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2021 Honda Odyssey problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2021 Honda Odyssey. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 26% of relevant complaints.
Better than 77% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 17 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 23%).
Does the 2021 Honda Odyssey have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 33 of 126 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Odyssey concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (26%). For comparison, the 2020 scores 21% and the 2022 scores 25%. 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 2021 compares with other Honda Odyssey years
Of the 14 Honda Odyssey years with enough complaints to score, the 2021 is the 5th-best on engine and transmission share (26%). The worst is the 2016 (54%), the best the 2023 (16%). By volume, the 2021 drew 143 complaints (33 drivetrain), against 474 for the 2020 and 136 for the 2022.
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 Odyssey problems · 2019 Odyssey problems · 2020 Odyssey problems · 2021 · 2022 Odyssey problems · 2023 Odyssey problems
The rest of the picture on the 2021 Honda Odyssey
- 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 33 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2021 Honda Odyssey fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Honda Odyssey involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 8 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.…
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…
6 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 2021 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 2021 Honda Odyssey
Does the 2021 Honda Odyssey have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 33 of 126 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Odyssey concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (26%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Honda Odyssey?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2021 Honda Odyssey is electrical system: 55 of 143 complaints (38%) name it, followed by engine (26) and forward collision avoidance (19). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 26% of the relevant total.
Is the 2021 Honda Odyssey reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 26% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 77% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Honda Odyssey years we score, it ranks 5th-best. 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 2021 Honda Odyssey?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2021 Honda Odyssey involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 8 in total: 23V858000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 21V010000 (fuel system, gasoline: storage). 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 2021 (26%). 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.