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2016 Honda Odyssey problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
54%
139 of 257 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

54% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Honda Odyssey are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 72% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 13 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 51%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2016 Honda Odyssey have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 139 of 257 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Honda Odyssey concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (54%), and the largest group is filed under engine (93). For comparison, the 2015 scores 47% and the 2017 scores 43%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
139
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
270
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
6
9 crashes · 10 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE93 · 34%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM39 · 14%
POWER TRAIN38 · 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER31 · 11%
SEATS26 · 10%
STRUCTURE25 · 9%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2016 compares with other Honda Odyssey years

Of the 14 Honda Odyssey years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the worst on engine and transmission share (54%). The best is the 2023 (16%). By volume, the 2016 drew 270 complaints (139 drivetrain), against 206 for the 2015 and 39 for the 2017.

Honda Odyssey years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2016 Honda Odyssey

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Honda Odyssey said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM08/23/2022CRASH1 INJURED
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Odyssey. The contact parked the vehicle, turned the engine off, and removed the ignition key from the ignition but failed to switch the shifter from the drive position. While attempting to exit, the vehicle rolled backward down the driveway and crashed into the mailbox. During the incident…

One of 139 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2016 Honda Odyssey fuel system recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2016 Honda Odyssey involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump23V858000 · Dec 2023

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD.…

fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly16V417000 · Jun 2016

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015 Acura MDX 2WD and MDX 4WD vehicles, 2016 Acura MDX 4WD vehicles, 2015-2016 Honda Odyssey vehicles, and 2016 Honda Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles. The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that were manufactured with insufficient welds which may separate and allow fuel to leak out.

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks, free of charge. Owners may contact Honda/Acura customer service at 1-888-234-2138. The recall began on July 29, 2016. Honda's numbers for this recall…

4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
seats: mid/rear assembly18V170000 · Mar 2018
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The second row outboard seats have a lever to fold the seatback and slide the seat forward to access the third…
seats: mid/rear assembly17V725000 · Nov 2017
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The second row outboard seats can slide sideways to one of two positions. If a seat is placed between either…
seats: mid/rear assembly16V932000 · Dec 2016
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Odyssey vehicles manufactured September 23, 2016, to October 24, 2016. The affected vehicles have a second row center seat with…
seats: mid/rear assembly16V933000 · Dec 2016
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Odyssey vehicles manufactured August 17, 2010, to October 1, 2015. The affected vehicles have second row outboard seats…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2016 Honda Odyssey? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2016 Honda Odyssey

Does the 2016 Honda Odyssey have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 139 of 257 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Honda Odyssey concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (54%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Honda Odyssey?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Honda Odyssey is engine: 93 of 270 complaints (34%) name it, followed by electrical system (39) and power train (38). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2016 Honda Odyssey reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 54% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 72% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Honda Odyssey years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Honda Odyssey?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2016 Honda Odyssey involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 23V858000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 16V417000 (fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Honda Odyssey years are better?

Among the Honda Odyssey years we track, the 2023 (16%), the 2011 (21%) and the 2020 (21%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (54%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/honda-odyssey

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.