2008 Honda Odyssey: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 499 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is structure (24% of complaints); the 2009 and 2010 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jul 2014
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 499 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stationary, the vehicle was leaking gasoline. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's boyfriend saw and took a video of the vehicle pouring gasoline. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the engine was running during the failure. The vehicle will be towed to the dealer but has not yet been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Feb 2025
“235/65/R16. Tire blew out throwing car to the left in a ditch going around a curve . Air bags went off from impact. Car front had significant damage.”Owner report · Tires · Jul 2024
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Honda Odyssey on April 13,2024. The sale was a private sell. The contact stated at the time of purhcase the odometer was recorded at 129,000. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact attempted to use the vehicle as a trade in. The contact was informed that the CARFAX report last recored the odometer reading on April 6, 2024, at 230,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Apr 2024
Show 7 more owner reports
“Incident #1: 1/18/2024, 102k miles. Engine surged to 2k while braking coming to a light. Close to hitting stopped car. Shifted to neutral rpm speed up to 4k. Incident #2: 1/31/2025: 107k miles. Slowing turning into driveway car would not stop rpm at 2k. Then shifted to neutral where rpm climbed to 4k.”Owner report · Engine · Jan 2024
“My doors wasn't latching or shutting all the way. The power doors and windows wouldn't work sometimes. Then the back sliding door fell off. Engaged the automatic door and damaged the side of the van. I seen there were recalls but none for my Vin I don't know what to do.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Apr 2022
“The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that when opening the rear driving sliding door, the door detached. The door ended up falling to the ground onto the contact's foot causing permanent injury. Medical attention was needed. The dealer was contacted who stated they were no recall on the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated they noticed that the door was attached by two small arms on the front end of the door (none on the rear end of the door) and a wheel with the track. There was nothing else there to hold the door. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and opened a case regarding the matter. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Structure · Sep 2021
“The contact owned a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at 60 mph, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated to 10 mph. A driver alerted the contact that the rear of the vehicle had caught fire. Another driver passing by informed the contact to get into his vehicle for safety, and the contact exited her vehicle and went into the other driver's vehicle. The police and fire department was contacted and the fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a used car lot and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.”Owner report · Firerelated · Aug 2021
“2008 Honda Odyssey with issue with piston rings confirmed by mechanic. There are known issues with the piston rings in certain cylinders may rotate and align, leading to engine oil consumption and spark plug fouling. Honda has agreed to settle a massive class-action lawsuit brought against it for engine trouble potentially affecting nearly 1.6 million vehicles. The lawsuit includes Accord (2008-12), Odyssey (2008-13), Pilot (2009-13) and Crosstour (2010-13) models equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 with Variable Cylinder Management, which might experience engine misfire, excessive oil burning and premature spark plug fouling issues.”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2021
“My car was stationary, and someone hit it on the driver side and sped off. They backed into me hard though and messed up the back driver side door off won't open”Owner report · Suspension · Mar 2021
“The seal plastic around small window on the sliding door both sides it's ripping apart, I really worry about it because I had two kids 9 and 11 years old, the actual plastic dial it's melting and I worry about kids can put that out in their mouth and be dangers for if they eat by accident.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2020
When filing, owners marked a crash in 37 of these complaints and injuries in 44 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured August 8, 2006, through September 8, 2008. Due to a combination of system components and software, the Vehicle Safety Assist System (VSA) may apply the brakes unexpectedly.
Remedy: Parts to remedy these vehicles will not be available until the spring of 2014. Honda will send owners an interim letter notifying them of the issue and instruct them how to prevent unintended braking. A second notification will be sent when the parts become available. Interim notification was mailed in December 2013. The recall began on April 29, 2014. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009 or visit their website at www.recalls.honda.com. Honda's recall number is JC5.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain 2005-2010 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured June 23, 2004, through September 4, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the fuel pump strainer cover may deteriorate allowing fuel to leak out.
Remedy: Parts to permanently repair the affected vehicles are not currently available. Honda will notify owners with an interim letter during May 2014. A second notice was mailed to owners October 6, 2014 when the remedy became available. Any vehicles that are currently leaking from the fuel pump cover will get a replacement, original cover. All vehicles, including those receiving the interim repair, will get an improved cover when they are available. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. The recall numbers associated with this campaign are JD9 (inspection and/or preliminary part replacement) and JE0 (final parts replacement).
HONDA HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 ODYSSEY AND ELEMENT PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 28, 2006 AND AUGUST 21, 2008. AIR CAN ENTER THE VSA MODULAR PUMP DURING AN INITIAL SELF-CHECK PROCESS THAT OCCURS SHORTLY AFTER EACH TIME THE ENGINE IS STARTED. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ENOUGH AIR TO ENTER THE SYSTEM TO RESULT IN A BRAKE PEDAL THAT FEELS SOFT OR LOWER TO THE FLOOR.
Remedy: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNER AND HONDA DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VSA MODULATOR BY REMOVING ANY EXISTING AIR IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM THEN APPLY SEALANT AND CAPS TO PREVENT AIR FROM ENTERING THE BRAKE SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 3, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
Delphi Automotive Systems, LLC (Delphi) is recalling certain replacement fuel pump modules, part number FG1155-11B1, sold for use in 2005-2010 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The affected fuel pump may send an incorrect fuel reading to the fuel gauge possibly causing the vehicle to run out of fuel. The fuel gauge will always read 3/4 full to full regardless of the actual level.
Remedy: Delphi has begun notifying dealers and distributors, and will replace the fuel pump modules, free of charge. Owners may contact Delphi customer service at 1-877-411-8770. Delphi's number for this recall is GL14-004.
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 ODYSSEY VEHICLES, THE GAS-FILLED STRUTS THAT HELP TO RAISE AND SUPPORT THE LIFTGATE OF VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A POWER LIFTGATE SYSTEM MAY BE PRONE TO EARLY LIFE FAILURES DUE TO A MANUFACTURING FLAW. THE FLAW CAN RESULT IN A LEAK OF THE PRESSURIZED GAS, LEADING TO REDUCED STRUT PERFORMANCE.
Remedy: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH POWER LIFTGATE GAS STRUTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 12, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-999-1009.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2008 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Odyssey by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Honda Odyssey reliable?
NHTSA has 499 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2008 Honda Odyssey. The most complained-about area is structure (24% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2008 Honda Odyssey problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 55,000 miles or less.
Does the 2008 Honda Odyssey have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning electrical system:software. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.