We've experienced several occasions where the vehicle will not start. The vehicle typically starts just fine (first start on a trip), is typically driven, stopped for a short time (quick shopping run), and will not start upon trying to leave. The vehicle has left my wife stranded at least three times. In the life of the vehicle (so far), we have replaced the battery once (tested bad at the time). The current battery and original alternator continue to test good; we currently suspect that the original starter may be part of the issue.
The worst 2021 Honda Odyssey problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical57
- Driver assistance29
- Engine28
- Airbags16
- Body10
- Visibility9
- Suspension8
- Transmission6
- Fuel system5
- Acceleration3
- Brakes2
- Lights2
- Locks2
- Seats2
- Steering1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2021 Honda Odyssey
Backup camera 10Stalling 10Water leak 8Loss of power 7Collision warning 6Screen failure 6Key fob 5Start-stop 5Won't start 5
Recalls 8
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
- Risk
- Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous the federal safety agency recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on beginning May 29, 2026.
Recall number 26V332000 · Recall details
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module: software
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Odyssey vehicles. A software programming error can cause the side and side curtain air bags to deploy unexpectedly.
- Risk
- Air bags that deploy unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reprogram the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ECU) software or replace the ECU, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's number for this recall is UNW. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on beginning April 16, 2026. The information in your report suggests that Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) may have been aware of this issue more than five business days before filing a report with the federal safety agency. Please be reminded that under Federal law, this agency is to be notified of all safety defect and/or noncompliance decisions within five business days. 49 CFR 573.6 Significant civil penalties can be assessed for this violation.
Recall number 26V227000 · Recall details
Equipment adaptive/mobility: wheelchair restraints/securement: latch/anchor:
- What is wrong
- Vantage Mobility, LLC (VM) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Honda Odyssey, 2021-2025 Chrysler Pacifica, and Toyota Sienna vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.
- Risk
- An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters was mailed January 27, 2026. Owners may contact Vantage Mobility customer service at 1‑800‑488‑9082.
Recall number 25V877000 · Recall details
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
- Risk
- An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
Recall number 24V064000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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. This recall is an expansion of the federal safety agency recall numbers 21V‑215 and 20V‑314.
Recall number 23V858000 · Recall details
Back over prevention: display function
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the MOST cable harness and install a straightening cover over the vehicle cable connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EEL, ZEM, and SFC.
Recall number 23V431000 · Recall details
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace both left and right side-view mirrors, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 17, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's number for this recall is FE5.
Recall number 23V174000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 February 22, 2021. Owners may contact Braun customer service at 1‑800‑488‑0359.
Recall number 21V010000 · Recall details
See all 8 recalls for the 2021 Honda Odyssey
Defect investigations
Inadvertent Deployment of Side Air Bags
On October 28, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE25018 to investigate complaints of inadvertent deployment of the side curtain and/or side thorax air bags. These complaints concern model year (MY) 2018-2022 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured by American Honda Motor Co. (Honda). Honda issued recall 26V227 on April 9, 2026, to address concerns of inadvertent side air bag deployment. In the recall filing, the company stated that “[a]s of April 2, 2026, Honda has had 130 warranty claims, 25 reports of an injury, and no reports of death related to this issue from January 24, 2017 – April 2, 2026.” Honda states that the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) contains incorrect deployment parameters for the side thorax and side curtain air bags, which may cause inadvertent deployment when the vehicle encounters strong road impacts, such as driving over potholes, speed bumps, or road debris. Honda stated that the SRS control logic for the second and third rows of seating contained an insufficient deployment threshold margin, allowing signal inputs to be misinterpreted as side impacts and causing inadvertent deployment of the side thorax and side curtain air bags. Recall 26V227 states that dealers will reprogram or replace the SRS ECU with improved air bag deployment parameters. Consumers received notice of this recall in late May 2026. In view of the recall being conducted by Honda, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation (PE). The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
PE25018
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
On June 3, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several field reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a traffic light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged. The subject vehicles are equipped with a 3.5L engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. On January 6, 2023, Honda released service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009. These service bulletins address the failure to restart issue in the 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles, as well as the 2015-2020 Acura TLX, 2016-2020 Acura MDX, 2019-2022 Honda Passport, and 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline vehicles. The repair outlined in the service bulletins is a two-stage countermeasure to remedy the issue. The first stage is a Programmed Fuel Injection (“PGM-FI”) software update. The second stage is only deployed if the software update fails to remedy the issue. The second stage, depending on the model and model year, consists of replacement of the starter assembly, starter relays, and a valve adjustment. Additionally, Honda extended the warranty coverage to 10 years with unlimited mileage for vehicles requiring the second stage component replacement. ODI continues to receive complaints of the AIS failure to restart, with many complainants alleging the campaign countermeasures had been completed.the federal safety agency has reviewed Honda's Information Request Letter responses involving warranty claims, lawsuits, and consumer complaints in addition to ODI's own data. This Engineering Analysis is being opened to further consider the potential safety defect, including gathering additional data regarding Honda’s service campaign efficacy. ODI is additionally expanding the scope to encompass all vehicles addressed in Honda’s service bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 as well as newer model year vehicles, which are substantially similar to the vehicles covered by the service campaign. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
EA25004
Technical service bulletins for the 2021 Honda Odyssey 154
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the auto idle stop feature engages, the vehicle...
- Dealer Message
- Owner Notification Letter
- Dealer Message
- Dealer Message
- MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
- The MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power
- Service NewsDue to On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) regulation change starting with 2019 vehicles, American...
- Dealer Message
- Dealer Message
2021 Honda Odyssey fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6‑cyl | FWD | 19 | 28 | 22 |
What 2021 Honda Odyssey owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
Both rear coil springs rusted completely through and failed at approximately 57,876 miles on this 2021 Honda Odyssey. This is a premature failure of a primary suspension safety component. A broken coil spring can cause sudden loss of vehicle support and handling instability, and a fractured spring can puncture a tire or damage surrounding brake and suspension components, creating a crash risk. No crash, fire, injury, or death occurred. The vehicle was repaired at GLF Performance LLC in [XXX] (invoice #XXX, $1,238.04 paid in full) using genuine Honda replacement rear coil springs (part 52441THRA11). The failed springs were retained and are available for inspection. This does not appear to be an isolated failure: identical rear coil spring failures on 2021 Honda Odyssey vehicles at similar mileage have been documented in other the federal safety agency complaints, suggesting a potential safety defect in this component. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Discovered rear driver side spring fractured during oil change with routine use of the vehicle below 50k miles. Read that these are seen frequently in 2018-2022 models. Thought it should be reported.
The infotainment screen had a recall that has not been properly fixed so that my rearview camera does not work for backing up.
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the radio displayed a blank screen. In addition, the contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera turned on and off. Additionally, there was a cracking sound coming from the speakers. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with rear-view camera failure. The contact was informed that an unknown recall repair was completed in 2023. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty, and a diagnostic test was suggested. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and a split wire was found behind the radio. The manufacturer was contacted by phone, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 34,100.
Auto start stop not restarting while stopped at intersection. Needed to manually turn car off and back to restart.
After the MOST/FAKRA recall (the federal safety agency 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.
Two intermittent problems began about one year ago at approximately 43,000 miles (current mileage approximately 48,000): 1) Rearview (backup) camera intermittently fails. When shifting into reverse, the display screen goes black or the camera image freezes. This causes a loss of rear visibility while backing up, creating a risk of striking a pedestrian or object behind the vehicle. 2) Audio system intermittently produces loud static and distortion across all audio sources (AM/FM radio, Bluetooth, etc.). This distracts the driver and can mask audible safety alerts. Contacted a Honda dealership regarding recall coverage for these issues; the dealership stated this VIN is not included in the recall. Neither issue has been repaired. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. These symptoms match the federal safety agency recall campaign 23V‑431 (Honda MOST communication coaxial cable recall — intermittent loss of MOST connection causing rearview camera failure and audio popping/crackling); the dealership stated this VIN is not included in that recall.
The infotainment system and back up camera screen went completely black. We took it to Howdy Honda since there was a the federal safety agency Recall 23V‑482 that they had fixed once before. Now though, they are saying the issue isn't covered by safety recall and that we have to pay $6900 to have it repaired. However this faulty camera system is a known issue. In addition to the recall, there has also been a class-action lawsuit filed Mar. 22, 2019 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, owners of the affected vehicles report that the infotainment system – an integrated in-vehicle communication, navigation and entertainment system – behaves erratically, malfunctioning, freezing, and creating a safety hazard and distraction. This is exactly what happened with our vehicle. The defect caused safety-related systems (including backup camera functions) to fail. The defect also caused the entire center console to go black while the vehicle is in motion, and caused navigation and other dashboard features to shut down completely while in use. The lawsuit alleges Honda breached its own warranty by simply replacing defective parts with equally defective parts. This is exactly what they did with the first recall. And now they're trying to charge us $6900 to fix it.
Compare the 2021 Honda Odyssey
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2021 Honda Odyssey
Is the 2021 Honda Odyssey reliable?
Owners have filed 148 complaints about the 2021 Honda Odyssey, fewer than a typical Odyssey model year.
What is the 2021 Honda Odyssey year score?
The 2021 Honda Odyssey scores 80 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Honda Odyssey: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Honda Odyssey?
Electrical system, with 57 complaints, typically around 34,100 miles. Next is driver assistance (29).
How many recalls does the 2021 Honda Odyssey have?
8 recalls, covering air bags, equipment adaptive/mobility and fuel system, gasoline.
What year does the Honda Odyssey have the most electrical problems?
The Honda Odyssey model years with the most electrical complaints are 2018 (265 complaints), 2025 (243 complaints) and 2019 (225 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2021 Honda Odyssey get?
Official estimates for the 2021 Honda Odyssey range from 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.5L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 19 city and 28 highway.
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