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2018 Honda Odyssey problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
40% of relevant owner complaints on the 2018 Honda Odyssey are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 54% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2018 Honda Odyssey have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 379 of 993 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Odyssey concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (40%), and the largest group is filed under engine (189). For comparison, the 2017 scores 43% and the 2019 scores 35%. 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.
Complaints by component
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 2018 compares with other Honda Odyssey years
Of the 14 Honda Odyssey years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 6th-worst on engine and transmission share (40%). The worst is the 2016 (54%), the best the 2023 (16%). By volume, the 2018 drew 993 complaints (379 drivetrain), against 39 for the 2017 and 976 for the 2019.
Honda Odyssey years to avoid and best years →
2010 Odyssey problems · 2011 Odyssey problems · 2012 Odyssey problems · 2013 Odyssey problems · 2014 Odyssey problems · 2015 Odyssey problems · 2016 Odyssey problems · 2017 Odyssey problems · 2018 · 2019 Odyssey problems · 2020 Odyssey problems · 2021 Odyssey problems · 2022 Odyssey problems · 2023 Odyssey problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 Honda Odyssey
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2018 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
One of 379 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2018 Honda Odyssey engine and transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2018 Honda Odyssey involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 16 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.
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.…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2016 and 2018-2019 Pilot, 2017 and 2019 Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the connecting rod bearing in the engine may wear and seize, damaging the engine.
Risk: A damaged engine may run improperly or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a fire, crash, or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed March 28, 2024. 2016-2017 Acura MDX owner letters were mailed November 1, 2024. 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner…
Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Braun-modified Honda Odyssey vehicles. The fuel tank assembly installed by Braun may be susceptible to the fuel tank overfilling into the charcoal canister. If the charcoal canister fills with a sufficient amount of fuel, fuel may leak out.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
Fix: Braun will notify owners, and dealers will inspect vehicles. If evidence of a fuel leak is present, a new fuel tank assembly and a new Honda charcoal canister will be installed, free of charge. The recall began…
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Loose battery terminal connections or a degraded battery may cause the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) to unexpectedly reboot. Upon rebooting, the TCU may shift the transmission to the "Park" position, possibly damaging the parking rod.
Risk: A damaged parking rod can allow the vehicle to roll when parked, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will ensure the battery terminal connections are secure and will update the TCU software, free of charge. Additionally, the parking rod effectiveness will be checked. The recall…
12 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2018 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.
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Does the 2018 Honda Odyssey have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 379 of 993 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Odyssey concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (40%). 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 2018 Honda Odyssey?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Honda Odyssey is electrical system: 258 of 993 complaints (26%) name it, followed by forward collision avoidance (201) and engine (189). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 40% of the relevant total.
Is the 2018 Honda Odyssey reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 40% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 54% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Honda Odyssey years we score, it ranks 6th-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 2018 Honda Odyssey?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2018 Honda Odyssey involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 16 in total: 23V858000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 23V751000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical), 21V010000 (fuel system, gasoline: storage), and more. 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 2018 (40%). 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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Check a VINExperimental 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.