general problems of the 2018 Honda Odyssey - part 2

151 problems related to power train have been reported for the 2018 Honda Odyssey. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2018 Honda Odyssey based on all problems reported for the 2018 Odyssey.

36 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 10/21/2024

Issue-1 high pressure fuel pump in the engine bay (no the fuel pump that was recalled for some vins) failed at 88000 miles. There was a loud motorcycle exhaust kind of sound coming from the engine bay , which is more audible from inside the cabin than from the engine bay itself. Took it to service center for a 1500$ replacement. Wrote to Honda customer care , but they rejected by claim and goodwill refund saying there is not recall for this item. It is example of poor quality of Honda these days especially with this 2018 nine speed model. Issue-2 major safety issue. The vehicle doesn't accelerate while moving from a complete stop or turning into a busy intersection , making us prone to big collison from oncoming traffic. The vehicle lags for 3-5 seconds before it accelerate rapidly. This is an ongoing issue with this model which Honda ignores and is a disaster waiting to happen. Nhtsa should look into this and recall all Honda 2018 9 speeed Odysseys to fix this issue. It is been 6 years and Honda comfortably ignoring this safety hazard especially for a vehicle meant for kids.

37 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 10/09/2024

When trying to accelerate from a stop either in an intersection or from a driveway the vehicle takes a long moment before it responds. . . Leaving my family vulnerable to cars coming from the opposite direction. I think it's the transmission but it could have to do with the fuel intake. . . It has been ongoing for months and months. The dealer has attempted to rectify but to not avail. . . . Very dangerous.

38 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 09/25/2024

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly shifted to park(p), and the vehicle shut off while approaching a traffic light. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure recurred while driving and exiting a parking lot. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The mechanic related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 23v751000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

39 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 09/22/2024

Transmission hesitation when turning from stop. Scary when traffic is coming. Not safe and seems to be a common, known issue. . Read more...

40 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 09/09/2024

We started hearing a metal knocking type noise on start-up and acceleration. We took it to a mechanic who diagnosed it as a rod-bearing problem. Then we took it to the Honda dealership thinking it was related to recall 23v751000 which also deals with 2018 Honda Odysseys, but for some reason our VIN was not included in that recall even though our problem sounds exactly like what is mentioned in the recall. The dealership said we are 6 months out of warranty and would therefore need a new engine. I used one costs $9,000 and a new one would be $22,000.

41 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 09/01/2024

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the message "engine management system failure" was displayed on the instrument panel. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, with an abnormal clicking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that there was a failure with the engine and the transmission. The dealer was then notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN related to the engine or the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

42 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 08/27/2024

Forward collision warning comes up on vehicle. There is a problem with the transmission. The car automatically shifts itself from d to s.

43 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 08/13/2024

I bought new and have 59,000 miles on the car. During the past year or two, when I get to a stop sign and about to cross or turn into a busy road (that has no traffic signs for the cars traveling on that road), the car hesitates when I step on the gas pedal, then after a second or two, the car lurches forward (abruptly) while screeching the tires. My analysis is that there is something about making several complete stops in short succession (as a driver would do in an attempt to inch into a busy intersection of fast moving traffic in order to get a better view and position the car for a smoother merge) which triggers the car to stall for a second or two. I say this because it does not happen at any other types of intersections. The danger here is that a second or two is crucial in avoiding a crash when you are trying to merge into a gap in traffic. Then after hesitation, the car lunging forward in an uncontrolled manner can cause an inexperienced driver to loose control of the vehicle during a turn. There are many similar complaints filed with NHTSA and posted on online owner forums. Many owners have reported to Honda, but Honda’s response is that this is how the car is supposed to drive. Nhtsa, where are you? we need help on this.

44 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 08/04/2024

At critical accelerating situations (turning, merging, passing. . . ) the minivan will hesitate, and no power is delivered to the wheels. As a result, the car does not perform as intended and can cause an accident when turning, merging, or attempting to pass. The only resolution is to remove any pressure from the accelerator and allow the car 1-2 seconds to recover, then you can usually accelerate slowly. Sometimes this has happened multiple times in the same accelerating event. This happens on 2018-2019 Honda Odysseys with 3. 5l v6 with zf 9hp transmissions. This has happened multiple times and Honda has failed to correct this issue. This is a known issue and has been part of a class action lawsuit. The most recent incident occured yesterday and the vehicle automatically shifted into neutral and would no long drive.

45 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 07/25/2024

While driving, the transmission will go into limp mode and will not drive over 40 mph. Comes on and off intermittently. Will not show error code. Was almost rear ended by semi trailer when happened.

