Free Preview
#BS-2018-HONODY-28512018 Honda OdysseyProblems, Recalls & Reliability
Based on reports from 1,755 owners and 16 recalls for this exact model.
Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 1,755 complaints, 23 crashes, 7 fires, and 16 recalls. Complaint rate is 2.9x the class average.
Top reported problems
jerks when shifting
7 complaints • Severity 7.4/10
infotainment system not working properly
4 complaints • Severity 7/10
water leak
4 complaints • Severity 8.5/10
transmission failure
4 complaints • Severity 9.5/10
power door locks malfunction
3 complaints • Severity 8/10
Preview: What's in your full report
Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $2.00
Mechanic Inspection Checklist
260 owners reported electrical issues — failures commonly reported around 22K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (210 reports) • Median: 22K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Electrical (260 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2018 Honda Odyssey: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Electrical Issues
Electrical complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2018 Honda Odyssey, with 260 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 22,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 22K-mile mark.
Engine Issues
Engine complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 2018 Honda Odyssey, with 203 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Drivetrain Issues
Drivetrain complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2018 Honda Odyssey, with 165 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control Issues
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control complaints account for 8% of all reports filed for the 2018 Honda Odyssey, with 142 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2018 Honda Odyssey. Recent trend: stable.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (16 recalls)
SEAT BELTS
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Odyssey vehicles. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Acura MDX, 2017-2018 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda HR-V and Honda Odyssey, and 2016 Honda HR-V vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating, causing gas pockets to form, reducing brake performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2018 and 2019 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The latch assemblies for the power sliding doors may stick and not properly latch to the door strikers.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Honda Odyessy vehicles modified to be equipped with an in-floor wheelchair ramp conversion. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake System" and 404, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. 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.
+ 11 more recalls in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
2018 Honda Odyssey NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall
★★★★★5 of 5 stars
Frontal crash
★★★★★5 of 5 stars
Side crash
★★★★★5 of 5 stars
Rollover
★★★★★4 of 5 stars
From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.
NHTSA Defect Investigations (4)
2 investigations still open: NHTSA is examining whether a defect warrants a recall.
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:CRANK/CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR
Engine failure
ENGINE
Inadvertent Deployment of Side Air Bags
AIR BAGS
Engine failure
ENGINE
The worst model year for the Honda Odyssey is the 2002 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.
2018 Honda Odyssey vs. Class Average (Minivan - 2WD)
This vehicle
1,755
Class avg
613
2.9x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical minivan - 2wd vehicles.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,755 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 16 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.
Other Honda Odyssey Model Years
2018 Honda Odyssey: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Honda Odyssey?
Is the 2018 Honda Odyssey reliable?
How safe is the 2018 Honda Odyssey?
How much does it cost to fix 2018 Honda Odyssey problems?
Does the 2018 Honda Odyssey have any recalls?
What mileage do Honda Odyssey problems start?
When was the 2018 Honda Odyssey data last updated?
What’s in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
How is this different from Carfax?
What if the report isn’t useful?
Get the Full 2018 Honda Odyssey Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,755 owner reports. Know before you buy.