2011 Honda ODYSSEY

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Honda ODYSSEY has 291 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: the dash indicated "low battery" on a new minivan 6 weeks old. the battery could have gone dead at any time. a letter from honda to dealers indicated they had many tech line contacts regarding this problem. this letter told the service department that the customer should drive for an extended period. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 10 crash reports 13 injuries

291

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

66 complaints

23%

• THE DASH INDICATED "LOW BATTERY" ON A NEW MINIVAN 6 WEEKS OLD. THE BATTERY COULD HAVE GONE DEAD AT ANY TIME. A LETTER FROM HONDA TO DEALERS INDICATED THEY HAD MANY TECH LINE CONTACTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THIS LETTER TOLD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE CUSTOMER SHOULD DRIVE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD
• I PURCHASED A NEW 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY EX ON 1/21/2011. AFTER ARRIVING HOME MY WIFE OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR AND THE 'LOW BATTERY CHECK MANUAL' WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. THE NEXT DAY AND FOR THE NEXT 3 DAYS THE WARNING LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. ON PAGE 87 OF T
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH IN EXTREMELY SUNNY WEATHER WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS UNREADABLE DUE TO THE REFLECTION OF THE SUN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURER IN THA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE DASH INDICATED "LOW BATTERY" ON A NEW MINIVAN 6 WEEKS OLD. THE BATTERY COULD HAVE GONE DEAD AT ANY TIME. A LETTER FROM HONDA TO DEALERS INDICATED THEY HAD MANY TECH LINE CONTACTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THIS LETTER TOLD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE CUSTOMER SHOULD DRIVE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

45 complaints

15%

• MY 2009 HONDA ODYSSEY EX HAS 30,000 MILES AND HAS ONGOING BRAKE ISSUES. THE BRAKES ARE SOFT AND GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VAN DOES NOT STOP UNLESS I PUMP THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES ALSO MAKE A LOUD GRINDING SOUND WHEN TRYING TO STOP QUICKLY AND WHEN GOING DOWNHILL:(FREEWAY OFF RAMPS). IT IS NOT THE
• NOTICED WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND THEN HAVING TO BRAKE ABRUPTLY THERE WOULD A PULSATION AND THE STEERING WOULD START SHUTTERING. DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS UNEVEN BRAKE PAD WEAR DUE WARPED ROTORS. COST TO REPLACE PADS AND RESURFACE ROTORS, WITH TAX, WAS $219.34. WAS ADVISED THAT ROTORS COULD BE
• NOTICED WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND THEN HAVING TO BRAKE ABRUPTLY THERE WOULD A PULSATION AND THE STEERING WOULD START SHUTTERING. DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS UNEVEN BRAKE PAD WEAR DUE WARPED ROTORS. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“MY 2009 HONDA ODYSSEY EX HAS 30,000 MILES AND HAS ONGOING BRAKE ISSUES. THE BRAKES ARE SOFT AND GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VAN DOES NOT STOP UNLESS I PUMP THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES ALSO MAKE A LOUD GRINDING SOUND WHEN TRYING TO STOP QUICKLY AND WHEN GOING DOWNHILL:(FREEWAY OFF RAMPS). IT IS NOT THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

28 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A HUMMING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 68 AND 73 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MIL
• 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE ENGINE CONCERNING OIL LEAK AND BURNING SMELL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AT APPROXIMATELY 6,000 HE BEGAN TO SMELL AN ODOR OF BURNT OIL WHEN PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. THE SMELL WAS COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE CONSUMER REPORTED IT TO T
• I GET A MAJOR DEAD SPOT ON ATTEMPTED ACCELERATION MOVING FROM A SLOWDOWN (AS TOWARD A SIGNAL) TOWARD ACCELERATION (AS THE SIGNAL CHANGES) AT ABOUT 5 -10 MPH. THIS IS CONSISTENT. I CAN STEP HARD ON THE GAS OR PUMP THE ACCELERATOR AND GET NO RESPONSE FOR AT LEAST 2 SECONDS. IT SEEMS LIKE IF YOU HIT TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A HUMMING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 68 AND 73 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MIL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

