2013 Honda Odyssey Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe two things: spark plugs fouled by oil reaching them from the cylinders, which sets misfire codes and is linked to rough running or stalling, and front brake rotors that warp and set up a shake in the steering wheel and pedal when braking from highway speed. Engine complaints tend to appear at higher mileage, while the brake complaints show up early, often within the first 15,000 to 20,000 miles. Complaints also describe peeling paint on the roof and tailgate, second-row seats that fail to latch, and occasional electrical oddities.

1. 1
   Engine

   Oil-fouled spark plugs and misfires (piston rings)

   • 47 complaints (22%)
   • median 87,800 mi at 7.0 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,843 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe the check engine light coming on, often with the traction or VSA light, followed by rough running, shuddering, or loss of power; some report the engine stalling while driving. According to the complaints, oil reaches the spark plugs from worn piston rings, so replacing plugs alone brings only temporary relief and the misfire returns. Dealers are described as cleaning the engine and replacing plugs first, then recommending piston ring replacement; several owners say their vehicle was not covered by the piston ring warranty extension or the related recall. Reports cluster from roughly 75,000 to 175,000 miles, with a few at much lower mileage.

   Recall 13V3820008 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the piston ring repair or warranty extension work was done on this vehicle, and check the service history for repeated spark plug replacements. Pull the dipstick and look for low or dirty oil, and have a pre-purchase inspection read stored misfire codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Today I found out that my pistons were bad in my 2013 Odyssey. I had just had my points, plugs and wires changed out in late november early december. I was surprised to see that this is a common problems with the odysseys. I had taken my van to auto zone to have it diagnosed and it said code p0302 indicates that cylinder 2 had to many misfires same code that is in the extended warranty for this issue. I was told that my VIN number was not on the list to serve. Wow. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11306990, filed 2020-02, 110,000 miles

   “While driving on a two lane road in warren county, indiana, and trying to pass a farm vehicle at 55 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled and check engine light started flashing. My vehicle had enough momentum to get around the farm vehicle. Once able to stop, I shut the vehicle off. I restarted the vehicle expecting to see the check engine light, but it was not there, and vehicle ran normally. The next day I purchased an obdii code reader, and vehicle registered a p0303 code. Vehicle has approximately 166,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11350870, filed 2020-08, 166,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Front brake rotors warp, causing vibration when braking

   • 42 complaints (20%)
   • median 20,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (39 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2020

   Owners describe a shimmy or pulsing felt through the steering wheel and brake pedal when braking, most noticeable from highway speeds. Complaints state that dealers resurfaced the front rotors, sometimes more than once, and the vibration came back after a few thousand miles; several owners say they were told the brakes were working as designed or that replacement rotors were not covered. Some report that resurfacing was done under warranty at low mileage. Commonly reported between about 7,500 and 30,000 miles, often recurring after a few thousand miles.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the van and brake firmly from around 60 mph to feel for wheel or pedal shake, and ask for rotor replacement or resurfacing records. A related service bulletin describes a study of a soft or spongy brake pedal, so also check pedal feel.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle is just 1 yr old, and has a little over 12000 miles. When I drive at 50mph or high and apply brakes steering shakes seriously. The dealer said the rotors need resurfacing, and it was covered under warranty. 15 days after they did it, the same problem started again, and the dealer says it needs resurfacing again. I feel the quality of the rotors needs be checked as it is fairly new car, with a few miles on it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10593622, filed 2014-05, 12,500 miles

   “When applying the brakes under normal conditions, the vehicle begins to shake. I brought it into the Honda dealer for this issue, and they told me that the rotors are warped, the vehicle only has 16000 miles on it and it is only 8 months old.”

   NHTSA complaint #10557498, filed 2013-12, 15,000 miles
3. 3
   Other or unknown

   Hesitation or delayed response when accelerating

   • 8 complaints (4%)
   • median 29,115 mi at 3.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2024

   Owners describe a brief delay or sag in power when pulling away from a stop or rolling into a turn, with the engine sometimes dipping in rpm before recovering. Complaints say the dealer could not duplicate the condition and made no repair, and owners describe it as happening at intersections where a prompt response matters. Reported across a wide range, from near-new vans under 1,000 miles to around 40,000 miles.

   What to check: Test drive from several complete stops and at low speed in traffic, watching for a lag between pressing the accelerator and the van moving. Ask whether the throttle body or engine computer has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving in town and stopping for lights the car hesitates when stepping on the gas again and almost stops. I can get it to go again if I let go of the gas and step on the gas again. This also happens when I am driving on the freeway and I go to accelerate and it hesitates then I do the same thing and it starts to pick up speed. This is dangerous when I am trying to turn in front of cars, switch lanes and when others do not notice I stop when starting off at a light. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10875963, filed 2016-06, 100 miles

   “Quite often, the vehicle does not respond to the accelerator when moving slowly, I.e. At an intersection, or when stopped. It happens most often when initiating a turn, from a stop or slow roll. The hesitation is unnerving! It can last a half-second, which is a long time when cars are approaching. It may be the accelerator, the engine, or the transmission. Seems the engine is not being told to increase power in real time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11051361, filed 2017-11, 27,000 miles

Buying note. Check the service history for piston ring or spark plug work and confirm whether the related warranty extension or recall was applied, then road-test the brakes from highway speed. Also verify both second-row seat recalls were completed and inspect the roof and tailgate paint.

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.