10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
86,207 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2010 Honda Odyssey:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #25

Mar 012019

Odyssey

  • 129,000 miles
Check engine light started flashing, vsa light came on, rough idle, felt like it was going to shut off when stopped at lights. Took my van in to see why check engine light was flashing. After diagnostics, was told that piston 3 was misfiring, and these engines are notorious for this misfire issue.

- Anderson, CA, USA

problem #24

Feb 072019

Odyssey

  • 103,700 miles
Pivot bolt on the auto-tensioner broke twice. The first time the pivot bolt broke was after I had the alternator replaced and I was driving down the highway to take children to school in subzero winter conditions. I barely made it home as my van was running only on the battery. If I had stalled along the road, me and my children were at risk of hypothermia or possibly death due to frigid -40 cold weather. I then had a new tensioner pulley bracket installed and after driving down the highway and the pivot bolt broke off completely again. This is very dangerous condition that can cause serious harm or death due to defective pivot bolt..

- Hays, MT, USA

problem #23

Aug 212018

Odyssey

  • 47,000 miles
Within the last 12 months multiple times I have experienced sudden unexpected acceleration of the engine while braking. When it happened, I was on a city street and was able to stop the car by hard braking to avoid a collision with the car in front of me. I then took the car out of gear (shifted to neutral) and the engine acceleration stopped. This happened today (8/21/18) and multiple times (at least five) in the past year.

- Skokie, IL, USA

problem #22

Mar 062018

Odyssey

  • 110,000 miles
Hello, I have a 2010 Honda Odyssey. 2-3 months ago my wife had to pull our van over the road because of a significant shaking (vibration) of the whole vehicle. She got pretty scared and gave me a call. Then, we took the vehicle to the dealer that we had purchased. We have been told that spark plugs had oil leaked through the engine. They replaced the spark plugs and the issue of significant shaking was resolved. Since then, I have been checking the oil level and each week I am adding a quarter of oil. Then, I have gone through some search and found that 2008-2013 Odyssey models are powered by a six-cylinder engine with a variable cylinder management (vcm) system. The system is designed in a way that allows oil to leak into the engine's combustion chamber, leading to premature spark plug degradation, reduced fuel economy, and excessive oil consumption. As a result, many Odyssey owners report having to replace their spark plugs frequently and refill the motor with oil between oil changes. This is what I am exactly having. I have called Honda customer care and have been told that your van is not under warranty anymore as it is 8 years 7 months old and if it was less than 8 years, it was going to be covered under warranty. My concern is excessive oil leakage on a long trip can cause significant engine heating and/or significant shaking of whole vehicle may repeat when I am on an interstate and my whole family can face an serious accident issue. I appreciate your helps in getting Honda to fix my engine as this fix is quite expensive for my budget. Thank you very much and best regards.

- Crozet, VA, USA

problem #21

Mar 012018

Odyssey

  • 57,490 miles
Configured with 1 chair behind driver and all other rear seats removed or folded down. Payload consisted of myself (driver), spouse, 4 great dane dogs (550 lbs.), dog food and groceries. No cellphones accessible or in use and all vehicular entertainment functions switched off. About 4:00 pm Thursday March 1, 2018 weather clear, dry and air temperature in the low 70S exited costco (ih10W) parking lot, proceeded over ih10W on bridge toward the intersection with vance-jackson rd. At approx. 35 mph. Encountered line of stopped vehicles backed up from the traffic light. Usual and normal force on the brake pedal did not produce the expected slowing. Employing maximum panic force on brake pedal finally brought the vehicle to a stop short of collision. Immediately shifted into 'park' where upon the unloaded engine raced to high RPM. Switched ignition to 'off' without removing key. Did not observe tachometer during the foregoing excitement but engine sound was loud and high pitched. Checked floor area for objects or obstruction and found it clear. Drivers left foot being firmly planted on the floor, only the right foot had access to brake or accelerator. Restarted engine and proceeded home normally but with great trepidation and caution. Subsequent experiment in a safe area revealed that the engine can indeed be shut down, while in motion, from any transmission selection without going to 'park' although with consequent loss of power assisted braking and steering. This knowledge does provide some guidance for any future run-away episodes. My spouse will be strongly discouraged from driving this vehicle in the future. Perhaps unrelated to this incident (excepting the possible commonality of engine management computer), this van has twice experienced battery depletion due to parasitic drain when parked overnight.

- Shavano Park, TX, USA

problem #20

Jan 072018

Odyssey

  • miles
2 wks ago 1/7/18 we noticed a ticking noise that my husband said sounded like it was coming from the engine sitting at idle or moving..he checked the oil and there was none there..it was not time for a routine oil change and we get them done reg. At a nissian dealership..he put 2 qts of oil and lucas additive to see if the noise would quite down..however it did not and has started to get louder..he then went to a mechanic friend who used a stethoscope and said that it was coming from the engine for sure..we called the dealership who we got the van from and they said to bring it in because they didn't understand why there wasn't any oil in it..they said that they did some research and show that Honda settled a lawsuit about fast oil comsuption and engine failure..my local Honda dealership said that there is nothing they can do because the extended warranty went out 9/17 and it would need to have a cel..I asked them if they would be able to start a complaint with american Honda but they said that since I'm not a customer of their dealership that it would be out of their control..it sounds terrible at idle and when you are going through 1st and 2nd gear..I'm afraid that it's not safe to drive with my kids in the car and will stall out anywhere..I don't know what to do because a new engine will cost thousands of dollars and I'm afraid that the van is only worth like $6-7000 but we owe like $12900 still

