Is the 2018 Honda Odyssey a bad year?
1,016 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 166, 9.8× a quiet Odyssey year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 9k–60k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 6 of 166 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 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 30,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 265 (26%) | 3k–38k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 166 (16%) | 9k–60k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 54 (5%) | 8k–36k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 107 (11%) | 43k–94k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 41 (4%) | 7k–36k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 205 (20%) | 36k–116k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 26 (3%) | 53k–105k miles · ahead | — |
| Latches and locks | 16 (2%) | 58k–136k miles · ahead | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 100 (10%) | 2k–15k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Collision avoidanceSTANDS OUT | 211 (21%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assistSTANDS OUT | 147 (14%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 24 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 15 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 13 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
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 30,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,016 complaints: 14 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 20 report an injury · 26 say the car was towed.
225 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
I had the Honda odyssey in at least 8 times for a jerky transmission. It was actually replaced at 15,000 miles (1/21/19) with a new one, no problem for another 15,000.
Twice in the first year of ownership, the car was parallel parked and I put the vehicle in drive (Push button sifter).
Car delays when attempting to accelerate when stationary. Car then lunges forward when the transmission engages.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 30,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2018 Honda Odyssey: 16
Water may enter into the rearview camera, which can cause the rearview camera image to fail to display when the vehicle is in reverse. A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash. Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
A software programming error can cause the side and side curtain air bags to deploy unexpectedly. Air bags that deploy unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine. A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching. An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The fuel tank assembly installed by Braun may be susceptible to the fuel tank overfilling into the charcoal canister. If the charcoal canister fills with a sufficient amount of fuel, fuel may leak out. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Water may enter the outer door handle cables for the sliding doors. If this occurs, the outer door handle cables may freeze in cold temperatures, preventing the front and rear sliding door latches from securely latching. A power sliding door that fails to latch may open while moving, increasing the risk of injury.
The wire harness for the third row seat accessory power outlet may get pinched between the unibody and rear trim panel, possibly damaging the wires and causing an electrical short. An intermittent electrical short could overheat the wire harness, increasing the risk of a fire.
Loose battery terminal connections or a degraded battery may cause the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) to unexpectedly reboot. Upon rebooting, the TCU may shift the transmission to the "Park" position, possibly damaging the parking rod. A damaged parking rod can allow the vehicle to roll when parked, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The rear wheel speed sensor harnesses may have been routed to the incorrect rear wheels, resulting in the possibility that the anti-lock brake system will not recognize each rear wheel speed properly. If the rear wheel speeds cannot be correctly monitored, the anti-lock brake system may not engage properly to prevent the wheels from locking up, increasing the risk of crash.
The latch assemblies for the power sliding doors may stick and not properly latch to the door strikers. If the power sliding doors fails to latch, the doors may open while moving, increasing the risk of injury.
The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating, causing gas pockets to form, reducing brake performance. A reduction of braking performance increases the risk of a crash.
The seat belt tongue for the third row center seating position may not be compatible with the latch, preventing the seat belt from latching securely. If in the event of a crash, the seat belt cannot restrain the occupant they have an increased risk of being injured.
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: 220
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Honda Odyssey. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart
MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications
The engine will not crank on initial startup after precipitation and sub-freezing temperatures
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Inadvertent Deployment of Side Air Bags
Engine failure
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
Engine failure
Neighbouring years
2017 Odyssey: 39 complaints, keep it · 2019 Odyssey: 1,000 complaints, keep it.
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 2018 Honda Odyssey a bad year?
1,016 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 166, 9.8× a quiet Odyssey year. At 30,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 9k–60k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 6 of 166 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Honda Odyssey?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (265), transmission and drivetrain (166), speed control (54), fuel system (107), brakes (41). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 9k–60k miles.
How many recalls does the 2018 Honda Odyssey have?
16 recall campaigns list this model year: Backup camera (NHTSA 26V-423), Air bags (NHTSA 26V-332), Air bags (NHTSA 26V-227), Fuel system (NHTSA 23V-858) 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.