NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
This page covers 13 recalls, 387 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2020 Honda Odyssey.
22 mpg combined
10.7 L/100km
Minivan - 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2020 Honda Odyssey draws the bulk of its complaints around driver-assistance features and the electrical system. The most commonly reported issues involve the forward collision avoidance and lane departure systems, owners frequently describe these warning lights and alerts activating unexpectedly, or the systems going offline entirely, sometimes alongside a cascade of other warning messages appearing at once on the dashboard. Lane departure warnings and road departure mitigation are often mentioned together in these multi-system outages. The electrical system generates the third-largest complaint volume, with owners reporting problems ranging from the auto start/stop causing stalls when pulling away from a stop, to power sliding door malfunctions where the doors fail to latch and reverse back open. A smaller number of reports describe the power tailgate failing due to corroded connectors tied to water intrusion, requiring replacement of the control unit and wiring harness.
387
Total Complaints
4
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
10
With Injuries
By System
The 2020 Honda Odyssey has 13 recalls, with the most serious involving airbags that can deploy unexpectedly, either without a crash occurring or at the wrong force during one, raising the risk of injury to front seat occupants.
Two separate recalls create fire risk: on Braun-modified vehicles, the fuel tank can overfill into the charcoal canister and leak fuel, and on unmodified models, the wiring harness for the third-row power outlet can get pinched behind the rear trim panel, short circuit, and overheat. On the safety hardware side, the front seatbelt buckle channel can interfere with the release button and prevent the buckle from latching properly, leaving occupants unrestrained in a crash. The fuel pump can also fail and stall the engine while driving. The power sliding doors carry their own concern: water can enter the outer door handle cables, freeze in cold weather, and allow the door to come open while the van is moving.
Several recalls cluster around rear visibility. The rearview camera can fail to display an image, show a distorted picture, or take until the next ignition cycle to appear, due to a combination of software faults, a faulty cable connector, and water intrusion into the camera lens. The instrument panel can also fail to show speed, gear position, and oil pressure until the vehicle is restarted. The heated side mirror glass can detach if the heating pads are not properly bonded to the mirror backing.
At a glance
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and create an electrical short, potentially causing airbags to deploy unexpectedly during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger seat weight sensor at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error in the airbag control system can cause the side and side curtain airbags to deploy without warning.
What the fix does
Dealers will update or replace the airbag control computer software at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which could prevent the front passenger air bag from deactivating when it should.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger seat weight sensors at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail, potentially stopping fuel delivery to the engine.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel pump module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A faulty connector on the MOST communication cable can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying, reducing rear visibility.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a protective cover over the cable connector at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The heating pads behind the side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, which can cause the mirror glass to detach.
What the fix does
Both left and right side-view mirrors will be replaced at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front seat belt buckle channel may interfere with the release button, preventing the buckle from latching properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or buckle assemblies as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel tank assembly may allow fuel to overflow into the charcoal canister. If the canister fills with enough fuel, it can leak out.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the vehicle. If fuel leakage is found, they'll replace the fuel tank assembly and charcoal canister at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Faulty network software can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying on the screen.
What the fix does
Honda will provide updated software. You can download it free following mailed instructions or visit a dealer for free installation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water can enter the rearview camera through mounting holes, damaging the lens and causing distorted or missing images. The camera may also fail to display when switching to or from top-down view in bright conditions.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rearview camera at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error in the instrument panel control module can prevent the dashboard from showing critical information like oil pressure, speed, and gear position until you restart the engine. It may also block the rearview camera image.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software at no cost to restore normal display function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water can enter the outer door handle cables on the sliding doors. In cold weather, this water may freeze, which can prevent the front and rear sliding doors from latching securely.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the power sliding door outer handle cables at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The wire harness for the third row seat power outlet can get pinched between the vehicle body and trim panel, damaging wires and causing an electrical short.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the wire harness for damage and replace it if needed. If undamaged, they'll apply protective tape and re-route the harness.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.