general problems of the 2015 Honda Odyssey - part 1

Approximately 7 months ago, my 2015 Honda Odyssey experienced an engine misfire with code p0302 (cylinder 2). All spark plugs were replaced at that time and the issue appeared resolved. However, the misfire has now returned with the check engine light on, again indicating cylinder misfire. The vehicle only has 71,000 miles on it, which makes this recurring issue particularly concerning. Based on my research, this appears to be a known defect related to Honda’s variable cylinder management (vcm) system causing excessive oil consumption and spark plug fouling — an issue documented across 2013–2017 Odyssey vehicles and addressed under Honda service bulletin 25-061. I am requesting this complaint be on record and urge NHTSA to investigate this as a safety-related defect. ”.

American Honda motor CO, inc. Recently sent a warranty extension due to piston ring deterioration causing misfires. They have improperly denied my claim for reasons that were clearly arbitrary and to get out of reimbursing me for the repair. This is a safety concern because the car is unable to accelerate safely to merge onto an interstate and puts other drivers at risk.

On March 27th, I was driving my car. My children were with me and we were on the way home from swim practice. With no warning, my engine went crazy. We were sitting at a stop light and the idel became very rough shaking the entire car. The engine was slow to respond to the accelerator and ultimately I decided that it was not safe to drive. I had my van towed to my mechanic who ran diagnostics and confirmed that the spark plugs were misfiring because of oil build up related to a faulty piston ring valve. He explained that it was a common problem with Odysseys. He gave us the options of doing the major repair of the rings that would cost about $5000 or we could replace the failing spark plugs and get 6-8 months out of the car before the same issue would reoccur. Not having a spare $5k on hand we opted for the temporary fix. I recently received a warranty extension from Honda about this exact issue but Honda is refusing to repair my car. They have told me that unless the engine light is on and the appropriate codes are indicated, I can not have the repair covered by the warranty. I took in documents from my mechanic with pictures of the codes, but they will not honor this. They also said that even if they did an inspection that confirmed the piston ring failure, Honda USA would not pay them back for the repairs because the service light and appropriate service codes are not showing. I believe the terms of this warranty extension are in bad faith and put me and my family at risk. Either I spend my own money to repair the car, or I wait until the engine fails and me and my family are stranded on the side of the road. Despite numerous conversations with the service member and customer service, Honda refuses to put in writing their refusal to repair my car under the warranty.

My vehicle has a know issue with Honda corporate with the variable cylinder management that has lead to 7 miss fires in 4 years. The frequent and excessive miss fires are caused by carbon and oil leaking through the piston rings. Honda has attempted to repair the piston rings but that repair was a fail. I’ve experienced a miss fire after the repair and now require another change to my spark plugs recommended by Honda. I filed a reimbursement case with Honda and was notified they will not resolve the issue or reimburse me for the excessive miss fires, spark plug and coils replaced due to their faulty know engine defect. They announced in July 2025 that they were extending the warranty to cover repairs related to engine misfires (dtcs p0301 through p0304) and will last for 10 years from the original purchase date or 150,000 miles. However they have denied my reimbursement after sending proof of miss fire work and payment.

Honda issued a warranty extension covering piston ring deterioration that causes engine misfires (dtcs p0301–p0304) due to oil fouling. I experienced this exact condition on 3/11/25 prior to issuance of the warranty extension, resulting in an engine misfire and loss of drivability. To restore basic operation of the vehicle, an independent repair facility replaced a fouled spark plug, documenting the misfire and oil fouling condition (including the p0301 code). I elected the minimum necessary repair to restore drivability, as the warranty extension had not yet been issued and the vehicle could not be operated safely without immediate service. Honda has acknowledged that this repair was temporary and consistent with the covered condition. Honda has denied reimbursement for this repair because the piston ring or short block replacement identified in the campaign was not completed. Honda has also stated that it will not perform the covered repair unless the misfire code is currently active or stored and the check engine light is illuminated. Honda representatives have acknowledged that this condition commonly recurs after a temporary spark plug repair, but have advised that no repair can be performed unless the issue resumes. This creates a situation in which the vehicle has a known covered defect, but access to repair is delayed until failure reoccurs, potentially outside the warranty extension mileage or time limits. I am submitting this complaint due to concerns that these requirements may prevent timely access to emissions-related repairs for a known defect and may discourage reasonable interim repairs necessary to maintain safe vehicle operation. Honda’s requirement that I continue operating the vehicle until the misfire reoccurs raises safety concerns. The prior failure resulted in loss of drivability, and I am uncomfortable transporting my family while knowingly operating a vehicle with a documented defect that Honda has acknowledged is likely to recur.

