Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Honda Odyssey owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, she noticed through her rearview mirror that her vehicle's trunk had caught fire without warning. The contact pulled over and was able to extinguish the fire with her shoe. The contact did not suffer any injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it remained in their possession and had yet to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified about the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.
The contact owned a 2020 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart. As a result, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. The contact sustained injury to her neck and lower back that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,800.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while stopped at a traffic signal he was depressing the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, when the signal changed, and as he released the brake pedal, the vehicle was not turning on. The contact placed the vehicle in park (P) and restarted the engine. The contact stated that his vehicle is equipped with the Engine Off-On feature. The contact stated that the Off-On was also hesitating before he needed to place the vehicle into the park to restart. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that a software update needed to be performed. The vehicle was repaired. The contact manually turned the feature off to prevent the failure from recurring. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the connecting rod bearings, resulting in damages to the engine, causing the engine to seize. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal ticking sound while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the engine made a loud sound. There was no warning light illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE25008 (Engine). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and there were metal shavings found in the engine oil. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no recall or warranty coverage for the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
The contact's daughter-in-law owns a 2020 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while his daughter-in-law was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that an unknown flashed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the sound had become louder over time. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure and stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,688.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the contact heard a knocking sound coming from the engine, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode with the low oil warning light illuminated. The contact became aware of a burning odor coming from under the hood, and the vehicle needed to be towed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the connecting rod bearings had failed and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed. The contact was informed that the knocking sound coming from the engine became louder to take the vehicle back for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 3,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
My 2020 Honda Odyssey the engine stalled while I am driving. It isn't the first time in part two years. My first complaint to the dealer on 2020, the first time my engine stalled when I was moving to the Parking. The engine stalled and all the lights on on the dashboard with a big bang sound. I restarted the car and my car can drive again. I bought it to the honda dealer at puente hills and they told me stop to use the brake hold system while I am driving. After a few weeks later , I have the Same problem again when I made a right turn. After the turn , my car engine stalled again and I almost got rear end from the car behind me. I needed to restarted my car to drive again. After that I drove to other honda dealer at West Covina to check my car and they was unable to find any problems. They told me to take videos when the happenings again. My car was fine for almost two years. …
NHTSA investigations
Engine failure
On November 8, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ24013 to assess the scope of Honda recall 23V-751 after receiving complaints that alleged connecting rod bearing failures in vehicles that were not within the scope of recall 23V-751. In November 2023, Honda recalled 248,999 various Model Year (MY)2016-2020 Honda and Acura vehicles equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine.
Engine failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 414 reports of connecting rod bearing failures in the 3.5L V6 engine used in the following vehicles: Model Years (MY) 2018-2020 Acura TLX, MY2016-2020 Acura MDX, MY2016-2020 Honda Pilot, MY2018-2020 Honda Odyssey, and MY2017-2019 Honda Ridgeline. The subject engine failures were analyzed as part of a Recall Query (RQ24013).
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
On June 3, 2022, the O ce of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE22005 after the agency received VOQs and several eld reports concerning the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) feature on 2016-2019MY Honda Pilot vehicles. The complaints allege that the engine fails to restart on its own from a complete stop at a tra c light or road intersection with the AIS function engaged.
Engine complaints in other Odyssey years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2020 Honda Odyssey?
NHTSA has 72 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2020 Honda Odyssey, 15% of the model year's 486 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2020 Honda Odyssey engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2020 Honda Odyssey, though it has 14 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 2020 Honda Odyssey engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 51,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 1 injury 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.