Honda Odyssey 2011–2017
4th generation (RL5)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20261,974 complaints, 1,307 with mileageMethod
On this generation, 29% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 3 times higher than during the rest of the car's life.
- First 12,000 miles — 29% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 15 complaints (1.1%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 500
- 25%
- 8,000
- Median
- 30,000
- 75%
- 68,000
- 90%
- 102,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 272 | 20.8% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 73 | 5.6% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 62 | 4.7% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 84 | 6.4% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 80 | 6.1% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 68 | 5.2% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 61 | 4.7% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 51 | 3.9% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 58 | 4.4% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 42 | 3.2% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 40 | 3.1% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 37 | 2.8% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 38 | 2.9% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 28 | 2.1% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 39 | 3.0% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 41 | 3.1% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 23 | 1.8% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 34 | 2.6% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 11 | 0.8% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 12 | 0.9% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 29 | 2.2% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 8 | 0.6% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 10 | 0.8% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 9 | 0.7% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 7 | 0.5% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 6 | 0.5% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 12 | 0.9% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 7 | 0.5% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 12 | 0.9% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 2 | 0.2% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 7 | 0.5% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 6 | 0.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 10 | 0.8% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 5 | 0.4% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 15 | 1.1% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 1,974 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011–2017 Honda Odyssey, and 1,307 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
29% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 3 times higher than during the rest of the car's life. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
The most-reported areas are the engine (17.5% of complaints, typically around 67,000 miles), the brakes (11.9% of complaints, typically around 25,000 miles), the transmission and driveline (11.0% of complaints, typically around 28,000 miles).
14 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Engine67,000median 67,000 miles, middle half 28,000 to 97,000
- Brakes25,000median 24,537 miles, middle half 15,000 to 40,000
- Transmission and driveline28,000median 28,000 miles, middle half 3,000 to 61,000
- Electrical system17,000median 17,000 miles, middle half 2,000 to 70,000
- Body structure49,000median 49,100 miles, middle half 22,000 to 72,000
- Problems owners could not categorise39,000median 39,000 miles, middle half 15,000 to 64,000
- Seats35,000median 35,470 miles, middle half 14,000 to 60,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 346 | 17.5% | 67,000 | 28,000–97,000 |
| Brakes | 235 | 11.9% | 25,000 | 15,000–40,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 217 | 11.0% | 28,000 | 3,000–61,000 |
| Electrical system | 217 | 11.0% | 17,000 | 2,000–70,000 |
| Body structure | 157 | 8.0% | 49,000 | 22,000–72,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 149 | 7.5% | 39,000 | 15,000–64,000 |
| Seats | 99 | 5.0% | 35,000 | 14,000–60,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 70 | 3.5% | 16,000 | 3,000–36,000 |
| Steering | 68 | 3.4% | 28,000 | 16,000–44,000 |
| Airbag system | 68 | 3.4% | 40,000 | 13,000–95,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 30,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine accounts for 17.5% of complaints (346 reports, 161 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 67,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 28,000 and 97,000 miles.
The brakes account for 11.9% of complaints (235 reports, 200 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 24,537 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 40,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 11.0% of complaints (217 reports, 147 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 28,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,757 and 61,300 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 11.0% of complaints (217 reports, 164 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 17,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,000 and 70,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 8.0% of complaints (157 reports, 103 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 49,100 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 22,000 and 72,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 7.5% of complaints (149 reports, 84 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 39,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 64,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2014 model year drew the most — 406 complaints — while 2017 drew the fewest at 48. The median year sits at 291.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 14 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around seats (4), the fuel system (2), the airbag system (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 1,974 complaints filed against this generation, 117 reported a crash; 27 reported a fire; 104 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 5.9% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 29% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
On inspection, the engine and the brakes are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The brakes in particular shows a median failure mileage of 24,537, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine 2011–2017 (extension covers through 2013)
VCM-induced piston ring wear causing oil consumption, fouled plugs and misfires; American Honda issued a warranty extension covering spark plug fouling with DTCs P0301-P0304 on MY2008-2013 vehicles. Broken engine mounts are the common secondary failure.
Body 2011–2017
Power sliding door failures and A/C condenser leaks from road debris.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 291 | 225 |
| 2012 | 325 | 246 |
| 2013 | 276 | 196 |
| 2014 | 406 | 283 |
| 2015 | 273 | 175 |
| 2016 | 355 | 164 |
| 2017 | 48 | 18 |
Recalls (14)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 25V876000 | 2026-02-05 | Equipment Adaptive/Mobility:wheelchair Restraints/Securement:latch/Anchor: |
| 23V858000 | 2024-03-29 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump |
| 18V170000 | 2018-05-07 | Seats:mid/Rear Assembly |
| 17V725000 | 2018-04-02 | Seats:mid/Rear Assembly |
| 16V933000 | 2017-04-03 | Seats:mid/Rear Assembly |
| 16V932000 | 2017-02-06 | Seats:mid/Rear Assembly |
| 16V417000 | 2016-07-29 | Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly |
| 14V175000 | 2014-05-16 | Air Bags:side/Window |
| 13V382000 | 2013-09-16 | Engine |
| 13V143000 | 2013-05-13 | Power Train:automatic Transmission |
| 13V016000 | 2013-03-14 | Air Bags |
| 11V602000 | 2011-12-19 | Suspension:front |
| 11V181000 | 2011-04-28 | Visibility |
| 11V180000 | 2011-04-28 | Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer |
What owners reported
I purchased a brand new 2011 Honda Odyssey touring elite 4 weeks ago. As i drove home from the lot my TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) light came on and stayed on. I immediately drove back to the dealer service center. Initially they thought it was just tire pressure but quickly realized it was an actual error…
2011 · 10 miles · Tyres
There seems to be an interference between using a bluetooth phone when paired with the vehicles hands free link system (hfl) and the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Vehicle was brand new off the truck (only 4 miles on it) and as soon as my iphone 4 was paired with the vehicles hfl system, the TPMS failed.…
2011 · 15 miles · Equipment
2011 Honda Odyssey touring - the driver side small window forward of the driver door appears to not be sealed correctly. When driving at highway speeds on windy days, there is significant air noise in the cabin of the car. The noise is so pronounced that it often sounds as though a window in the car is cracked open.…
2011 · 15 miles · Visibility equipment
New 2011 Honda Odyssey touring model had a snowflake like crack the size of a half-dollar in passenger side top corner of windshield. Crack was in the center of the glass and could not be felt from the inside or outside. Windshield was replaced by Honda dealer two times and each time the windshield starts to crack…
2011 · 25 miles · Body structure
Built from 1,307 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page