- Inwood, WV, USA

problem #19

Jan 122017

Odyssey

  • 100,000 miles
Have to add oil every 1000 miles.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #18

Jun 012017

Odyssey

  • 112,000 miles
Burns 2+ quarts of oil between oil changes

- Westminster, MA, USA

problem #17

Dec 032015

Odyssey

  • miles
Letter from senator burr on behalf of constituent [xxx] re 2010 Honda Odyssey third engine failure prior to November 2017 for Honda to correct the issue. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). The consumer stated the engine must fail a total of 3 times for the same defect before November, 2017. The engine failed a total of 2 times. The first failure did not meet the manufacturer's guidelines due to the repair not being serviced by a Honda mechanic. The consumer requested that the failure be repaired regardless of the deadline and another engine failure. Updated 08/23/2017

- Matthews, NC, USA

problem #16

May 302017

Odyssey

  • 144,000 miles
Oil consumption problem multiple oil changes and spark plug changes have occured

- Monroe Township, NJ, USA

problem #15

Jan 012017

Odyssey

  • 75,000 miles
Our engine is always so low on oil it does not register on the dip stick. In this state I add 1.5 quarts of oil. I read online that a massive amount of Honda vehicles have this issue when our vehicle triggered a check engine code and looked up the code. I brought the vehicle to the dealer in westminster ca and they did a check for oil consumption and had us return in 1000 miles. When we hit that mileage 3 weeks later I checked the oil in the morning before returning to the dealer and again the oil did not register on the dip stick. The dealer had the van for 4 hours and then told us it was checked and found to be 0.60 quarts low and that they considered it with normal range of oil consumption. I personally believe they lied and that the van was at least 1.25 quarts low. Have no idea what our options are now since I feel the dealer was dishonest, just keep adding 1-2 quarts every few weeks and hope the engine does not fail I guess.

- Garden Grove, CA, USA

problem #14

Mar 202017

Odyssey

  • 104,000 miles
Due to excessive oil consumption my car engine failed and was not able to be repaired. My wife was about to go on a trip and fortunately we had it looked at or else she would have been in serious danger of driving this vehicle with my children inside. I wrote 2 letters to Honda asking for a new car or a credit towards a new car. The second letter I received a call stating since I did not own the car they could not assist me. The girl, stevie, told me if I wrote more letters that would be considered harassment"??"

- Palm Harbor, FL, USA

problem #13

Oct 032015

Odyssey

  • 50,000 miles
Vehicle burns oil. Oil light on dash will illuminate and dipstick will be dry when checked. Requires operator to add new oil between routine oil changes. On board computer will indicate significant oil life remaining through the process.

- Malta, NY, USA

problem #12

Aug 112016

Odyssey

  • 69,135 miles
Purchased this van 03/24/16.. while driving on highway, the check engine light came on, I pulled over check the dip stick and there was but a drop of oil in it...I took a taxi to the nearest gas station bought 3 bottles of oil and I added 2 quarts of oil that day, I had called 2 days prior to make an appointment for an oil change and they told me I should wait till its at 15%(it was at 30% when I called) then 2 days in the light came on... I didn't drive the van after I got home till the date of the appointment 08/18/16, the dealer service dept. Telling me that they are going to place the van on a oil consumption test and I must check the oil levels each time I fill up at the gas station.. and return after 1000 miles ( basically I hear drive until the engine brakes an then it will cost you to fix or replace cause your at fault) an engine should be using oil and the dealer should know where the oil is going, don't tell me its normal to burn at least a quart of oil its not**** I know about vehicles... then to clear the check engine light they say I have to pay for an software update (4 mths after buying this van) and I have a 2 year warranty for this van... to much deceit with these dealers

- Laurelton, NY, USA

problem #11

May 122016

Odyssey

  • miles
Fuel smell, fuel leak.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #10

May 232016

Odyssey

  • 65,300 miles
(1) air conditioning failed, (2) excessive oil consumption (3) poor mileage (extremely rough running. All occur when the vehicle is operating (in motion).

- North Manchester, IN, USA

problem #9

Mar 202016

Odyssey

  • 130,000 miles
Traveling in motion at 40mph than a sudden acceleration of engine and speed. Very difficult to stop with brakes. Honda Odyssey was put on neutral than brakes were applied to stop vehicle. My vehicle was on a secondary rode at the time of sudden acceleration. We called aaa to pick up our Honda Odyssey and took it to our local mechanic for the rest of the day.

- Keene, NH, USA

problem #8

Jun 012015

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Letter from senator burr on behalf of constituent re 2010 Honda Odyssey van V-6 engine disappearing oil (attn: Beverly gillon).

- Clemmons, NC, USA

problem #7

Mar 262015

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 62,420 miles
Unexpected sudden acceleration while parking.

- Somerset, NJ, USA

problem #6

Feb 172015

Odyssey

  • 80,000 miles
Stopped vehicle at a stoplight that was red. Had foot on the brake. Noticed that the engine wanted to rev up and take off. Applied brake pressure harder to keep the vehicle from lurching out into oncoming vehicle. Threw the gear selector into neutral. Engine no longer went into acceleration and back to normal. I made sure that there was not any floor mat or something on the accelerator to cause this problem. This is the second time this has happened with this vehicle. I will be taking the vehicle into Honda to see what they say.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

Read the next 5 complaints »