46 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 06/10/2024

On the week of may 3rd my car began to shift into different gears with no notice or reason while driving, when it would do this it would show a warning signal on the dash that stated"transmission issue!" and the gear letter would flash on the dash. I brought the car in to the dealership it was purchased from (ira Honda saco, me) as the car was shifting into reverse and park while driving causing significant safety issues for myself and my children in the car. When I arrived I was told there was issue with loaners although the service employee was great in helping me find one eventually that day as I'm a solo parent with multiple children. However, when I brought the car I said there was a recall on the transmission for this exact issue. I was told my make model and year matched but not the VIN so it couldn't be the transmission recall/issue. Then I was told the issue was the fuel injectors but that they were not covered by any warranty so I'd need to pay out of pocket. Then I was told it was partially covered and I ended up paying out of pocket for the remainder and was told the car was all set no more issues, it's fixed, completely safe to drive. Now barely 4 weeks later on 6/1024 while driving on the highway the car slams into park with the same exact warning flashing on the dash. The car behind me nearly rear ended me and my seatbelt engaged as I was going 65mph and came to a complete halt, causing bruising to my chest and collar bone. I immediately brought it back to the dealership and they suddenly say it's the transmission (like I said last month) but that it's not under warranty and is $6300 to repair that Honda can't guarantee they can cover with a claim and they also don't have a loaner or any vehicle I can use to safely transport myself or my children. Yet the only reason I am at the dealership with a car that has now twice nearly caused severe injury events or death is due to the dealership's misdiagnosis of the issue and the guarantee the car was fixed.

47 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 04/13/2024

On April 13th, 2024 our son was driving the family 2018 Honda Odyssey (approx 83,000 miles) in a nearby city. He was driving at 43 mph when the vehicle shifted from drive to neutral without his shifting it. He tried to brake using the brake pedal but was unable to stop or slow the vehicle. He also tried to accelerate and was unable to accelerate the vehicle. All the lights on the dashboard lit up and he was forced to use the emergency brake to stop the minivan. A good samaritan stopped and assuming that the battery was the problem, tried to help jump-start the vehicle -- but they were unable to start the car. Our son called us, and I drove 20 or so miles to his location. After trying a jump box in the vehicle, we called aaa. After trying a jump start and a new battery, at this point the technician said that the vehicle would need to be towed. The transmission of the minivan appeared to be locked and the towing company was not able to find a means to unlock the transmission. As a result, the front tires were placed on skids, which allowed the minivan to be drawn up onto the bed of the tow vehicle and towed the vehicle 20 miles to the local dealer, which had originally sold us the vehicle and had completed all recent maintenance. On Monday, the Honda service technician assessed it. We were advised that the 2018 Odyssey would require a new engine. After involving american Honda, we learned that the transmission was also affected, and the car would need to have $28,000 of repairs. After a month of discussions with american Honda, they closed our case without a teardown to identify root cause of the event. Our son could easily have been killed by being in a vehicle that could not be controlled while it was moving down the street. He used the only means available to him to stop the vehicle – the emergency parking brake. American Honda has told us that we must pay the $1600 to tear the engine apart to learn the cause. We have more history than can fit here.

48 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 03/13/2024

My van driving on the highway and pop up two error cods at the same time, one is transmission system problem and the other is blind spot info system problem. Check it out with code p0741. And this incident happened 7 times in the past 6 months.

49 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 02/27/2024

At around 25 miles per hour the vehicle has a transmission issue where the vehicle seems to hesitate, then downshift causing the vehicle to lurch forward. This happens regularly and started sometime before I acquired the vehicle with 48k miles. Honda dealer had no fix to the problem.

50 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 02/22/2024

The transmission has been acting weird - not shifting appropriately and jerking when shifting for about 2500 miles previous to this. The car has had routine maintenance and all recall work completed at dealership. At 86000 the transmission needs to be replaced. In addition, when it would get really wet or go through a car wash the transmission wouldn't function properly and not go into reverse at all.

51 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 02/21/2024

The 2018 Honda Odyssey with 59,000 miles downshifts on its own when we are driving. This has happened about half a dozen times. It is disconcerting because the vehicle slows down. No one has hit us from behind. The Odyssey was at the dealer for a transmission fluid change recently. A multipoint inspection was done with no mention of the transmission or any other problems. There have been no warning lamps, messages, etc. Displayed on the instrument panel. There are no service bulletins or recalls at this time.

52 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 02/19/2024

It was the gear shift, changing from drivre mode to neutral, or from drive mode to completely shut off while I was driving on the the freeway and had to slow down because the vehicles in front of me were slowing down too, because of traffic conditions, the car problem has been confirmed by the manufacturer, there's even a law suit in process here in California for this matter. The car is right now in the dealership for repair, there was no light on in the dashboard warning. This started like to weeks ago, first time just went from driving mode to neutral. Second time shut off and turn on again, third time yesterday, from driving mode changed to neutral and finally completely shut down. I feel unsafe for my wife driving this car and forthe kids .