21 complaints

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMOVABLE MULITI-FUNCTION SEAT IN THE SECOND ROW DID NOT SUPPORT A BOOSTER SEAT. HER CHILD'S SEAT HAS SLID OUT OF THE SEAT CAUSING THE CHILD TO BE IMPROPERLY SECURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRE
• 2.10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TOOK THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT WHICH HANGS FROM THE TOP OF THE CAR OF OUR 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY AND WRAPPED IT AROUND HER NECK. THE SEAT BELT LOCKED AND YOU COULD NOT RELEASE IT EXCEPT TO CUT IT OFF. POLICE WAS CALLED TO CUT THE BELT SHE HAD BRUISES ON HER NECK BUT NOTHING MORE SERI
• 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH REAR SEAT BELT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR SEAT HAD A MIDDLE SEAT WHICH FOLDED DOWN INTO A CONSOLE. THE SET BELT FOR THE MIDDLE WAS ATTACHED TO THE CEILING ABOVE IN LIEU OF THE SEAT ITSELF. THE OTHER TWO BACK SEATS RECLINED AND THEREFORE, THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 5 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMOVABLE MULITI-FUNCTION SEAT IN THE SECOND ROW DID NOT SUPPORT A BOOSTER SEAT. HER CHILD'S SEAT HAS SLID OUT OF THE SEAT CAUSING THE CHILD TO BE IMPROPERLY SECURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

20 complaints

• "RUNNING BOARD" ON HONDA ODYSSEY EXL 2011 IS SLIPPERY WHEN WET. IN GAINING ACCESS TO REAR SEAT IT IS NECESSARY TO STEP ON THIS PART. SEVERAL NEAR FALLS OCCURRED WHEN FOOT SLIPPED OFF RESULTING IN BRUISED SHINS. *TR
• 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
• MANUAL SLIDING DOORS (BOTH SIDES), ARE EXTREMELY HARD FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN TO OPEN, EITHER FROM INSIDE THE CAR OR OUTSIDE THE CAR. IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT/IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY CHILDREN TO OPEN THE DOORS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY HELP. MANY ADULTS WOULD EXPERIENCE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“"RUNNING BOARD" ON HONDA ODYSSEY EXL 2011 IS SLIPPERY WHEN WET. IN GAINING ACCESS TO REAR SEAT IT IS NECESSARY TO STEP ON THIS PART. SEVERAL NEAR FALLS OCCURRED WHEN FOOT SLIPPED OFF RESULTING IN BRUISED SHINS. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 291 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: THE DASH INDICATED "LOW BATTERY" ON A NEW MINIVAN 6 WEEKS OLD. THE BATTERY COULD HAVE GONE DEAD AT ANY TIME. A LETTER FROM HONDA TO DEALERS INDICATED THEY HAD MANY TECH LINE CONTACTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THIS LETTER TOLD THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE CUSTOMER SHOULD DRIVE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: MY 2009 HONDA ODYSSEY EX HAS 30,000 MILES AND HAS ONGOING BRAKE ISSUES. THE BRAKES ARE SOFT AND GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VAN DOES NOT STOP UNLESS I PUMP THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES ALSO MAKE A LOUD GRINDING SOUND WHEN TRYING TO STOP QUICKLY AND WHEN GOING DOWNHILL:(FREEWAY OFF RAMPS). IT IS NOT THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A HUMMING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 68 AND 73 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MIL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMOVABLE MULITI-FUNCTION SEAT IN THE SECOND ROW DID NOT SUPPORT A BOOSTER SEAT. HER CHILD'S SEAT HAS SLID OUT OF THE SEAT CAUSING THE CHILD TO BE IMPROPERLY SECURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)