8.1

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,090
Average Mileage:
119,450 miles
Total Complaints:
23 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (13 reports)
  2. replace engine (7 reports)
  3. keep pressing your dealer for a solution. be polite and firm (3 reports)
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problem #23

Apr 152019

Odyssey EX 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

I noticed during the last oil change that the quantity drained from the engine was significantly less than what it should be at full service. About a month later I check the level and it was about 1.5 quarts low, and I noticed blue smoke from the exhaust. A quick Google search showed that this has been a significant problem for over a decade. I was never notified of the problem, therefore never updated the vehicle in accordance with the Honda TSB 11-033 which provided a software update, and could have prevented my current problem. Based on the information available on the internet, to fix the problem the engine would have to be taken apart and new rings installed on the pistons. I feel like that type of in-depth maintenance would just cause more problems than it would fix, so I'm stuck with a problem Honda should have fixed a decade ago!

- Kevin H., Fleming Island, US

problem #22

Jul 082021

Odyssey Touring 3.5L V6 Vcm

  • Automatic transmission
  • 167,000 miles

Since we purchased this used from a dealer, we have done a recall check and all recalls were done. From the time we owned it, we were burning a whole lot of oil and there is no leak. We have replaced fouled plugs three times since owning it. Now it is in need of a motor replacement. Reading everything about the class action lawsuit it all looks as though it comes from VCM fouling plugs and now the damage is much more. We are at a loss we have a van in very good condition that is not usable at this time. We have bought the VCM tuner to disable VCM but it was too late as damage has already been done. I would like for HONDA to step in and fix this as it is a well known issue with the 3.5V6 VCM motor.

- Ray Hamilton C., New Tazewell, TN, US

problem #21

May 012018

Odyssey EXL 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

I know know this is a common problem with the Odyssey's. The engine knocks so bad you can't hear your conversation. Uses a quart of oil a day for just minimal driving and sometimes the car just dies. The spark plugs need to be change every other week as they soot up so bad. The catalytic converters had to be change because the failed from too much oil build up.

- Greg G., Queensbury, US

problem #20

Jan 012016

Odyssey EX-L 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 230,000 miles

My wife always took the car to the Honda dealer for service. It seemed like she was always going in for oil changes or because the wrench symbol appeared on the dash. They never said anything about the oil being low when they changed it. We were never notified about a recall for this problem.

Update from Mar 9, 2018: gas mileage was horrible too

- Steve K., Andover, US

problem #19

Mar 072018

Odyssey

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

So I just bought this van in October from a used dealer using my son's disability money to help us provide transportation for his services. Had a few problems with it from the beginning and was told there was a 30 day warranty, but always got the run around when I called them until the warranty ran out. Then I was on my own.

In November I took it to Honda for an oil change and recalls, everything seemed ok. Until last month it started making a funny noise so I took it to a local mechanic to have it checked and they said wow you have no oil in here at all. No oil? Really? There isn't a leak, there's no burning, nothing. So what's the problem? Where the oil going?

Mechanic did some work, costed me $250 and still didn't solve the problem, now I'm told I need a new motor cause the motor went from driving it with no oil. After doing some research I found a lot of Honda's have trouble with excessive oil consumption, not just me. I feel like Honda should be responsible for this problem. They've already several lawsuits against them and we need to start another one cause this isn't even right. Like as Honda owners we are not even notified that this vehicle has an oil problem and needs to be checked often. I go by my dash board. What can I do to start a lawsuit cause I know there's many others with the same problem not just me.

Honda needs to step up and do something

- Jessica L., Central Falls, US

problem #18

Jan 012018

Odyssey ES

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

Honda knows there is a problem here but did nothing to fixit!

- Gary F., Shreveport, LA, US

problem #17

Jan 012012

Odyssey Touring 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

2008 Odyssey touring started burning a quart of oil per 1,000 miles at around 55,000 miles/3 years old. I took it to Honda dealer and was told that was normal which is total BS. They wouldn't do anything about it so I just kept driving. It's been getting progressively worse all these years until the last few months I know check the oil at the first of every Month because I can't make it 1,000 miles. So I filled it on 8/1/17 and this past Friday,8/25/17 the oil light comes on. Dipstick is completely dry..in just 24 days, and I only drive about 25 miles per day and often less on weekends. It took 3 quarts to fill it up. Then yesterday the engine loses power and sounds like it's losing compression. The check engine light comes on. I make it home and check the dipstick..bone dry! Where'd the 3 quarts of oil go from 3 days earlier? I took it to the dealer today and they are "going to do an oil consumption test". Great. Test #3 and they just might learn it's using oil!

- Dan S., Rancho Palos Verdes, US

problem #16

Sep 302008

Odyssey EX-L 3.5L

  • CVT transmission
  • 1,243 miles

The oil consumption has been constant since new. One liter of oil is consumed every 1600 to 1800 km. I now have 210,000 km on the vehicle.

