Model research hub
Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey is a minivan introduced for North America in 1994, and the fifth-generation launch years, 2018 and 2019, are its worst by federal complaint counts, at 973 and 942, tied to a new 10-speed transmission's rough shifting and hesitation. Complaints fall every year after to 95 on the 2024, before a spike to 334 on the 2025. The 2026 Odyssey starts at $44,245.
What the Honda Odyssey is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the Odyssey as a minivan made by Honda for the North American market, introduced in 1994 and conceived and engineered in Japan after the country's 1990s economic crisis. The 2026 Odyssey has a 3.5L V6 with front-wheel drive, rated 22 mpg combined by the EPA at about $2,850 a year in fuel, and Kelley Blue Book base prices are $44,245 for the EX-L, $48,945 for the Touring and $53,145 for the Elite.
Best and worst Odyssey model years
Federal data shows a fourth-generation finish of 204 and 269 complaints on the 2015 and 2016, then the fifth-generation launch explodes to 973 complaints and 16 recalls on the 2018 Odyssey and 942 complaints and 20 recalls on the 2019, the two heaviest years on record, covering the backup camera, brakes, door latches and seat belts. Complaints then fall every year, to 457 on the 2020, 138 on the 2021, 130 on the 2022, 96 on the 2023 and 95 on the 2024, before rising to 334 on the 2025.
CarComplaintData (opens in a new tab) says the 2018 is the worst model year, introducing a new 10-speed transmission that suffered rough shifting, hesitation and electronic glitches, and that the 2019 and 2020 continued transmission complaints as Honda worked to calibrate the new gearbox. VinCanary (opens in a new tab) says none of these years is an automatic walk-away, since the worst engine failures on 2018 and 2019 are covered free by recall, and calls 2023 the quietest Odyssey in its range at 90 complaints.
Choosing a year
The 2021 to 2024 cars have the lowest complaint counts of the fifth generation, and any 2018 or 2019 Odyssey should have its transmission recall history checked by VIN before purchase.
Questions buyers ask
Which Honda Odyssey year has the most transmission problems?
CarComplaintData (opens in a new tab) says the 2018 introduced a new 10-speed transmission with rough shifting and hesitation, and that 2019 and 2020 continued those complaints.
Are 2018-2019 Odyssey problems covered by recall?
VinCanary (opens in a new tab) says the worst engine failures on 2018 and 2019 are covered free by recall, along with a sliding-door latch recall.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2025 Honda Odyssey is built around 3.5L V6, rated at 280 horsepower across its minivan body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2025 U.S. lineup has 4 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2025 Odyssey seats 8 and is a Minivan.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 368 owner complaints for the 2025 Odyssey.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2025 Honda Odyssey
Every 2025 Odyssey uses the same 280-horsepower 3.5L V6; the four trims separate by equipment and technology, not powertrain.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
5 indexed Honda Odyssey model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Honda Odyssey | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Honda Odyssey | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Honda Odyssey | 2025 record → | |
| 2022 Honda Odyssey | 2022 record → | |
| 2017 Honda Odyssey | 2017 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Honda Odyssey.
The Honda Odyssey is a minivan manufactured by Japanese automaker Honda and marketed for the North American market, introduced in 1994. The Odyssey was conceived and engineered in Japan after the country's economic crisis of the 1990s, which constrained the vehicle's size and concept and dictated its manufacture in an existing facility with minimal modification.
- Awards
- The Odyssey has received numerous awards since its inception, winning both Car and Driver's "5 Best Trucks" and Consumer Reports' "Top Pick Minivan" several times.
Source: Honda Odyssey (North America) (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Honda Odyssey at a glance
- Production
- 1994–present
- Model years
- 1995–present
- Class
- Minivan
- Body style
- 5-door minivan
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Honda Odyssey generations
The Honda Odyssey has been redesigned in 1999, 2005, 2011, gaps of 4, 6, 6 years, an average of 5.3 years between generations. The current generation (fourth generation, RL5) began in 2011.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | RA | 1995–1999 | The 1995 Odyssey was introduced in 1994 as Honda's first minivan. |
| Second generation | RL1 | 1999–2005 | The second generation North American market Odyssey was first assembled in Canada as a 1999 model mainly for North America between 1998 and 2004 — and exported to Japan as the LaGreat between 1999 and 2004. |
| Third generation | RL3/4 | 2005–2011 | Honda introduced the third generation of the Odyssey for the 2005 model year. |
| Fourth generation | RL5 | 2011–present | Honda presented the 2011 Odyssey Concept in early 2010 at the Chicago Auto Show and officially released it for sale on June 17, 2010; with a larger, wider body, a lower roofline and revised styling. |
NHTSA rated the 2025 Honda Odyssey overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (3 campaigns across the latest model years)
- May 2026, Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic… Consequence: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
- December 2025, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility:Wheelchair Restraints/Securement:Latch/Anchor:. Vantage Mobility, LLC (VM) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Honda Odyssey, 2021-2025 Chrysler Pacifica, and Toyota Sienna vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured. Consequence: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
- February 2024, Steering. Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Odyssey and 2024 Acura RDX vehicles. The steering gear box assembly may not have been tightened properly, allowing water to enter the assembly and cause corrosion and binding gears. Consequence: Corroded and binding steering gears can result in a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash.
Owners filed 379 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Honda Odyssey, most often about electrical system (203), engine (199), unknown or other (99).
Year by year
The Honda Odyssey across 13 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Honda Odyssey | 22 | $2,950 | 1 | |||
| 2026 Honda Odyssey | 22 | $2,850 | 1 | 2 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Honda Odyssey | 22 | $2,850 | 1 | 2 | 334 | 5 stars |
| 2024 Honda Odyssey | 22 | $2,850 | 1 | 3 | 95 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Honda Odyssey | 22 | $2,850 | 1 | 5 | 96 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Honda Odyssey | 22 | $2,850 | 1 | 9 | 130 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Honda Odyssey | 22 | $2,850 | 1 | 8 | 138 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Honda Odyssey | 22 | $2,850 | 1 | 14 | 457 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Honda Odyssey | 22 | $2,850 | 2 | 20 | 942 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Honda Odyssey | 22 | $2,850 | 2 | 16 | 973 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Honda Odyssey | 22 | $2,850 | 1 | 2 | 39 | 5 stars |
| 2016 Honda Odyssey | 22 | $2,850 | 1 | 6 | 269 | 5 stars |
| 2015 Honda Odyssey | 22 | $2,850 | 1 | 6 | 204 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Honda Odyssey, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 to 2021 | Transmissions: Automatic (S10) | Transmissions: Automatic 10-spd | |
| 2019 to 2020 | 2 to 1 | Transmissions: Automatic 10-spd | Transmissions: Automatic (S10), Automatic (S9) |
| 2017 to 2018 | 1 to 2 | Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic (S10), Automatic (S9) | Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl; Transmissions: Automatic 6-spd |
Buying used
What the Honda Odyssey recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | equipment adaptive/mobility (wheelchair restraints/securement); air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2025 | 2 | equipment adaptive/mobility (wheelchair restraints/securement); air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2024 | 3 | steering; equipment adaptive/mobility (wheelchair restraints/securement); air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2023 | 5 | back over prevention (display function); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); steering; 2 more | None |
| 2022 | 9 | seats; tires (sidewall); visibility (rearview mirrors/devices); 5 more | None |
| 2021 | 8 | fuel system, gasoline (storage); visibility (rearview mirrors/devices); back over prevention (display function); 4 more | None |
| 2020 | 14 | electrical system (wiring); back over prevention (sensing system); electrical system (software); 8 more | None |
| 2019 | 20 | seat belts (pretensioner); service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); latches/locks/linkages (doors); 12 more | None |
| 2018 | 16 | seat belts; service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); latches/locks/linkages (doors); 11 more | None |
| 2017 | 2 | seats (mid/rear assembly); fuel system, gasoline (delivery) | None |
| 2016 | 6 | fuel system, gasoline (storage); seats (mid/rear assembly); fuel system, gasoline (delivery) | None |
| 2015 | 6 | fuel system, gasoline (storage); seats (mid/rear assembly); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); 1 more | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 1,068 | 28% | 2018 (258) |
| engine | 826 | 22% | 2025 (193) |
| forward collision avoidance | 711 | 19% | 2019 (225) |
| unknown or other | 612 | 16% | 2018 (146) |
| power train | 439 | 12% | 2018 (164) |
| lane departure | 434 | 12% | 2019 (158) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Honda Odyssey trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EX-L | FWD | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 262 | 4,526 | 3,500 | 22 | $44,245 |
| Sport-L | FWD | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 262 | 4,535 | 3,500 | 22 | $45,345 |
| Touring | FWD | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 262 | 4,559 | 3,500 | 22 | $48,945 |
| Elite | FWD | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 262 | 4,590 | 3,500 | 22 | $53,145 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Honda Odyssey model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,526–4,590 | 3,500 | 19.5 |
| 2025 | 4 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,526–4,590 | 3,500 | 19.5 |
| 2024 | 5 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,482–4,590 | 3,500 | 19.5 |
| 2023 | 5 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,482–4,590 | 3,500 | 19.5 |
| 2022 | 5 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,398–4,603 | 3,500 | 19.5 |
| 2021 | 5 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,398–4,603 | 3,500 | 19.5 |
| 2020 | 6 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,398–4,593 | 3,500 | 19.5 |
| 2019 | 6 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,354–4,593 | 3,000–3,500 | 19.5 |
| 2018 | 6 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 280 | 4,354–4,593 | 3,000–3,500 | 19.5 |
| 2017 | 8 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 248 | 4,396–4,613 | 3,500 | 21 |
| 2016 | 6 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 248 | 4,396–4,613 | 3,500 | 21 |
| 2015 | 5 | 3.5-liter V6 (i-VTEC) | 248 | 4,396–4,613 | 3,500 | 21 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Model-year recall record
Honda Odyssey: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
Fewer recalls than this model’s own average
- 2026 Honda Odyssey : 2 recalls on file (average across published years is 7.8).
