Vehicle Information:Year/Make/Model: 2015 Honda Odyssey EX-L VIN: [XXX] Mileage: Approximately 45, 200 miles Component / Defect: Engine Oil Leak leading to Alternator Failure (Front Spool Valve / Valve Cover Gasket Leak onto Alternator) Summary of Incident and Service History: My car overheated and would not start on several occasions over the last year and a half starting in July 2025, leaving me stranded and requiring it to be towed. My car has been in service at the dealer multiple times for approximately 2 weeks each time. Oil Leak and Alternator Hazard: The vehicle experienced engine oil leaking directly onto/into the alternator. According to communications from Honda service personnel ([XXX]), oil leaking from the front spool valve and valve cover gaskets penetrates the alternator, causing component failure. The dealership explicitly warned that failure to complete these repairs would result in repeated alternator failure. XXX Service: The vehicle was brought in for diagnostic work and repairs at Brickell Honda Performed services included diagnostic procedures, engine oil & filter replacement, radiator fan motor replacement, A/C condenser fan motor replacement, and tire rotation. Total Paid: $2,443.60 Additional Repair Estimates Provided: Valve cover gaskets & spark plug replacement: $1,901.18 plus tax Front spool valve replacement: $1,641.70 plus tax Prior Related Invoices: An earlier invoice was issued on XXX for $2,096.29 by Brickell Honda for alternator replacement and other maintenance services. Safety Risk Statement: An unaddressed oil leak dripping onto the alternator poses a serious electrical component failure hazard while operating the vehicle. Sudden loss of electrical power while driving can cause engine stalling, loss of power steering, loss of headlights/lighting, and disablement in traffic, presenting a significant risk of collision and vehicle safety hazard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Honda Odyssey overheating problems
106 of the 12,940 owner complaints about the Honda Odyssey describe engine overheating, most of them for the 2003 model year.
- owner complaints
- 106
- worst model year
- 2003
- typical repair cost reported
- $2,686
- typical mileage
- 89,000
By model year
Often reported together
Adaptive cruise 19Lane assist 18Transmission failure 17Collision warning 14Check engine light 13Warning lights 7Slipping 7Stalling 6
Trouble codes mentioned
P0730 5U3000 3P219A 1P0740 1P0304 1P0301 1
What owners say
My name is [XXX], we bought a brand new 2019 Honda Odyssey Elite, we have had problems with this vehicle since day one. They have lied and covered up the issues with this vehicle starting with the infotainment center, transmission slippage, fuel pump and the front camera has been overheating giving us the message that it is overheating and all the lights come on. They have stalled us on these issues and now the extended warranty is up and we want something done about this. We have babied this vehicle the entire time since new and it seems like one problem after another, at this point we are very disappointed from the way we are being treated from Honda. The latest is the front sensor on the front mirror that pops up all the lights on the dash, no one seems to be able to duplicate the problem, now they are on all the time and conveniently the extra extended warranty we bought have since expired, there was a lot of recalls on this vehicle and no one ever seems to be able to send us the recall letters. We really thin the mirror sensor and the transmission are definitely safety issues especially when the mirror shuts all the safety off. The transmission shifts hard at times and we pray that Honda will step up to the plate and do the right thing and fix the other recall issues on this same vehicle as well. We have other Honda vehicles that we have not had any issues with, we just can't understand why we are being treated in this manner, we just want the vehicle fixed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The windshield-mounted front monocular camera (Honda Sensing unit) overheated and failed/burnt out. This failure completely disabled the Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control systems, triggering multiple safety system warning lights on the dashboard.
The front windshield camera mounted above the rear view mirror overheats and shuts off, causing a minimum of 14 errors to light up the dashboard screen during driving. This also prevents the back lift gate from opening once parked until the errors are cleared. This has happened multiple times, not always when it is hot and sunny, but the camera module overheats and shuts off anyway.