In the early years, when the vehicle was new Honda dealers kept telling me there was no problem with it and a couple said Honda's don't burn oil. After a while I just gave up.

I like the Odyssey but am concerned that I may have premature failure of the engine as a result. Other than the engine burning excessive oil, I have not have any major problems with the engine. I have replaced the fan belt, spark plugs once, and changed the power steering pump. Regular maintenance and oil changes have been done.

Is there a solution to the problem and how does it affect long term life of the motor?

- wfulford, Flin Flon, MB, Canada

problem #15

Jul 102017

Odyssey EX-L 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

I own a 2008 Honda Odyssey and I have loved this car even with its little quirks from time to time but now it is parked in my garage after it broke down on me in the middle of the interstate during rush hour. I have always taken my Honda to a Honda dealer for maintenance and oil changes since I purchased the car in 2008. I was never notified of this Engine and Oil Consumption problem or class action lawsuit by my dealer that I know of.

So I called the Honda 800 number and they tell me that my vehicle does not qualify. They can't tell me why it does not qualify just that that Vin Number doesn't show that it qualifies. Some how they are able to tell which Vin numbers this problem would effect.....I call Bull Sh*t on that. My vehicle only has 140,000 miles on it and the oil light starts blinking and I am low on oil. There is no leak externally so the oil is leaking through the pistons and burning hence the smoke coming from my tail pipe.

This problem as destroyed my catalytic converter and now the engine has to be replaced. The main reason for buying a Honda is because every Honda owner I have known in the past has gotten well over 200,000 miles off their engines and have a fairly decent resale value. I am greatly disappointed in Honda. I really want to own another Odyssey but now I am seriously questioning that. So know I am stuck with a vehicle that has no value and no car to drive and Honda want do anything about it.

- Misty S., Beaumont, US

problem #14

Sep 012016

Odyssey LX 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

Purchased a 2008 Honda Odyssey in April of 2015. Was not aware of the oil consumption class action lawsuit and was not notified about it by Honda. Vehicle would have been covered for repair if I had known at the time of purchase. We have had oil loss issues pretty much the entire two years we have owned it. A few months ago we go the VSA light and sudden loss of acceleration and shaking.

Call Honda Customer service (which should not have the word service in it because they know nothing about customer service) just to see if someone might have the kindness of heart to consider helping us fix the vehicle since we are less than a year past the terms of the class action suit and we purchased the vehicle within the time of the coverage. I was told that there was a slim chance that anything would be done, but that the case could not even be reviewed until I took it to a Honda dealer for diagnostic and oil consumption check.

2 days before I was scheduled to take the Van in, the case manager Iris called me. She said that she was able to review my case and that she wanted me to know that nothing was going to be done to help me out with repairs on the vehicle. I was not able to extract anything resembling an honest answer as to why she was suddenly able to perform a review of my case and determine that nothing would be done even though she had just told me days before that a review could not even be considered until a diagnosis was done at the dealer.

I also explained that we received a recall notice from Honda on our other Honda vehicle even though we had not purchased it from a Honda dealer. I was told that the reason we received a notice on the other vehicle and not on this one was because the other was a safety issue. Apparently a sudden inability to accelerate when you are turning out on to a busy street is not a safety issue? I honestly kind of had a hunch that nothing would be done but it is very disheartening to deal with a situation like this and to have to deal with the kind of unprofessional ism and double speak that I got from their customer relations department.

Needless to say, I would be a fool to ever invest in a Honda motor vehicle again and won't.

- Jonathan H., Stillwater, US

problem #13

Apr 012017

Odyssey EX-L 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 121,515 miles

Even though Honda issued a service bulletin about the problem, (# 11-033,) Honda refuses to pick up the cost of the repair

- Sameh T., Miami, FL, US

problem #12

Nov 092016

Odyssey EX 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,250 miles

Honda requested an oil consumption test of three/four times checking the oil consumption every 1000-1500 miles. This last time (4th test) was Monday (3-Apr-2017) and they are supposed to contact us regarding steps they are taking next to correct the issue.

Earlier investigation revealed a class-action lawsuit for 2008-2012 Odyssey so following up to get this documented because the dealership would not provide any further info regarding this issue - other than they were contacting Honda Corp to respond as we followed their requirements for full documentation of the oil consumption. Honda is supposed to contact us by the end of the week (7-Apr-2017).

- Gregg M., Centerville, US

problem #11

Sep 212016

Odyssey EX-L 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 256,255 miles

We are just now finding out about this major issue with Honda V6 engines in our 2008 Odyssey. We were just told it was an engine that burned some oil. Then just recently the shuttering started and we were told and had to dig into it more and are finding out all about this class action lawsuit and all the complaints and issues people are having with this engine. we are going to try and get Honda NA to help us out and see what they will do to help us. We love the van and have been loyal Honda owners for years. Everything else on the van works great and we don't want to get rid of it. So we will let you know what we find out and how well Honda treats us.

