AI Damage2020 Honda Odyssey: common problems
Owners of the 2020 Honda Odyssey filed 487 complaints with NHTSA, most often about forward collision avoidance and electrical system. The maker issued 184 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 487
- involving a crash
- 4
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 184
What fails most often
- 1 Forward collision avoidance 38% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 35% of all complaints
- 3 Lane departure 26% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 7% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 5% of all complaints
- 7 Backover prevention 5% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 4% of all complaints
- Forward collision avoidance: 184 complaints (38% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 172 complaints (35% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 44.
- Lane departure: 127 complaints (26% of all).
- Engine: 70 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Structure: 32 complaints (7% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 39.
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 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 10-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 487 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward collision avoidance | 184 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 172 | 0 | 44 |
| Lane departure | 127 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 70 | 1 | 4 |
| Structure | 32 | 0 | 39 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 24 | 0 | 5 |
| Backover prevention | 23 | 0 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 21 | 0 | 22 |
| Air bags | 20 | 2 | 3 |
| Powertrain | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 1 | 2 |
| Suspension | 10 | 0 | 17 |
| Visibility | 10 | 0 | 7 |
| Fuel system | 7 | 0 | 37 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Was driving to work while raining.hit a water puddle hydroplaned, The stop brake warning light came,vehiical slammed on the brakes, and the steering wheel locked up. There where not other vehicals on the road.Rolled the vehical 3 times.
The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart. As a result, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact’s vehicle.
The problem also lead to uneven tire wear increasing the risk of a tire blowout. The springs are currently being replaced with Honda OEM parts at a mechanic shop.
The contact stated that the check engine warning light initially illuminated before the vehicle automatically shifted into Park (P); however, the failure escalated, with the vehicle shifting into Park (P) and shutting off the engine entirely without warning light illumination.
Associated Recall: 26V-423 (Rearview Camera Cable Harness) Description of Safety Defect & Insufficient Recall Remedy: I am filing this complaint to report that the current manufacturer remedy for recall 26V-423 is insufficient due to a related, pre-maturely failing structural component that Honda is failing to…
On the middle of July, we were driving and all of a sudden all these lights start coming up the Brake System Warning, Collision Mitigation ,Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) , Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation System, Auto High-Beam we took it to holler Honda.
Front Camera failure which disables the entire Honda sensing Suite, Shuts down Cruise control, lane keeping assist, front collision warning and Auto emergency braking. This has caused the loss of many safety features intended to prevent accidents and injury.
SUNROOF stopped working. diagnosis: motor is the issue. I may have used it 20 times since purchase. I believe water intrusion caused this. it just decided to stop working.
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 106 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 5% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Odyssey has 312 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 487, above average.
What to check before buying
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Lane departure. Windshield camera: calibration after windshield replacement.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature…
Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engaging, your vehicle may not automatically restart.
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2022 Odysseys with a customer complaint of the power sliding door not opening or closing under its own power. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2020-2022 & 2024 Odysseys with a customer complaint of the power sliding door not opening or closing under its own power. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 Accords, 2016-2020 Civics, 2017-2020 CR-Vs, & 2018-2020 Odysseys that have been diagnosed to be in need of the low-pressure fuel pump, fuel strainer, fuel meter or fuel tank…
- Service Bulletin - MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather (specifically near or below freezing temperatures). Usually after a long drive (around…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 Accords, 2016-2020 Civics, 2017-2020 CR-Vs, & 2018-2020 Odysseys that have been diagnosed to be in need of the low-pressure fuel pump, fuel strainer, fuel meter or fuel tank…
- Dealer Message - Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2020 Accords, 2016-2020 Civics, 2017-2020 CR-Vs, & 2018-2020 Odysseys that have been diagnosed to be in need of the low-pressure fuel pump, fuel strainer, fuel meter or fuel tank…
- Service Bulletin - The MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather (specifically near or below freezing temperatures). Usually after a long drive (around…
- Service NewsDue to On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) regulation change starting with 2019 vehicles, American…
Service NewsDue to On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) regulation change starting with 2019 vehicles, American Honda’s Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) On-Board Diagnostic monitors are now included in the…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2024 Odysseys with a customer complaint of front damper squeaking or creaking noise while driving over bumps. The noise maybe more pronounced while driving slowly over small bumps…
- Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc
(AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2024 Odysseys with a customer complaint of the fuel door not opening when pressed. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to…
- Service Bulletin - Due to variations in the purge control solenoid valve spring, the valve wears unevenly…
Service Bulletin - Due to variations in the purge control solenoid valve spring, the valve wears unevenly and intermittently sticks. This may result in setting DTC P0441 (Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Purge Flow…
NHTSA lists 184 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 2020 Honda Odyssey?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: forward collision avoidance, electrical system, lane departure. Total complaints: 487. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (26%), warning lights, check engine (20%), infotainment or screen glitches (12%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2020 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA lists 184 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 2020 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 2020 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.