general problems of the 2020 Honda Odyssey - part 1

When vehicle is completely stopped at a traffic light there have been numerous occasions in which all electrical components fail and the vehicle turns off and fails to restart. This only occurs when the auto idle start is engaged. A few times I’ve had to completely jump the vehicle. I have replaced the battery and also had the car examined at the dealership. They stated they had previously updated the system, had heard of other instances of the same issue but since it wasn’t under recall and they couldn’t replicate the issue they couldn’t do anything. This has proved to be extremely dangerous because at rest, without being able to restart when the light turns green my family and I are at risk of being severely rear ended at high speeds.

The vehicle is a 2020 Honda Odyssey. A recurring and dangerous safety failure occurs involving the auto idle-stop system. With the system enabled and the vehicle at a complete stop, the engine shuts off as designed. However, upon depressing the brake pedal to resume driving, the engine severely struggles to restart and completely fails. Simultaneously, the vehicle immediately and automatically shifts itself into park, and the entire dashboard display illuminates with all available warning icons and messages. This malfunction creates an immediate, high-risk safety hazard. When the incident occurs, I am trapped, locked in park, in live traffic lanes, sometimes at busy intersections or during left-hand turns. It is impossible to shift back into drive or quickly restart the engine. I am forced to remain stationary in traffic for multiple minutes until the system allows me to cycle the ignition completely off and then back on to attempt a full restart and shift back into drive. This leaves my vehicle, my passengers, and other drivers vulnerable to rear-end collisions.

The auto start/stop feature doesn't work as needed. It will randomly lurch, turn the car off make me put it in park and then have me restart it. Sometimes the car does not start right away and I am stuck on the road until it decided when and if it will restart. Myself and my family of 5 are not stuck in the road scared of getting smashed into by other drivers unaware that we are stopped or anticipating for us not to be stopped in the middle of the road. I really dont want my family to go to the hospital or die because of this nonsense. Sometimes it doesn't fully shut off but will give error warnings like collision mitigation assistance even though there is nothing for it to mitigate. There are no cars around me and it shouldn't have done this. This has been happening for some time and only happens haphazardly meaning I can't always have the dealer identify or diagnose the issue. Then when I brought it to the dealer, they told me it was because of a power liftgate module error. Which was not true and didn't solve the issue.

Our vehicle has stalled at stop lights several times over the past 6 years. The auto stop/start feature seems to fail. The vehicle will shut off but when you repeat the brake it will not restart and the vehicle will die completely. You have to put it in park, wait a few seconds and try and restart. Additionally it has completely died at gas station after turning it off to refuel. When you go to start the vehicle it will be completely dead, zero power. We had to have it jump started. The battery has been replaced twice and was testing normal at the dealership. Not a battery issue. Honda acts like this is unheard of but our own research indicates it is a common well known problem with new Odyssey models.

I own a 2020 Honda Odyssey with approximately 73,000 miles that has experienced recurring infotainment and electrical system failures. The vehicle has undergone two prior repairs related to the fakra connector issue, but the problem continues to occur. During the failure, the infotainment screen becomes inoperable, audio functions are affected, and the rearview backup camera becomes unavailable or unusable. The issue appears to be intermittent and is often triggered during or after rain. In addition to the infotainment failures, I have experienced key fob recognition issues requiring the key to be placed near the start button to start the vehicle. There is also static through the speakers, particularly when turning the steering wheel. The vehicle has been taken to a Honda dealership multiple times for this concern, and dealership personnel have witnessed the malfunction. Despite two previous repair attempts, the issue persists. Because the failure affects the operation of the rearview camera system, which is a critical safety feature, I am concerned about the safety of the vehicle and whether the prior repairs adequately addressed the underlying defect. I am submitting this complaint because numerous other Honda owners have reported similar recurring failures involving the infotainment system, fakra connector repairs, backup camera operation, and related electrical concerns. I request that NHTSA investigate whether there is a broader defect affecting these vehicles and whether previous repair procedures are providing a permanent remedy. The dealer recently confirmed the fault was present and advised that additional diagnosis and consultation with Honda technical support would be required to determine the cause.

The multipurpose camera unit /mil radar internal electric failure (dtc's u3000-49) caused the majority of the safety features lights to come on and eventually stalled out. This part has failed twice already.

