21 complaints reported

2008 Honda Odyssey Power Train

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
21
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Feb 2019

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN DRIVING.PLEASE ADVISE

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2015
Oct 2017 Crash

SUDDEN ACCELERATION: MY WIFE WAS TURNING THE CAR AROUND IN OUR DRIVEWAY. THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING WHILE IN REVERSE. MY WIFE PRESSED THE BRAKES, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND. IT STARTED SLIPPING IN PLACE UNTIL IT HIT THE FENCE. MY WIFE CONTINUED TO PRESS THE BRAKE UNTIL THE ENGINE RPM RETURNED TO NORMAL. MY WIFE INDICATED THAT SHE HAD EXPERIENCE A SIMILAR ISSUE LAST WINTER WHILE DRIVING ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD, BUT THE ACCELERATION STOPPED QUICKLY. AT THAT TIME, SHE THOUGHT THE CAR JUST SLIPPED DUE TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2017
Sep 2016

THE HONDA ODYSSEY HAS A WELL KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH IT TRANSMISSION, INCLUDING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT WAS WITHDRAWN BY THE PLAINTIFF FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON- (LIKELY SETTLED BY HONDA OUTSIDE OF THE CLASS IS MY GUESS), RELATED TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER THAT AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO IS UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND REPAIR. HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/?GWS_RD=SSL#Q=ODYSSEY+TORQUE+CONVERTER+JUDDER ON MAY 9, 2016 SCOTT CLARK HONDA AT 13000 E INDEPENDENCE BLVD, MATTHEWS, NC 28105,PHONE:(855) 507-6727, DIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM ON MY 2008 ODYSSEY AND QUOTED $1727 TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I CONTACTED HONDA CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT 310-783-2000 AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER AS THERE IS NO RECALL AND THEY VEHICLE BEING OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2016
Apr 2014

STRONG VIBRATION OR JUDDER WHILE BEING DRIVEN TYPICALLY AT 20-45 MPH OR WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON AN UP OR DOWN GRADE. ALSO EXPERIENCED NO RESPONSE OF ACCELERATION WHICH CAUSED VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. PER HONDA'S TSB, TORQUE CONVERTER IS THE ISSUE IF THE PROBLEM RETURNS AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. HOWEVER HONDA IS NOT WILLING TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Dec 2013
Aug 2013 Crash

TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN FROM 65 MPH AND A CAR HIT ME FROM BEHIND. I WOULD SAY IT TOOK ME DOWN TO 45 MPH VERY QUICKLY FROM 65 MPH AND THEN A CAR HIT ME FROM BEHIND GOING NORTH ON I95 IN VIRGINIA. LITTLE DENT. DO NOT KNOW WHO HIT ME BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT SATURDAY AUGUST 17TH,2013. I DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING MORE UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING. NOW I HAVE A TRANSMISSION SIGN WARNING ON MY DASH. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2013
Apr 2013

9/27/10: DRIVER'S SIDE HALF AXLE/POWERTRAIN FAILED AT 19,500 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. 7/15/13 AT 44,550 MILES, BOTH THE REPLACEMENT DRIVER'S SIDE HALF AXLE FAILED AND ALSO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FAILED FOR THE FIRST TIME. AT THIS RATE IT SEEMS THAT THE HALF-AXLES HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY 20-25 K MILES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2010
Jan 2013

TRANSMISSION WITH HESITATION SHIFTING AND SHUDDER ON SLIGHT INCLINE AT ABOUT 32-35 MPH AND OCCASIONALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2012
Dec 2012

TRANSMISSION WITH HESITATION SHIFTING AND SHUDDER ON SLIGHT INCLINE AT ABOUT 32-35 MPH. ALSO HAS HARD DOWNSHIFTS THROUGH GEARS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2012
Feb 2011

2008 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH VCM. THE TRANSMISSION CHRONIC JERKING WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 39-41, 49-51, 59-61, 69-71 MPH. COMPLAINED TO HONDA DEALER THREE TIMES, BUT THE MASTER MECHANIC DID NOT FIND ANY ISSUE. THIS HAPPENED SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2011
Jan 2011

