AI Damage2017 Honda Odyssey: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Honda Odyssey filed 39 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain. The maker issued 47 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 39
- involving a crash
- 3
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 47
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 26% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 18% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 15% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 8% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 5% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 5% of all complaints
- Engine: 10 complaints (26% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Powertrain: 7 complaints (18% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (15% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Visibility: 3 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 39 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 10 | 0 | 8 |
| Powertrain | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 0 | 8 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Air bags | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Sudden unexpected acceleration. On two separate occasions. The second resulted in a collision. After collision dealer inspected and said no problem with throttle system, but refused to release test results claiming "proprietary." next took vehicle to independent expert who tested vehicle and reported that vehicle's…
See attached letter for complaint for potential Defect Petition DP26005
The safety chain remained on the trailer. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the coupler latch had opened and the lock was no longer securing the trailer. The trailer lock was found, but the pin was missing.
I was driving on the highway at approximately 65 mph and the passenger side SRS (seatbelt and airbag) deployed. There was no collision, pothole or any other change in momentum to the vehicle immediately prior to deployment. No other airbags deployed.
Vehicle jerks and stalls while accelerating and has died and coasted at times. Was told it has a recall but was not issued one since I have owned it since early this year. Called a Honda dealership and was told that it did not qualify for the recall. Seems to do this after I’ve drove it for a while and it is warmed up.
-A sudden transmission failure could pose a safety risk to us and others. -Yes, see story below. Technician drove and did report feeling the shuddering. -Yes, by honda and now a third party mechanic. -No lights. We received a recall/extension warranty for the torque converter/transmission.
At 60 mph the vehicle began shaking , I pulled over , put it in park while still running, and got out to inspect. I noticed some smoke from under the hood and by the time I got inside to release the hood latch , the smoke stopped. With multiple lights on the dash I shut it off . It would not restart .
The contact stated that after exiting the vehicle and pressing the buttons to lock the doors, the front driver’s side door locked and immediately unlocked, failing to remain secured. The cause of the failure was not yet determined.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 974 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 46% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Odyssey has 312 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 39, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Service Bulletin - The piston ring function deteriorates due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from…
Service Bulletin - The piston ring function deteriorates due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from sludge. Oil adheres to the spark plug leading to carbon fouling and misfire. This can set DTCs P0301 No. 1…
- Owner Notification Letter - the piston ring function can deteriorate due to ring low wear toughness and…
Owner Notification Letter - the piston ring function can deteriorate due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from sludge. Oil adheres to the spark plug leading to carbon fouling and misfire. This can set DTCs P0301…
- Service Bulletin - The piston ring function deteriorates due to ring wear and sticking from sludge
Oil from the crankcase adheres to the spark plug leading to carbon fouling and misfire. This can set DTCs P0301 No. 1 cylinder misfire detected, P0302 No. 2 cylinder misfire detected, P0303 No. 3 cylinder misfire…
- Dealer Message - Piston ring effectiveness may be reduced due to excessive wear and oil sludge build-up,…
Dealer Message - Piston ring effectiveness may be reduced due to excessive wear and oil sludge build-up, which can cause oil to adhere to the spark plug, potentially leading to carbon fouling and misfire triggering…
- Service Bulletin - The piston ring function deteriorates due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from…
Service Bulletin - The piston ring function deteriorates due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from sludge. Oil adheres to the spark plug leading to carbon fouling and misfire.
- Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot…
Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced…
- Service Bulletin - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications
As a result, the lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the transmission indicator…
- Dealer 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 due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the MIL not…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2014-2017 Odysseys and 2014-2015 Pilots with a customer complaint of the vehicle Check Engine Light (CEL) on with one or more of the DTC(s) listed below (in Qualifiers) stored. To better…
- Service Bulletin - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications
As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in the…
- Service Bulletin - Torque converters may not have been manufactured to proper specifications
As a result, the torque converter lock-up clutch cannot provide adequate holding force due to pressure bleeding down through a crack in the lock-up piston. The reduced lock-up clutch capacity results in DTC P0741…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2014-2017 Odysseys and 2014-2015 Pilots with a customer complaint of the vehicle Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with one or more of the DTC(s) listed below (in Qualifiers) stored…
NHTSA lists 47 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Honda Odyssey?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, powertrain, electrical system. Total complaints: 39. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (18%), jerking, harsh shifts (10%), stalls while driving (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA lists 47 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Honda Odyssey from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.