I am filing a complaint regarding recurring electrical and infotainment failures involving my 2020 Honda Odyssey ex-l. The vehicle experiences loud static and speaker distortion, infotainment system instability, static noises when turning the steering wheel, and intermittent key fob recognition issues requiring the key to sometimes be held near the start button. The issue appears to happen more often during or after rain or moisture exposure. The dealership has already repaired/replaced the fakra connector or related infotainment connector multiple times, yet the issue continues returning. The dealership recently witnessed the malfunction themselves and acknowledged the problem is still present. I am currently waiting for further direction from Honda technical support. This appears to be a widespread issue. There are many reddit discussions and Honda owner facebook groups where owners describe identical symptoms and repeated failed repairs. Some owners report having the same fakra connector replaced as many as six times with the issue still returning afterward. The repeated failure of the same repair raises concerns that the current remedy is ineffective and that there may be a larger electrical, wiring, grounding, or moisture intrusion issue involved. Because this problem continues after multiple repair attempts, I am requesting that NHTSA investigate recurring electrical and infotainment failures in Honda Odyssey vehicles and the repeated failure of the current repair solution.

Multipurpose camera is defective- broken after only 80,000 miles. No longer functions at all. No automatic emergency braking, no forward collision warning, no lane departure warning, no lane keeping assistance, no adaptive cruise control. Dangerous now without all those computer controlled safety functions. $2400 replacement. I don’t have $2400.

My 2020 Honda Odyssey power tailgate has failed due to water intrusion through defective rear body seam sealer, a known manufacturing defect. Water leaked into the rear driver's side panel and damaged the power tailgate control module, making the rear door inoperable. I took my vehicle to the Honda dealership, who confirmed this is a factory defect related to improper seam sealing. The quoted repair cost is over $8000. Honda has declined to cover this under warranty. This defect poses a safety risk as the tailgate can open unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion. I am aware of a pending class action lawsuit involving 2018-2021 Honda Odyssey models with this same defect. No recall has been issued. I am requesting thr NHTSA investigate and compel Honda to issue a formal recall.

Vehicle suddenly starts having multiple lights and warnings come up such as road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise problem, collision mitigation, auto high beam, etc. Reading online it seems multiple people with Honda oddysey are experiencing the same issues.

I own a 2020 Honda Odyssey and I am currently having a safety issue with the power tailgate. Upon inspection by my Honda dealership, my vehicle requires a new power tailgate control unit and floor harness and my roof rail and clips need to be re-sealed and replaced. It was discovered that due to the break in seal the connectors corroded due to a water leak. In April of 2026 I received multiple warning messages on my dashboard. The first was power tailgate problem and the second was keyless remote problem. At first I noticed my car continuously beeping while driving along with the warning on my dashboard. I attempted to turn the vehicle off to see if it would reset, but it did not. I attempted to open and close my tailgate. I could only open my tailgate with the push button on my dashboard. I had to manually close my tailgate due to my buttons on my car and my key fab failing to work. Next while driving, I could hear the locking mechanism on my tailgate continuously locking and unlocking. Of course this particularly concerned me because I have 3 young children and their safety as well as mine was in danger. It was unclear if my tailgate was going to open while driving. Such an action could potentially cause a serious threat or harm to myself, my family or other vehicles on the road.

The blind spot system was a problem when I purchased the car, it spent 15 days in service in the first 30 days of ownership to address the issues. Now, I after another light came on I discovered 9 open recalls on the vehicle that were not disclosed prior to purchase.

Backup camera stopped working for no reason, says camera system failure and is a black screen. Research says this is a recall but my dealership says it is not.

Our Odyssey is equipped with idle stop. Sometimes when idle stop engages, the engine won't start again afterwards. We need to turn the car off completely, and then try again. Usually it turns on after doing so. We try to always turn off the idle stop when we start up the vehicle, but sometimes forget. This hasn't led to an accident yet, but has led to some angry vehicles when we can't move when a traffic light turns green. To be clear, this was not an isolated incident, but happens somewhat regularly if idle stop isn't turned off. Honda dealers have told us they don't have any fix, and have recommended that we could purchase a third party "idlestopper".

The power liftgate will not operate and the tailgate will not latch closed. The van was parked outside during a heavy rain, and when the vehicle was started afterward, a warning was displayed on the dash. The van has not been checked by the manufacturer. An inspection is available on request.

The same power tail gate issue as experienced by many others on models 2018-2022. Water intrusion causing the power module fail for auto operation of powerlift tail gate.

Car leaks. Cargo bay fills with water. Possible mold issues. I am told this leaking causes damage to the control module for the tailgate. Our tailgate will close on us and has almost closed on our children. We have to be very careful when the children are around the tailgate because it will begin to close without warning.

The radar is broken leaving all adas unusable in addition to no option to use cruise control.

Multiple sensors malfunctioned. Mechanic read code u3000-49 (multipurpose camera unit/millimeter wave radar internal electronic failure). There was no collision or damage of any sort that led to this malfunction. The following systems no longer work: adaptive cruise control collision mitigation system lane keeping assist road departure mitigation system blind spot info system tire pressure monitor system transmission system all of these failures started at exactly the same time. This severely compromises the ability to use this vehicle safely as these systems are all designed to prevent various safety hazards.

