2020 Honda Odyssey: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
465 NHTSA owner complaints · 12 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. 2020 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 465 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
Honda Odyssey and Pilot: the transmission years to avoid, including 2020 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 465 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 77.5
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Stopped at a light, auto idle stop engaged, engine shut off normally. The moment I pressed the gas, everything died — engine and all electronics. I pressed the start button two or three times with no response, then it finally started. It was still in Drive. The hazards wouldn't turn on right after, then everything gradually came back to normal.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, several warning lights illuminated. The warning lights flashed continuously. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed multipurpose camera unit. The dealer determined that the multipurpose camera unit needed to be replaced; however, the contact was informed that the failure was not assoc…
The electronic module for rear power tailgate quit working due to water getting inside module. This causes rear lift door to malfunction. Ive seen online there's been a class action lawsuit for this and the door can open randomly. This has not happened to mine. It just quit working and beeps excessively. I had it repaired and it happened again 7 months later. It has been diagnosed by honda dealership. Thanks
Recalls: 12 campaigns (7 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 24V064000 | Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger… |
| 20V066000 | Electrical System:Wiring | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey vehicles. The wire harness for the third row seat accessory power outlet may get pinched between the unibody and rear trim panel, possibly damaging the wires and causing an electrical short. |
| 23V158000 | Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching. |
| 26V227000 | Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module:Software | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Odyssey vehicles. A software programming error can cause the side and side curtain air bags to deploy unexpectedly. |
| 21V010000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage | Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Braun-modified Honda Odyssey vehicles. The fuel tank assembly installed by Braun may be susceptible to the fuel tank overfilling into the charcoal canister. |
| 23V431000 | Back Over Prevention:Display Function | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. Due to a faulty Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) communication coaxial cable connector, the rearview camera image may not appear on the display. |
| 23V174000 | Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior | Honda (American Honda Motor Co) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2020-2022 Passport and Odyssey vehicles. The heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, allowing the mirror glass to detach. |
| 23V858000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX… |
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 22 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,850
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.
- Forward Collision Avoidance177 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Electrical System162 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Lane Departure124 complaints · typical job: Camera module replacement and calibration (2.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,700
- Unknown Or Other67 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Engine66 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Structure30 complaints · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,070–$2,920
Other Honda Odyssey years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Honda Odyssey?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Forward Collision Avoidance (177 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2020 Honda Odyssey a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 24/100, computed from 465 NHTSA complaints and 12 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2020 Honda Odyssey's most common problem?
177 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2020 Honda Odyssey sit in the Forward Collision Avoidance group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is radar or camera module replacement and calibration: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $780–$2,160 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 2020 Honda Odyssey cost to run per year?
About $5,832 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $29,162 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 2020 Honda Odyssey have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 12 recall campaign(s) for the 2020 Honda Odyssey, 7 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 01/02/2024. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other minivans of about the same age.
What will a 2020 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 — 465 complaints, 12 recalls on record
- 465 NHTSA complaints on record (77.5/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (28.0/yr)
- 12 recall campaigns, 7 touching safety-critical systems