2007 Honda Odyssey Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a soft, low or slow-to-respond brake pedal, frequently persisting after pads, rotors and fluid service. Power sliding door failures and power steering assist and leak complaints are also common, with doors sometimes coming off their tracks and steering effort rising at low speeds. Many reports arrive at higher mileages, and the vehicle-specific recalls for the VSA system, master cylinder and fuel pump strainer cover come up repeatedly in the complaints.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Soft, low or slow-responding brake pedal

   • 216 complaints (26%)
   • median 34,000 mi at 3.7 yrs old (173 state mileage)
   • 22 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,250 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2026

   Owners describe a brake pedal that feels soft or spongy and travels close to the floor, with stopping distance longer than expected, especially at highway speed or when exiting a freeway. Several report pads, rotors and fluid flushes with only brief improvement, and some say the dealer found the vehicle operating as normal or pointed to the master cylinder and brake fluid. A few link the behavior to the VSA system and the related recall campaigns. Reported from very low mileage up to about 250,000 miles; many complaints fall between roughly 35,000 and 120,000 miles.

   Recall 10V504000Recall 10V0980001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive the van and press the pedal firmly at low and highway speed; ask for brake fluid service records and whether recalls 10V504000 and 10V098000 were completed on this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving and all of a sudden the brakes just lost power and I had to press the brake very firmly to feel any actual braking happen. The rotors and pads were replaced about 200 miles ago and the entire brake system flushed due to previous issue of a very spongy or soft brake pedal. The vehicle's brake failure started at the end of a 50 mile commute at as I got off the freeway and approached a red light it took twice-three times the normal distance to stop going about 40 MPH.”

   NHTSA complaint #11003932, filed 2017-07, 99,980 miles

   “Takata recall my van has long braking response since I bought it, I've changed all rotors and pads, bled the system, and the brake is still soft, I check online, and there are a lot of people having the same problem”

   NHTSA complaint #11057106, filed 2017-12, 137,000 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Power sliding door falls off track or drops

   • 40 complaints (5%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 8.6 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2023

   Owners report that a power sliding door stops opening fully, will not close, or drops off its rollers and falls, sometimes landing on people nearby. The door is often described as opening under electric power and then falling when opened or closed, with the track bent and body panels scratched as a result. Complaints describe turning off the power door function and trying to move the door by hand before it came off. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 200,000 miles, often during everyday loading and unloading in parking lots or driveways.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Open and close both sliding doors fully several times, watch for uneven travel or a door that sags, and ask whether the door rollers or control unit have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was in my driveway parked when my passenger side back sliding door wouldn't close so I turned off the electric for the sliding doors and tried to close it manually and it wouldn't budge then it just feel off track clearly there have been numerous reports on this and nothing has been done what would happen if I was driving down the road and this happened. Something needs to be done and better parts need to be made.”

   NHTSA complaint #11398988, filed 2021-03, 265,000 miles

   “The sliding door completely fell off. This was unprovoked. I opened it and it didn't open all the way. I then attempted to close it and it was stuck so I turned off the electric part. Now that it was manual I attempted to close it and it fell off complete!”

   NHTSA complaint #10705494, filed 2015-04, 100,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Unexpected braking or VSA activation while driving

   • 153 complaints (18%)
   • median 48,849 mi at 6.2 yrs old (125 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,500 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2026

   Owners describe the brakes applying by themselves at speed, sometimes with a VSA or exclamation warning light, briefly slowing the van before releasing, and a few report the VSA light coming on with temporary loss of power or cruise control. Others describe sudden acceleration at very low speed, such as pulling into a parking space. Some complaints note that a dealer applied the VSA software recall and the behavior later recurred, and one describes deceleration on its own shortly after the recall repair. Reported from about 2,000 to 230,000 miles, on both city streets and highways.

   Recall 13V500000Recall 10V0980002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the VSA software recall 13V500000 was applied to this VIN, and watch for a VSA or exclamation lamp during the test drive; note any unusual braking or pedal feel.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving our 2007 Honda Odyssey (42,000 miles) the brakes automatically activated. On october 24, 2010, my husband and I had just taken off on the highway, and had reached approximately 45-50 MPH. All of a sudden I thought he had slammed on brakes in the middle of the highway. He said they did it on their own. We drove another 1/2 mile to a gas station and it happened two more times. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10362177, filed 2010-10, 42,000 miles

   “The vsa warning light keeps coming on along with an exclamation sign. It prevents acceleration and causes temporary loss of power while driving. Also, prevents use of cruise control. It temporarily resets when engine is turned off but then turns on again while driving. This occurs while vehicle is in motion on city streets as well as highways.”

   NHTSA complaint #11373585, filed 2020-11, 230,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Power steering assist loss and leaks

   • 88 complaints (11%)
   • median 59,791 mi at 5.3 yrs old (78 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2025

   Owners describe the steering wheel becoming hard to turn at low speeds, particularly in parking lots, during three-point turns, or when turning quickly, along with humming or whining from the power steering. Some were told the system was losing assist or leaking fluid, and one reported that a fluid flush quieted the noise but did not restore assist. Others describe the van pulling or drifting to one side despite alignment and tire rotation attempts. Reported from around 50,000 to 170,000 miles, most often at low-speed maneuvering and parking.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive, turn the wheel lock to lock at parking speed and listen for whine; check the power steering fluid level and look for leaks or seepage around the rack and pump.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2007 Odyssey was diagnosed as having a power steering leak. This was funny because my 2004 accord was also diagnosed with the same issue. Multiple mechanics suggested that perhaps there was an issue with power steering machinery in hondas from those years. In fact, there were recalls for both 2004 accords and 2007 odysseys but our vehicle VIN numbers did not fall under those recalls. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11308745, filed 2020-02, 170,000 miles

   “2007 Honda Odyssey ex power steering loss at low speeds (less than 10mph) especially when pulling in/out of a parking spot or doing a 3-point turn. Also humming can be heard when steering at low speeds but it went away after I took the van to the dealership for the 60,000 mile scheduled maintenance service. I guess when they flushed the steering fluid and replaced it with new one it fixed the humming problem, but not the loss of power. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10411571, filed 2011-07, 77,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder and delayed engagement

   • 68 complaints (8%)
   • median 53,000 mi at 3.6 yrs old (61 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2025

   Owners report a shudder or judder felt while holding steady speed between roughly 20 and 45 mph, often attributed by mechanics to the torque converter lock-up clutch, with some repair advice pointing to converter replacement. Others describe a delayed or harsh engagement when shifting from neutral to drive, and a few mention transmission fluid leaks found during service. Complaints also mention stalling or unstable speed control in related situations. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 130,000 miles, with shudder most noticeable at light, steady throttle.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at a steady 25-45 mph and feel for vibration or shudder; ask whether the transmission software updates described in Honda bulletins were applied and whether fluid services were done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2007 Honda Odyssey that has a transmission shudder. Had 2 manufacture software updates done and the recommend replacement of the torque converter. Very unstable at maintaining speed at 25-45 MPH and at highway cruising speeds. Wet roads and rainy conditions make the problems vary dangerous in trying to keep road traction and control of vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10301750, filed 2010-01, 53,956 miles

   “The contact owns a 2007 Honda Odyssey. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled when the brake pedal was depressed. All of the lights on the instrument panel illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,640.”

   NHTSA complaint #10683165, filed 2015-02, 130,640 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic check the brake pedal feel and fluid system, the sliding door tracks and rollers, and the power steering for leaks before buying, and confirm which of the open recalls for this year were completed for the specific VIN. Service records showing transmission software updates and fluid changes are worth asking about.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.