2020 Honda Odyssey: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 342 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, automatic emergency braking, and engine. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2020- Owner complaints
- 342
- Recalls
- 11
- Crashes reported
- 4
- 18 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2020 Honda Odyssey: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/4
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Odyssey is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2020 Honda Odyssey. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | FWD | 22 mpg |
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Odyssey that averages well under the EPA 22 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Transmission failure
24,000–67,000 miles
Forward camera failure
37,000–94,000 miles
Engine knock, bearing failure
84,688–105,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Honda Odyssey, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Electrical120No crashes
The windshield camera fails and shuts off adaptive cruise, lane keeping, collision mitigation braking and auto high beams. A Brake System light often comes on with them. Dealers read code U3000-49, and repair quotes run from about $1300 to $2,980. Another common fault is the infotainment network dropping out. Owners hear speaker crackling, see a Network Communication Lost message and lose the backup camera. Recall 23V-431 covers this, though some say the fault returns after the recall repair. Owners also report idle stop failing to restart the engine and water damage to the tailgate module. A power sliding door injured one child's hand.
Automatic emergency braking60No crashes
The multipurpose camera behind the windshield fails internally, and the dash shows a stack of warnings at every start. Collision mitigation, adaptive cruise, lane keeping, road departure mitigation and auto high beams stop working. The Brake System light stays on, and brake hold can quit too. Failures usually start between 37,000 and 90,000 miles. They often come and go at first, then become constant. Dealer quotes range from about $1500 to $2700. In one report a warranty replacement camera also failed. Another describes jerking, lost power and dim headlights along with code U3000-49.
Engine201 crash
Two separate problems show up here. In the first, idle stop shuts the engine off at a light and it will not restart. Some owners see a Collision Mitigation warning, a flashing D and a shift-to-park message while stuck in traffic. One stall at about 28,800 miles led to a rear-end crash with injury. In the second, a knock from inside the engine gets worse until a rod bearing fails or the engine needs replacing. These reports fall between 84,688 and 105,000 miles, and one quote reached $10,000. A 2024 software recall addressed idle stop. One owner reports a trunk fire.
Lane keeping19No crashes
The forward camera above the rearview mirror fails. Lane keeping, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise, collision braking and auto high beams all stop working, with warnings at every start. Dealers log code U3000-49 and quote about $2,060 to $2,104.99 to replace and calibrate the camera. Reports cluster around 60,000 to 66,000 miles, and one owner first saw the fault after a hot day. In a few cases the same warnings come from a water-damaged tailgate control module, which also drains the battery. One owner describes widespread electrical faults that began after an infotainment recall repair.
Body and structure12No crashes
The power liftgate closes on its own and keeps closing when someone is standing under it. It has struck two owners, and shops blame the struts, with one quote over $1,200. Power sliding doors fail to open, reverse while closing, or open by themselves after the van is shifted into drive. Dealers cite pinch sensors and torn door bushings. Water leaking through a roof seam soaks the tailgate module, which disables driver-assist features and drains the battery. One moonroof shattered while driving on a 100+ degree day.
Transmission12No crashes
The 10-speed automatic fails with little or no warning. Vans lurch, drop gears at highway speed, refuse to go past first gear or go into limp mode with a burning smell. Dealers find burnt fluid or damaged gears and replace the transmission. Reported failures range from 24,000 to 67,000 miles, and one estimate came to $10k+. Other complaints describe the van shifting itself into park in traffic, refusing to accelerate after a CMBS warning, or stalling in turns. One owner reports an engine knock tied to a crankshaft bearing service bulletin.
Brakes11No crashes
There are two kinds of brake complaints. In a few, the van shakes or grinds and won't stop, or the pedal sinks to the floor, sometimes in the first 4,000 miles. Others describe automatic braking that kicks in for no reason while parking or right after idle stop restarts the engine. The rest are the forward camera failure, which turns on the Brake System light and disables collision mitigation and adaptive cruise. One dealer quoted $1,800 for a new camera.
