Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 Honda Odyssey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2015 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while pulling out of the parking space, the vehicle RPM had increased while the brake pedal had been depressed. As a result, the vehicle crashed into another vehicle in the lot. The rpm had continued to increase even with the vehicle being in the park position. The air bags did not deploy. No warning light was illuminated. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an auto collision center. The driver was injured. No one outside of the vehicle was injured. The contact sustained back, neck, pelvic, and head inquiries that required medical attention. The doctor provided shots and medicine for the pain. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000. VIN not provided.
The contact owns a 2015 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle began to lose power upon the depression of the accelerator pedal. A warning message appeared on the instrument panel that instructed the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer for service. The contact initially took the vehicle to a dealer but due to a high volume of customers, the dealer could not service the vehicle. The next day, the vehicle was taken to a second dealer where a diagnostic test was performed that showed a piston ring failure had caused the engine oil to contaminate the spark plugs which led to an engine misfire. The dealer replaced the spark plugs, piston rings, and cylinder rings in cylinders number 1, 2, and 3. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 133,597.
The contact owns a 2015 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at night, the check engine warning light started flashing. The contact was able to pull over. The contact called a mobile mechanic who determined that there was a misfire in cylinder #1, and that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The spark plugs were replaced, but additional repairs were needed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the spark plugs, and piston rings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and determined that there was no warranty coverage for the failure, and no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, several unknown warning lights flashed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked and lunged forward while depressing the accelerator pedal, as the vehicle would shut off. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was discovered that oil had leaked onto the alternator. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under warranty or recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 135,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the RPM gauge was fluctuating. Additionally, the vehicle was shuddering while shifting between gears. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the PGM-FI software had failed and needed to be updated. The vehicle was not repaired. There was no further information provided. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 61,030.
The contact owns a 2015 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate as intended while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a piston ring failure and related the failure to Honda Service Bulletin:25-061. The vehicle was not repaired due to cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic informed the contact of spark plugs and oil contamination causing engine damage. The contact stated that a temporary repair was performed however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,652.
Honda's variable cylinder management (VCM) system puts inordinate wear on engine cylinders that causes the vehicle to shake and misfire and eventually shut down the engine. It causes spark plug and cylinder coil failures and cylinder damage. This is not due to age, misuse or lack of proper maintenance. The VCM causes engine build up as a normal course of action. This is a known issue that Honda has never communicated to owners of these vehicles. Model years 2011-2013 had the same issue. Honda has offered no recourse, or even communication, to owners of 2014-2017 Odysseys with the exact same VCM (VCM2) mechanism and the same wear and tear on the engine. You can read more about the issues these vehicles have and how common this is here: [redacted] Honda dealerships will replace your cylinder rings (at a HIGH cost) but this does not fix or prevent the issue from recurring. …
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. issued an official Warranty Extension in July 2025 covering engine misfires from piston ring deterioration (DTCs P0301-P0304) on 2013-15 Pilot and 2013-17 Odyssey vehicles. My 2015 Honda Odyssey (VIN: [redacted]) experienced this exact defect, resulting in severe engine misfires and secondary alternator failure caused directly by engine fluid saturation leaking onto it from the primary defect. I paid $5,275.80 for repairs prior to campaign awareness (Invoices [redacted] and [redacted]). I submitted complete reimbursement documentation on January 31, 2026. …
The engine has experienced a cylinder 1 misfire condition twice in the last month. In each instance, the spark plug has been fouled with oil and caused the ignition coil pack to malfunction. When the failure occurred, the vehicle was in operation at roadway speeds and placed the vehicle into limp mode with a flashing check engine light and deactivating the forward collision monitor and lane departure warning. In each instance, the vehicle has been towed to an independent mechanic shop where the P0301 codes have been found. I have contacted American Honda Motors and was advised that there are no recalls at this point. Looking online, the 3.5L engine appears to have several issues regarding the VCM system that leads to ring failure and oil leaking into the cylinders. There was a class action suit, Soto et al. v. …
Engine complaints in other Odyssey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2015 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA has 53 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2015 Honda Odyssey, 26% of the model year's 206 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2015 Honda Odyssey engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2015 Honda Odyssey, though it has 6 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 2015 Honda Odyssey engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 37,000 miles, and 39% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 2 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.