Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Honda Odyssey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was attempting to move the passenger side 2nd row seat forward so that my children could extricate themselves from the third row while we were stopped. The mechanism locked, and subsequently the seat back was unable to lock. This was a safety issue, and so I move my child to another seat. We took the vehicle to a dealership and we're informed that it was an issue with the lock for the recliner function and that it was damaged. Upon reviewing recall information, it was noted that there were recalls for 2016 Honda Odysseys with a reported similar issue of second row seats being unable to lock after releasing to allow access to the third row.(Recall Numbers 18V170000 and 16V933000). I was informed that my vehicle was not covered as the end of the recall ended with vehicles made two months prior to mine despite being the same year model. …
The passenger side second row seat will not lock. It has been diagnosed by a Honda dealer that the seat back frame part number 81326-TK-A22 needs replaced. A recall has been made for the drivers side second row seat in bulletin 18-026. The part number is 81726-TK8-A22. It is the seat frame as well. Honda said they would assist me in paying 1/3 of the bill, but I was responsible for the remainder of the balance. But I see it that there was a seat frame issue with the drivers side second row seat and now I also have a seat frame malfunction on the passenger side second row. I believe they should cover the passenger side as well because of it being an important safety issue.
Left drivers side seat back does not lock on second row seat. This puts passengers at risk for injury. We are working to schedule an appointment with the dealer for inspection / fix. There are no warnings associated with this failure. We are unsure when the defect occurred, as our children typically sit in this seat.
Left Side Airbag Deployment control circuit - B0020 Right Side Airbag Deployment control circuit - B0028 Driver Seat Belt Sensor - Circuit open B0050 Occupant Classification System- missing message - BOOAO Driver Seat Track Position - BOOB5 Passenger Seat Belt Sensor - B0052
The headrest (or more accurately, "head restraint") of the driver's seat forces my head to tilt forward in my normal sitting position. I am 6' 2" and like to practice good posture by sitting upright and straight. While sitting with my back straight, and not reclining the seat, my neck must bend forward about 15 degrees to conform to the headrest. Any bumps in the road result in the headrest tapping and pushing the back of my head. I feel like a bobble-head! This causes me constant irritation and distracts me from driving. To compensate for this awkward headrest design, I must recline my seat backward further than I find comfortable, or slouch, which is also uncomfortable. I have heard many tall and short people complain of this same issue, for this vehicle and many other new models of various brands. An adjustable angle on the headrest would be excellent. …
While driving with 6 year old in 2nd row seat in her car seat, had to slam on brakes to avoid collision to have the seat (Honda seat) unlatch from floor and fling her inside of her car seat (child seat) face first into the back of the passenger seat. Once stopped and removed her and I pushed the seat back down hard, heard it click and then released and did again, pulled on it several times and seemed secure. 3 days go by, and now my son is in that seat. We were driving home yesterday and again, someone cut me off without much stopping distance and slammed on my brakes yet again. This time he was flung face first into the back of the passenger seat, and hitting the top of his head on the metal part of the head rest that was pulled up. Both resulted in screaming, crying, pain, and being frightened to be in that seat. This is not okay. …
My three year old grand daughter was buckled into car seat in second row passenger side. The front passenger seat was moved all the way forward to allow easy exit for her and her book bag. I stopped suddenly for a yellow light. The seat my grand daughter was in flew forward and landed her face on the seat in front of her. She was screaming, I had to lean over and push her seat back into place. I was driving between 35-45 MPH. At first in my mind I thought it was just the car seat but knew in was well strapped down, I was shocked to see the whole seat leaning forward. She has a few bruises on her face. I drove to the Honda dealer to explain it to them. I will be dropping the car back off there tonight when my husband can drive us home.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2016 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the seats failed to move back and forth. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was kept for two days. The dealer stated that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V933000 (seats); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The contact called the manufacturer, but there was no response. The failure mileage was 9,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the walk-in release lever to the second row outboard seat would not remain in the lock position. The contact had to manually lock the seat in order for it to remain in position. The vehicle was taken to Honda of santa maria ([redacted]), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The faiilure mileage was approximately 56,442. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 U.S.c. 552(b)(6).
When making a right hand turn the truck in front of my stopped studdenly, so I did too. When I stopped, the captain chair on the second row behind the driver seat released throwing my 2 year old into the back of the driver seat. Besides hitting his nose pretty hard there are no other injuries. We are a bit nervous to drive our van as the captain seat should stay put. When I called the dealer, they confirmed that my VIN is not part of the current recall for this problem. I did not get any pictures of the actual seat tipped forward as my top pirority was to get my son into proper upright position, but I did get some pictures of the aftermath.
Related recalls
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The second row outboard seats have a lever to fold the seatback and slide the seat forward to access the third row seats.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will confirm proper operation of the second row left outboard seatback, and install a support bracket to the seat recliner.
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 2016 Odyssey vehicles manufactured September 23, 2016, to October 24, 2016. The affected vehicles have a second row center seat with a horizontal adjuster bar that may stick in the unlocked position, allowing the seat to unexpectedly slide.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the slide function and replace the horizontal position adjustment bar, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 2017.
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 .
Seat complaints in other Odyssey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2016 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the seats of the 2016 Honda Odyssey, 10% of the model year's 271 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2016 Honda Odyssey seat problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 18V-170 (mid/rear assembly, Mar 13, 2018); NHTSA recall 17V-725 (mid/rear assembly, Nov 17, 2017); NHTSA recall 16V-932 (mid/rear assembly, Dec 27, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2016 Honda Odyssey seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 12,000 miles, and 73% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to seats 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.