After being on idle on a stop light, when releasing the brake to go, warning on dash says "collision mitigation warning" when nothing hit the car and I'm there's enough distance with the car in front and behind. The severity has increased now, after being idle, when releasing the brake, it now completely shuts off, dash says "shift to park", and can't go, unless I push the ignition button. Took it 3x for the same errors on dash, Honda said the 1st time it was low battery, battery was running on low juice and didnt have power to come back from idle, they changed the battery. Now they say they need to replace the starter after few thou$and$. I see online this happening to others too. I fear the car behind me, may rear end me, because I can't go, green light is on, but I can't move as I'm re-starting the vehicle after being on idle. Honda says my VIN is not part of the bad batch. It's happening more frequently and Honda said they were able to replicate.

The vehicle unexpectedly shifts into park while driving. Each time this occurs, I have to turn off the car, use the “push to start” feature to restart it, and then shift back into drive. This issue has happened multiple times, creating a safety concern while on the road.

The power tailgate system on my Honda Odyssey failed. The dashboard displays a “power tailgate problem” warning message and the tailgate will not open automatically using the key fob, interior button, or rear handle. When attempting to open it electronically, the vehicle beeps but the tailgate does not move. The tailgate can only be opened manually. The vehicle and tailgate system are available for inspection upon request. The failure creates a safety risk because the tailgate cannot be opened electronically in situations where quick access to the rear cargo area may be needed. Additionally, if the power tailgate system fails unexpectedly, it could malfunction while opening or closing, potentially striking someone or failing during loading/unloading. The inability to rely on the automatic tailgate also creates hazards when carrying items or supervising children around the rear of the vehicle. The problem occurs consistently every time the power tailgate button is pressed. The system beeps but does not open. The issue has not yet been formally inspected by a dealer but can be easily reproduced. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives for this issue. A “power tailgate problem” warning message appeared on the dashboard when attempting to use the power tailgate. At the same time, the vehicle emits a beep but the tailgate does not move. The issue began recently and has occurred every time the power tailgate has been used since the warning first.

I stopped at a red light and then my car just stopped. It seemed the car wasn’t able to start up the engine from the idle mode. I had to restart the car at the intersection with a truck behind me and with 3 kids under the age of [xxx] on the car with me. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Tailgate control module damaged by water leaking from faulty rear body seam seals on left top of vehicle doors would lock and unlock on their own while driving and tailgate signaled it was open but never unlatched manual tailgate opening/closing did not work at all constantly beeped when unlocked and alarm went off randomly all electrical activity drained battery and made vehicle undriveable; tow was necessary first sign was "power tailgate problem" light on dash 5 days before vehicle battery was dead Honda charged for and replaced tailgate control module and recommended an outside company to repair leak issues; outside company confirmed issue and noted repairs for same issue on similar models.

Receiving acc, lane keep assist, front collision , auto high beam errors on the instrument screen. None of the safety features work. Cruise control does not work.

The sliding door will not open, either manually or automatically. This is a huge safety problem since my children cannot get in or out of the vehicle quickly in an emergency. What should I do if this happens on both doors, I will not be able to open either sliding door.

Multiple Honda sensing safety systems (collision mitigation, lane keeping, road departure, adaptive cruise, and auto high?beam) disabled suddenly on 2020 Honda Odyssey ex?l around 76,000 mi. Dealer and two independent diagnostics confirmed dtc u3000?49, internal electronic failure of the forward recognition camera. The fault disables all automatic braking and lane?keeping functions. Battery voltage and calibration verified ok; component failure is internal. Honda quoted ~$2,000 repair. This is a significant safety risk since all advertised crash?avoidance functions stop working.

Sliding doors sometimes do not close all the way and then reopen automatically. You cannot press the sliding doors to close and walk away. You have to stay to make sure they close because often times it will kick back and reopen. You have to manually help push the sliding door to close. Elite trim has no way to make the doors be able to be closed manually, if needed. Took it to Honda, they said they have never heard of doors not closing and reopening so they could not help me, but I have spoken to quite a few Honda Odyssey owners in parking lots and they all stated that the doors do sometimes not close all the way and return to being fully open. Maybe the motor for the doors isn’t strong enough and depends on vehicle tilt or the temperature outside, but for whatever reason the automatic doors are randomly not fully closing.