- 2025 Honda Odyssey : 2 recalls on file (average across published years is 7.8).
- 2024 Honda Odyssey : 3 recalls on file (average across published years is 7.8).
- 2017 Honda Odyssey : 2 recalls on file (average across published years is 7.8).
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2020 Honda Odyssey : 14 recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera and airbags.
- 2019 Honda Odyssey : 20 recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera and fuel system.
- 2018 Honda Odyssey : 16 recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera and brakes.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | not available | Equipment Adaptive/Mobility, airbags |
| 2025 | 2 | 334 | Equipment Adaptive/Mobility, airbags |
| 2024 | 3 | 95 | steering, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility, airbags |
| 2023 | 5 | 96 | backup camera, steering, fuel system, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility |
| 2022 | 9 | 130 | airbags, tires, seats, visibility/wipers |
| 2021 | 8 | 138 | airbags, fuel system, visibility/wipers, backup camera |
| 2020 | 14 | 457 | backup camera, airbags, electrical system, fuel system |
| 2019 | 20 | 942 | backup camera, fuel system, door latches, electrical system |
| 2018 | 16 | 973 | backup camera, brakes, door latches, seat belts |
| 2017 | 2 | 39 | seats, fuel system |
| 2016 | 6 | 269 | seats, fuel system |
| 2015 | 6 | 204 | seats, fuel system, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Honda Odyssey model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Honda Odyssey?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2026, 2025, 2024, 2017 carried fewer recalls than this model's own average, while 2020, 2019, 2018 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Honda Odyssey model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2020 Honda Odyssey has 14 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera, airbags, electrical system; The 2019 Honda Odyssey has 20 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera, fuel system, door latches; The 2018 Honda Odyssey has 16 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera, brakes, door latches. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03Which Honda Odyssey model years have the cleanest federal recall record?
The 2026 Honda Odyssey has 2 recalls on file; The 2025 Honda Odyssey has 2 recalls on file; The 2024 Honda Odyssey has 3 recalls on file; The 2017 Honda Odyssey has 2 recalls on file: below this model's own average of 7.8. A shorter list on file as of this page's data pull is not a guarantee against a future recall.
Q04What are common recall-related problems on the Honda Odyssey by model year?
2026: Equipment Adaptive/Mobility, airbags. 2025: Equipment Adaptive/Mobility, airbags. 2024: steering, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility, airbags. 2023: backup camera, steering, fuel system, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility. 2022: airbags, tires, seats, visibility/wipers. 2021: airbags, fuel system, visibility/wipers, backup camera.
Q05Why do some Honda Odyssey model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Honda Odyssey model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Engine and cooling, Climate and electrical, Brakes, tires and steering.
2020 Honda Odyssey owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Buying, records and recalls and Engine and cooling.
2019 Honda Odyssey owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Engine and cooling and Buying, records and recalls.
2018 Honda Odyssey owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Brakes, tires and steering and Buying, records and recalls.
Compared with
Models this Honda Odyssey is most often compared with.
Nearest Honda models
Other Honda models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2025 Odyssey come in?
The 2025 Honda Odyssey (minivan) comes in 4 trims: EX-L, Sport-L, Touring, Elite.
Q02What are the 2025 Odyssey trims?
The 2025 Honda Odyssey trims are EX-L, Sport-L, Touring, Elite, listed from the entry EX-L up to the top Elite.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2025 Odyssey use?
The 2025 Honda Odyssey is built around 3.5L V6, rated at 280 horsepower across its minivan body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2025 Odyssey have?
The 2025 Honda Odyssey is rated at 280 horsepower (3.5L V6).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2025 Odyssey?
The 2025 Honda Odyssey is offered with FWD.