The engine has experienced a cylinder 1 misfire condition twice in the last month. In each instance, the spark plug has been fouled with oil and caused the ignition coil pack to malfunction. When the failure occurred, the vehicle was in operation at roadway speeds and placed the vehicle into limp mode with a flashing check engine light and deactivating the forward collision monitor and lane departure warning. In each instance, the vehicle has been towed to an independent mechanic shop where the p0301 codes have been found. I have contacted american Honda motors and was advised that there are no recalls at this point. Looking online, the 3. 5l engine appears to have several issues regarding the vcm system that leads to ring failure and oil leaking into the cylinders. There was a class action suit, soto et al. V. American Honda, that led to Honda extending engine warranties to 8 years, unlimited mileage, but does not correct the issue with the vcm causing damage. Thankfully for me each time the misfire condition has occurred, I have been close to home so that I have not been left stranded.

The contact owns a 2015 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, several unknown warning lights flashed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked and lunged forward while depressing the accelerator pedal, as the vehicle would shut off. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was discovered that oil had leaked onto the alternator. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under warranty or recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 135,000.

Cylinders misfire due to leaky cylinder rings. Causes car to ride rough / shake violently. Needs to replace spark plugs, which were completely fouled out with oil. We have needed to have this car towed multiple times and make repeat repairs.

Honda's variable cylinder management (vcm) system puts inordinate wear on engine cylinders that causes the vehicle to shake and misfire and eventually shut down the engine. It causes spark plug and cylinder coil failures and cylinder damage. This is not due to age, misuse or lack of proper maintenance. The vcm causes engine build up as a normal course of action. This is a known issue that Honda has never communicated to owners of these vehicles. Model years 2011-2013 had the same issue. Honda has offered no recourse, or even communication, to owners of 2014-2017 Odysseys with the exact same vcm (vcm2) mechanism and the same wear and tear on the engine. . Read more...

The contact owns a 2015 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while pulling out of the parking space, the vehicle rpm had increased while the brake pedal had been depressed. This caused the vehicle to crash into another vehicle in the lot. The rpm had continued to increase even with the vehicle being in park. The air bags did not deploy. No warning light was illuminated. A police report was filled. The vehicle was towed to an auto body shop. The driver was injured. No one outside of the vehicle was injured. The contact sustained back, neck, pelvic and head inquiries. Medical treatment was needed. The doctor provided shots and medicine for the pain. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000. VIN not provided.

My 2015 Honda Odyssey has suffered a well known and common engine problem. It currently has 92000 miles on it the engine is being rebuilt by a Honda service department at my expense. This engine (3. 5l) is leaking oil into the combustion chamber in cylinder #3. It has caused a misfire and the inability to maintain speed or control of the vehicle. This has occurred several times and now we are being told that cylinders 1-3 need to be rebuilt, along with some head components that have burned and fouled. When these misfires have ocurred, multiple warning lights (check engine) come on. This is a well known fault with this engine. Honda extended warranties on vehicles with this engine through model year 2013, however they are not covering this issue and it clearly hasn't been resolved.

A spool valve leak occurred leaking oil onto the alternator which caused it to fail when driving. When it failed, electrical systems started to shut down. At first, the abs system indicator lit up. Multiple systems started to fail soon thereafter. Upon pulling over on the freeway, the vehicle was unable to go in reverse. The root cause was a spool valve leak that is well known and consequently puts drivers at risk when driving at high speeds. When driving down the interstate, all the electrical systems started to shut down. The abs system was the first indicator, along with multiple electrical systems soon thereafter. Once pulled over, the vehicle could not go in reverse as well. . Read more...