Upon starting the vehicle, it failed to engage in reverse. Although the backup camera activated, the vehicle remained stationary. After multiple ignition cycles, the vehicle eventually engaged in reverse and then moved forward in drive. However, shortly after, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power and entered "limp mode," restricting speed to approximately 15–20 mph regardless of throttle input. The engine revved excessively high without corresponding acceleration, and a severe burning/heat smell emanated from the transmission/engine compartment. This failure occurred without any prior warning; notably, no dashboard warning lights or "check engine" indicators illuminated to alert the driver of a mechanical or electronic fault. The sudden, un-signaled drop in speed on a public roadway created a significant safety hazard for following traffic and risked a rear-end collision. The vehicle was towed to a certified Honda dealership where the transmission control module (tcm) was diagnosed as failed. The tcm is currently being replaced under the Honda certified pre-owned (cpo) warranty. We do not know what else requires replacement and repairs. The dealership will not cover the replacement of the transmission fluid, or engine fluid, despite the fluid being subjected to extreme heat and potential damage during the failure and subsequent limp mode.

This is now the second time that we are having a rear hatch failure. With about 37,000 miles on this van, the control module shorted out due to water getting into it due to a bad seam (according to other Odyssey owners who are suing Honda for this). We could not get the hatch to open or close, so I paid the dealer to fix it. Honda did give us a check after the fact to cover some of the bill. Now, with less than 51,000 miles, it has happened again. The hatch will not open or close. In the event of an emergency, this is a major safety issue, to be potentially stuck inside the cabin. The hatch started going up and down randomly, and we could not control it. Now, it won't go up or down. This van is is a mess. Not only does it have this issues, but the rear back up camera still does not work, even though it was recalled. . . They would not honor their recall, and the brakes occasionally come on without cause, when going around a corner and there is oncoming traffic. It thinks that we are headed for a collision, and it's another safety problem here in the northeast. Honda needs to own up to their quality problems relative to these three safety issues.

The multipurpose camera module has failed, on the vehicle resulting in the simultaneous loss of several driver-assistance and safety systems while the vehicle is in operation. These systems include cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, collision mitigation, automatic high beams, and the brake system warning. Upon inspection, there appears to be overheating within the camera module. This overheating has caused visible discoloration both inside and outside the module housing. Based on these observations, I believe the condition may present a potential fire hazard. Additionally, the plastic cover mounted to the windshield becomes extremely hot to the touch, creating a risk of skin burns if it is accidentally contacted. This malfunction poses a significant safety concern for my family. If the camera fails while driving, the vehicle’s safety systems may not function as intended, increasing the risk of an accident. All of the failures chime in one after another displaying a problem with the malfunctioning components stated earlier in the text. Furthermore, if a driver is deaf or not actively monitoring the instrument panel or speedometer, they may not hear or immediately notice the warning alerts indicating that these systems are no longer functioning. The issue has been diagnosed by my local repair shop finding error code u3000-camera/radar internal failure. Repair requires replacement of the multipurpose camera module, with an estimated cost exceeding $2,000 in parts and labor, which represents a significant financial burden.

Dash has warning light showing "power tailgate problem", and power tailgate will not function. The next day there was heavy rain, and the dash had a flickering warning showing the tailgate was open. This also caused the interior lights to flicker on and off as the tailgate open warning was flickering on and off. I returned the van to my home for fear that the tailgate would open automatically while driving down the road. I had the tailgate control module replaced on February 27, 2025 for this same issue, which was due to a tailgate seal leaking water onto the tailgate control module that shorted the module. This is now the second time within less than one year this same module has shorted out. This is a known issue with a class action lawsuit already filed against Honda that should result in a recall. The potential danger of the tailgate opening while driving makes this minivan not usable to transport my kids for fear of their safety.

The auto slide door latch will not disengage. The rear passenger door cannot be opened electronically or manually.

Car would randomly die while I was driving, causing my children and I to be in severe danger in the middle of a busy road multiple times.

Honda Odyssey idle stop system failure vehicle: 2020 Honda Odyssey (elite) incident description: while driving, the vehicle's "idle stop" system engaged as I came to a complete stop at [e. G. , a traffic light, intersection, stop sign]. The engine shut off as designed, but failed to restart automatically when I released the brake pedal. This left my vehicle stalled and disabled in the middle of [e. G. , an intersection, a lane of traffic] with no forward power. I was scared as there were lots of cars behind me in the intersection. This has happened over a dozen times. Safety risk: this failure created an immediate and dangerous safety hazard. My vehicle was a risk for being rear-ended by traffic from behind, and my family was stranded in a vulnerable position. The vehicle was unable to move out of harm's way, and I had to put the vehicle in park and manually restart the engine. This is unacceptable for a system designed to work seamlessly and automatically. Additional information: this is not an isolated incident. The auto start-stop failure has occurred multiple times since March 2025. The system failure has put me and my passengers in a position of significant risk multiple times. Failed component: the vehicle's "auto idle stop" (ais) system, which failed to restart the engine after it was automatically shut off. Resolution: an immediate and permanent recall is necessary to address this dangerous defect. Existing service bulletins have not corrected the problem. I urge the NHTSA to require Honda to provide an effective, long-term solution to ensure the safety of Odyssey owners.