2018 Honda Odyssey: key fob or push-button start problems

Filed May 29, 2026 · Electrical · FL

COMPONENT: Power Liftgate Control Module (PTG module). Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. WHAT HAPPENED: On approximately April 7, 2026, while driving in rain, a "Power Tailgate Problem" warning appeared on the instrument cluster. Following that event, all powered liftgate operation became permanently inoperable — interior button, exterior button, and key fob all failed. CAUSE: An authorized Honda dealer confirmed in writing (service invoice, May 1, 2026): "Power Liftgate Control Unit has corrosion from water leak." The water intrusion originates from defective factory polyurethane seam sealer on the rear drip rail — a known manufacturing defect on 2018-2019 Odysseys documented in Honda TSB MC-10152401. SAFETY RISK: The same water intrusion that destroys the PTG module is documented to cause the liftgate to open unexpectedly while driving, posing a direct hazard to occupants and other motorists. the federal safety agency is already investigating this issue across 2018-2022 Odysseys. WARNING SYMPTOMS: "Power Tailgate Problem" warning on instrument panel cluster appeared during rain exposure prior to full failure. MANUFACTURER RESPONSE: American Honda Motor Co. declined to cover the repair under goodwill despite the dealer-confirmed defect, an active TSB, and an ongoing class action lawsuit (2018-2021 Odysseys) for this exact issue. Honda has not issued a recall. Estimated repair cost: $691 (module) plus body seam repair.

Filed Jan 14, 2025 · Body, Electrical · NY

The seam seals on the rear driver's quarter panel of the vehicle are faulty and allowed water to flow into the cabin of the vehicle. The resulting damage was loss of function to the rear power lift gate, front seats, remote start and other key fob functions, as well as a dead battery(assumedly due to arcing on wet circuitry). The damage rendered the lift gate inoperable as I it initially closed but came open during operation. We continued to receive a power lift gae problem on the "Heads Up Display" but the power gate would not open or close, electrically or manually. After a few days the gate opened but would not close, rendering the vehicle unsafe to operate. Furthermore, the battery was dead and would not start. Had this incicdent not occurred in our driveway we could have been susceptible to being stranded in sub-freezing temperatures with kids. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and they confirmed a roof leak was a cause of the water incursion. The power lift gate module and floor harness were damaged causing failures to lift gate operation and other electronics. It will cost $7000 to have it repaired at the local Honda dealer. Pending completion of repairs and paperwork for submission.

Filed Mar 26, 2024 · Electrical · PA

Right Power door will not open or close with buttons or key fob. Must open/close manually. The doors are too hard to open manually for smaller children and even some adults making it a safety concern in case of emergency. This started intermittently a year ago and is now a constant. Tailgate has been opening and closing on its own, even when locked while parked as well as when the idle stop is activated while in drive. This is a concern that someone can get in the vehicle when unattended. It also shuts (and didn't stop) when someone was standing in the opening while removing something when it occurred. This started about a month ago. I was told to take it to a dealer and pay them to diagnose it. The dealers have a wait list and it's also not in my budget. These are real concerns and I feel Honda isn't taking ownership of the dangers.

Filed Jan 29, 2024 · Electrical · SC

Dash displays error message "Power Tailgate Problem". Tailgate does not open AT ALL with either of the following methods- key fob, button on dash, or button on tailgate. It is stuck and poses a significant safety issue. What if we had a accident, all doors were stuck, and needed an exit out the back of the vehicle? The tailgate is totally inoperable and Honda needs to fix this issue as it is an extremely common issue and not very cheap to repair.

Filed Dec 1, 2023 · Driver assistance, Electrical · NY

Tailgate controller issue. 2018 Honda Odyssey: A day after a day of rain, we went out shopping and stopped at a store. Getting out , we saw "Tailgate Controller Problem" message appear on the dashboard. I tried to open/close the tailgate but it just kept latching and unlatching. I was finally able to get it to remain closed by pushing on the tailgate. After heading to another store, saw a "high-beam problem" message, and another message, so we went home. At night, I noticed the interior ceiling lights going on and off. I went to start the van, and my key fob would not unlock the door. I used the emergency key in the fob and tried opening the drivers door...after 45 seconds of turning left and turning right, the windows rolled down about an inch, then the door unlocked. I started the van and moved it up in the driveway and turned it off, and checked a couple of times all night to see if the lights came back on. The next morning, I had to charge the battery because it was at 3Vs. I drove the van to make sure the alternator was working,and then saw messages: blinking "R" for reverse blinking "D" and no turn signals, and messages appeared: "Transmission Problem". "Keyless Start System Problem","Blind Spot Info System Problem".We dropped the van off at the dealer and it would not lock with the fob, and the center dashboard console (with the navigation menu)remained on with the engine off and door closed. Dealer ordered a Tailgate Controller. When we asked the person at the desk, what the issue was..."moisture got in". I told him there is a discussion on the internet about a (design) leak in the roof causing this issue. He said, the controller is in the tailgate not in the van. But I know its on the side panel. This situation is very dangerous because a week before we had traveled with the van,out of state, on the interstate, trying to get people to airports and if these messages had appeared then, we would have had a very harrowing experience. A message is still seen

Filed May 11, 2023 · Electrical · CA

Vehicle has roughly 32,000 miles. KEY SAFETY ISSUES [with vehicle parked, engine off and doors closed] (1) vehicle randomly and without warning locks driver out (cannot open car with key fob by pressing unlock button, cannot open car manually by entering key into door). Had to call AAA on 4 different occasions to pry open door with specialty tools. After that, had to leave window fully open in order to ensure we would not get locked out. (2) when vehicle locks driver out it also sets off the alarm, turns the car on to idle, and turns on the radio (even if its off) thus draining the battery until its dead. Why this is a major safety issue? -- Scenarios I though of (1) child/toddler getting accidently locked into car with no way to open and AAA not readily available (2) getting locked out of your car in a remote location with no cell service (mountains, desert, etc) When this issue happened the dash screen would show an error of "Auto Engine Idle Stop System Problem". I took the van to Honda and they diagnosed the problem to be a faulty keyless access control unit. Fees to replace were +/- $1,100. Honda decline to provide any cost reduction or assistance stating that warranty for the part had expired.

Filed Jan 13, 2020 · 12,000 miles · PA

Drove vehicle, parked, and kept car running. Had only set of keys in hand when I got out of the car. Used the key fob to lock the car. Could not unlock the car using the key fob or button on the side of van. At the time, did not know there was a physical key in the fob. My kids were locked in the car and I had to instruct my five-year-old to unbuckle themselves from their carseat and unlock the doors. Event occurred late 2019. Have also had issue where I have stepped out of the car, while it is not running and my kids were in the car, they keys were in the car, and when I closed the door, the doors locked. Thankfully the button on the side of van worked to unlock doors, but if it hadn't, I would have had no way to unlock the car to get to my kids on a hot summer day. Event occurred summer 2019.

Filed Jan 4, 2019 · Body · 4,900 miles · MI

Vehicle was parked off street in freezing cold overnight, upper twenties, 32f when this happened. Vehicle is parked not in motion, remote started. Driver door would get locked immediately when unlocked from outside, multiple tries to pull the door handle would unlock and lock immediately and eventually open the door. Once driver gets in, and closes the door, it is locked from inside and would not open. Door lock switch, driver door handle and key fob fail to open the door from inside. Only way to get out of the vehicle is through a passenger door. If the vehicle is unlocked, driver door can be opened from outside but not inside, just like a child lock works on a passenger door. Another tricky way to open driver door is to unlock, roll down the driver window and pull the handle from outside.

Filed Sep 6, 2018 · Body · 15 miles · TX

Purchased vehicle towards the end of the month of february 2018, thirty days later the driver front door would not open from the outside. Tried unlocking the door from the key fob and door remained locked. Inserted the key in the cylinder and was a bit hard to turn the cylinder to unlock. In order to open the door I had to open the rear driver slide door and come in through the back to open the door from the inside. Even then the inner door handle was hard to pull. This create an issue and inconvenience as this is a family car, having this issue in very humid day only makes it worse. I have read online that people are complaining about this issue and the dealers do nothing to fix this issue. I have taken it to our local dealer and they said that honda is currently investigating the issue. It has been like this for months.

Filed May 30, 2018 · Body · 7,800 miles · VA

The passengers side sliding door would not open automatically. The open/close button on the dash would not open the door either. The key fob wouldn't open it. We shut off the automatic door feature and the door still would not open manually. This is a huge safety issue. After driving the car home, the door opened without issue.

Filed Mar 19, 2018 · Brakes, Electrical · 636 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 honda odyssey. While stationary, the vehicle would not turn off when prompted. On more than one occasion, all of the doors failed to open when prompted by the key fob. In addition, the brake mitigation engaged with a visual and audio alarm; however, there was no other vehicle around. Furthermore, the instrument panel indicators did not illuminate when the vehicle started and the cross-traffic monitor malfunctioned and had to be turned off. Del ray honda (2500 south federal highway, del ray beach, fl) was made aware of the series of failures. The battery and the tuners were replaced on the vehicle, but the failures recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and provided the contact with case number: [xxx]. The failure mileage was 636. *tt information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).