Airbags102 crashes
Airbags go off in minor events, including pothole hits, bottoming out at 2-3 mph and low-speed curb slides in snow. A few reports describe deployment with no impact at all. Side and curtain airbags are mentioned often, and occupants describe burns and abrasions. Dealers usually call these normal deployments and send owners to their insurers. Other complaints cover a passenger airbag light that stays on, SRS faults that come back after the module is replaced, and recall 24V064000 with no parts available. The category lists 2 crashes and 3 injuries.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Odyssey owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
We have 2020 Honda Odyssey with 4500 miles and multi purpose camera quit working and Honda service center ran a scan and confirmed malfunction of camera and replacement costed over $1600. Internet tells me that many other similar vehicle have similar issue. It should be a recall and fixed free.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2025
The start/stop system engaging at a red light on a busy highway shutting the engine off. When the light turned green and my foot was released from the brake the vehicle would not restart. The vehicle would not go into neutral so i was stuck in the lane of a major highway. This happened twice before and Honda said they needed to reprogram the system. They did and now it has happened again leaving me and my family in a very dangerous situation.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2025
The forward facing camera failed on my 2020 Odyssey with only 90,000 miles. Because of this failure, I am loosing all my forward facing safety features. This seems to be a common issue across many Honda vehicles and most users report being told the issue is being caused by overheating. Since users are being told this is a cause and effect issue, the manufacturer should address this at their expense. I first noticed this issue in mid September 2025.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2025
The front multipurpose camera has failed “due to internal failure” according to the service tech at local Honda dealer. The camera functions - lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, front collision warning, and auto High beam lights, have not functioned for the past month. The windshield was replaced more than a year ago and no other incidents caused the failure, so it seems the camera itself is the issue. My van only has 63,868 miles on it.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2025
When the car engages the Idle Stop feature and shuts the engine off, the engine does not restart immediately once the brake is released. This has happened multiple times but the last time a message appeared that said to change gears and restart the car. In the meantime the vehicle was in traffic and stopped for over a minute before it could be restarted. This put us in danger of a rear end collision as other cars were wanting to go.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2023
In the past six months the Honda "auto-start" feature has caused my vehicle not to restart while stopped at an intersection. Honda needs to immediately recall all Gen 5 vehicles that use the auto-start feature and permanently disable (or give an option to disable) this useless, safety-affecting "feature". Thank you.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2025
The multipurpose camera in the vehicle failed, causing multiple warning lights to come on related to the collision warning, blind spot warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and others. The dealership said it needed to be replaced, as it was no longer working and none of these features would work without replacement
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
The multifunction forward looking camera in the top of the windshield developed an "internal fault" and either needs replacement or these safety features will fail to work. These safety features allow me to avoid accidents. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer. There are warning lamps that state that these features are no longer working.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2025
How the 2020 compares with other Odyssey years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2020 ranks third for owner complaints among 9 Odyssey years, about 1.3 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Electrical12058
- Automatic emergency braking6027
- Engine2023
- Lane keeping190
- Body and structure1213
- Transmission1236
Recalls to confirm (11)
Recall repairs are free at any Honda dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
24V064000AirbagsFeb 2024
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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024, October 18, 2024, and August 2025. 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.
23V858000Fuel systemDec 2023
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.
Fix: 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 NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
23V431000Backup cameraJun 2023
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.
Fix: 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.
23V174000Wipers and visibilityMar 2023
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.
Fix: 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.
23V158000Seat beltsMar 2023
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching.
Risk: An unlatched seat belt cannot properly restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seat belt buckle release buttons or the buckle assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are NDA, QDB, BDC, MDD, LD9. TDF, FDG, ODH, YDI, ZDE.
21V010000Fuel systemJan 2021
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.
Fix: 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.
20V438000Backup cameraJul 2020
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Odyssey vehicles. Water may get into the rearview camera mounting holes and enter the camera lens and cause a distorted image, or no image at all. Additionally, if the rearview camera view mode is set to top-down view, or switched from that view to another mode in a bright environment, the image may not display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rearview Mirrors.".
Risk: A distorted or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is W83.
20V439000Backup cameraJul 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Passport, and 2019-2021 Pilot vehicles. Incorrect instrument panel control module software can cause the instrument panel to not display critical information, such as engine oil pressure, speedometer, and gear selector position until the next ignition cycle. Additionally, it can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rearview Mirrors.".
Risk: Operating a vehicle without a functioning instrument panel or rearview camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument panel control module software, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is T89.
20V440000ElectricalJul 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Pilot, 2019-2020 Odyssey and 2019-2020 Passport vehicles. Incorrect central network software programming may cause several errors to occur that can delay or prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors.".
Risk: A delayed or inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners that updated software is available. Owners have the option to either follow the mailed instructions to download and update the software for free, or visit a dealer to have the software update performed, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is Y7Y.
20V437000Door latches and locksJul 2020
Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey vehicles. Water may enter the outer door handle cables for the sliding doors. If this occurs, the outer door handle cables may freeze in cold temperatures, preventing the front and rear sliding door latches from securely latching.
Risk: A power sliding door that fails to latch may open while moving, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power sliding door outer handle cables, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is A88.
20V066000ElectricalFeb 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey vehicles. The wire harness for the third row seat accessory power outlet may get pinched between the unibody and rear trim panel, possibly damaging the wires and causing an electrical short.
Risk: An intermittent electrical short could overheat the wire harness, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third row seat accessory power outlet wire harness for damage, replacing it as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and re-route the harness. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is T6U.
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