A redesign year with too many glitches
The 2018 Odyssey drew about 2.5 times the model's average complaints: screens and power tailgates that misbehave, driver-assist cameras that fail, and some engine bearing failures. It has 9 or more recalls. A 2021 is a much safer buy.
Updated November 2026 · based on 1,014 owner complaints and 16 recalls
954 2.6x the Odyssey average
16 free to fix at a dealer
Every Odyssey year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known problems on the 2018 Odyssey
Top problems and what they cost
Infotainment and power tailgate failures
Screens that freeze or reboot, and power tailgates or doors that stop working, often from a network fault Honda addressed in recall 23V431.
Fix: Recall work is free; a tailgate control module out of warranty is $400 to $800.
Electrical
Driver-assist camera failures
The windshield camera for collision and lane systems can overheat and shut the systems off.
Fix: Camera replacement and calibration $800 to $1,500.
Collision avoidance
Engine knocking from bearing wear
Some owners report rod bearing damage and oil in the cylinders. Check whether this van is covered by the engine bearing recall.
Fix: Free if covered by recall; otherwise an engine is $6,000 to $9,000.
Engine
Recalls
A damaged parking rod can allow the vehicle to roll when parked, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
A reduction of braking performance increases the risk of a crash.
If the power sliding doors fails to latch, the doors may open while moving, increasing the risk of injury.
If the rear wheel speeds cannot be correctly monitored, the anti-lock brake system may not engage properly to prevent the wheels from locking up, increasing ...
If in the event of a crash, the seat belt cannot restrain the occupant they have an increased risk of being injured.
A power sliding door that fails to latch may open while moving, increasing the risk of injury.
Show all 16 recalls
Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
An intermittent electrical short could overheat the wire harness, increasing the risk of a fire.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Air bags that deploy unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Complaints by part
Before you buy a 2018 Honda Odyssey
- Confirm every recall shows as repaired at nhtsa.gov/recalls, including the transmission (19V299) and sliding door latch (20V437) recalls.A recall is a safety fix the carmaker must do for free, even for later owners. Typing the 17-character VIN (on the dashboard and driver door) into nhtsa.gov/recalls shows any that were never done. Codes like 18V332 are recall numbers.The 2018 Odyssey has 16 recalls on record, listed below.
- Open and close both sliding doors and the tailgate with the buttons and remote several times.Doors, liftgates and tailgates use motors, latches and switches that wear. A door that will not latch or shows as open can drain the battery or open while driving.Owners filed 83 complaints about sliding door problems on the 2018 Odyssey, one of the worst years for it.
- Use the screen, backup camera and phone connection for a few minutes.Infotainment screens on these cars can freeze, reboot or go black. On many cars the backup camera and climate controls run through the same screen.Owners filed 23 complaints about infotainment screen freezing or rebooting on the 2018 Odyssey, one of the worst years for it.
- Drive with adaptive cruise and lane keeping on and check no warnings appear.Warning lights should come on briefly at start and then go out. One that stays on means the car has stored a fault, and a parts store can read the code for free.Owners filed 23 complaints about infotainment screen freezing or rebooting on the 2018 Odyssey, one of the worst years for it.
- Listen for knocking at cold start.Knocking, ticking or rattling from the engine, especially when cold, can mean worn bearings, lifters or a stretched timing chain. These are engine-out repairs costing thousands.193 of the 1,014 owner complaints about the 2018 Odyssey involve the engine (19%).
Questions
Is the 2018 Honda Odyssey reliable?
A redesign year with too many glitches. The 2018 Odyssey drew about 2.5 times the model's average complaints: screens and power tailgates that misbehave, driver-assist cameras that fail, and some engine bearing failures. It has 9 or more recalls. A 2021 is a much safer buy.
How many recalls does the 2018 Honda Odyssey have?
16 recalls. Recall repairs are free at any Honda dealer, even for later owners. Enter the VIN on the free government recall lookup to see which are still open on a specific car.
What are the most common 2018 Honda Odyssey problems?
Infotainment and power tailgate failures; Driver-assist camera failures; Engine knocking from bearing wear.
Crash rating shown for the 2018 Honda Odyssey VAN FWD. Repair costs are typical U.S. ranges for parts and labor, not quotes. How we score.