The contact owns a 2016 Honda Odyssey. The contact parked the vehicle, turned the engine off, and removed the ignition key from the ignition but failed to switch the shifter from the drive position. While attempting to exit, the vehicle rolled backward down the driveway and crashed into the mailbox. During the incident, the contact attempted to reenter the vehicle to prevent the rollaway and was pushed to the ground and dragged down the driveway causing multiple injuries which included a back injury, leg contusions, ankle injuries, and a lacerated left leg which required medical treatment. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the incident. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The contact was also concerned that the ignition key was able to be removed from the ignition switch although the shifter was still in the drive position. The failure mileage was 101,000.
Honda Odyssey rollaway problems
16 of the 12,943 owner complaints about the Honda Odyssey describe rolls away in park, most of them for the 2003 model year.
- owner complaints
- 16
- worst model year
- 2003
- typical mileage
- 115,000
By model year
- 20162
- 20121
- 20081
- 20042
- 20035
- 20011
- 20002
- 19991
- 19981
Often reported together
What owners say
Our 2016 honda odyssey rolled away spontaneously while shifted to park on a low incline driveway and severely traumatized my wife's foot with the front driver's side tire as she struggled to push the emergency brake to stop the car while our daughter was in her car seat. A bystander came in and had to shift the car to drive in order to get it off of my wife's foot. During the ordeal, she sustained a heavy sprain/strain to her right ankle/foot, multiple scraped, bruises, and road rash across her legs, arms and back. If anyone would have been behind the car at the time of roll away, they could have been killed. Attached are pictures of her ankle/foot as well as a police report which solidifies my claim.
The ignition key can be removed from the ignition with the gear selector still in drive. My teenage drivers have on several occasions left the van in the driveway with the van still in drive, ignition off. Luckily, our home's driveway is flat and we have not had an issue of the van rolling away - yet!
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda odyssey. While the vehicle was parked with the key removed from the ignition and the emergency brake engaged, the vehicle rolled away in reverse and crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not towed, diagnosed, or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was previously repaired per the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v573000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 253,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 honda odyssey. After parking the vehicle and shifting into park, the vehicle rolled away. The brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the previous owner had the vehicle repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v143000 (power train), but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 honda odyssey. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled away down a hill. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the gear shifter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 232,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 honda odyssey. The contact stated that while parked, the vehicle rolled away and crashed into another vehicle. No police report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who replaced the ignition switch under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 12v573000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,850.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 honda odyssey. The contact stated that while the vehicle was powered off and in park, the vehicle rolled away. The vehicle was stopped by applying the emergency brake. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics and stated that they would have to look at the tumblers to find the cause for the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000 and the current mileage was 98,400.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 honda odyssey. The contact stated that while parked, the vehicle rolled away independently and crashed into another vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the incident. The vehicle was not inspected for the cause of the failure. The failure and the current mileage was 145,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 honda odyssey. The contact stated the key could erroneously be removed from the ignition without the gear being secured in park. As a result, the contact experienced the vehicle rolling away as he realized that the although the key was removed from the ignition, he failed to engage the vehicle in park. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was notified who advised the contact that there were no recalls for the failure and offered no further assistance. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 149,000.
Related recalls
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- Honda is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 CR-V, Odyssey, and model year 2013 Acura RDX vehicles. During sub-freezing temperatures, the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism may become slow and allow the gear selector to be moved from the Park position without pressing the brake pedal. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
- Risk
- If the gear selector is moved from the park position without pressing the brake pedal it can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated brake shift interlock blocking mechanism free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009. Honda's campaign recall numbers are S96, S97, and S98.
Recall number 13V143000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission
- What is wrong
- On some mini vans, sport utility and passenger vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage.
- Risk
- Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
- Remedy
- On vehicles with 15,000 miles or less, the dealer will update the transmission with a simple revision to the oil cooler return line to increase lubrication to the second gear. On vehicles with more than 15,000 miles, the dealer will inspect the transmission to identify gears that have already experienced discoloration due to overheating. If discoloration exists, the transmission will be replaced if discoloration is not present, the dealer will perform the revision to the oil cooler return line. The recall began on april 21, 2004, for pilot, odyssey, and mdx owners. Owners of the accord vehicles will start receiving letters on june 28, 2004, and on june 29, 2004, for owners of the tl and cl vehicles. Owners should contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009 or acura at 1‑800‑382‑2238.
Recall number 04V176000 · Recall details
Questions about the Honda Odyssey rollaway
Which Honda Odyssey years have rolls away in park problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2003 (5 complaints), 2000 (2 complaints) and 2004 (2 complaints).
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Honda Odyssey?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history