YearToAvoid

2021 Honda Odyssey Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

7/100

#15 most-complained of 16 Odyssey years

The 2021 Honda Odyssey ranks 15th worst out of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 7 and 141 complaints logged. It is rated Best among Odyssey years, with electrical system issues being the top reported problem area at 38% share.

Complaints
141
Recalls
8
Crashes / fires
2 / 1
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 28 hwy

Top 2021 Honda Odyssey problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System54 (38%)
  2. Other33 (23%)
  3. Engine30 (21%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras27 (19%)
  5. Airbags16 (11%)
  6. Structure & Body14 (10%)
  7. Lane Departure10 (7%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers9 (6%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (4%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain6 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe the rear-view camera display flickering or going blank while backing up or using GPS, sometimes persisting after a dealer reset.
  • Some report the power tailgate leaking water through body seams, which shorted the control module and produced mold and a burning smell.
  • A few describe the automatic braking system engaging hard or unexpectedly with no vehicle or obstacle ahead.
  • One owner reported the lane departure system trying to steer the vehicle toward Jersey barriers in a construction zone before the collision warning activated.
  • One owner said the vehicle would not shift out of neutral into drive after exiting a car wash, requiring the brake pedal to be pressed to force the shift.
  • Another described the vehicle stalling and failing to restart after idling and automatically shutting off at a red light.
2021 Honda Odyssey complaints: complaints filed per quarter332021 Q12021 Q42022 Q32023 Q32024 Q22025 Q12025 Q42026 Q3
212 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2021 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2026 Q3 (33).

2021 Honda Odyssey recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V332000May 21, 2026Airbags98,892 vehicles

    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 hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 26V227000Apr 9, 2026Airbags440,830 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: Air bags that deploy unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ECU) software or replace the ECU, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is UNW. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 16, 2026. The information in your report suggests that Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) may have been aware of this issue more than five business days before filing a report with NHTSA. Please be reminded that under Federal law, this agency is to be notified of all safety defect and/or noncompliance decisions within five business days. 49 CFR 573.6 Significant civil penalties can be assessed for this violation.

  3. NHTSA 25V877000Dec 17, 2025Other1,019 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters was mailed January 27, 2026. Owners may contact Vantage Mobility customer service at 1-800-488-9082.

See all 8 recalls for the 2021 Honda Odyssey →

2021 Honda Odyssey fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2021 compared with other Odyssey years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Avoid939662022
2020Avoid804701422
2021Best7141822
2022Caution73135922
2023Good4799522

All Honda Odyssey years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Honda Odyssey reliable?
Among Odyssey model years, 2021 ranks 15th worst out of 16, with a Complaint Index of 7 and a Best verdict relative to other Odyssey years.
What is the top problem area for the 2021 Honda Odyssey?
Electrical System complaints make up 38% of reported issues, followed by Engine at 21% and Collision Avoidance & Cameras at 19%.
Does the 2021 Honda Odyssey have recalls?
NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2021 Odyssey, covering airbags, fuel system, collision avoidance/cameras, and visibility/wipers components, with none marked do-not-drive.
How does the 2021 Odyssey compare to 2018-2020 models?
The 2018, 2019, and 2020 Odyssey years are all rated Avoid, with complaint counts of 990, 966, and 470 and Complaint Index values of 87, 93, and 80, far higher than 2021's index of 7.
What is the median mileage for electrical failures on the 2021 Odyssey?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 32,000 miles at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2021 Odyssey.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.