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 2013 Honda Odyssey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle jerked. The check engine warning light was flashing. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving 30-35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact stated that the vehicle was able to restart, but there was thick black smoke coming from underneath the hood. The contact stated that upon attempting to restart the vehicle a second time, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the fuel injectors and spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the traction control warning light and the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact continued to drive; however, the warning lights remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the pistons were damaged and needed to be replaced. The contact's husband was informed of an extended warranty associated to the failure and was referred to the manufacturer for further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon contacting the manufacturer several times, the contact was informed that the repair would not be covered under warranty. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V382000 (Engine) which she associated to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 111,917.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle experienced reduced power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with an oil leak from the cylinders onto the spark plugs, causing the cylinders to misfire. The dealer cleaned the engine and replaced the spark plugs; however, the failure recurred seven months later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a piston misfire. The dealer replaced the piston rings. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin Number: 25-061. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 124,126.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, the vehicle jerked abnormally with the check engine warning light and the VCM warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and DTC: P0301; was retrieved. The contact was informed that the engine control module (ECM) had detected oil passing the pistons and caused a misfire in cylinder #1. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 25-061. However, the VIN was not included. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal rattling sound occasionally. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a cylinder 3 misfire, DTC: P0843 was retrieved, and there was an oil leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the spark plugs were replaced at the same local dealer; however, the failure progressed. In addition, the contact related the failure to an unknown recall that was completed in the past. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and was jerking. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and was diagnosed, but not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V382000 (Engine). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 144,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the piston rings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle started shuddering. The contact veered to the side of the roadway. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the engine oil was replaced; however, the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the #2 spark plug had failed and there was engine oil leaking onto the spark plug. The independent mechanic replaced the spark plug. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer who informed the contact that the failure was related to an unknown extended warranty. The dealer informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle under the extended warranty since the check engine warning light was not illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred. …
Related recalls
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.
Engine complaints in other Odyssey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2013 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA has 73 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2013 Honda Odyssey, 35% of the model year's 210 complaints. The component named most often is engine › engine control module (ecu/ecm) (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Honda Odyssey engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 13V-382 (engine, Aug 27, 2013). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 Honda Odyssey engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles, and 16% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 0 injuries 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.