Town both have said they will not have parts for 2 months.
2020 Honda Odyssey owner · NHTSA complaint 11343569
More owner reports
Infotainment system failure. It started by popping and crackling then the entire screen and entertainment system went black. No radio, Bluetooth, backup camera or any of the controls on the infotainment system screen.
NHTSA complaint 11431882
The infotainment center will go black and disrupt viewing of the backup camera or other features. It is unable to be turned back on.
NHTSA complaint 11353247
Quick answers
Is the 2020 Honda Odyssey reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.4× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 143; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Honda Odyssey year by this measure is 2017.
What are the most common 2020 Honda Odyssey problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (38%), engine (21%) and automatic emergency braking (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2020 Honda Odyssey have?
14 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 2020 Honda Odyssey get?
22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2020 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 2020 Honda Odyssey problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 2,400 and 50,000 miles. The middle report was at 14,000 miles, from 61 complaints.
Does the 2020 Honda Odyssey have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2020 Honda Odyssey cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2020 Honda Odyssey have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Honda Odyssey year is better than the 2020?
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