There are 38 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2008 Honda Odysseyin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Incident #1: 1/18/2024, 102k miles. Engine surged to 2k while braking coming to a light. Close to hitting stopped car. Shifted to neutral rpm speed up to 4k. Incident #2: 1/31/2025: 107k miles. Slowing turning into driveway car would not stop rpm at 2k. Then shifted to neutral where rpm climbed to 4k.
2008 Honda Odyssey with issue with piston rings confirmed by mechanic. There are known issues with the piston rings in certain cylinders may rotate and align, leading to engine oil consumption and spark plug fouling. Honda has agreed to settle a massive class-action lawsuit brought against it for engine trouble potentially affecting nearly 1.6 million vehicles. The lawsuit includes Accord (2008-12), Odyssey (2008-13), Pilot (2009-13) and Crosstour (2010-13) models equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 with Variable Cylinder Management, which might experience engine misfire, excessive oil burning and premature spark plug fouling issues.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED EIGHT DAYS PRIOR AT THE LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING A BURNING ODOR OCCURRED INSIDE THE CABIN. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND HER FAMILY WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SAFELY. AFTER, EXITING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED FIRE AND LIQUID WAS DRIPPING UNDER THE CHASSIS. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL EXPLOSIONS WERE HEARD AND PIECES OF THE VEHICLE FLEW OFF. THE CONTACT CALLED THE PARK RANGER AND THEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND WHERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE AS TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 196,000. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON 8/11 FOR A LEAKING POWER STEERING HOSE. *JS
ENGINE HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. OUR MECHANIC HAS LOOKED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR AN OIL LEAK AND CAN'T FIND ONE. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN OBSERVED TO BURN 3 QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES.
ENGINE DAMAGE
THERE WAS A PREVIOUS LAWSUIT AGAINST HONDA FOR HONDA ACCORDS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I HAVE A 08 ODYSSEY THAT'S HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND IT GOT SO BAD I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW MOTOR. I WENT TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE AT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP BACK IN NOVEMBER AND LAST MONTH WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL WAS BONE DRY. HOW'S THAT POSSIBLE IF IT'S NOT BURNING OR LEAKING OIL? HONDA KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM YET REFUSED ME ANY HELP AND TOLD ME I HAVE TO BRING IT IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ON TOP OF REPLACING THE MOTOR ON MY OWN. THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS I FOUND ONLINE WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME VEHICLE AND SAME PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY THEY KNOW ABOUT IT AND ARE KEEPING UP WITH HAVING TO CONSTANTLY ADD OIL, WHERE I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY I WAS DRIVING IT WITH NO OIL FOR ONLY GOD KNOWS HOW LONG. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND ITS NOT FAIR THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE. I'M A SINGLE MOM, 2 SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS, I DON'T HAVE OVER 3000 TO REPAIR A MOTOR THAT BROKE BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THIS NEEDS TO BE HEARD AND WE NEED TO GET HONDA TO DO A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. HONDA IS A CROOKED DEALERSHIP AND DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS. NOW I'M SITTING HERE STUCK WITH A VAN WHICH I PURCHASED WITH MY SON'S DISABILITY MONEY BTW, WITH A BAD MOTOR CAUSE OF A MISTAKE HONDA MADE WHEN MAKING THESE VANS. PLEASE GET MY STORY OUT THERE, LET THIS BE HEARD. I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME DO SOMETHING. THIS IS SAD AND WRONG AND I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. I'M ALSO GOING TO CONTACT THE BBB AND THE LOCAL ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE. THEY'VE ALREADY HAD LAWSUITS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT FOR THE HONDA ACCORD, NOW WE NEED TO START ONE FOR THE HONDA ODYSSEY
NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT RUNNING LIKE IT HAS BEEN AND THEN IT GOT WORSE OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO THEN BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN FOR SERVICE THE OIL LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. I DROVE THE CAR STRAIGHT TO MY HONDA DEALER AND THERE IS NO EXTERNAL OIL LEAK THEREFORE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT OIL IS LEAKING INSIDE THE ENGINE AND BURNING AND THAT IS WHY THE SMOKE IS COMING FROM BY TAILPIPE HOWEVER THE LIGHT INDICATOR WAS A LITTLE TO LATE BECAUSE THE DAMAGE IS ALREADY DONE AND NOW THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND NO TELLING WHAT ELSE. THE DEALER NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THIS A LAWSUIT INDICATING THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL SO I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP AND AS I TRIED TO MAKE IT HOME IT BROKE DOWN ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, HAD TO TOW IT HOME. CALLED HONDA MANUFACTURER AND MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT QUALIFY UNDER THAT CLASS ACTION EVEN THOUGH IT IS A 2008 ODYSSEY. NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE SITTING IN MY GARAGE THAT DOES NOT RUN AND HAS NO RESALE VALUE AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HONDA IS GOING TO HELP OUT IN ANY WAY. IF YOU OWN A 2008-2013 HONDA YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK YOUR OIL LEVEL REGULARLY BECAUSE THE LIGHT INDICATORS OR NOT VERY RELIABLE.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, ERROR CODE P3497. ENGINE BURNS MORE OIL THAN NORMAL. HONDA ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN 11-033, YET REFUSE TO FIX THE CAR AT THEIR EXPENSE. I GET THE USUAL RUN AROUND OF "ADD MORE OIL EVERY NOW AND AGAIN."
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ON HONDA ODYSSEY 2008 EXL - SAME RUN-AROUND WITH HONDA STATING 1 QT OIL FOR EVERY 1400-1500 MILES IS "NORMAL". INFORMED DEALERSHIP OF CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AND THEN THEY INITIATED A CONTROLLED OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WHICH JUST ENDED RECENTLY. AWAITING RESPONSE FROM HONDA CORP REGARDING NEXT STEPS AS SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR VCM DID NOT CORRECT.
PURCHASED VEHICLE USED FROM HONDA DEALERSHIP IN APRIL 2016 WITH 102,000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 106,000 MILES AND MY LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. UPON CHECKING THE OIL LEVEL IT SHOWS THE CASE AS BEING EMPTY OF OIL. I SHOW NO EVIDENCE OF AN OIL LEAK ON THE ENGINE OR ANY TELL TALE SIGNS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR OR DRIVEWAY. HIGHLY CONCERNED THAT THE LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON THIS LATE IN THE DECLINE OF ENGINE OIL.
EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL BURNING. MY CAR BURNS ENGINE OIL SUCH A WAY THAT I HAVE TO CHECK THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL FREQUENTLY. ONCE I HAD TO FILL MORE THAN 4QTS TO GET THE OIL LEVEL TO NORMAL. MORE OVER THE INDICATOR NEVER SHOWS THAT THE OIL LEVEL IS LOW. I WENT ON SPEED BUMP AT THAT TIME THE INDICATOR JUST FLASHED ONCE THATS HOW I GOT A DOUBT AND CHECKED OIL LEVEL. IT WAS ALMOST EMPTY THAT TIME AND I HAD TO FILL MORE THAN 4QTS OF OIL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES FREQUENTLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT AND SIDE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,590.
I NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY VAN UP UNTIL THIS POINT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF FROM TIME TO TIME AND I TOOK IT IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK EACH TIME AND IT WAS THE SAME CODE FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER. MY CAR RAN WELL AND THEN SUDDENLY, WHILE TAKING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL ON A CITY STREET, THE MUFFLER BEGAN SMOKING WHEN I WOULD EITHER IDLE OR DRIVE. IT ONLY DID THIS THE NIGHT BEFORE I BROUGHT IT INTO THE SHOP AND THE DAY OF. IT WOULD HESITATE ALSO. I FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE AT ANY MINUTE, SO I TOOK MY KIDS TO SCHOOL AND BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP IMMEDIATELY. THE MECHANIC THEN TOLD ME I DID NOT HAVE A DROP OF OIL. THIS SEEMED STRANGE BECAUSE I HAD NEVER SEEN A LEAK (I PARK IN THE SAME PLACE AT MY HOUSE). HE TESTED MY CAR FOR A LEAK AND DID NOT DETECT ANY. SOME PEOPLE SUGGESTED THAT THE OIL CHANGE PLACE FORGOT TO PUT OIL IN MY CAR. THAT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY SINCE I HAD JUST GONE TO HAVE MY OIL TOPPED OFF ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE. I HAD ALSO DRIVEN IT FOR ABOUT 2500 MILES SINCE THEN. BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF WARNING, I HAVE TO REPLACE MY ENGINE...IT IS SHOT.
MY ENGINE IS USING OIL. IT USED 1 QUART OF OIL IN 2,826 MILES OF DRIVING AND 1/2 QUART IN THE NEXT 580 MILES. THE RATE OF OIL USE IS INCREASING. HONDA SAYS THESE ENGINES ARE PASSING OIL THRU THE RINGS ON 4 OF THE 6 CYLINDERS. HONDA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON OR ENGINE STARTS MISSING. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CHECK THE OIL LEVEL TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT TO LOW. ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THERE ARE MANY ODYSSEYS DOING THIS. HONDA SOLD THIS VAN TO ME WITHOUT BEING TOLD OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER I BOUGHT THIS VAN. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE ENGINES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DTCS P3400 AND P3497 READ. NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK. TOOK IT TO SUSSMAN HONDA WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE REAR ROCKER. I POINTED THEM TO TSB 11-033 BUT THEY SAID IT DIDN'T APPLY TO MY CAR. CALLED AMERICAN HONDA CO. AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. I FILED A COMPLAINT. ONLY LATER DID I DISCOVER TSB 13-031, WHICH SUSSMAN FOLLOWED BUT DID NOT READ THE DIAGNOSIS SECTION SINCE THE OIL LEVEL WAS BELOW THE DIPSTICK. ALMOST EXACTLY 3 MONTHS AND 4,000 MILES LATER CEL LIGHT COMES ON WITH DTCS P3400 AND P3497 AND OIL LEVEL IS BELOW THE DIPSTICK, THIS TIME THE CAR IS STARTING TO VIBRATE. AHC STILL CLAIMS THIS IS NOT A DESIGN FLAW AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD BY ANOTHER DEALER THAT BURNING OIL IS NORMAL FOR THE "PRE-08 HONDAS WITH VCM" AND THAT WE SHOULD CHECK IT REGULARLY. WHILE I APPRECIATE THE HONESTY, I WISH THAT HONDA WOULD ADMIT THE ENGINEERING ISSUE AND FIX IT ONCE FOR ALL. USING THIS MUCH OIL CAN'T BE GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT!
2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SPARK PLUGS CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. *SMD
2008 HONDA ODYSSEY (ABOUT 5.5 YEARS OLD, 90,000 MILES). DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, WHEN A LOUD EXPLOSION OCCURRED. CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE SIMILAR TO WHEN THE EXHAUST COMES OFF. LOSS IN ACCELERATION AND SPEED. STALLED SHORTLY AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DIAGNOSIS WAS - COIL AND SPARK PLUG HEAD "EXPLODED" ON CYLINDER #2. SOME PARTS FELL IN AND THE INSIDE OF CYLINDER WAS SCORED. ENGINE WAS CONSIDERED NON-REPAIRABLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAD ENGINE REPLACED AT THE LOCAL DEALER. COST OVER $5,000. HONDA REFUSES TO MAKE ANY AMENDS, OR OFFER ANY COMPENSATION. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE FIRST SERVICE ON THIS ENGINE IS DUE AT 105,000 MILES. THE CAR IS 5.5 YEARS OLD WITH ABOUT 90,000 MILES. THIS IS A FACTORY SEALED ENGINE. THE CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE HONDA DEALERSHIP.
ENGINE IS BURNING ABOUT A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY. HERE IS WHAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY... ON OCTOBER 22, 2013, HONDA AMERICA AGREED TO SETTLE THE CLASS-ACTION SUIT. AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT, HONDA EXTENDED THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY ON THESE MODELS FOR EIGHT YEARS FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE OR LEASE WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITS. HONDA ALSO OFFERED TO REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS WHO HAD TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES FOR RELATED REPAIRS SUCH AS SPARK PLUGS, PISTONS OR EVEN ENTIRELY NEW ENGINES (WITH LIMITATIONS). UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA A FEDERAL COURT AUTHORIZED THIS NOTICE. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FROM A LAWYER. IF YOU ARE A CURRENT OR FORMER OWNER OR LESSEE OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING HONDA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 6-CYLINDER (?V6?) ENGINE WITH VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT (?VCM-2?) YOU COULD RECEIVE BENEFITS FROM A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT CONCERNING ENGINE MISFIRE, 1 INCLUDING A LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF OUTOF-POCKET EXPENSES FOR ENGINE MISFIRE-RELATED REPAIRS: ? 2008-2012 HONDA ACCORD; ? 2008-2013 HONDA ODYSSEY; ? 2009-2013 HONDA PILOT; ? 2010-2011 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR; OR ? 2012 HONDA CROSSTOUR MY VAN MEETS ALL THE CRITERIA... 1. 2008 ODYSSEY 2. MOTOR IS A 6-CYLINDER (?V6?) ENGINE WITH VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT (?VCM-2?) 3. MOTOR IS BURNING OIL I'VE CALLED HONDA USA DIRECTLY AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO TELL ME WHY MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED. THE ONLY THEY SAID WAS THAT, "MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE BATCH FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I ONLY HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 TO QUALIFY FOR THIS EXTENSION AND AFTER THAT DATE MY VAN WILL NOT QUALIFY IF HONDA WILL LET IT QUALIFY. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH TRYING TO GET MY VAN TO QUALIFY FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THANK YOU *TR
THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THE VEHICLE HAD AN ERROR CODE OF P3400 AND TO IMMEDIATELY FILL IT WITH OIL AND TAKE IT TO HONDA DEALER. DID THAT AND DISCOVERED CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT COVERED REPAIR. JEFF WYLER HONDA CLAIMS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE'S ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER WITH SAME ERROR CODE P3400. TOLD BY JEFF WYLER HONDA ON COLERAIN AVENUE THAT VEHICLE IS FINE DESPITE HAVING LOST 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN LESS THAN 1000 MILES. DEALER TELLS US THAT IT IS "PERFECTLY NORMAL" FOR HONDA VEHICLES TO USE 1 QUART OF OIL PER 1000 MILES, AND THAT THIS IS TRUE OF THEIR ENTIRE FLEET INCLUDING 2014 AND 2015 VEHICLES. HONDA USA AND HONDA DEALER ARE UNWILLING TO LOOK AT VEHICLE ANY FURTHER AND TELL US THAT WE WILL JUST HAVE TO PUT OIL IN IT EACH TIME WE FILL THE VEHICLE WITH GAS, AND THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE. SO NOW, WE HAVE A MINIVAN MEANT TO TRANSPORT OUR FAMILY ABOUT TOWN THAT WE WILL HAVE TO FILL WITH OIL EACH AND EVERY TIME WE GO TO USE IT. DEALER ADMITS THAT THERE ARE NO LEAKS, AND THAT THE VAN HAS BEEN KEPT IN FINE RUNNING CONDITION BY US. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FLAMES EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND EVENTUALLY ENGULFED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD FAILED AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Showing 1–20 of 38 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026