I OWN A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR LATER I RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN RECALL NOTICE PERTAINING TO THE JUDDER FAILURE FROM HONDA ADVISING ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE UPGRADE. THE DEALER MADE UPGRADES TO THE VEHICLE SOFTWARE. THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE WAS SUPPOSED TO REMEDY THE VIBRATIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING AT 47 ' 55 MPH. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE SOFTWARE WAS UPGRADED. AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER. BUT THE VEHICLE STILL VIBRATES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY TEST DROVE MY VEHICLE AND A DEALER'S 2007 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH ME AND THEY FELT THE VIBRATION FROM BOTH VEHICLES. THE VIBRATION FROM MY VEHICLE WAS WORSE THAN THE DEALER'S VEHICLE. BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE HONDA PREVIOUSLY HAD RECALLED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,100. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2010
Jan 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR LATER THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN RECALL NOTICE ADVISING HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE UPGRADE. THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE WAS SUPPOSED TO REMEDY THE VIBRATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE SOFTWARE WAS UPGRADED. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE FAILURE BEGAN TO RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 240,100.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2008
Jan 2011 Crash Injury

I HAVE A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. WAS PREPARING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UPON STEPPING ON THE BRAKES. HAD TO PUT CAR INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF TO STOP THE ACCELERATION. RPMS WERE UP TO 6. THAT WAS 2 1/2 WEEKS AGO. YESTERDAY 1/19/11 THE SAME THING HAPPENED UPON STEPPING ON THE BRAKE TO STOP FOR A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, THE CAR ACCELERATED AGAIN TO WHERE I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND HIT THE CAR INFRONT OF ME. I HAD TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE TO STOP THE CAR FROM EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION. BROUGHT THE CAR TO HONDA THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. CURRENTLY ITS AT THE DEALER WHERE I HAD IT TOWED BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE IS A DANGER TO THE ROAD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2011
Jul 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING FROM 20-45 MPH, THE JUDDER WOULD FAIL, CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO LOCK INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN RECALL PERTAINING TO THE JUDDER FAILURE. THE DEALER MADE UPGRADES TO THE VEHICLE SOFTWARE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO FIRST ADAPT TO THE SOFTWARE UPDATES BEFORE THE FAILURE WOULD BE CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2010
May 2010

MY 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY HAS SIGNIFICANT LURCHING WHEN TRYING TO MAINTAIN ACCELERATION BETWEEN 20 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR. THIS PROBLEM STARTED APPROX ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. HONDA REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER, BUT THE SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED. HONDA JUST RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED A "SOFTWARE UPDATE" - HONDA BULLETIN #09-053 (LOCK UP CLUTCH FUNCTION). THIS PROBLEM SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO ON-GOING COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE LEXUS VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2010
Apr 2010

THE CAR HAS BEEN VIBRATING WHEN ACCELERATING FOR ABOUT 10,000 MILES. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND IT IS 3X WORSE THEN BEFORE. I HAVE 33,000 MILES ON IT AND I WAS TOLD THE NEXT STEP IS FOR ME TO PAY FOR A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND IF THAT DOES NOT FIX IT THEN THEY WILL REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS UNDER WARRANTY, IF THEY ARE JUST DELAYING FIXING THE REAL ISSUE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2007
Oct 2009

TRANSMISSION ERROR VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN DOWN SHIFTING THE GEARS. DEALER TOLD US IT WAS AN RECALL AND EXCHANGED THE TRANSMISSION BUT STILL HAD THAT PROBLEM.WAS REPAIRED AGAIN AND THIRD TIME IT STARTED HAVING SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2008
Oct 2008

2008 HONDA ODYSSEY HAS TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 4000 MILES/ 3 MONTHS OLD DUE TO LEAK. DEALERSHIP TRIED REPLACING FRONT CASE SEAL BUT DIDN'T FIX PROBLEM. SERVICE WRITER SAID THAT THIS IS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH HONDA AND THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT THEY ALWAYS TRY REPLACING SEAL FIRST THEN REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2008
Aug 2008