53 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 02/03/2024

The transmission is unreliable. You push the gas and it hesitates to accelerate or switch to the next gear to speed up. It can shake or rattle the car. Has a trouble at low speeds or shifting to the next gear to increase speed. This makes it dangerous to try to pull out into an intersection because the transmission or gear shifting doesn't always hit and you can get hit or injured. This transmission has been weird since the car was new.

54 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 01/26/2024

Our tailgate is having an issue that triggered a safety issue with my wife driving on a highway then 3 lights popped up and car entered a limp mode. Transmission issue, emissions issue, tailgate issue since then car is behaving normally but the tailgate latch is opening when we start the van and not working from fob (unlock) or exterior tailgate button. I have read other owners having an issue where the tailgate control module is getting submerged by water causing the unit to short and cause these issues. A car entering limp mode on the highway poses a threat to our family and others, I hope to see a solution in the near future.

55 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 01/04/2024

Engine developed a tapping noise. Took it to the dealer and they diagnosed bad bearings that would have seized the engine very soon. Looks like a manufacturing defect of the crankshaft.

56 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 01/04/2024

The vehicle often hesitates to accelerate when pressing the fuel peddle. This mostly happens when backing out of a driveway and placing the gear into drive but also has happened after coming to a full stop and then pulling out. The hesitation lasts about 1-3 seconds and could lead to a collision if I decide to pull out in front of oncoming traffic and anticipate the car to accelerate rather fast. Often, during the hesitation the instinct is to press the gas pedal harder, in which case, when the vehicle does accelerate it will spin the tires, making forward progress even more frustration and dangerous. This happens with both drivers in the family, it is not isolated to just once person's style of driving. This becomes a safety issue if you expect to merge into traffic and the vehicle does not respond. We have adjusted our driving habits in this car to assume it will not accelerate when from a full stop. We have not had a shop verify the condition. No warning lights or messages appear. The car is not in eco mode. Doing a google search for the condition, it does not appear to isolated event.

57 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 11/28/2023

See attached document for complaint.

58 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 10/11/2023

At approximately 70,000 miles, vehicle transmission failed after intermittently falling to go into reverse and transmission warning system shifting vehicle down while driving. Rebuild parts not available from manufacturer, replaced transmission with used part. Immediately after putting car back into service, engine began to knock severely. Dealer recommended full engine replacement. Car currently not drivable and has been parked for past 13 months.

59 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 10/10/2023

My 2018 Honda Odyssey doesn't have any current vehicle recalls but it's is experiencing the engine stall while driving, the power sliding floors not locking properly and the power trunk making a grinding noise when it opens and closes. I had the vehicle inspected at the local Honda dealership and they told me there was nothing they could do about the vehicle stalling, the power doors not closing and the trunk grinding. From releasing the brake and pressing the gas, the vehicle will stall and then spin the tires as if I'm racing or burning rubber.

60 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 10/09/2023

Here is what happened: 1). After the car driving for 10mins and engine warms up, stop the car, and turn off. 2). Turn on the car again, it shows message such as "emissions system problem", "transmission problem", "blind spot info system problem" at the same time. The computer locks the car that doesn't allow the transmission to change from "p" to "r", "n", or "d" position. The car fails to drive. 3). Leave the car for few hours and let the engine compartment cool down first, turn on the car again and those messages go away, and the car can drive. 4). After driving for a while, it repeats the problem from 1) ~ 3).

61 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 09/23/2023

I was driving and all of the sudden the vehicle slowly started losing power. A bunch of lights popped up on the dash and it turns out it was the camshaft and the sensor. The camshaft had been rubbing on the sensor for quite some time causing the engine to malfunction.

62 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 09/20/2023

Honda odyssy 2018- while slowing down and then trying to accelerate does not accelerate and stalls in the lane and requires pumping of accelerator pedal before gear is changed. Some time when this happens you can heard grinding noise of gear change. Last time it happened it showed 'transmission system problem' and 'blind spot info system problem' on screen. This is after dealer has looked at the problem and I was told it happened when tech test drove also. Dealer had updated software but it did not fix the issue. This is a safety concern, as if you can not accelerate to maintain the speed of other cars in your lane, cars behind you can get into accident.

63 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 09/08/2023

When driving the vehicle on September 8, 2023 lkas (lane keeping assist problem), collision mitigation system problem, road departure mitigation system problem, blind spot info system problem, auto high beam problem and acc (adaptive cruise control problem) came on. Pulled over and restarted the car and all warning lights remain. Transmission system problem error is now appearing with the letters blinking on the display. Turn the car off and back on until transmission problem error goes away. Vehicle going in for diagnostics early October.

