Is the 2013 Honda Odyssey a bad year?
211 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 73, 2.6× a quiet Odyssey year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 2.6× the complaints of a quiet Odyssey year, spread over 39k–106k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 Odyssey owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 73,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 73 (35%) | 39k–106k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 16 (8%) | 8k–100k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 14 (7%) | 20k–96k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 10 (5%) | 32k–77k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 55 (26%) | 16k–35k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structure | 20 (9%) | 22k–72k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 14 (7%) | 16k–42k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 14 (7%) | 2k–72k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 12 (6%) | 4k–35k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seats | 9 (4%) | 23k–60k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 73,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 211 complaints: 17 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 9 report an injury · 11 say the car was towed.
8 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Car consumes oil-engine misses and stalls-lights come on signaling traction.
When driving - our traction control and engine light has come on several times and the engine has been so rough that we had to stop and let it cool down before taking it immediately home.
Today I found out that my pistons were bad in my 2013 odyssey. I had just had my points, plugs and wires changed out in late november early december.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 73,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Honda Odyssey: 6
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The second row outboard seats can slide sideways to one of two positions. If a seat is placed between either of the two positions when attaching the seat to the vehicle floor, the seat will not latch properly to the seat striker, allowing the seat to tip forward unexpectedly during braking. If the seat tips forward during braking, it can increase the risk of injury.
The affected vehicles have second row outboard seats that have a release lever that allows the seats to move for easier access to the third row of seats. This release lever may remain in the unlocked position allowing the seats to move unexpectedly. An unlocked second row outboard seat increases the risk of injury to the seat occupant during a crash.
During manufacturing of the engine piston, it is possible that the heat treatment process was not properly applied, resulting in the piston having an insufficient hardness level, making it more susceptible to premature wear. A worn piston may suddenly fail, causing the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
During sub-freezing temperatures, the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism may become slow and allow the gear selector to be moved from the Park position without pressing the brake pedal. If the gear selector is moved from the park position without pressing the brake pedal it can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover may be missing. The absence of more than one rivet could alter the performance of the driver's airbag during deployment. This could potentially increase the risk of injury during a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 80
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Honda Odyssey. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The piston ring function deteriorates due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from sludge
Piston ring effectiveness may be reduced due to excessive wear and oil sludge build-up, which can cause oil to adhere to the spark plug…
The front rocker arm oil control valve is leaking
The piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align which can lead to spark plug fouling
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Inadvertent Deployment of Air Bags
Neighbouring years
2012 Odyssey: 246 complaints, keep it · 2014 Odyssey: 310 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Honda Odyssey year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Odyssey years side by side
Other Honda models: Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda Fit · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Passport · Honda Pilot · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2013 Honda Odyssey a bad year?
211 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 73, 2.6× a quiet Odyssey year. At 73,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 2.6× the complaints of a quiet Odyssey year, spread over 39k–106k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Honda Odyssey?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (73), electrical system (16), air bags (14), fuel system (10), brakes (55). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 39k–106k miles.
How many recalls does the 2013 Honda Odyssey have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Fuel system (NHTSA 23V-858), Seats (NHTSA 17V-725), Seats (NHTSA 16V-933), Engine (NHTSA 13V-382) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.