Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Honda Odyssey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a grinding noise was present coming from the front brakes. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the front brake rotors but after retrieving the vehicle the failure persisted. Additionally, while driving, the braking system would erroneously activate causing the vehicle to suddenly stop. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who was unable to identify the cause of the failure. The vehicle continued to experience the failures and the Vehicle Stability Assistance (VSA) light started to continually flash off and on. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the ABS module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired due to the part being on backorder. The failure mileage was 209,000.
My 2008 Honda Odyssey was involved in a crash today because when I applied the brakes it did not want to stop. My pedal was to the floor but my van did not stop. I was only going about 25 MPH but had no stopping power. I have experienced this on a few other occasion but my vehicle was not included in the past recall.
On 09/07/14, was involved in a 4 car accident. Traveling westbound on route 60, near i605, light traffic at approx. 3:45 pm. # 1 lane was closing, due to fwy work/maintenance. Saw signs and proceeded to move from the #1 lane to the #2 lane, while in the #2 lane noticed the flashing arrow for the lane closure. I estimate I slowed to about 60 MPH, since traffic was merging, car in front was approx. 6-7 cars lengths ahead, when I saw brake lights from the car ahead of me and they had come to a complete stop. Which appeared to be from an accident. I immediately applied the brakes hard to stop, but could not stop in time. Ended up hitting the vehicle in from lightly, maybe about 5-10 MPH at time of impact. Based upon the distance from the car ahead, I should have been able to stop our vehicle. …
Dangerous braking due to soft brake pedal; relative to NHTSA campaign number 10V098000. This recall has been previously addressed on this vehicle, however, the problem persists. Increased stopping distance, vehicle has a tendency to roll through stop signs or stop lights if driver is not careful to begin stopping earlier than normal. Vehicle has a new master cylinder installed yet the problem remains. Elevated vehicle on jack stands to check caliper function. Discovered only two wheels are braking. With engine running, while on jack stands, I had my wife press and hold the brake pedal while I attempted to roll each wheel; the left front and right rear wheels rolled freely with brake pedal pressed, and the right front and left rear were unable to be rolled with brake pedal pressed. With brake pedal pressed and a proper bleeding sequence, I opened the bleeder valve on the calipers. …
I have read that a lot of 2008 Honda Odyssey have a brake pedal that goes to the floor and my brake pedal does the same. I had to drive very slow so the car will stop, pedal goes to floor before slowly stopping. Honda dealer replaced the master cylinder $600.00 drove home, went back next day because it was not the right fix. Dealer had it all day, said he talked to Honda tech dept. On phone checked computers and other things as per tech advice, every thing is working as it should, no cost to me but brake pedal still goes to the floor. My wife can not drive this car, it is parked till you can tell me how it can be fixed and safe for us to drive and every one on the road. I could not live with myself if my family were hurt or if this 2008 Honda Odyssey could not stop and hurt or killed other people. Please make Honda fix these brakes.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. While driving between 30-35 MPH, the contact engaged the brake pedal and the vehicle would not respond. The contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle causing that vehicle to crash into the rear of another vehicle. There were no injuries. A police report was available. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for repairs to the brakes and body damage. The contact stated that prior to the failure, he had contacted the dealer three times in regards to NHTSA campaign id number: 10V098000 (service brakes, air). The dealer advised that the contact would need to physically receive the recall letter before they would further inspect the vehicle for failures. The contact received notification of the recall following the crash and repairs. The failure mileage was approximately 38,436.
Tl contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. While driving approximately 25-30 MPH, the vehicle in front of him suddenly stopped. The contact applied the brakes but he crashed into the rear of vehicle. There were no injuries and no police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who could not duplicate the failure. The failure had been ongoing since April 2008, and the vehicle had been taken to the dealer several times, but there had been no repairs made. The vehicle was recently repaired according to recall 10V098000 (service brakes, air) but when the brakes were applied, the vehicle shook. The vehicle was not taken back to the dealer for the failure. The failure mileage was 1,000 and the current mileage was 65,365.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. While driving and depressing the brake pedal, the contact had to depress the brake pedal approximately 2/3 of the way down before the vehicle began to slow down or stop. The contact had the vehicle repaired in 2010 for an unknown recall regarding the vsa modulator control; however, the failure recurred. The contact called brown Honda (located at 6155 w central ave, toledo, oh 43615, [phone]) and was informed of TSB 10-017, NHTSA id number. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. The VIN was unknown.
I took my 2008 Honda Odyssey to the dealer after receiving the brake recall notice. The dealer made the changes to correct the problem as per the recall notice. About 1 month later while I was traveling 50 -55 mphi had to stop quickly to avoid hitting a car that had stopped in the road ahead of me. The brake pedal went to the floor and the van did not stop so I was forced to pull off the road onto a lawn and my van side swiped a mailbox . This was a terrifying experience for me and my 11 year old son who was in the passenger seat. I took the van back to the dealer on Monday( 2 days after the accident) but was told the brakes were fine and the recall had been fixed appropriately.
Tl contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact was driving 5 MPH and attempted to park, when the brakes were engaged the vehicle failed to slow down and crashed into a utility pole. No one was injured. A police report was not filed. The vehicle sustained scratches to the front bumper. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician confirmed that the brakes functioned properly. There was a prior repair performed on the vehicle in 2010 for NHTSA recall campaign id number 10V098000 (service brakes, air). The remedy failed to correct the problem and the contact planned to notify the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Related recalls
Service brakes, air
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.
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.
NHTSA investigations
Air in brake system
The office of defects investigation (odi) has received 69 complaints, and Honda has received 613 complaints and field reports, alleging low/soft/spongy brake pedal travel in model year (my) 2006 through 2008 Honda odyssey minivans.twenty-six odi complaints were also reported to Honda, resulting in a total complaint count of 656.some complaints allege that the condition resulted in extended stopping distances,…
Air in brake system
By letter dated March 15, 2010, American Honda Motor Corp. (HMC) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA Recall No. 10V-098) to address a defect in approximately 412,000 model year (MY) 2007 and 2008 Honda Odyssey and Element vehicles equipped with an ABS/VSA/TCS modulator.
Brake complaints in other Odyssey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2008 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA has 163 complaints about the brakes of the 2008 Honda Odyssey, 33% of the model year's 499 complaints. The component named most often is pedals and linkages (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Honda Odyssey brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 10V-098 (service brakes, air, Mar 16, 2010). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2008 Honda Odyssey brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 27,000 miles, and 47% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 19 crashes, 2 fires and 3 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.