The Lemon Index2023 Honda Odyssey.
The 2023 Honda Odyssey is so far worse than average by owner complaints: 105 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 118, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about automatic emergency braking, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 22 mpg combined. The best Honda Odyssey year is 2017.
Early read
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 2023 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 105 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Honda Odyssey year. 2023 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 9K to 48K miles on the car (12 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 5
- 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.
- equipment adaptive/mobility 2025
The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.
- steering 2024
The steering gear box assembly may not have been tightened properly, allowing water to enter the assembly and cause corrosion and binding gears.
Show all 5 recalls
- 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.
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 74 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Service Bulletin - The engine will not crank on initial startup after precipitation and…
- Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop…
- Dealer Message - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature…
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
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 MV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
The vehicle engine failed to restart after being idle for a few minutes in heavy traffic on Southern State Parkway. The vehicleâs Auto idle stop function was being utilized during this time.
2023 Honda Odyssey owner · NHTSA complaint 11687216
More owner reports
I was driving on the freeway at approx 65mph with no cars around me when the orange light that said brake came on and the car slowed down on its own. Could not override problem for a few seconds.
NHTSA complaint 11581411
Back up camera display went black and issued error. This error is sporadic. please approve replacement.
NHTSA complaint 11724631
Quick answers
Is the 2023 Honda Odyssey reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn 1.2× the average car's complaints per car sold, against other 2023 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 118; 100 is average). The best Honda Odyssey year by this measure is 2017.
What are the most common 2023 Honda Odyssey problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are automatic emergency braking (34%), electrical (30%) and engine (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2023 Honda Odyssey have?
5 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Honda Odyssey get?
22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2023 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.
Does the 2023 Honda Odyssey have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2023 Honda Odyssey cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2023 Honda Odyssey have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Honda Odyssey year is better than the 2023?
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