2018 Honda Odyssey transmission and drivetrain problems
165 of the 992 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Odyssey name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 165 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 9 · 2019: 14 · 2020: 7 · 2021: 15 · 2022: 18 · 2023: 28 · 2024: 30 · 2025: 22 · 2026: 20
Half of the 47 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 9,000 and 52,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
992 complaints in all about the 2018 Honda Odyssey, 20 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Honda Odyssey transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Tried to pull out of parking lot across 2 busy lanes to make my turn and car went into idle while driving, hit the gas pedal since cars were coming at high speed at me and it woke up.
While driving on a 50 MPH, two lane road, the vehicle abruptly shifted into neutral autonomously after experiencing a transmission failure and prohibited the driver from retaking control of the vehicle. With no power available, the driver was ultimately forced to coast to a stop on the shoulder of the road.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Odyssey. While parking, stopping, and shutting off the engine, the vehicle rolled 4 to 5 inches when the brake pedal was released. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was 30,000
Usually at lower speed(15~30mph), transmission struggles to shifting gear. And hesitates to shift. Also, there is shift shock at low speed. It is worst in the morning. I went to dealer to check that condition and technician said that is normal
Twice in the first year of ownership, the car was parallel parked and I put the vehicle in drive (push button sifter). Upon the vehicle beginning to move in forward motion it would immediately shift back into park. I repeated an it did the same over and over again. Even after shutting down the engine and restarting; I had the same issue.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 19V299000 HighApr 12, 2019 · 50,504 vehicles
- Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Odyssey vehicles. Loose battery terminal connections or a degraded battery may cause the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) to unexpectedly reboot. Upon rebooting, the TCU may shift the transmission to the "Park" position, possibly damaging the parking rod.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0716 P0420 P0741 P0736 P0756 P0763
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Honda Odyssey names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Honda Odyssey
Source: the same files- electrical problems 258 complaints
- engine problems 201 complaints
- fuel system problems 106 complaints
- body and structure problems 97 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2018 Honda Odyssey?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 165 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (17% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall is filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2018 Honda Odyssey?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 19V299000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2018 Honda Odyssey?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 29,500 miles; half of them between 9,000 and 52,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.