2011 Honda Odyssey: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
233 NHTSA owner complaints · 5 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The fourth-generation Odyssey (2011–2017) is one of the best minivans in the dataset, scoring in the 70s and 80s. The fifth generation launched for 2018 with a ten-speed automatic and a new infotainment system, and the record collapsed: nearly a thousand complaints for each of 2018 and 2019, most of them transmission shudder and hesitation, sliding-door failures, and the rear-seat entertainment system. Read the full note on the model page. 2011 specifically: a year the record favours — 233 complaints, score 85/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Honda Odyssey and Pilot: the transmission years to avoid, including 2011 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 233 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 15.53
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owns a 2011 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the driver's side sliding door failed to latch while being closed automatically, causing the door to reopen and to restart the process continuously. The contact stated that upon pulling the door handle to close the door manually, the door closed and latched securely after several attempts. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechan…
The contact owns a 2011 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the messages "check Systems" and "Check Power" were displayed, and the battery warning light illuminated. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, after refueling, the vehicle failed to restart. After several attempts, the vehicle was able to restart; however, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The cont…
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while attempting to trade the vehicle, the Carfax Report indicated that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 121,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 211,000.
Recalls: 5 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 11V180000 | Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY VEHICLES. IF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES BECOME FROZEN TO THE WINDSHIELD AND THE WIPER MOTOR IS SWITCHED ON, ONE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE RODS MAY BEND OR SEPARATE FROM THE MOTOR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT STIFFNESS OF THE ROD. |
| 17V725000 | 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. |
| 13V016000 | Air Bags | Honda is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Pilot and 2011-2013 Odyssey passenger vehicles manufactured from March 13, 2008, through December 21, 2012. One or more rivets that attach the airbag module to the airbag cover may be missing. |
| 11V181000 | Visibility | HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY VEHICLES. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FAILURE WITH THE DRIVER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR POWER WINDOWS IN WHICH THE WINDOW MAY COME OFF THE TRACK CAUSING THE WINDOW TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND PREVENTING IT FROM BEING ROLLED UP OR DOWN OR IT COULD DROP INTO THE DOOR. |
| 16V933000 | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a minivan of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 21 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,950
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System65 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Service Brakes45 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Engine25 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Structure20 complaints · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,070–$2,920
- Power Train19 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Unknown Or Other17 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
Other Honda Odyssey years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Honda Odyssey?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (65 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2011 Honda Odyssey a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 85/100, computed from 233 NHTSA complaints and 5 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2011 Honda Odyssey's most common problem?
65 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2011 Honda Odyssey sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2011 Honda Odyssey cost to run per year?
About $5,734 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $28,672 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2011 Honda Odyssey have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for the 2011 Honda Odyssey, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 15/03/2011. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other minivans of about the same age.
What will a 2011 Honda Odyssey really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 233 complaints, 5 recalls on record
- 233 NHTSA complaints on record (15.5/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (28.0/yr)
- 5 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems