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2008 Honda Odyssey Common Problems & Recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration holds for the 2008 Honda Odyssey. Nothing on this page is written from memory — it is all imported from NHTSA's public database.

Safety recall campaigns

4 recall campaigns filed by Honda for the 2008 Odyssey, newest first.

CampaignComponentWhat the recall says
14V112000
2014-03-14
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.
Fix: 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…
12V062000
2012-02-16
Structure
Body
Hatchback/Liftgate
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.
Fix: 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.
13V500000
2013-11-01
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.
Fix: 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…
10V098000
2010-03-16
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.
Fix: 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.

Summaries are quoted verbatim from NHTSA's official campaign records. A single campaign often covers dozens of model years and several nameplates, so a summary may name vehicles other than the 2008 Odyssey — that is normal. Every record listed here carries this vehicle's own make, model and model year in NHTSA's database. Whether a recall is still open on a particular car can only be determined by VIN.

Owner complaints by component

499 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2008 Odyssey, grouped by the component owners reported. Counts reflect how many owners complained, not how often the fault actually occurs.

Reported componentComplaints
Structure
27 injured
108
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
12 crash, 2 fire, 3 injured
77
Service Brakes
4 crash
43
Engine
1 crash, 2 fire
26
Power Train
4 crash, 1 injured
21
Electrical System
2 fire
18
Steering 17
Unknown Or Other 17
Vehicle Speed Control
3 crash, 3 injured
13
Fuel/Propulsion System 9
Air Bags
5 crash, 4 injured
9
Engine And Engine Cooling
1 crash
9

A complaint is an unverified owner report. It is a signal about where to look, not proof of a defect.

What owners actually wrote

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaint filings on this model year. These are the owners' own words, not our diagnosis, and each one is a single unverified report.

Structure (108 complaints)

The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that when opening the rear driving sliding door, the door detached. The door ended up falling to the ground onto the contact's foot causing permanent injury. Medical attention was needed. The dealer was contacted who stated they were no recall on the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated they noticed that the door was attached by two small arms on the front end of the door (none on the rear end of the door) and a wheel with the track. There was nothing else there to hold the door. The manufacturer was made aware
filed 10/04/2021 · ODI 11435385
VAN SIDE SLIDING DOORS HAVE REAR LOCKING LATCH ACUATOR THAT FAILS. UNDER POWER CLOSE, THE REAR OF THE DOOR WILL PULL IN, LATCH, THEN UNLATCH AND RELEASE THE REAR OF THE DOOR. WITH POWER TO DOORS OFF (FUSE #13 REMOVED) THE DOOR REAR LATCH WILL NOT ENGAGE AT ALL. THE DOOR WITH A FAILED REAR LATCH WILL ALLOW THE DOOR TO SLIDE OPEN COMPLETELY ON ACCELERATION, SLAM FORWARD BUT NOT LATCH ON BRAKING, AND WILL ALSO SLIDE OPEN AROUND A CORNER. THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE I HAD 2 CHILDREN IN THE CENTER SEAT, AT THE SLIDING DOOR OPENINGS. DEALER WANTS $511 PLUS TAX, AND THERE IS A REBUILD SERVICE FOR THE R
filed 04/29/2021 · ODI 11414497

Service Brakes, Hydraulic (77 complaints)

WHILE DRIVING WITH FOOT ON THE GAS THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF I WAS PUMPING THE BRAKES BUT I WAS NOT TOUCHING THE BRAKES. IT WAS SLOWING. I THEN HEARD A RATTLING NOISE SO I TURNED OFF THE RADIO AND OPENED THE WINDOW TO LISTEN. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND FELT THE SAME "BRAKE PUMPING" SENSATION AGAIN. I WAS NEAR THE DEALER SO I HEADED THERE TO REPORT THE ISSUES. DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DEALER I FELT A VIBRATION UNDER MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND HEAR A VIBRATION SOUND. I ARRIVED AT THE DEALER TO REPORT THE INCIDENT. I TOLD THE SERVICE REP. THAT I'D REPORTED THE SAME SENSATION 11 MONTHS AGO
filed 07/11/2012 · ODI 10465329
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT AND MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE ROTORS AND THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE BRAKE PEDAL STILL FELT SOFT AND CONTINUED TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE AS 47,462.
filed 04/30/2012 · ODI 10456881

Service Brakes (43 complaints)

The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a grinding noise was present coming from the front brakes. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the front brake rotors but after retrieving the vehicle the failure persisted. Additionally, while driving, the braking system would erroneously activate causing the vehicle to suddenly stop. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who was unable to identify the cause of the failure. The vehicle continued to experience the failures and the Vehicle Stability Assistance (VSA) light starte
filed 03/17/2023 · ODI 11512394
01-017 BRAKE PETAL SOFT GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR WHILE DRIVING.
filed 10/12/2020 · ODI 11363929

Engine (26 complaints)

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 sold to me with the same amount of miles as the day of the incent. I believe the issue with the engine was not permently rep
filed 05/22/2026 · ODI 11739547
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 also informed me that due to malfunctioning piston rings at least one of the spark plugs was full of oil. The car also n
filed 05/06/2026 · ODI 11736026

Check your own VIN

A recall only matters if it is open on your car. The lists above are for the model year as a whole; the free official lookup below tells you what applies to your specific 17-character VIN.

NHTSA recall lookup by VIN

Free, official, and takes about thirty seconds. No account needed.

05Common questions

Does the 2008 Honda Odyssey have any safety recalls?

Yes. NHTSA records 4 recall campaigns filed by Honda for the 2008 Odyssey. The most recent is campaign 14V112000, filed 2014-03-14, covering Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump.

What do owners complain about most on the 2008 Honda Odyssey?

The most-reported component is Structure with 108 of the 499 owner complaints on file. Complaint counts show where owners report trouble; they are not proof of a defect.

How many owner complaints are on file for the 2008 Honda Odyssey?

499 complaints with NHTSA for the 2008 Odyssey, spread across 89 reported component groups.

How do I check if my 2008 Honda Odyssey has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's free recall lookup. Recalls are applied per vehicle, so the model-year lists above cannot tell you whether your particular car is covered.

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