2008 Honda Odyssey problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Honda Odyssey, most often about body & structure. There are 4 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
27
Recalls
4
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Injuries
4
Median mileage
160,000 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Body & Structure is the most-reported problem area, named in 6 of 27 complaints (22%).
  • Engine (6) and brakes (4) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 160,000 mi.
  • Owners reported 3 crashes, 2 fires and 4 injuries.
  • The 2008 Honda Odyssey has 4 recalls on file.
  • NHTSA has opened 5 defect investigations covering this vehicle.
  • It ranks 16th of 22 Honda Odyssey model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 53% fewer complaints than the 2007 model year (57).

2008 Honda Odyssey problems by category

  • Body & Structure · 1 crash
    6 complaints
  • Engine · 1 crash
    6 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    5 complaints
  • Brakes
    4 complaints
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    3 complaints
  • Wheels & Tires · 2 crashes
    3 complaints
  • Electrical System
    2 complaints
  • Seats & Seat Belts
    1 complaints
  • Steering
    1 complaints
  • Suspension · 1 crash
    1 complaints
  • Airbags · 1 crash
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Engine6
Structure:body6
Unknown or other4
Service brakes4
Fuel/propulsion system2
Tires2
Steering1
Suspension1

When problems happen (mileage)

Under 10k10k–30k30k–60k160k–100k5100k–150k9150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2008 Honda Odyssey complaints that list mileage.

2008 Honda Odyssey recalls (4)

  • Recall 14V112000Mar 14, 2014886,815 vehicles
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

    American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain 2005-2010 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured June 23, 2004, through September 4, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the fuel pump strainer cover may deteriorate allowing fuel to leak out.

    Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Parts to permanently repair the affected vehicles are not currently available. Honda will notify owners with an interim letter during May 2014. A second notice was mailed to owners October 6, 2014 when the remedy became available. Any vehicles that are currently leaking from the fuel pump cover will get a replacement, original cover. All vehicles, including those receiving the interim repair, will get an improved cover when they are available. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. The recall numbers associated with this campaign are JD9 (inspection and/or preliminary part replacement) and JE0 (final parts replacement).

  • Recall 13V500000Nov 1, 2013344,187 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

    American Honda Motor Company (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured August 8, 2006, through September 8, 2008. Due to a combination of system components and software, the Vehicle Safety Assist System (VSA) may apply the brakes unexpectedly.

    Risk: The vehicle may suddenly and unexpectedly brake hard, and without illuminating the brake lights, increasing the risk of a crash from behind.

    Remedy: Parts to remedy these vehicles will not be available until the spring of 2014. Honda will send owners an interim letter notifying them of the issue and instruct them how to prevent unintended braking. A second notification will be sent when the parts become available. Interim notification was mailed in December 2013. The recall began on April 29, 2014. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009 or visit their website at www.recalls.honda.com. Honda's recall number is JC5.

  • Recall 12V062000Feb 16, 201245,747 vehicles
    STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE · STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS · STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

    Honda is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 odyssey vehicles, the gas-filled struts that help to raise and support the liftgate of vehicles equipped with a power liftgate system may be prone to early life failures due to a manufacturing flaw. The flaw can result in a leak of the pressurized gas, leading to reduced strut performance.

    Risk: Struts with diminished performance can lead to unexpected closure, increasing the risk of personal injury.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace both power liftgate gas struts free of charge. The safety recall began on march 12, 2012. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

  • Recall 10V098000Mar 16, 2010412,000 vehicles
    SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

    Honda has notified nhtsa of a defect in certain model year 2007 and 2008 odyssey and element passenger vehicles manufactured between july 28, 2006 and august 21, 2008. Air can enter the vsa modular pump during an initial self-check process that occurs shortly after each time the engine is started. It is possible for enough air to enter the system to result in a brake pedal that feels soft or lower to the floor.

    Risk: If the owner does not have any brake service or maintenance performed over a period of months or years, the system can continue to accumulate enough air to affect braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Honda will notify owner and honda dealers will repair the vsa modulator by removing any existing air in the brake system then apply sealant and caps to prevent air from entering the brake system free of charge. The safety recall began on may 3, 2010. Owners may contact honda at 1-800-999-1009.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • PE13024Opened Jun 25, 2013Closed Nov 4, 2013led to recall 13V500000

    Inappropriate autonomous braking

    In a letter dated October 31, 2013, Honda Motor Company (Honda) submitted a recall notice to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation describing a defect in the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system in approximately 344,187 model year (MY) 2007 and 2008 Honda Odyssey vehicles produced from August 8, 2006 through September 8, 2008 (NHTSA Recall 13V-500, Honda Recall JC5).The report describes a defect condition caused by a combination of VSA system components and software that is unique to the MY 2007-2008 Honda Odyssey vehicles.The condition may result in unexpected brake application by the VSA …

  • EQ12010Opened Sep 28, 2012Closed Dec 31, 2012

    Stabilus Rear Liftgate Struts Failing

    Please see the attached closing resume summary.It has been attached to this document as a PDF.