The contact owns a 2015 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at 55 mph, the vehicle began to lose power upon depression of the accelerator pedal. A warning message appeared on the instrument panel that instructed the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer for service. The contact initially took the vehicle to a dealer but due to a high volume of customers, the dealer could not service the vehicle. The next day, the vehicle was taken to a second dealer where a diagnostic was performed that showed that a piston ring failure had caused the engine oil to contaminate the spark plugs which lead to an engine misfire. The dealer replaced the spark plugs, piston rings and cylinder rings in engine cylinders 1, 2, and 3. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 133,597.

Piston rings allowed oil to enter a combustion cylinder, resulting in misfiring and lack of power. The inability to accelerate was a potential hazard. The vehicle was taken to the dealership and they diagnosed the problem. Internet reports suggest that this is a known problem with this vehicle. The check engine light came on about a month earlier, but the light went off and stayed off until the event that led to the trip to the dealership.

At 87,000 miles the piston valves failed in my 2015 Odyssey. Safety was put at risk as the spark plugs would fail due to oil leaking from the piston valves and the engine would flash all the lights and run super hard. Unable to drive it for 1 mile after the spark plugs failed. After the 2nd spark plug failure, a dealership confirmed the issue was the piston valves. 2 Honda dealerships confirmed that this is a known issue with Odysseys, pilots and accords and they have multiple vehicles in weekly to address this issue. Honda has had recalls on prior year Odysseys 2008-2013 for the piston valves but does not do anything to recognize this issue remains with the 2014-2017 vehicles. In 2018 the engine/build of the Odysseys changed and the piston valves are not an issue for that year and up.

Began to accelerate onto I-70 west (on-ramp) and the engine began shaking and lost compression to accelerate quickly to merge into the right lane. The engine icon light was blinking and I had to remain on the far right side of I-70 because I could not get up to speed (70mph). It did not break down but had to drive at speeds below the minimum speed limit. I took the vehicle to the dealership where I purchased it and was told oil had breached and caused the spark plug oil fouled. It required a ring/piston job, all new spark plugs, timing belts, o-rings, manifold gaskets, water pump, drive belts, and coolant. Honda responded and would not provide financial assistance. Total cost $5072. 67.

The vcm system has failed and caused oil to seep past piston rings and gum/foul up spark plugs. This is a known issue by Honda but they won’t do anything about it.

I own a 2015 Honda Odyssey ex-l purchased new at the pacific Honda dealership in san diego, CA. I wrote to american Honda motor CO. Requesting a partial reimbursement for the cost of significant engine repair work required on my Odyssey over the christmas holiday, even though the car was well-maintained and had only been driven for 88,700 miles. Specifically, on or about December 14, 2022, my wife was driving our Odyssey with our two young children when the car began shaking and became difficult to drive, the check engine light began blinking, and numerous other warning lights flashed on the dashboard. My wife stopped the car and we reviewed the owner’s manual and learned that the blinking check engine light and other warnings could indicate a critical malfunction, and that the car should not be driven and should be taken to a dealership. We immediately contacted our local Honda dealership, pacific Honda, and had the car towed, at a cost of approximately $100, to this dealership. The dealership (where the engine repair work was done) said my car needed an “engine rebuild” because the piston rings needed to be replaced and charged me $6,000 for the repairs, despite the car’s relatively low mileage. During the engine repair process, which spanned weeks and ruined my family’s christmas holiday, multiple employees at the dealership repeatedly admitted that this engine problem was a “common” and “known issue,” and my brief research showed that this same engine problem has been the subject of a class action and recall in the past. In addition, online forums indicate that numerous Odysseys from 2014 through 2016 or later continue to have piston ring, fouled spark plug, and related problems potentially tied to the variable cylinder management system.

