2021 Honda Odyssey: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
140 NHTSA owner complaints · 8 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. 2021 specifically: 140 complaints on record, score 66/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.
Read the guide
Honda Odyssey and Pilot: the transmission years to avoid, including 2021 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 140 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 28.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Mileage: 121000 When stopped and the auto idle initiated, we have had numerous incidents where the van has shutoff and required a restart. More recently, when the auto idle initiates, the entire engine turns off and the van has no power(car won't restart, can't get the car into neutral, sliding doors and tailgate won't open). I would then need to jump start the car with my portable battery. This has occurred 4 times…
At 64,000 miles both rear shock absorbers failed (rusted), one completely the other on the verge. Driving the car was dangerous as the car became unstable at higher speeds when going over normal bumps and road holes. The repair including parts, labor, and necessary four wheel alignment was $1,051. The dealer did not acknowledge this being a common issue nor did they deny it. A google search indicates this is a commo…
The van’s CarPlay quit working while navigating thru Louisville traffic. The display scene indicated MOST Net off error. It has happened 5 times since then.
Recalls: 8 campaigns (5 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… |
| 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. |
| 25V877000 | Equipment Adaptive/Mobility:Wheelchair Restraints/Securement:Latch/Anchor: | Vantage Mobility, LLC (VM) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Honda Odyssey, 2021-2025 Chrysler Pacifica, and Toyota Sienna vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured. |
| 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… |
| 26V332000 | Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic… |
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.
- Electrical System53 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other33 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Engine26 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Forward Collision Avoidance19 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Air Bags16 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Structure10 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 2021 Honda Odyssey?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (53 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2021 Honda Odyssey a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 66/100, computed from 140 NHTSA complaints and 8 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2021 Honda Odyssey's most common problem?
53 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2021 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 2021 Honda Odyssey cost to run per year?
About $4,752 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $23,760 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 2021 Honda Odyssey have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for the 2021 Honda Odyssey, 5 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 2021 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.
Moderate evidence — 140 complaints, 8 recalls on record
- 140 NHTSA complaints on record (28.0/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (28.0/yr)
- 8 recall campaigns, 5 touching safety-critical systems