In August 202, the multipurpose monocular camera failed. My car is a 2019 Honda Odyssey EXL. I was not involved in any accident or incident that would have caused this to fail. When this camera fails 5 warning codes popup: collision mitigation braking system failure , lane keeping assistance system failure, adaptive cruise control failure, road departure mitigation and auto-high beams stop working. The dealer priced the repair at ~$2,100. Many reports are coming up with this failure and it seems driven by overheating of the camera module, a filed camera component, or other unknown reasons.
The engine auto idle system failed at a stoplight. The auto-idle engaged, but when I took my foot off the brake, the engine did not restart. It completely shut down, putting my car in park in a busy intersection. The engine light and an error message flashed briefly but disappeared. I was able to restart the car and drive, however, only after waving several other cars to pass by me. I've noticed recently the restart function lagging, and if I put my foot on the gas too soon, the car lurching and jerking forward (indicating the engine isn't restarting quickly or properly). I recently had a full routine service on the vehicle, indicating battery life is good. No other issues appeared such as overheating.
Our van recently started flashing multiple warning lights every time we started it up. These include "Collision mitigation system problem", "auto high-beam problem", "road departure mitigation system problem", "lane keeping assist problem", "adaptive cruise control problem", and also alerts that there is an issue with our brakes. We took the van into our local Honda dealership and were told the ADAS camera was broken and would need to be replaced. We were told this would cost $2,733 and that there's a chance we will also have to replace the windshield (which is physically fine) for another $1200. The camera breaking is not normal maintenance or expected due to wear and tear. There is nothing physically wrong with our windshield, we have had no accidents, we have kept up on all needed vehicle maintenance. It's my understanding the location of the camera is simply causing it to overheat and blow out the electrical system. Additionally concerning is that even if I did have the money to fix the issue Honda does not have any cameras available. They are on backorder. It means as a driver to three small children I have to assume the nonstop alerts are all benign for at least a month. In the off chance there is a true safety concern such as brakes malfunctioning, I will not know as the alert system is going off at all times.
Failed Component: Direct Fuel Injector Set. The components are currently on the vehicle and are available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: The failing fuel injectors create a severe engine air/fuel imbalance, which causes engine hesitation, engine stumbling during acceleration, and unpredictable power loss. This puts my family at high risk of a collision, particularly when merging onto highways, crossing busy intersections, or accelerating from a stop. Furthermore, dumping unburnt fuel into the exhaust risks overheating the catalytic converter, creating a potential fire hazard. Dealer Confirmation: Yes. The problem was confirmed by AutoNation Honda 365 in Memphis, TN, on [XXX] (Mileage: 83,452). Manufacturer Inspection: The vehicle was inspected by factory-trained technicians at an authorized Honda dealership. A case was opened with Honda Corporate, but they refused to cover the repair, stating my specific VIN batch was excluded from their warranty extension, despite suffering the exact same failure. Warning Lamps & Symptoms: An "Emissions System Problem" warning and the Check Engine Light illuminated on [XXX]. Incident Description & Cause: Honda is fully aware of this dangerous defect. They issued Service Bulletin 21-010, acknowledging that "debris from the high-pressure pump or the fuel injector machining process can cause internal wear or clogging" in 2018-2019 Odysseys. Following the TSB 21-010 protocol, the dealer pulled code P219A and performed a "Cylinder AF Test." My vehicle failed the test (Cylinder 3 running rich). The Honda technician’s official notes state: "Fail air fuel test need injector set internal failure." Honda extended the warranty to 10 years/150,000 miles for this known manufacturing defect, yet they are arbitrarily excluding my 2019 Odyssey, which has the exact identical internal failure documented by their own dealer. Honda's refusal to issue a full recall leaves all affected drivers at risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.