2008 HONDA ODYSSEY LEASED ON MAY 27, 2008 AT PS HONDA (LONG ISLAND). CAR BROKE DOWN ON AUGUST 15 AT I-95 CT TPKE. CAUSE WAS A TRANSMISSION LEAK AND CLUTCH GOT BURNED. UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN WILL IT BE FIXED. HONDA WESTPORT AND PS HONDA REFUSED TO SHOULDER CAR RENTAL. FILED A COMPLAINT AT AMERICAN HONDA ABOUT THE NEW VAN THAT BROKE DOWN AND REFUSAL TO PAY CAR RENTAL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2008
May 2008 Crash

TWO WEEKS AGO WE PURCHASED A 2008 ODYSSEY. SATURDAY MORNING, IT DROVE ITSELF INTO A SHED AFTER TRAVELING UP A HILL AND STILL IN PARK! SITUATION: I WAS UNHOOKING A TRAILER, MY SON WAS HELPING. I GOT IN THE VAN TO PULL THE TRAILER FORWARD A BIT AS WE WERE ON A HILL AND THE TRAILER WAS STUCK, SEEN AS IT WAS NOT LATCHED DOWN.. MY FAULT, AS SOON AS I MOVED IT UNHOOKED AND STARTED ROLLING AWAY, I SLAMMED THE VAN INTO PARK, GOT OUT AND RAN AFTER THE TRAILER, GOT THE TRAILER STOPPED, I THEN TURNED AROUND AND THE VAN WAS DRIVING OFF, NOT JUST SLOWLY BUT PICKING UP SPEED AS IT WAS DRIVING UP A HILL AND THEN DROVE INTO THE NEIGHBORS SHED. I RAN AFTER IT IN AN ATTEMPT TO CATCH IT, IT IS MY BELIEF THAT IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN GOING ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR. I GOT TO THE VAN AND IT WAS IN PARK. I HAD TO TURN THE KEY OF TO GET IT TO QUIT TRYING TO INCH IT'S WAY FORWARD. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY BASICALLY SAID NO KNOWN ISSUES SO YOU ARE SCREWED.. I CALLED HONDA OF AMERICA ND THEY WERE NOT REALLY WILLING TO ASSIST IN THE MATTER. I DO HAVE A CLAIM TICKET OPEN WITH THEM AT THIS TIME. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2008
Apr 2008

ON 4/28/08, THE VEHICLES THROTTLE STOPPED RESPONDING WHILE IN MOTION IN TRAFFIC AND THEN HAD TO BE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE. WHILE THIS HAPPENED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE VSA LIGHTS CAME ON. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN ALL OF A SUDDEN DUE TO THIS IN TRAFFIC. SIMILAR PROBLEMS HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST FOR 4 OTHER TIMES. HERE ARE THE DATES AND DESCRIPTION OF EACH EVENT. 1.ON 12/30/2008, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE VSA LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE CAME ON WITH WEIRD ENGINE NOISE AND I CALLED THE DEALER (AUTO WEST HONDA) IMMEDIATELY TO NOTIFY THEM OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER REQUESTED TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE TO THEIR SERVICE CENTER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON 01/02/2008. 2.ON 01/13/2008, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSA LIGHT AND SLIDE DOOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE REAR RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER PERFORMED REPAIR ATTEMPTS AND REPLACED THE RELAY UNIT. 3.ON 01/26/2008, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSA LIGHT AND THE SLIDE DOOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND THERE WAS NO ENGINE RESPONSE TO THE THROTTLE, VEHICLE WAS TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP THE SAME DAY. DEALER ATTEMPTED A REPAIR AND SAID ECM WAS REPLACED. 4.ON 04/11/2008, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSA LIGHT AND THE SLIDE DOOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND THERE WAS NO ENGINE RESPONSE TO THE THROTTLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP TILL 4/19/08. DEALER PERFORMED A REPAIR WITH ADVICE FROM HONDA TECH SUPPORT AND SAID THAT THE MULTIPLEX UNIT WAS REPLACED AND PROBLEM SHOULD NOT RE-OCCUR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Apr 2008
Feb 2008

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATION SHIFTING 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. HESITATION IS PRONOUNCED DURING COLD STARTS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2008

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2008 Honda Odyssey has 21 Power Train complaints on file. 4 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.