2011 Honda Odyssey Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about a low-battery warning that repeatedly appears on the dash, often with interior and dash lights switching off, typically on vans used mostly for short trips and often within the first few thousand miles. A separate group of complaints describes front brake vibration or shaking through the steering wheel when braking from highway speed, usually at fairly low mileage. Remaining reports cover engine misfire and oil issues, sliding-door latch problems, and paint peeling on the roof and tailgate.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Low battery / electrical warning with lights shutting off

   • 49 complaints (21%)
   • median 1,419 mi at 0.5 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2025

   Complaints describe a dashboard message telling the driver to turn off electrical devices, after which interior lights, dash lights, or accessories may switch off on their own; some owners also report dead batteries and no-start conditions. Several say the dealer told them the van simply needs to be driven longer or more often, or that no fault was found, and some had battery or module parts replaced with the warning returning. A few describe unusual behavior such as windows or the sunroof operating on their own, and one describes the van refusing to restart after refueling. Most reports come in under about 10,000 miles, many within the first few months of ownership, and commonly on vans used for short trips rather than long drives.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the battery sensor software update described in a service bulletin has been applied, and have the battery and charging system tested. Drive the van on a normal mixed loop and watch whether the warning reappears.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This little yellow alarm message flashes on the dashboard: battery charge low - switch off all lights and electrical devices and then it shuts everything off...overhead lights, dash lights - things like that. That light can be on and we can drive clear to tacoma before it goes off. We can have just returned home after a trip to monroe (almost 100 miles) and we will get that message and - again - it will shut everything off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10409364, filed 2011-06, 289 miles

   “The battery management system sets off an alarm (battery charge low) almost every time I drive the vehicle. This has been an ongoing issue since the vehicle was purchased new in nov 2010. This is a safety issue because the system is not designed to charge the battery properly and may cause me to be stranded with a dead battery with normal driving and usage. Honda indicates the car needs to be 'driven longer' in order to avoid the error. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10404338, filed 2011-06, 2,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Front brake vibration and shaking when braking

   • 31 complaints (13%)
   • median 28,413 mi at 2.3 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2020

   Owners describe shaking or pulsation through the steering wheel and pedal when braking from highway speeds, sometimes severe enough to make the van feel hard to control; several mention steep descents making it worse. Complaints say dealers resurfaced or replaced rotors and pads, sometimes more than once, with the vibration coming back after a few thousand miles, and some owners report being told they were braking too hard or riding the brakes. A few describe a soft or spongy pedal that went close to the floor and required master cylinder work. Often reported between roughly 14,000 and 45,000 miles, though some appear below 10,000 miles; highway-speed braking and long downhill stretches are the usual circumstances.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test-brake from highway speed on the test drive and feel for steering-wheel shake. Ask for service records showing whether rotors or pads were replaced, and have a shop check rotor condition and pedal feel.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In 2011 after we bought the vehicle we took a trip to colorado where our brakes failed, I was pushing the brakes gently down a hill and after about 1 minute the car started to shake violently, I thought I had a flat so I pulled over and checked but the tires were fine, than I realized that the disc brakes have warped making the car difficult to slow down, after we made it back home we took the car back to the dealer were they turned the brakes to smooth it out and told us it was fine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10811438, filed 2015-12, 6,000 miles

   “When using brakes to decelerate from speeds over 45 MPH, the steering wheel begins to vibrate and shake. An initial call to the dealer said that due to excessive heat and wear, the rotors may be warped and was told to bring it in to get rotors resurfaced. I asked whether this was common at about 16000 miles. Dealer told me that shouldn't be the case until around 45,000-75,000 miles. My wife drives the vehicle under normal conditions (driving kids to school, etc.) and does not break excessively or suddenly.”

   NHTSA complaint #10509680, filed 2013-04, 16,500 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Misfire, rough running and oil or spark plug issues

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe a blinking or steady check-engine light, rough running, hesitation, and loss of power during acceleration, with owners reporting misfire codes on individual cylinders and repeated spark plug, coil or battery replacements. Several mention oil leaks or a burnt-oil smell through the vents, and one describes a humming or squeaking noise that a mechanic attributed to a timing belt tensioner pulley. Some complaints reference the piston ring warranty extension on these engines. Reports spread from about 25,000 to over 110,000 miles, with most in the 50,000 to 90,000 mile range.

   7 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check for stored misfire codes and ask whether the piston ring warranty extension work or any ring, plug or coil repairs were done. Look for oil leaks and smell for burnt oil after a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Check engine (malfunction light blinking), car was struggling to accelerate, checked the check engine code from the onboard computer, the code was 302. As recommended in owners manual, tried to open and close the fuel tank lid, still the issue is there. I will be taking this to a dealer. Honda cars are suppose to be reliable.”

   NHTSA complaint #10684211, filed 2015-02, 57,000 miles

   “2011 Honda Odyssey. Consumer states problem with vehicle engine concerning oil leak and burning smell the consumer stated at approximately 6,000 he began to smell an odor of burnt oil when parked with the engine running. The smell was coming through the air vents. The consumer reported it to the dealer, where they found a loose oil filter. Within a day, the consumer smelled the burnt oil odor again. The consumer went to another dealer, where they placed uv dye in the engine to help determine the location of the leak. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10446475, filed 2012-02, 6,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Sliding door fails to latch or reopen

   • 18 complaints (8%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Owners describe power sliding doors that close and then pop back open about an inch, trigger a door-ajar chime on the dash, or fail to latch in the open position on an incline. Some report a door that keeps reopening on its own, a fractured door cable leaving rear passengers unable to use that door, or a workaround of pulling the door fuse and using it manually. Complaints say dealers could not duplicate the problem, and in some cases the van was out of the covered period. Reported from a few thousand miles up to well past 100,000 miles, often in parking or low-speed use rather than while driving.

   What to check: Open and close both sliding doors several times, including with the remote and on a slight incline, and listen for repeated chimes or a door that does not sit flush. Ask whether door latches, cables or motors have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A problem with the driver side passenger sliding door mechanism. The door will open and close when using the button or remote but will not remained latched. After the door shuts, the latch will let loose and the door will be open ajar about an inch or so causing the beeping and dash alert that the door is open. The only resolution to quiet the beeping is to remove the fuse for that door and use it manually.”

   NHTSA complaint #10959526, filed 2017-03, 83,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2011 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the driver’s side sliding door cable fractured, and the door failed to open or close as needed. The contact stated that rear seat occupants were unable to exit through the sliding door; but instead, the rear seat occupant had to exit through the front door. The passenger’s side door not closed message was displayed. There was an abnormal beeping sound detected. Additionally, the passenger’s side sliding door failed to close properly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11563611, filed 2024-01, 166,005 miles

Buying note. Check the brake rotors and pedal feel on a highway test drive, confirm the battery and charging system behave on short trips, and look over the roof and tailgate paint. Ask for service records covering brake work, battery sensor software, engine misfire repairs, and sliding door latches.

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.