Most common 2013 Honda Odyssey problems
Share of the 210 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 →
2013 Honda Odyssey recalls (6)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD.
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 .
Engine
Honda is recalling certain model year 2013 Pilot 2WD and 4WD vehicles and certain model year 2013 Odyssey vehicles. During manufacturing of the engine piston, it is possible that the heat treatment process was not properly applied, resulting in the piston having an insufficient hardness level, making it more susceptible to…
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine short block free of charge. The recall began on September 16, 2013. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Power train › Automatic transmission
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 CR-V, Odyssey, and model year 2013 Acura RDX vehicles. During sub-freezing temperatures, the brake-shift interlock blocking mechanism may become slow and allow the gear selector to be moved from the Park position without pressing the brake pedal.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated brake shift interlock blocking mechanism free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2013.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2013 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 2013 Honda Odyssey owners say
Engine & cooling all 73 →
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the engine misfired and the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V382000 (Engine) however, the dealer replaced the piston rings instead of replacing the engine short block per the manufacturer's instructions. The contact stated that the engine had been misfiring and smoke had been coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed the failure as oil leaking from the head gasket. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they could not assist because the recall history on the VIN did not show a recall that required the engine short block to be replaced. …
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Odyssey. While the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started driving abnormally rough. Additionally, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with oil-fouled spark plugs. The contact was informed that the piston rings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under the Technical Service Bulletin: 13-081 but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was informed that a goodwill discount of 60 percent was provided towards the cost of the repair. The contact referenced an unknown Technical Service Bulletin; however, the vehicle was not included. …
Brakes all 55 →
We have taken our 2013 Honda Odyssey several times to the shop because the brakes don't feel safe. They seem to work fine but the brakes pedal is spongy. Keeping the brake pedal slightly pressed with the engine running, the pedal continues to sink almost to the floor. So far we have spent over $1000 for a new brake booster, new master cylinder, brake fluid flush and brake bleeding. The shop bled the brakes several times, manual and computer bleeding but the brakes are still spongy.
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle accelerated without warning, the contact depressed the brake pedal, but they failed to stop the vehicle. The contact lost control and crashed into five vehicles. The contact sustained chest and neck injuries and nose bleeding that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a police lot. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 205,000.
Body & structure all 20 →
Honda Odessey 2013Driving down a highway at 55mph when we heard a loud backfire. Engine light came on, car shook violently. We immediately pulled into a gas station where a mechanic was present. Mechanic scanned for codes and codes p0302 and P0303 came up. The cylinders had rotated and aligned fouling the spark plugs. and damaging the coil. Had we continued to drive we would have ruined the engine. He changed the coil and spark plugs but noted that the oil consumption was extremely high since last change due to the VCM issue. The Honda Service Bulletin 13-081 revealed the VCM system poses risk of ruining the engine. When I returned home, I inquired what could be done to fix it. The local dealership said purchase a new engine and spark plugs. The warranty fix for this ended in 2021 and I did not buy the car until 2022. …
Driver's side rear door handle for sliding door came off in my hand when I was trying to get my child out of the vehicle in 2016. Took vehicle into the dealership for repair and they stated that the handle must have come off due to alleged and impossible "damage" even though the handle was never subjected to anything but normal everyday use. In 2018, the door handle on the passenger side came off in the same manner even though we have been even more careful with the handles after the first incident. Reported second incident to Honda customer service and dealer service shop. Both saw nothing wrong with door handles falling off relatively new vehicle with normal use. Very unsafe to be unpredictably prevented from getting your child out of the vehicle.
2013 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 2013 Honda Odyssey a good car?
Based on 210 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Odyssey rates average: 34% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Odyssey at the same age. It is one of the best Odyssey years by this measure. 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 2013 Honda Odyssey?
The engine & cooling — 73 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › engine control module (ecu/ecm). Next are the brakes (55) and body & structure (20).
How many recalls does the 2013 Honda Odyssey have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2013 Honda Odyssey, the most recent from December 18, 2023 (fuel pump). 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 2013 Honda Odyssey problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 34,000 miles; 63% 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.