I am reporting an engine defect covered under Honda’s recent warranty extension for 2013–2017 Odyssey / 2013–2015 pilot vehicles when the mil comes on with dtcs p0301–p0304. On November 1, 2022, I was stranded on the road when the check-engine light came on. At Honda muller of gurnee, the dealer diagnosed misfires consistent with p0301–p0304, explaining the underlying cause as piston ring function deterioration with sludge causing oil to foul the spark plugs. I was told my original warranty had expired only about six weeks earlier (on August 29, 2022). Coverage was denied and I was quoted over $6,000. Because I couldn’t afford the repair, the dealer recommended replacing the spark plugs as a temporary measure only, stating this would not fix the underlying defect. I proceeded with that temporary measure. On November 11, 2022, american Honda formally acknowledged my concern in writing, confirming that case #13455791 had been opened and escalated to a case manager in direct response to my diagnosis from November 1, 2022. Despite this acknowledgment, my repair request was denied. In 2025 I received Honda’s warranty extension letter acknowledging coverage for this exact defect (including coverage through January 31, 2026). I returned to the dealer seeking repair based on my documented diagnosis, but repair was refused again because the codes were not present that day (the condition is intermittent). This defect affects drivability and safety (loss of power/hesitation and reduced ability to merge or cross traffic). I am asking NHTSA to record this complaint and consider action so that owners with documented prior diagnoses — especially those recognized by Honda corporate — are not refused repairs simply because an intermittent defect isn’t active at the exact moment of inspection. I am reporting an engine defect covered under Honda’s recent warranty extension for 2013–2017 Odyssey / 2013–2015 pilot vehicles when the mil comes on with dtcs p0301–p0304.

Several times in recent years my car will start sputtering and misfire, losing significant power. Last time I was getting onto the freeway and it was quite dangerous as I was unable to accelerate sufficiently. My engine light also went on. The Honda dealership diagnosed the problem as a problem with the pistons, which needed replacing at a cost of some $4,000. The dealership shared that they were aware of this problem and that Honda had a newly designed piston to replace it. This seems to be the same problem covered by a recall for Honda Odyssey's 2011-2013 - but it does not cover my 2015 model. I am attaching info on the recall (soto et al v. Amer. Honda motor CO, case no. 3:12-cv-1377-si).

Piston rings in cylinders 1-3 failed and allow oil to foul spark plugs and causes misfires. Same issue they have on the older models and subject to class action suit. TSB has been released, but repair charge for this continued design flaw estimated over $4000. 140,791 miles, services maintained. A search of the Honda blogs show this to be a continuing issue for many owners.

The contact owns a 2015 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic informed the contact of spark plugs and oil contamination causing engine damage. The contact stated that a temporary repair was performed however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,652.

Very dangerous drivetrain issue. Transmission shifting issues led the transmission to total failure even after a recommended transmission flush and fill by a reputable Honda dealer. Issue was confirmed by an independent local repair shop. The vehicle itself has low mileage, (@69,600 mi. ) no warning lamps prior to the transmission malfunction and failure.

The spool valve leak oil onto the alternator causing the battery not be recharged and the car powering off and shutting down on the highway. This happened on my way from kansas city kansas. With the electrical unit completely shut down due to oil leak from the spool valve that caused the alternator to short circuit, my car slowed down from 65 mph to a halt in less than 10 seconds. Luckily enough I was at an exit and hence maneuvered the car to safety. Had I been on a bridge or narrow road with no shoulder, it could have led to potentially deathly situation. Took my car to a Honda dealer in davenport, where I was told the cause was a spool valve leak that is very common with Honda Odysseys built from 2010 to 2018. The issue was not inspected by the police nor my insurance. There was no warning other than my battery light that came on the dash board. The light came on 20 minutes prior to the car shutting down.

The contact owns a 2015 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at night, the check engine warning light started flashing. The contact was able to pull over. The contact called a mobile mechanic who determined that there was a misfire in cylinder #1, and that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The spark plugs were replaced, but additional repairs were needed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the spark plugs, and piston rings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and determined that there was no warranty coverage for the failure, and no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.

The van shifts very odd when going forward. It doesn’t shift smooth from 2-3 gear and it’s not just our van my parents have the exact same year and model and it does it in theirs as well! I have read many complaints online about this but I don’t know if it’s the motor or the transmission but something is wrong with it. Being that we have literally 2 of the same year and model vans I can’t see where this is a one off deal. I think there has to be something to it.

After driving a few miles under normal conditions we parked our minivan in our parking spot behind our house. While getting out of the minivan there was an odor and a tiny bit of smoke from the engine compartment. After waiting a couple minutes the smoke seemed to go away. We left the minivan parked and about 10-20 minutes later it started on fire and we received a call from our neighbors that the fire department had been called and they were putting out the fire. I am uploading a picture of the burnt minivan and the last service record for a regular oil change on 12/29/2018.

Tl the contact owned a 2015 Honda Odyssey. While pulling in the garage, the vehicle caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact had no recollection of a police report being filed. There were no injuries. The fire department stated that the firewall was the cause of the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

The vehicle makes hard shifts in lower gears, causing a lack of acceleration and then a lurch with engine/transmission clunk. Occurs when accelerating from a slowed or stopped position, so vehicle can be stationary or in motion when this occurs. Has happened before but dealership could not replicate. Similar complaints with lack of resolution found in online forums as well. Presents a significant safety concern since acceleration is altered and shifting is slowed. Has occured on residential roads and highway and at varying outdoor temperatures.

My Honda Odyssey was experiencing a bucking sensation that occurred periodically but stopped after being restarted. Brought vehicle to dealer, who didn't find actual problem but during an evaluation of the vehicle detected a weakened engine mount and leaking spool valve, both of which could have lead to a loss of the engine if condition persisted. Both needed replacement at high cost, and to demonstrate that this was not a singular event was seen in another customer's Odyssey that afternoon. Considering so-called reliability of Honda, there's no reason for engine mount to have issues and there was a hint that there is an ongoing problem with the spool valve. This is something that could have lead to serious issues. However the original problem involving the 'slipping of the transmission' still persists and represents another potential safety issue with this van. The 'slipping issue' occurs when accelerating or decelerating around 20 mph or when achieving highway speeds off ramp. It does stop after the vehicle is turned off and then turned on again. Some of these issues may be more common than Honda is letting on.

Fire started in engine compartment and engulfed front end of vehicle within 10 mins. Vehicle had just been parked in driveway of home after being driven for approximately 1 hour. My wife noticed the smell of smoke upon exiting vehicle and when I opened the hood there were flames visible at the back of the engine.

2015 Odyssey vehicle's jerking experience started during a stop and go traffic. With three kids and two adults, we were extremely frightened. The vehicle jerked violently when I pushed the gas pedal during the low speed, 5-20 mph. I went away later that day and we went about our business. After we go back to our home, went to the local Honda dealer after making an appointment. Of course, we were not able to replicate the violent jerk experience. They said until they see it, there's nothing they can do. It was initially around 30k miles when this started now over. It has not happened in a few months but Honda is not taking this seriously.

The contact owns a 2015 Honda Odyssey. While driving approximately 32 mph and approaching a red light, the motor stopped and all the electrical functions seized. The contact maneuvered the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was turned off, restarted, and returned to normal. The failure recurred once. The contact scheduled a repair appointment with the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 12,176.

When I pulled up to a parking spot and took my foot off the gas peddle and placed it on the break the engine started to accelerate and engine rpm's climbed about 1000 rpm's. The car's transmission was still in drive (d). I had to force the transmission into park (p) and push the start/stop button to shut the engine off. This incident almost caused me to rear end a parked car.

The contact owns a 2015 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the front of the vehicle around the engine compartment and wheels began to vibrate. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who stated that the vehicle functioned as intended. The vehicle was then taken to another dealer who acknowledged the vibration but was unable to diagnose or repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 700.