2016 Honda Odyssey
Common Problems
Ranked from 92 federal NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
31 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Engine Misfire Due to Worn Piston Rings
16complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine misfires due to worn piston rings, causing a loss of power and difficulty accelerating.
$400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Engine Misfire Due to Piston Ring Failure
8complaintsHigh severityEngineMultiple instances of engine misfire due to piston ring failure, leading to cylinder misfiring and check engine light illumination.
$400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Check Engine Light Flashes and Vehicle Shakes
6complaintsMedium severityEngineCheck engine light flashes and vehicle shakes or judders, often at highway speeds, indicating engine performance issues.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Transmission Slipping and Shuddering
6complaintsMedium severityTransmissionTransmission slips and shudders during acceleration, causing the vehicle to lose power and struggle to maintain speed.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Engine Check Engine Light Flashes Due to VCM System Issues
5complaintsMedium severityEngineThe check engine light flashes due to issues with the Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system, leading to engine misfires and poor performance.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Airbag Deployment Issues
4complaintsSafety riskElectricalPassenger-side airbags deployed unexpectedly upon hitting a pothole, leading to potential injury risk.
- 7
Automatic rear hatch opening issues
4complaintsMedium severityOtherThe rear lift gate or hatch does not open in cold weather, requiring manual intervention or failing to open at all.
- 8
Driver seat latching issues
4complaintsLow severityOtherThe second row driver's side seat latches improperly, causing the back support to become loose and potentially unsafe.
- 9
Engine misfire and spark plug fouling
4complaintsMedium severityEngineDefective piston rings cause engine misfires and spark plug fouling, leading to poor performance and potential engine damage.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Lane Departure and Forward Collision Warning Malfunctions
4complaintsMedium severityElectricalLane departure and forward collision warning systems malfunction, causing false alerts and potential distraction.
- 11
Sliding door malfunction in cold weather
4complaintsMedium severityOtherThe sliding doors do not operate properly or fail to close in cold weather, requiring manual assistance.
- 12
Steering column clicking and shaking
4complaintsLow severitySteeringAn abnormal clicking sound occurs in the steering column when turning, accompanied by vibrations when pressing the brake pedal.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 13
Sunroof glass explosion
4complaintsSafety riskOtherThe sunroof glass suddenly shatters or explodes while the vehicle is stationary or in motion.
- 14
Transmission shifting issues
4complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission randomly slips and jolts during acceleration, leading to unstable driving.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 15
Engine Failure Due to Severe Oil Intrusion
3complaintsHigh severityEngineSevere oil intrusion into the engine cylinders leads to engine failure and the need for extensive repairs, including engine block replacement.
$4,000–$8,000est. engine replacement · 12–20 hrs laborGet local quotes - 16
Engine Shuddering and Vibrations
3complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine shuddering and vibrations during acceleration, often accompanied by check engine light illumination.
- 17
Engine Stall During Driving
3complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine stalls during driving, often without warning, leading to potential loss of control and safety concerns.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 18
Fuel System Malfunction
3complaintsMedium severityFuel systemFuel system malfunctions causing engine misfires and occasional complete engine shutdown during driving.
Related recalls: 16V417000, 23V858000
- 19
Power sliding door latch failure
3complaintsHigh severityOtherThe power sliding doors fail to latch properly, causing them to open unexpectedly.
$200–$600est. door lock/latch repair · 1–2.5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 20
Sliding Door Malfunctions
3complaintsLow severityOtherPassenger sliding doors malfunction, opening unexpectedly or failing to close properly.
- 21
Automatic Door Closure on Its Own
2complaintsMedium severityOtherThe rear passenger side sliding door closes abruptly without warning, potentially injuring passengers.
- 22
Battery Capacity Issues
2complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe battery is not strong enough to power systems for more than 5 minutes, leading to engine shutdowns.
- 23
Dashboard Warning Lights and Malfunctions
2complaintsLow severityElectricalRecurring dashboard warning lights and malfunctions, often leading to confusion and inconvenience for the driver.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 24
Electrical System Failure Due to Corrosion
2complaintsHigh severityElectricalCorrosion in the keyless entry computer board leads to repeated failures of the battery, alternator, and start button, leaving the vehicle stranded.
- 25
Engine Misfire and Power Loss
2complaintsHigh severityEngineEngine misfires and power loss during driving, often requiring immediate attention to prevent accidents.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 26
Engine Misfire Caused by Eco Mode
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine misfires when using eco mode, leading to a loss of power and difficulty accelerating, despite the vehicle being well-maintained.
$200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 27
Engine Stall at Idle Due to Stop-Start System Failure
2complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine stalls at idle due to a malfunctioning stop-start system, causing the check engine light to illuminate and the vehicle to lose power.
$150–$900est. stop-start system diagnosis · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 28
Headrest Causing Neck Pain
2complaintsMedium severityOtherThe headrest forces the driver's head to tilt forward, causing significant neck and back pain.
- 29
Second Row Seat Tipping Forward During Braking
2complaintsHigh severityOtherThe second row seat tips forward unexpectedly during braking, posing a risk to passengers, especially children.
- 30
Steering Wheel Shakes During Braking
2complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe steering wheel shakes when the brakes are applied, especially at higher speeds.
- 31
Unreliable Uphill Jerking During Gear Shifts
2complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe van jolts or jerks uphill when shifting gears, particularly from first to second.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.