64 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 08/23/2023

This vehicle has had numerous electrical issues, culminating in the need for three batteries in a six year. Period. From day one there were electrical issues with the auto stop start and the car in one occasion the battery completely died. Honda was unable to identify the issue and electrical issues. Continue to happen. In the last 18 months I’ve had numerous occasions where this auto stop start would engage at a stoplight stop sign in the middle of busy traffic, but would not start back up. I took it in for service and they cannot re-create or identify the issue. This is very scary when it happens as I have been on start and go traffic on the interstate on busy intersections and the car will not move nor can it be restarted for 5 to 10 minutes. Honda offers no solution to this dangerous problem. After months of not being able to fix this. Identify a problem the car no longer moves into reverse consistently Honda recommends new transmission. After becoming frustrated with Honda and feeling unsafe with my family in this vehicle, I had to trade it in for a new vehicle as no solutions were offered to make me feel safe driving it or to get it repaired effectively or identify why it keeps needing new batteries and has electrical dysfunction since purchase.

65 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 08/10/2023

The transmission in my 2018 Honda Odyssey clunks and shutters and jerks forward when accelerating and jerks slow down when decelerating. Stop and go traffic I either can barely accelerate or rapidly accelerate after upshidting and almost hit the car in front of me. The transmission shudders and clunks and jerks.

66 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 08/01/2023

I scheduled a transmission flush service. After driving I noticed a jerking motion at about 25mph. Took back to Honda and they charged me again to do another flush. Issue still persists. Service advisor said may be the transmission. Researching on line seems many have had problems with this transmission model. I knew another flush was not going to fix the issue but dealership was able to make an additional $283.

67 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 07/19/2023

The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration, or the mil comes on with dtc p0756. The vehicle would be unable to shift into reverse thus causing potential traffic issues by stalling on the road. The shift would not engage in reverse, appears to be stuck in neutral and slowly slides.

68 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 07/15/2023

Numerous times, this 2018 Honda Odyssey would shift into neutral when trying to downshift at highway speeds after a long trip. The push button gear indicator would state the vehicle would be in "d" drive, but the vehicle would actually be in neutral. The only remedy would be to apply the brakes to allow something to reset, and the transmission would then engage as normal. This is very unsafe as one time this happened to me while I was ascending a steep bridge with my entire family in the vehicle. This happened multiple times in the 2 1/2 years with this van, and each time the Honda dealer replied that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. Another issue with the transmission was during really hot weather. The vehicle was parked in a parking lot on a 100+ degree day. Upon entering the vehicle, the dash flashed the warning signs "transmission error, pull over immediately when safe". "transmission error, please apply the parking brake". The vehicle was taken directly to the Honda dealership with errors listed, and the Honda dealer indicated that nothing was wrong with the vehicle. The codes were reset and the vehicle was given back to me. A month later, the transmission went into neutral again during a trip at highway speeds. Being that I could no longer trust the vehicle with my family's safety, I was forced to get a new vehicle as Honda did not want to acknowledge the issue.

69 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 06/28/2023

Recently started to experience this issue. I have 41,000miles on this 2018 Honda Odyssey. It jerks & delayed acceleration/hesitation upon acceleration while driving between 20?35mph on local roads. It happens mostly with slowing down in traffic or upon stopping at stop sign & accelerating again. I am not experiencing this issue with freeway driving. I went to the dealership where I bought the car from. They asked me for $280 to just diagnose the problem, but I refuse to pay for just to diagnose. Currently, I am trying to research out my own. As the dealership has no clue about the issue. Please provide me with any related complaints & resolution for this problem.

70 Power Train problem

Failure Date: 06/23/2023

I am having an identical issues as described in NHTSA id number 11526094. Vehicle hesitates when accelerating from a stop. Have been almost hit a couple times as it is unpredictable when this happens. This is a dangerous behavior and I cannot in clear conscience sell this minivan to another family. I have returned it to the dealer multiple times and they were eventually able to reproduce the problem and captured the behavior on diagnostic equipment. Their finding is that when the accelerator is slightly pressed, and then release (like one might do when entering an intersection to make a left hand turn) the transmission jumps to 5th gear. When the accelerator is pressed to complete the left turn, the transmission spends several seconds shifting from 4th to 3rd to 2nd before finally accelerating. This delay opens up the opportunity to get hit. The dealer concurred that this was a problem but then contacted Honda and they said this is normal characteristic with 2018 and 2019 model Odyssey's with the 9 speed transmission. This may be a normal characteristic with this model year according to Honda but it is not acceptable behavior for any type of vehicle. It is just a matter of time before an accident will happen. It happens often and seems to be getting worse over time including irregular/rough shifts while driving. See attached documentation.



Odyssey Service Bulletins
Odyssey Safety Recalls
Odyssey Defect Investigations