Most common 2011 Honda Odyssey problems
Share of the 235 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Honda Odyssey complaints by model year
Best Odyssey years: 2017, 2015, 2013. Years to avoid: 2025, 2019, 2018, 2020, 2002. Compare all years →
2011 Honda Odyssey recalls (5)
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The second row outboard seats can slide sideways to one of two positions. If a seat is placed between either of the two positions when attaching the seat to the vehicle floor, the seat will not latch properly to the seat striker, allowing…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket to the second row outboard floor strikers, free of charge. The recall began April 2, 2018.
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Odyssey vehicles manufactured August 17, 2010, to October 1, 2015. The affected vehicles have second row outboard seats that have a release lever that allows the seats to move for easier access to the third row of seats.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional bracket and spring to both second row outboard seats, free of charge. Interim letter has been mailed, and a second notification will be sent .
Air bags
Honda is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Pilot and 2011-2013 Odyssey passenger vehicles manufactured from March 13, 2008, through December 21, 2012. One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover may be missing.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda dealer. The dealer will inspect the driver's airbag module and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2013.
Visibility
Honda is recalling certain model year 2011 Honda odyssey vehicles. There is a potential failure with the driver and the front passenger door power windows in which the window May come off the track causing the window to become inoperative and preventing it from being rolled up or down or it could drop into the door.
Remedy: Dealers will replace either the passenger's and/or the driver's front door window glass, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 28, 2011. Owners May contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Honda is recalling certain model year 2011 Honda odyssey vehicles. If the front windshield wiper blades become frozen to the windshield and the wiper motor is switched on, one of the front windshield wiper linkage rods May bend or separate from the motor due to insufficient stiffness of the rod.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper rod free of charge. The safety recall began on April 28, 2011. Owners May contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2011 Honda Odyssey:
Inadvertent Deployment of Air Bags
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has completed its review of a Petition dated May 30, 2026. The Petition requested an investigation into inadvertent air bag deployment in model year (MY) 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The Petition contended that air bags can deploy absent a sufficiently severe event to trigger a deployment, such as an impact, rollover event, or G-force threshold breach.
What 2011 Honda Odyssey owners say
Electrical system all 66 →
The contact owns a 2011 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the messages "check Systems" and "Check Power" were displayed, and the battery warning light illuminated. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, after refueling, the vehicle failed to restart. After several attempts, the vehicle was able to restart; however, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was constantly illuminated, and the battery warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired, and the failure persisted. The contact stated that since the failures started, the battery had been replaced twice. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while attempting to trade the vehicle, the Carfax Report indicated that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 121,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 211,000.
Brakes all 44 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Honda Odyssey. While driving approximately 5 MPH and pulling into a parking space, the vehicle accelerated and the brakes failed to work. The vehicle crashed into some gardening blocks around a tree. There were no warning indicators illuminated. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to mclean's auto body in goleta, california. From there, the technician took the vehicle to an unknown dealer where the seat belt was replaced. The failure recurred while driving at an unknown speed and the vehicle rear ended the preceding vehicle. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The contact's vehicle was slightly damaged, but was not towed. The failure was not reported to a dealer or the manufacturer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V933000 (seats). …
When braking the vehicle shakes and the brakes vibrate to the point that the vehicle feels unsafe. This has been a continual problem. Brakes have been inspected and we are told that the rotors are warped and need to be replaced. This has been done three times and now, at 96,000 miles we are being told that the brakes/rotors need to be redone again. I wrote to Honda in 2017 and never received a reply. The Honda dealer says it is not a safety issue. Supposedly a newer version of rotor was issued and installed the last time, but the problem is back. From a driver's perspective this is a safety issue and Honda should make it right. Their brake components are undersized or not engineered properly for the size of the vehicle. The vibration is not felt anytime that the brakes are applied, but more significantly with higher speeds and quicker stops.
Engine & cooling all 28 →
The contact owns a 2011 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the messages "check Systems" and "Check Power" were displayed, and the battery warning light illuminated. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, after refueling, the vehicle failed to restart. After several attempts, the vehicle was able to restart; however, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was constantly illuminated, and the battery warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired, and the failure persisted. The contact stated that since the failures started, the battery had been replaced twice. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
The Honda Odyssey engine turns off while driving. My wife was driving with four children in the car and the engine died causing loss of power steering and brakes. This places all family members at serious risk of injury or death. Took the vehicle to three different service garages and none were able to reproduce the incident or determine a reason. One service garage was a certified HONDA Dealer and Service Center. They also were unable to determine the cause after having the vehicle for a significant period of time. They wanted to start replacing parts at a very high cost but indicated that there was no assurance it would fix the problems. Took the vehicle to another service garage where they said the parts the dealer wanted to replace were working fine and it would not solve the problem. Drove the car home and the engine failed again while I was driving on a highway. …
2011 Honda Odyssey engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Honda Odyssey a good car?
Based on 235 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Odyssey rates average: 19% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Odyssey at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Honda Odyssey?
The electrical system — 66 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year, most often about 12v/24v/48v battery. Next are the brakes (44) and engine & cooling (28).
How many recalls does the 2011 Honda Odyssey have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2011 Honda Odyssey, the most recent from November 17, 2017 (mid/rear assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Honda Odyssey?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2015 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2025, 2019, 2018, 2020 and 2002. See the full Honda Odyssey years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Honda Odyssey problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 21,000 miles; 70% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.