2009 Honda ODYSSEY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
198 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
64,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 160 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 42 of 198 complaints (21.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 30 | 15.2% |
| Steering behavior | 15 | 7.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 6.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 42 |
| Engine | 34 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 16 |
| Power Train | 15 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
Structure:Body: 42; Engine: 34; Electrical System: 20; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 16; Power Train: 15; Steering: 8; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 33 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 23 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 24 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 19 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 33; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 24; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 19
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 38 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 20 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
2009: 8; 2010: 22; 2011: 21; 2012: 18; 2013: 20; 2014: 15; 2015: 11; 2016: 9; 2017: 14; 2018: 20; 2019: 17; 2020: 7; 2021: 2; 2022: 6; 2023: 3; 2024: 2; 2025: 3
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10263934 · 2009-04-02 (April 2, 2009)
I WAS IN MY 2009 HONDA ODYSSEY AND I WAS THE LAST OF 3 CARS THAT HAD STOPPED FOR A SCHOOL BUS. I WAS REAR-ENDED BY A 4TH CAR THAT DID NOT STOP. THEN MY FRONT END HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND BACK END AND THE VAN HAD TO BE TOWED. I COULD HARDLY OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR. IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10272952 · 2009-06-05 (June 5, 2009)
VAN BROKE DOWN IN TEH MIDDLE OF BUSY HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10272952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10273511 · 2009-06-11 (June 11, 2009)
MY BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY OUT ON MY NEW 2009 HONDA ODYSSEY EX-L WHILE ON VACATION WITH ONLY 2,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ON A FEW OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF THAT I HAVE OWNED MY ODYSSEY THE VSA LIGHT (VEHICLE STABILITY ASSISTANCE) HAS COME ON FOR NO REASON AND COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. NORMALLY THE VSA IS ON ALL TIMES BUT THE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON UNLESS THE CONDITIONS ARE BAD. (ICE, SNOW, RAIN, ROCKS) WHEN THIS LIGHT HAS COME ON I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT APPROX. 50MPH, NOT BRAKING, AND THE CONDITIONS WERE SUNNY AND DRY. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273511 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10273827 · 2009-06-15 (June 15, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BOLTS FOR THE ENGINE DISINTEGRATED. THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 3,700.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10279064 · 2009-08-01 (August 1, 2009)
HONDA ODYSSEY FUEL DOOR AND DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR NOT OPEN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 38 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289845 · 2009-10-26 (October 26, 2009)
2009 HONDA ODYSSEY - VEHICLE HAS MODERATE VIBRATION AT AROUND 40 MPH. ROOT CAUSE ACCORDING TO HONDA IS DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH. HAVE NOT VERIFIED ROOT CAUSE WITH INDEPENDENT SOURCE. NO ACCIDENT REPORTED AS OF 10/26/09. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10289845 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294156 · 2009-12-01 (December 1, 2009)
POWER LIFT GATE FAILURE - WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER LIFT GATE FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE STRUTS DO NOT KEEP IT OPEN. THE LIFT GATE FALLS WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT CAUSED A SERIOUS INJURY (NEEDED 8 STITCHES). DEALER IS INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE AND A SOLUTION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294156 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294267 · 2009-12-02 (December 2, 2009)
DRIVE OVER 65 MPH, STEERING VIBRATION BRAKE OVER 40MPH, NOISE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294267 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
09V057000 · Parking Brake:Driveline:Hydraulic:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 2009-02-18 (February 18, 2009)
HONDA IS RECALLING 421 MY 2009 ODYSSEY VEHICLES. DURING ASSEMBLY, INCORRECT FRONT BRAKE HOSES WERE INSTALLED. THE BRAKE HOSE CAN CONTACT THE CALIPER BOLT AND OVER TIME A HOLE MAY DEVELOP WHICH WILL ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THIS WOULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE.
Consequence: DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE AWARE OF BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE AND BRAKING CAPABILITY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES AND REPLACE WITH THE CORRECT BRAKE HOSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 12, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
NHTSA campaign record ↗12V062000 · Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut | Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments | Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate
Reported: 2012-02-16 (February 16, 2012)
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.
Consequence: STRUTS WITH DIMINISHED PERFORMANCE CAN LEAD TO UNEXPECTED CLOSURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V112000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2014-03-14 (March 14, 2014)
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.
Consequence: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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 will get a replacement, original cover. All vehicles, including those receiving the interim repair, will get an improved cover when they are available. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. The recall numbers associated with this campaign are JD9 (inspection and/or preliminary part replacement) and JE0 (final parts replacement).
NHTSA campaign record ↗