  • PE11034Opened Sep 23, 2011Closed Feb 29, 2012led to recall 12V062000

    Unexpected Closing of Power Liftgate

    The investigation found that the liftgate struts were failing prematurely and at an abnormal rate in certain model year (MY) 2008 Honda Odyssey Touring and 2009 Honda Odyssey Touring and EX-L model vehicles equipped with power-operated rear liftgates (note: MY 2008 Odyssey EX-L was not equipped with a power liftgate).Unlike vehicles with non-powered (manual) liftgates, the subject vehicle's liftgate can be opened automatically (via the power liftgate motor) even when the struts are in a degraded condition and can no longer support it in the open position.Consumers standing or accessing the rea…

  • EA09014Opened Oct 19, 2009Closed May 11, 2010led to recall 10V098000

    Air in brake system

    By letter dated March 15, 2010, American Honda Motor Corp. (HMC) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA Recall No. 10V-098) to address a defect in approximately 412,000 model year (MY) 2007 and 2008 Honda Odyssey and Element vehicles equipped with an ABS/VSA/TCS modulator. The recalled Odyssey vehicles were built from August 2006 August 2008.The recalled Element vehicles were built from July 2006 to July 2008. According to Honda, during an initial self-check process that occurs shortly after each engine ignition cycle, th…

  • PE09024Opened May 13, 2009Closed Oct 19, 2009led to recall 10V098000

    Air in brake system

    The office of defects investigation (odi) has received 69 complaints, and honda has received 613 complaints and field reports, alleging low/soft/spongy brake pedal travel in model year (my) 2006 through 2008 honda odyssey minivans.twenty-six odi complaints were also reported to honda, resulting in a total complaint count of 656.some complaints allege that the condition resulted in extended stopping distances, including some reports of rolling past stop signs or traffic lights.there are 14 alleged crashes in the subject vehicle population related to low/soft pedals. In response to odi's informa…

Recent 2008 Honda Odyssey complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed May 22, 2026ILEngine
    I believe that I was sold a car with an unsafe engine. I bought the van from Libertyville Honda in Libertyville on [XXX]. The car had 107K miles on it. A liile over a mounth later the check engine light came on and the van started running bad. When I did some reasearch I found out that a safty report to an iscident dated [XXX] when the car had 107k miles on it. This means that the car was not driven much from the date of the incedent before it was sold to me. The car was…
    NHTSA complaint #11739547 · source
  2. Filed May 15, 2026230,000 miCAElectrical System
    Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Honda Odyssey on April 13,2024. The sale was a private sell. The contact stated at the time of purhcase the odometer was recorded at 129,000. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact attempted to use the vehicle as a trade in. The contact was informed that the CARFAX report last recored the odometer reading on April 6, 2024, at 230,000.
    NHTSA complaint #11738110 · source
  3. Filed May 6, 2026ILEngine
    The engine malfunctioned, and the car is available for inspection upon request? My safety was put at risk because the car was backfiring in traffic due to the spark plugs filling up with oil. I reported the problem to the Libertyville Honda because they sold me the vehicle about 35 days before the issue started, but I have not heard back from them. I had the Odyssey inspected at Napleton Honda in Oak Lawn. They informed me that piston rings 1-3 needed to be replaced . They…
    NHTSA complaint #11736026 · source
  4. Filed Feb 24, 2025GATowedFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stationary, the vehicle was leaking gasoline. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's boyfriend saw and took a video of the vehicle pouring gasoline. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the engine was running during the failure. The vehicle will be towed to the dealer but has not yet been repaired. The…
    NHTSA complaint #11644605 · source
  5. Filed Feb 2, 2025NYEngine
    Incident #1: 1/18/2024, 102k miles. Engine surged to 2k while braking coming to a light. Close to hitting stopped car. Shifted to neutral rpm speed up to 4k. Incident #2: 1/31/2025: 107k miles. Slowing turning into driveway car would not stop rpm at 2k. Then shifted to neutral where rpm climbed to 4k.
    NHTSA complaint #11640237 · source
  6. Filed Oct 14, 2024WVBody & StructureElectrical System
    The passenger side door of my 2008 Honda Odyssey fell off when attempting to close it and nearly fell onto my child. The automatic sliding door was closing and around halfway closed it fell off of the track and started opening back up unprompted, thus damaging the rear right quarter panel as well. This is a major safety issue as it nearly crushed my [XXX] daughter, but thankfully was caught in time. A man parked near us in the parking lot helped us pick the door back up and…
    NHTSA complaint #11619754 · source
  7. Filed Jul 25, 2024OHCrashTowedWheels & Tires
    235/65/R16. Tire blew out throwing car to the left in a ditch going around a curve . Air bags went off from impact. Car front had significant damage.
    NHTSA complaint #11604419 · source
  8. Filed Jun 7, 2024100,000 miAZCrash1 injuredTowedAirbagsWheels & Tires
    The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving the vehicle at 45 MPH the front passenger tire flew off which caused the driver's front air bag to deploy with no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after the air bag deployed his vehicle veered off the road and crashed into a cement block wall. The contact sustained injuries and was transported to the Banner Baywood Emergency Room. The local sheriff's department was on the scene after…
    NHTSA complaint #11593154 · source

Compare the 2008 Honda Odyssey with another vehicle →

Other 2008 Honda models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology