Based on CarVitals reliability verdicts, the Honda Odyssey years to approach with the most caution are 2018 and 2019. The strongest years in our data are 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Below is every model year we cover (2005–2024), ranked, with the owner-reported problems behind each call.
| Year | Verdict | Score | Top owner-reported problems | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Recommended | 7 | Forward-collision and lane-keep driver aids can false-activate (phantom braking/warnings) in normal driving.; Infotainment and electrical glitches: touchscreen freezes/reboots, rear-entertainment and backup-camera faults, and other electronics quirks. | Full report ↗ |
| 2023 | Recommended | 7 | Forward-collision and lane-keep driver aids can false-activate (phantom braking/warnings) in normal driving.; Infotainment and electrical glitches: touchscreen freezes/reboots, rear-entertainment and backup-camera faults, and other electronics quirks. | Full report ↗ |
| 2022 | Recommended | 7 | Forward-collision and lane-keep driver aids can false-activate (phantom braking/warnings) in normal driving.; Infotainment and electrical glitches: touchscreen freezes/reboots, rear-entertainment and backup-camera faults, and other electronics quirks. | Full report ↗ |
| 2021 | Recommended | 7 | Forward-collision and lane-keep driver aids can false-activate (phantom braking/warnings) in normal driving.; Infotainment and electrical glitches: touchscreen freezes/reboots, rear-entertainment and backup-camera faults, and other electronics quirks. | Full report ↗ |
| 2017 | Recommended | 7 | VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) 3.5L V6 burns oil and fouls spark plugs, causing misfires (P0301-P0304); a service campaign addressed premature piston-ring wear.; Power sliding doors and power tailgate can stick, fail to latch, or operate intermittently due to motor/actuator and wiring faults.; Second-row seat complaints including latch/recline problems; some vans subject to seat-related recalls. | Full report ↗ |
| 2020 | Caution | 6 | Forward-collision and lane-keep driver aids can false-activate (phantom braking/warnings) in normal driving.; Infotainment and electrical glitches: touchscreen freezes/reboots, rear-entertainment and backup-camera faults, and other electronics quirks. | Full report ↗ |
| 2015 | Caution | 6 | VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) 3.5L V6 burns oil and fouls spark plugs, causing misfires (P0301-P0304); a service campaign addressed premature piston-ring wear.; Powertrain complaints including transmission shift quality/judder and torque-converter issues on the 5-/6-speed automatics.; Power sliding doors and power tailgate can stick, fail to latch, or operate intermittently due to motor/actuator and wiring faults. | Full report ↗ |
| 2014 | Caution | 6 | VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) 3.5L V6 burns oil and fouls spark plugs, causing misfires (P0301-P0304); a service campaign addressed premature piston-ring wear.; Powertrain complaints including transmission shift quality/judder and torque-converter issues on the 5-/6-speed automatics.; Premature brake wear with warped rotors and soft/grinding pedal feel requiring frequent service. | Full report ↗ |
| 2013 | Caution | 6 | VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) 3.5L V6 burns oil and fouls spark plugs, causing misfires (P0301-P0304); a service campaign addressed premature piston-ring wear.; Powertrain complaints including transmission shift quality/judder and torque-converter issues on the 5-/6-speed automatics.; Premature brake wear with warped rotors and soft/grinding pedal feel requiring frequent service. | Full report ↗ |
| 2012 | Caution | 6 | VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) 3.5L V6 burns oil and fouls spark plugs, causing misfires (P0301-P0304); a service campaign addressed premature piston-ring wear.; Premature brake wear with warped rotors and soft/grinding pedal feel requiring frequent service.; Power sliding doors and power tailgate can stick, fail to latch, or operate intermittently due to motor/actuator and wiring faults. | Full report ↗ |
| 2011 | Caution | 6 | VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) 3.5L V6 burns oil and fouls spark plugs, causing misfires (P0301-P0304); a service campaign addressed premature piston-ring wear.; Premature brake wear with warped rotors and soft/grinding pedal feel requiring frequent service.; Power sliding doors and power tailgate can stick, fail to latch, or operate intermittently due to motor/actuator and wiring faults. | Full report ↗ |
| 2010 | Caution | 6 | Takata airbag inflator recall affecting driver/passenger airbags that can rupture; confirm recall completion before purchase.; Premature brake wear with warped front rotors and soft/grinding pedal feel, peaking on 2008 vans and requiring frequent service.; VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) 3.5L V6 (added 2008) consumes oil and fouls spark plugs over time, leading to misfires and rough running. | Full report ↗ |
| 2009 | Caution | 6 | Takata airbag inflator recall affecting driver/passenger airbags that can rupture; confirm recall completion before purchase.; Premature brake wear with warped front rotors and soft/grinding pedal feel, peaking on 2008 vans and requiring frequent service.; VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) 3.5L V6 (added 2008) consumes oil and fouls spark plugs over time, leading to misfires and rough running. | Full report ↗ |
| 2016 | Caution | 5 | VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) 3.5L V6 burns oil and fouls spark plugs, causing misfires (P0301-P0304); a service campaign addressed premature piston-ring wear.; Powertrain complaints including transmission shift quality/judder and torque-converter issues on the 5-/6-speed automatics.; Power sliding doors and power tailgate can stick, fail to latch, or operate intermittently due to motor/actuator and wiring faults. | Full report ↗ |
| 2008 | Caution | 5 | Takata airbag inflator recall affecting driver/passenger airbags that can rupture; confirm recall completion before purchase.; Premature brake wear with warped front rotors and soft/grinding pedal feel, peaking on 2008 vans and requiring frequent service.; VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) 3.5L V6 (added 2008) consumes oil and fouls spark plugs over time, leading to misfires and rough running. | Full report ↗ |
| 2007 | Caution | 5 | Takata airbag inflator recall affecting driver/passenger airbags that can rupture; confirm recall completion before purchase.; 5-speed automatic transmission shift problems and torque-converter failures; Honda extended the powertrain warranty on early build vans.; Premature brake wear with warped front rotors and rapid pad wear, sometimes with grinding or soft pedal feel. | Full report ↗ |
| 2006 | Caution | 5 | Takata airbag inflator recall affecting driver/passenger airbags that can rupture; confirm recall completion before purchase.; 5-speed automatic transmission shift problems and torque-converter failures; Honda extended the powertrain warranty on early build vans.; Premature brake wear with warped front rotors and rapid pad wear, sometimes with grinding or soft pedal feel. | Full report ↗ |
| 2005 | Caution | 5 | Takata airbag inflator recall affecting driver/passenger airbags that can rupture; confirm recall completion before purchase.; 5-speed automatic transmission shift problems and torque-converter failures; Honda extended the powertrain warranty on early build vans.; Premature brake wear with warped front rotors and rapid pad wear, sometimes with grinding or soft pedal feel. | Full report ↗ |
| 2019 | Avoid | 4 | ZF 9-speed automatic (lower trims) shifts roughly, hesitates, and can briefly lose power/drive, especially from a stop or when merging; subject of owner class actions.; J35 3.5L V6 connecting-rod-bearing failure causing engine knock and, in some cases, a thrown rod and total engine loss, reported even at moderate mileage.; Forward-collision and lane-keep driver aids can false-activate (phantom braking/warnings) in normal driving. | Full report ↗ |
| 2018 | Avoid | 4 | ZF 9-speed automatic (lower trims) shifts roughly, hesitates, and can briefly lose power/drive, especially from a stop or when merging; subject of owner class actions.; J35 3.5L V6 connecting-rod-bearing failure causing engine knock and, in some cases, a thrown rod and total engine loss, reported even at moderate mileage.; Forward-collision and lane-keep driver aids can false-activate (phantom braking/warnings) in normal driving. | Full report ↗ |
Refreshed 5th-gen with the sorted 10-speed automatic; few complaints, mostly minor electronics niggles. A strong, durable used minivan pick.
Mature 5th-gen on the reliable 10-speed; low complaint volume, comfortable and practical. One of the better used-minivan buys.
Settled 10-speed years; very few serious complaints beyond isolated electronics and FCA niggles. Comfortable, spacious and durable.
Mid-cycle refresh with the 10-speed standard; the troublesome early 9-speed is gone and complaint volume dropped sharply.
Improving over 2018-19 but still elevated infotainment/electrical and driver-assist (FCA) complaints; transmission moving to the better 10-speed.
Worst-tier 5th-gen year: ZF 9-speed rough/delayed shifting and power loss (class actions), fuel-pump and electrical/infotainment faults. Heavy complaint volume.
Troubled 5th-gen launch: 9-speed hesitation/power loss, J35 connecting-rod-bearing engine failures, and widespread electrical/infotainment glitches.
Best year of the 4th gen: the earlier issues had largely faded, very low complaint volume, strong durability and safety. A sweet-spot used buy.
VCM V6 oil-consumption / spark-plug-fouling peak (subject to a service campaign) plus second-row seat complaints. Verify oil-burn history before buying.
Solid 4th-gen year; watch for VCM oil consumption and powertrain complaints. Durable overall with comfortable, flexible seating.
New 6-speed on Touring; powertrain, brake-wear and second-row seat complaints. Generally durable but check oil-burn and brake history.
Mid 4th-gen: VCM oil consumption and brake-wear complaints. Mechanically sound family hauler when maintained.
Early 4th-gen: premature brake wear, electrical and steering complaints, plus VCM oil use. Comfortable and practical otherwise.
Redesign launch year: electrical and brake-wear complaints; VCM V6 can burn oil. Durable platform once sorted.
Late 3rd-gen, calmer than early years; watch VCM oil consumption, brake wear and body/sliding-door issues. Strong long-term durability.
Late 3rd-gen with fewer complaints; VCM oil use and structure/sliding-door items remain. Durable 3.5L V6 family van.
Premature brake wear peak and the VCM V6 oil-consumption era begins; also Takata airbag exposure. Durable but check brakes and oil-burn.
High complaint volume: premature brake wear and power-steering pump noise/failure, plus Takata airbags. Mechanically durable but maintenance-heavy.
Power-steering pump and premature brake-wear complaints dominate, with 5-speed transmission and Takata airbag issues. Durable V6 if maintained.
Third-gen launch: 5-speed automatic shift/torque-converter failures (warranty-extended), power-steering and Takata airbag issues. Strong V6 underneath.
Rankings come from CarVitals reliability verdicts, built on public NHTSA complaint and recall data. See how we build these reports, the most reliable used cars overall, browse all Honda models, or check any listing free with the CarVitals extension.