2016 Honda Odyssey Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report engine problems that appear later in life, typically misfires and rough running traced to oil fouling the spark plugs. Electrical faults and transmission shudder are reported much sooner, many of them at low mileage, and a recurring theme is second-row seating that does not stay latched.

1. 1
   Engine

   Misfire and rough running from oil-fouled spark plugs

   • 82 complaints (30%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $4,284 (median of 16 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the check engine light coming on, sometimes flashing, along with shaking, hesitation, and a loss of power; several mention misfire codes for individual cylinders. Mechanics and dealers commonly report oil reaching the spark plugs and, in some cases, worn piston rings or a needed partial engine rebuild, with plug replacement sometimes only a temporary fix. Some complaints note that the repair was not covered or that assistance was limited. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 145,000 miles, often appearing gradually rather than suddenly.

   15 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether spark plugs and any piston-ring work were already done, and check the oil level and plug condition for evidence of fouling. A pre-purchase scan for stored misfire codes is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2016 Honda Odyssey. This past summer ,while driving the vehicle began to lose power and shake. I had it towed in where I was told that the piston rings needed to be replaced, however, the first step would be to replace the spark plugs. They knew exactly what was going on because numerous individuals have had the same issue with their Honda Odyssey. Now just last week the same problem happened and the piston rings are being replaced for $5000. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11641151, filed 2025-02, 142,569 miles

   “We have been getting multiple warning lights (fcw, ldw, check engine) which occur with sluggish engine performance. The engine will misfire and not accelerate as it typically does or shudders/jitters trying to accelerate. Diagnostic tool shows p0303 for misfire in cylinder 3. I changed out the spark plug which was very fouled (saved it) and this fixed it for a few weeks and then it returned. Changed out all spark plugs but issues and code are back again after a few weeks.”

   NHTSA complaint #11405911, filed 2021-04, 88,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder and harsh shifting

   • 36 complaints (13%)
   • median 26,720 mi at 2.8 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe juddering or shaking felt while accelerating, jolting between first and second gear, and occasional hard engagement or slipping. Owners report software updates, fluid flushes, and reprogramming that sometimes helped only briefly, with some being told the torque converter needed replacement. Often reported between about 25,000 and 80,000 miles, frequently at low speeds or during light acceleration.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive at light throttle between 20 and 60 mph and feel for shudder, and ask whether any transmission software update or torque converter service has been performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Hello: I have a 2016 Honda Odyssey I am trading in today. A few weeks ago I was in drive with my foot on the break. The engine started racing and moving the van. I put the transmission into neutral and it raced to 4500 RPM. I placed it in park, it raced to 5500 RPM and was not stopping. I turned the engine off. Then restarted and the problem was gone. I want to report this to your agency. Thank you”

   NHTSA complaint #11400090, filed 2021-03, 104,000 miles

   “Started with transmission juddering at 45,000 miles. Took it in for a fix and it got flushed and reprogrammed under warranty. Now at 77,000 it slips in and out of gear with a bang and a big jolt. I was driving at a low rate of speed in my neighborhood. Turned onto main road and tried to accelerate and it just slipped into a lower gear with a bang. Not good acceleration. Turned around and went home. Slipped in and out of gear a low rate of speed. Not safe to drive on the road.”

   NHTSA complaint #11366278, filed 2020-10, 77,450 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Sliding doors that misbehave, stick, or won't latch

   • 37 complaints (14%)
   • median 33,780 mi at 3.5 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners report power sliding doors that stop partway, reverse unexpectedly, fail to latch, or set off a door-ajar warning while driving. Complaints also mention snapped door cables, replaced motors, and dealers replacing parts or applying lubricant without a lasting fix; a few describe the door closing on or trapping a passenger. Spread from very low mileage up to about 100,000 miles, with several reports in the 28,000 to 51,000 mile range.

   What to check: Cycle both sliding doors several times, watch for hesitation or reversal, and confirm the door-ajar indicator stays off while all doors are shut.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving, the sliding doors open sensor will go off. This creates a major distraction while driving as it is a constant beep trying to alert you that your doors are open. Obviously while driving, my doors are closed. This happens at least once a week in which I am forced to shut off the power sliding doors.”

   NHTSA complaint #11318196, filed 2020-03, 45,000 miles

   “The driver side automatic sliding passenger van door operated improperly - as the door was moving backward to open, our 3 year old granddaughter slipped and her head was lodged between the inside door frame and door the door lodged her head and stopped moving-backward, trapping her head, placing extreme pressure on her skull. We could not get the door to release for several minutes. She was screaming - causing her siblings much terror as we worked to free her from the entrapment. We were very fortunate that we were able to get her released. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11326253, filed 2020-05, 34,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Rear liftgate and door electronics in cold weather

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the rear hatch refusing to open when temperatures drop, working again once the weather warms, and dealerships replacing a latch without a lasting result. Other complaints mention the backup camera screen going black, windows that reverse after closing, and dealer scans finding no clear cause. Mostly reported between roughly 20,000 and 70,000 miles, with several owners tying the problem to cold weather.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Try the power liftgate and both sliders several times, ideally in cool conditions, and verify the odometer reading against service records and any history report when buying used.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In colder weather the back lift hatch will not open or you have to try and warm it up somehow. During warm weather it will open right away but when it cold you have to stand there with your hand on the button for 5 mins or it may not open up at all. Prior year models had this same problem and there is a recall but not this year. I took it in at the start of spring and before my extended warranty went out and told them the problem, they said they fixed it but replaced a latch. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11386781, filed 2021-01, 70,000 miles

   “Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Honda Odyssey on April 29, 2026. The vehicle was purchased from a dealer. At the time of the purchase, the odometer was recorded at 95,745. The contact later purchased the CARFAX report which indicated that on July 17, 2024, the odometer was recorded at 102,223. The dealer was made aware of the discrepancy.”

   NHTSA complaint #11743435, filed 2026-06, 95,745 miles

Buying note. This model year is worth a careful mechanical inspection rather than a quick test drive: owners most often report engine misfires from oil-fouled plugs and transmission shudder later in the vehicle's life, so service records and a code scan matter. Confirm the seat recalls were completed and cycle the power doors and liftgate before deciding.

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.