Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Honda Odyssey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My car self-combusted and caught fire while parked in my driveway. The fire started in the hood of the car and continued for 30 minutes or so despite my best efforts to put out with my hose. The fire department had to come to put out the fire. The car was parked for 90 minutes from last usage and no one was in the car. The temperature outside was around 80 degrees. This is potentially a huge safety risk for Odyssey owners. The car had 124k miles on it and had done the full 120k maintenance service at Honda dealer (Honda of Kirkland). The car was serviced per regular maintenance schedule by the Honda dealer. Hard to believe a car will go up in flames on my driveway like that. See pictures. Fire department was from Eastside Fire Station 33. Captain Kurt McGowan. Fire witnessed by many of my neighbors who also tried to help me put out the fire before fire truck came.
We had driven less than half a mile, and we're sitting in traffic to turn when all of the warning lights came on and the van shut off. We restarted the car and the same thing happened. Then there was a popping noise and smoke began coming from under the hood. Within 2 minutes the van caught on fire. The entire engine compartment burned, as did the windshield and part of the dashboard.
The contact owns a 2010 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal odor of fuel detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.
The incidents of sudden acceleration while braking on this model are vast. My van has experienced several sudden un-commanded acceleration incidents while braking starting in 2022. Honda lawyers are in control and thus no technical explanation. My last event was on [redacted] post hurricane Helene in Asheville N.C. The response of the NHTSA is needed due to people of modest means need to keep their car as long as possible. This requires honest service information from Honda. Honda has reaped a well deserved dividend cultivating the belief that their product with careful use can last 20 years or more. Honda does not deserve to reap this benefit while failing to execute an honest service which creates an unsafe vehicle. In 2023 the Throttle Position Sensor and its complete assembly was replaced in hope of a resolution. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2010 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving on the freeway at 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact drove to the side of the road and upon exiting the vehicle, the contact saw smoke emerging from the front of the vehicle. The contact then stated that the vehicle engulfed in flames. There were no crash or injuries due to the fire. The fire department was contacted and was able to extinguish the fire. The police arrived on scene but a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a impound lot. The contact had not notified a local dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and the contact filed a formal complaint with them. The failure mileage was 120,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2010 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while his wife was driving a burning odor was present. After parking and exiting the vehicle smoke and flames were present coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the fire. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed. A fire report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the fire was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not notified. The failure mileage was 79,000.
Purchased this van 03/24/16.. While driving on highway,the check engine light came on, I pulled over check the dip stick and there was but a drop of oil in it ...I took a taxi to the nearest gas station bought 3 bottles of oil and I added 2 quarts of oil that day, I had called 2 days prior to make an appointment for an oil change and they told me I should wait till its at 15%(it was at 30% when I called) then 2 days in the light came on... I didn't drive the van after I got home till the date of the appointment 08/18/16, the dealer service dept. Telling me that they are going to place the van on a oil consumption test and I must check the oil levels each time I fill up at the gas station.. …
Honda service bulletin [redacted] I recently discovered after doing some research on why my 2010 Odyssey is showing cylinder1 misfire code. I replaced the injectors, swapped coil packs, etc. Still cylinder1 misfire issue. Now I find out that Honda is aware of this issue and related to VCM and some rings on piston(s) aligning. Fortunately for Honda, the 8 years unlimited miles is most likely out of a window where statistically the issue will be seen. That is my case. Sept 25, 2021 is when this first started, and has continued to be an issue. I never received notice from Honda since this is a used van. Anyway, I would like some assistance in rectifying this issue for our family van. My local Honda dealer is not even remotely interested in repairing the issue based on [redacted] because of the 8 year extended warranty is no longer applicable. I need help from Honda NA. …
Our engine is always so low on oil it does not register on the dip stick. In this state I add 1.5 quarts of oil. I read online that a massive amount of Honda vehicles have this issue when our vehicle triggered a check engine code and looked up the code. I brought the vehicle to the dealer in westminster ca and they did a check for oil consumption and had us return in 1000 miles. When we hit that mileage 3 weeks later I checked the oil in the morning before returning to the dealer and again the oil did not register on the dip stick. The dealer had the van for 4 hours and then told us it was checked and found to be 0.60 quarts low and that they considered it with normal range of oil consumption. I personally believe they lied and that the van was at least 1.25 quarts low. …
Pivot bolt on the auto-tensioner broke twice. The first time the pivot bolt broke was after I had the alternator replaced and I was driving down the highway to take children to school in subzero winter conditions. I barely made it home as my van was running only on the battery. If I had stalled along the road, me and my children were at risk of hypothermia or possibly death due to frigid -40 cold weather. I then had a new tensioner pulley bracket installed and after driving down the highway and the pivot bolt broke off completely again. This is very dangerous condition that can cause serious harm or death due to defective pivot bolt..
Engine complaints in other Odyssey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2010 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA has 56 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2010 Honda Odyssey, 22% of the model year's 255 complaints. The component named most often is engine (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Honda Odyssey engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2010 Honda Odyssey, though it has 1 recall 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 2010 Honda Odyssey engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 99,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 5 fires and 1 injury to engine & cooling 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.