- twins6378, Taylor Mill, KY, US

problem #10

Oct 012016

Odyssey EX-L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,000 miles

Bought this vehicle used from a Honda dealer. I find it EXTREMELY dissatisfactory that a dealer would sell a used vehicle with the knowledge that this problem existed. It's obviously a well known defect and Honda no doubt has records as to whether this car had been corrected or not. Had the Low Oil Pressure indicator not come on I could've ruined the engine. Worst part of this is the vehicle is used to transport my elderly, Alzheimer's stricken Mother. I'll update as I work through the problem with the dealer. If any of you have any feedback as to your experience and/or resolution I would be very grateful.

Update from Oct 3, 2016: Called Honda to see if my VIN showed as a part of a class action suit regarding excessive oil consumption. It was not, so I'm now left to deal with a car that is a ticking time bomb in terms of reliability. I guess I will be subject to excessive maintenance, albeit checking oil every 1,000 miles. The other side of this is the impending doom of valve, piston and spark plug failure. In my opinion, I got a lemon.

Update from Oct 3, 2016: Spoke with Dealer and fortunately the previous owner had the vehicle serviced at that location. Records indicate that the car had warranty service prior to my purchased which involved TSB#11-033. Even after Honda Corp told me the vehicle was not covered under the Class Action Suit, warranty work was performed and included a software update to the VCM, Replace Plugs 1-4 and new piston rings 1-3-6. It appears the fix did not take and the previous owner decided to dump the vehicle.

Good news is that even though I did not own the car when the service was completed, the work is warranted and Honda the Dealer has agreed to work with me on the problem.

- rturner63, Omaha, NE, US

problem #9

Apr 182016

Odyssey EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 121,868 miles

I had never had a problem with my car. Out of the blue, it started to make a strange noise (clunking) and smoke was coming out of the muffler. No oil light came on and when I took it to the mechanic, he said there was not a drop of oil in it. My van had never leaked any oil and it ran fine up until this day. People have told me that perhaps the place where I changed my oil forgot to put it in but it had been a month since my last oil change/top off and only about 2500 miles and it had been running fine. My gripe is that no oil light ever came on, not even when it was making all of the racket. And now, as a result, I have to replace the engine, which is a huge cost.

- Audrey K., Lafayette, LA, US

problem #8

Dec 092015

Odyssey EXL V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

Car broke down due to excessive oil consumption. We were on the way to father's funeral, driving from Philadelphia to Boston. Car needed to go in for emergency service in Connecticut and rental was needed to finish the trip. Complaint was filed with Honda corporate after web search revealed that this was a common issue and the subject of a class action lawsuit. We were required to submit all paperwork twice, and waited four months for a response. Request for reimbursement of repair cost and rental cost was denied.

Have owned or leased two Civics, an Accord and an Odyssey. No longer a loyal Honda customer.

- croke, Garnet Valley, PA, US

problem #7

Apr 022016

Odyssey ES V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 160,000 miles

Honda won't fix!! Even though already been a class action suit. They say my vin isn't included

- awet, Yulee, FL, US

problem #6

Mar 012015

Odyssey EXL 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,000 miles

I have had 3 Honda Odyssey's over the past decade so I am / was a loyal Honda owner. But the 2008 model & newer Odyssey's with the newer 3.5 L V6 have horrible oil consumption. This vehicle burns about a quart of oil or more every 1,000 miles or less. Did not realize the engine was burning so much oil until the engine oil light came on & motor was over 2 quarts low. Dip stick was almost totally dry. Dealer claims that this is "normal" engine operation. Bull. I have owned over 10 cars, & none of them ever burned this much oil. Even an old banger "hooptie" engine does not burn this much oil, with no signs of oil leaks anywhere on the block. There is no fix for this poor engine design. Traded car in for a Toyota Sienna, because the engine felt like it was about to blow a head gasket If your Odyssey starts to burn a lot of oil, get rid of it before the engine dies!

- Jeremy R., Richmond, VA, US

problem #5

Jan 262015

Odyssey EXL 3.5L V6 Pcm

  • Automatic transmission
  • 136,000 miles

1st Me and my wife just bought this 2008 Odyssey a few months ago, now I found out the engine is burning oil seriously. In the meantime, I do not know what to do with this problem yet. I think I am married to this piece of junk engineering engine. I hope my complaint will be heard by HONDA.

2nd It is vibrating big time when accelerating from a stop and smooth out. I replaced driver side cv axle and right front motor mount and problem still there. I am pissed off. I don't want to replace all motor mounts and all cv axle. They cost a lot of money.

3rd The rear brake is making grinding noise every time I back up the vehicle andh slightly hit on the brake pedal.

- tamn, Pensacola, FL, US

problem #4

Nov 012014

Odyssey EXL 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

Oil light came on, had to pull over in traffic to check oil level and it was very, very low. Engine could lock up if not careful.

- Eric F., Haymarket, VA, US

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