Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
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).
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.
Car emits a grinding sound when throttle is in a cruise or slight accel position. Engine gets "stuck" at 1500 RPM's where it emits grinding sound the loudest. Can also feel it in the gas pedal. Normal sequence is this: 1) accel to ~40mph 2) once at steady state and in 4th gear, engine rpms will fall to 1500. 3) RPM will get "caught" at 1500, makes grinding sound 4) rpms might breakthrough 1500, pop up to 1800, and grinding noise will diminish. 5) rpms will then drop below 1500, then rise and get stuck at 1500 again along with infuriating noise and pedal vibration. Cycle is usually 5-10 seconds. Going slightly uphill makes it cycle more frequently. Going downhill doesn't make noise since trans is disengaged. It's also hard to tell if lower gears do the same thing because engine noise and vibration drown out grinding sound/feel. …
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. …
Turning onto highway, heard a loud bang, checked my dash, no warning lights illuminated, thought it was a rock or road debris that hit the vehicle. Continued toward our destination at 55 MPH, about a mile down the road the ABS lighted up, then the vsa, then the TPMS, then the seatbelt light, then the radio went out, the gauges were next, finally the battery light came on, I let the vehicle come to a halt using very little brakes. As soon as I stopped the engine died and no lights would come on, had to manually unlock and manually open the door. Called the Honda dealership, said it would be towed in that day 24 sept 2016, there was no accident, but for this to happen with no warning whatsoever, is of concern to me. I don't know if this is a hardware or software glitch, we had the vehicle in for maintenance just this past week, timing belt, rear brakes, oil change. …
Vehicle affected is a 2008 Honda Odyssey. While driving various speeds, the ABS would erroneously activate and caused the vehicle to suddenly decelerate. During the failure, the vehicle stability control warning indicator illuminated. The if coming to a complete stop, auto would not go into gear when accelerator pressed. Worked better in d2, still having same issues. And reverse not working at all. Burning smell like that of rubber. Battery light was also on, had not been on before. VIN# is ([redacted]). Taking the vehicle into mckinney Honda dealership of north texas Honda group. Incident occurred on 9/18/2019, will be taken to dealer 9/19/2019 redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 U.S.c. 552(b)(6).
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.
While driving between shift change and slow down you will feel a jerking feeling or it feels like something is pulling the car back behind and pushing it at the same time, a friend who is a mechanic test drove my van and he said that the transmission is the giving up, I research about the Honda Mini van it has been notorious to have transmission problem, my van only has 108274miles on it and it is considered low mileage to his age, and it can cause an accident because of sudden jerking while running on 40mph to 60mph
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.
Brakes are too soft. Had accident twice already because brakes dont react like they are suppose to. You have to push the brake down really hard. With that also said transmission has been a problem since day 1. You hear a loud noise when you change gears. Went to the Honda dealer and they said its normal. I dont think this should be making loud grunting noise.
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. …
Transmission complaints in other Odyssey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2008 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA has 41 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2008 Honda Odyssey, 8% of the model year's 499 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Honda Odyssey transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2008 Honda Odyssey, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Honda Odyssey transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 31% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.