Problems · NHTSA complaints

2021 Honda Odyssey problems

Owners filed 147 complaints about the 2021 Honda Odyssey with NHTSA between Feb 2021 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (56).

Complaints
147
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system56
  2. Engine26
  3. Forward collision avoidance19
  4. Air bags16
  5. Lane departure10
  6. Structure10
  7. Suspension8
  8. Back over prevention8
  9. Visibility/wiper6
  10. Power train6
  11. Fuel/propulsion system5
  12. Vehicle speed control3
  13. Visibility3
  14. Service brakes2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20217
20228
202320
202427
202542
202643

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

56 reports
“The driver sliding door would not close and would sometimes reverse direction. Eventually, it failed completely and would not close. Dealership repair involved the rear door latch and motors and cost over $2600. Two weeks later and the passenger sliding door is doing the same exact thing. This is clearly a safety issue as I cannot be sure the door will not open completely while driving. The computer receives "door open" signal even while the car is off which drains the battery. I will not spend another $2600. Over $5000 to maintain a vehicle less than 5 years old for something as simple as the use of plastic components in a door latch is ridiculous and should be covered by Honda for choosing to use inferior components.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 18, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11771924

Engine

26 reports
“Mileage: 121000 When stopped and the auto idle initiated, we have had numerous incidents where the van has shutoff and required a restart. More recently, when the auto idle initiates, the entire engine turns off and the van has no power(car won't restart, can't get the car into neutral, sliding doors and tailgate won't open). I would then need to jump start the car with my portable battery. This has occurred 4 times thus far. Honda dealership had recharged the battery but it still died and required a start. Currently in the shop and my 120k extended warranty just ran out. Very disappointing.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2026Electrical system, EngineODI 11761544

Forward collision avoidance

19 reports1 crash
“The forward collision prevention system engages the brakes when nothing/no one is in front of us. It will also engage the lane departure warning, which also engages the brakes, when construction zones remove the actual lane lines and temporary lines are put down. The car gets confused and brakes the car to a stop in the middle of a highway.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2026Forward collision avoidanceODI 11724497

Air bags

16 reports3 related recalls
“Active recall cannot be repaired as there is no parts after reaching out to four local Honda dealerships in the upper Annapolis, Md area. Have been added to the "list" of owners needing the recall completed for about a year and a half now.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2025Air bagsODI 11693565

Lane departure

10 reports1 crash
“After the MOST/FAKRA recall (NHTSA 23V-431) was completed, the center display showed a MOST bus/network loss message, then the infotainment system went dead and will not power on. The dealer would like 1800$ to repair this already "repaired" safety system. The rearview screen is unavailable when the screen is blank which is the same FMVSS 111 rear visibility failure the recall was issued to correct. TSB 20-049 describes the same network loss/ display condition. The recall repair did not permanently fix the MOST ring.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2026Lane departure, Back over preventionODI 11766617

Structure

10 reports1 fire
“In mid-March 2026, the power tailgate on my [year] Honda Odyssey lost power entirely. It does not respond to the key fob, the tailgate button, or the dashboard button — it will not open or close by any control. I personally inspected the tailgate area and found corrosion and rust present, consistent with prior water intrusion. I have since learned that this is a widely reported issue among 2018–2021 Honda Odyssey owners, and that a class action lawsuit ([XXX] v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California) alleges a defect in rear body seam seals that lets water leak into the power tailgate control module, causing it to fail. The symptoms and physical evidence I found match those described by other owners and in the litigation.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 1, 2026Electrical system, Structure, Unknown or otherODI 11747727
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.