2018 Honda Odyssey Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 166about this part
- Share
- 16%of 1,011 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 29,500miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 166 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2018 Honda Odyssey, 16% of the 1,011 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 29,500 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“If I buy a new 2018 Honda Odyssey at around 4000 miles start having transmission problems at around five to six thousand miles I start getting a horrible toxic burning chemical smell coming from inside the car somewhere do you take it to the dealership they say nothing's wrong obviously there is something wrong with his doing what it's doing”
NHTSA complaint #11114414, filed 2018-07, 4,000 miles“Tried to pull out of parking lot across 2 busy lanes to make my turn and car went into idle while driving, hit the gas pedal since cars were coming at high speed at me and it woke up. A day later received a recall notice on my Honda app called update park logic safety recall and scheduled appointment immediately for 4/29/19 to be told they get the same complaint often and cars brought in. …”
NHTSA complaint #11204781, filed 2019-04, 14,000 miles“On several occasions, I thought I put the car in park, only to have the car start rolling again, even if I got out of the car or took my foot off the brake. On one occasion, it rolled into my garage entry door to my home. Caused hundreds of dollars damage to my door , and minor damage to the front bumper. Warning system in car sounded, but auto brake system didn't activate to stop the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11122021, filed 2018-08, 7,000 miles“The transmission seems to shift to neutral when I try to accelerate to make a right or left turn. It seems like the system is indecisive and it just revs as if it is in neutral. I bought this van new in 2017. My mechanic just did some work and noticed it on a test drive and says this transmission is made by a german company that has this known issue. This is a safety issue because I have almost been t-boned on turns because the car does not move and just rolls for 3-5 seconds. This is a known issue an needs to be fixed”
NHTSA complaint #11407104, filed 2021-04, 50,000 miles“Twice in the first year of ownership, the car was parallel parked and I put the vehicle in drive (push button sifter). Upon the vehicle beginning to move in forward motion it would immediately shift back into park. I repeated an it did the same over and over again. Even after shutting down the engine and restarting; I had the same issue. Both times this occurred, had to go in reverse for a short distance in order to get the van to then move forward without almost instantly shifting back into park. …”
NHTSA complaint #11154477, filed 2018-11, 9,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10241864Aug 31, 2023Dealer Message - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications. As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force…
- 10202254Oct 9, 2021Service Bulletin - The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration, or the MIL comes on with DTC P0716.
- 10187008Feb 11, 2021"Service Bulletin - The PCM software may misinterpret sensor inputs as a deteriorated catalytic converter. Additionally, debris from the high pressure pump or the fuel injector…
- 10187006Feb 11, 2021"Service Bulletin - The PCM software may misinterpret sensor inputs as a deteriorated catalytic converter. Additionally, debris from the high pressure pump or the fuel injector…
- 10183516Nov 24, 2020"Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on with DTC P0430 (front bank catalyst system efficiency below threshold [bank 2]). Additionally, one or more of the following DTCs may also be…
- 10173651Apr 1, 2020Service Bulletin - The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration, or the MIL comes on with DTC P0716.
- 10172006Feb 28, 2020Service Bulletin - The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration, or the MIL comes on with DTC P0716.
- 10170220Jan 9, 2020Service Bulletin - The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration, or the MIL comes on with DTC P0716.
- 10169956Dec 23, 2019Service Bulletin - The transmission has intermittent harsh or jerky upshifts with steady acceleration, or the MIL comes on with DTC P0716.
- 10162451Jul 5, 2019Service Bulletin - Auto idle stop does not work. The PCM incorrectly calculates battery current, which prevents auto idle stop from working.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 2% |
| 2025 | 44 | 10% |
| 2024 | 16 | 13% |
| 2023 | 3 | 3% |
| 2022 | 14 | 10% |
| 2021 | 6 | 4% |
| 2020 | 17 | 3% |
| 2019 | 128 | 13% |
| 2018 | 166 | 16% |
| 2017 | 7 | 18% |
| 2016 | 38 | 14% |
| 2015 | 41 | 20% |
| 2014 | 73 | 24% |
| 2013 | 14 | 7% |
| 2012 | 24 | 10% |
| 2011 | 19 | 8% |
| 2010 | 23 | 9% |
| 2009 | 18 | 9% |
| 2008 | 41 | 8% |
| 2007 | 78 | 9% |
| 2006 | 87 | 12% |
| 2005 | 106 | 13% |
| 2004 | 221 | 38% |
| 2003 | 533 | 58% |
| 2002 | 608 | 63% |
| 2001 | 332 | 54% |
| 2000 | 228 | 34% |
| 1999 | 170 | 33% |
| 1998 | 14 | 19% |
| 1997 | 1 | 5% |
| 1996 | 1 | 1% |
| 1995 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2018 Honda Odyssey
263 complaintsForward collision avoidance
210 complaintsEngine
191 complaintsOther or unknown
149 complaintsLane departure
146 complaintsFuel system
107 complaintsBody and structure
100 complaintsVehicle speed control
54 complaintsBrakes
41 complaintsAir bags
26 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
24 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
16 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2018 Honda Odyssey
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology