Automatic Emergency Braking problems of the 2023 Honda Odyssey

I reported issues regarding egress failure and children stuck within the back seat of the van, electronic dashboard failing while driving, and no start issues amongst others (11709419). Previously the certified dealer stated the issues just could not be reproduced, despite my videos, however, today they stated a Honda admin level director showed and told them the issues are being reported by others, they dont know how to fix it, and I need to come get my car, continue driving it.

My 2023 Honda Odyssey elite has recurring, intermittent safety-related malfunctions across multiple systems. The most serious issues are: (1) door lock/unlock and rear door opening failures preventing emergency egress (children trapped), (2) intermittent “no-start/no-response” where push-button start does nothing (no click/no crank and sometimes no lights/electrical response), and (3) intermittent dashboard/instrument/electrical abnormalities while driving. I also previously experienced dangerous driver-assist behavior including unintended automatic braking and lane/steering behavior in construction zones. Door/egress: rear doors sometimes will not open from inside or outside even when the vehicle audibly indicates it unlocked. I have video of my children unable to exit the back seat. This is an emergency egress hazard. No-start/no-response: multiple events where the vehicle appears electrically dead and will not start, then after waiting ~10–30 minutes it starts without a jump. Stranding hazard. Recent examples: 12/31/2025 – doors would not open initially; after entry, no lights/electrical and start button produced zero response; after ~10–20 minutes it started. 01/05/2026 – while driving, dashboard/instrument display went off; buzzing noise believed hvac related occurred. 01/05/2026 – after parking at costco, vehicle again would not start (zero response); after ~30 minutes it started. 01/06/2026 – locking/unlocking malfunction again; rear doors would not open despite audible unlock (video). Repair history: authorized Honda dealer (bell road Honda) previously stated “cannot reproduce,” replaced dvd/recall items and performed a “reset,” but did not diagnose root cause; problems returned worse. Honda customer service case opened. Injuries: prior unintended automatic braking event (reported around 08/29/2023) caused injury (my legs hit dash; child had marks from car seat) and near rear-end collisions. Request: investigate potential safety defects.

This is regarding the collision mitigation braking system (cmbs) I will be driving on side streets around town (driving kids to school and daycare) and there will be no vehicle/obstacle near me/ in front of me and my van will flash on the dashboard "brake" and then it slams on the brake. This has happened at least 5-6 times as of todays date 5/20/25. There is no warning or reason for the car to brake like this. I have brought this to the Honda dealer two times now once I realized how serious this was. I was informed that since it isn't throwing a code there is nothing they can do. This is a serious safety risk not only to myself but to my children- this is a van so most people who drive this have small children. The last two incidents I was inches from being rear ended with my children in the car. The time before that I had my family from out of town in my car, that could have been eight people seriously injured or killed for no reason.

Radar structed ,blind spot off,brake system light on.

With low reproducibility rate, the vehicle may activate alarms or emergency breaking in response to wide open lane with no obstructions. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? automatic emergency breaking / radar how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? unexpected change of behavior has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? no has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? no were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no except during the event.

The present complaint alleges as follows: 1. Honda has a defective design in the advanced driver assistance systems (adas) of all Honda Odysseys, models 2018-2023. 2. Namely, Honda has placed the radar behind the large Honda emblem on the front grille. This causes the radar to give a "radar obstructed" warning, which disables all advanced driver assistance systems in the car (automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning). 3. The "radar obstructed" warning cannot be reset by restarting the vehicle or disconnecting the battery, requiring recalibration of the radar at the cost of $800 each time since it takes several hours to do (per dealership). 4. The official Honda Odyssey forum online has countless complaints on the same issue without resolution by Honda. 5. Honda has acted in bad-faith towards their customers since this defect impacts the vehicle's advanced safety features for which buyers incur additional expenses, endangering the lives of passengers. 6. Honda has acted in bad-faith towards their customers by designing a system that requires continuous and substantial expenditures without resolution because it is an engineering problem, I. E. , the placement of the radar behind the large, thick plastic h emblem obstructs the radar. 7. I hereby ask that the NHTSA investigate this issue and order Honda to offer a solution in the form of a recall that permanently addresses the problem.

I was driving on the freeway at approx 65mph with no cars around me when the orange light that said brake came on and the car slowed down on its own. Could not override problem for a few seconds.

Forward collision warning in conjunction with emergency braking have major safety issues that need to be addressed. 1st occurance: driving through a construction zone through cones for lane realignment, van suddenly applied brakes in heavy traffic despite no obstacles in vans path. Vehicle quickly recovered. 2nd occurance: driving on a dark street, van heavily applied brakes despite no obstacles. The braking occurred rapidly and van nearly came to a stop. Attempted to press harder on gas to override system with zero results. Had I been on a busier street, it would have resulted in a vehicle crash. This is a major safety issues that needs to be addressed by Honda with a recall.

The automatic emergency braking system will apply the brakes and try to slow or stop the car when there is nothing in front of the vehicle. This could cause a car following to hit my vehicle because they would not expect my vehicle to suddenly slow or stop. The service center at my Honda dealership was told of the issue and said this was normal. They did not think the system needed to be looked at. The vehicle does not have any warning lights or messages. When the brake is applied my the vehicle the dash indicates that the brake has been applied.

Driving with nothing in lane in front of vehicle brakes are applied. This has occurred several times.

I wish to express my deep concern regarding the ongoing safety issues with the car I purchased in December 2022. Since April of the following year, I have repeatedly experienced heightened noise and vibration originating from the rear wheels. Despite numerous visits to the Honda 385 dealership and their assurance that they have documented and forwarded the concerns to Honda representatives for review, resolution has remained elusive. Regrettably, after an extended period of waiting, I was informed on February 26th, 2024, that the issue has been declined. This decision is profoundly troubling, particularly considering the potential safety implications. It is evident that a new car exhibiting such significant damage to the wheels, accompanied by pronounced noise and vibration, poses a serious safety hazard, especially during highway driving conditions. The persistent nature of these issues underscores the urgency of addressing them promptly and comprehensively. As a conscientious consumer, I cannot in good faith continue to operate a vehicle that may compromise the safety of myself, passengers, and other road users. I implore Honda and the dealership to prioritize the resolution of this matter with the utmost urgency, ensuring that the vehicle is restored to a safe and reliable condition. Furthermore, I urge for a thorough reevaluation of the safety concerns raised, recognizing the paramount importance of ensuring the integrity and reliability of the vehicles entrusted to consumers. It is my sincere hope that swift action will be taken to rectify these safety issues and restore confidence in the vehicle's performance and reliability.