Back in the fall/winner of 2024 (could have been 2025) my Honda Odyssey had a recall for a low pressure fuel pump. However, Honda and many other dealers were dealing with hundreds of thousands of recalls, and we’re only recalling the vehicles with actual symptoms. My vehicle was hesitating and experiencing sudden loss of power during acceleration therefore Honda agreed to repair my vehicle. Everything seemed to work fine after that with no issues, but approximately three months later, I was having issues with my vehicle and brought it into my Mechanic, to find out that my high-pressure fuel pump was not working properly. Upon further investigation, I found out that a bad low-pressure fuel pump starves the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) of required volume. This causes the HPFP to work far beyond its design limits to build pressure, leading to cavitation (vapor bubbles damaging internal components), overheating, and premature mechanical wear from metal-on-metal friction. When I dug a little deeper, I found out that many Honda owners were dealing with failing high-pressure fuel pumps after having their low pressure fuel pump recall repairs completed. Many in which were in a similar timeframe to mine. Honda offered me no good merit assistance and stated that unfortunately, I would be liable for the entire cost of the repair. It is more than obvious that the failing of my low pressure fuel pump impacted the performance and workload of my high-pressure fuel pump, causing it to fail, which I believe Honda should be liable for replacing. Please look further into this matter to help others like me that had their low pressure fuel pump recall performed, and shortly after needed to replace their high-pressure fuel pump at their own costly expense.
The front-facing Honda Sensing camera in my 2020 Honda Odyssey overheated in a 90deg climate. This triggered multiple dashboard warning lights: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Problem, Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) Problem, Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) System Problem, Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) Problem, BRAKE System Problem, and Auto High-Beam Problem. The Honda dealership quoted me $1850 to fix it and they said it was a well-known error. There were NO issues with my car prior to this problem. I keep up with all routine maintenance, oil changes, timing belt and water pump replacements, etc. Not only are these safety features inoperable, but these warning lights are very distracting to the driver, but worse than that- I would be unaware of other system failures since I have so many warnings displayed.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 letters are expected to be mailed in mid-December 2024. Honda began mailing owner notification letters as of March 18, 2024. 2015-2016 Acura owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-December 2024, 2018 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed the end of March/early April 2024, 2019 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-May 2024, 2020 Acura TLX owner letters are expected to be mailed mid-June 2024, and 2016-2020 Acura MDX owner letters are expected to be mailed January 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XG1 and GG0.
Recall number 23V751000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys
- What is wrong
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura MDX and Honda Pilot vehicles and 2019 Acura RLX, RLX Sport Hybrid, TLX and Honda Odyssey and Ridgeline vehicles. The timing belt teeth may separate from the belt.
- Risk
- Teeth separation from the timing belt may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace any affected timing belt free of charge. Vehicles receiving a replacement timing belt will also have the engine inspected and any damaged components will be replaced for free. The recall began June 7, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Honda's number for this recall is L4M. Acura owners may contact customer service at 1‑888‑234‑2138. Acura's number for this recall is Z4L.
Recall number 19V298000 · Recall details
Engine
- What is wrong
- Honda is recalling certain model year 2013 Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles and certain model year 2013 Odyssey vehicles. During manufacturing of the engine piston, it is possible that the heat treatment process was not properly applied, resulting in the piston having an insufficient hardness level, making it more susceptible to premature wear.
- Risk
- A worn piston may suddenly fail, causing the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine short block free of charge. The recall began on September 16, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009. Honda's recall numbers are JB4 (Honda Odyssey) and JB5 (Honda Pilot).
Recall number 13V382000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine
- What is wrong
- On certain minivans, sedans, coupes, and sport utility vehicles equipped with v6 engines, a timing belt tensioner pulley on the water pump is misaligned and could cause the timing belt to contact a bolt on the cylinder head. Eventually the belt could be damaged and fail.
- Risk
- If the timing belt breaks, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the water pump and if it is one of the defective pumps, the water pump and timing belt will be replaced. Owner notification began august 30, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009 or acura at 1‑800‑382‑2238.
Recall number 02V226000 · Recall details
Questions about the Honda Odyssey overheating
Which Honda Odyssey years have engine overheating problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2003 (17 complaints), 2019 (16 complaints) and 2018 (13 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix engine overheating on the Honda Odyssey?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $2,686 (median of 25 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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