This is a car I just purchased from owner, my report is the soft brake pedal. Having just put on new pads, it didn't make any change in the pedal as it would with most cars? Is there any recall on this car for brakes. I read where many other owned have this same issue.
2006 Honda Odyssey brakes problems
severe 64 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
64
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
5crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 64 brakes complaints filed for the 2006 Honda Odyssey, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 64 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 19 model years of Honda Odyssey in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2006 Odysseys have well-documented brake system issues: rotors warp repeatedly within 1–2 years, pedals feel soft and spongy requiring longer stops, and complete brake failures occur intermittently. Owners routinely replace rotors multiple times, and dealers often claim these are normal despite safety risks; independent mechanics and owners suspect design defects in the VSA modulator, master cylinder, and pad/rotor quality.
Brake problems are the defining complaint across 2006 Odyssey owners. The most common issue is premature rotor warping, starting as early as 6,000 miles and recurring every 12,000 to 23,000 miles. Owners describe grinding noises and steering wheel vibration during braking, especially at highway speeds. Front pads often wear prematurely or are defective, requiring replacement alongside rotor service. Dealers initially covered some repairs under warranty citing an internal service bulletin about defective pads, but after warranty expiration, owners face full costs for repeated rotor and pad replacement.
A second pervasive complaint is a soft, spongy brake pedal that goes excessively low or nearly to the floorboard, even with new brakes installed. Owners report needing extreme pressure to stop, with braking distances extending dangerously. Some dealers acknowledged this as a design issue and recommended VSA modulator replacement (cost ~$1,000 when out of warranty), yet even after replacement and multiple brake system bleedings, the soft pedal persists.
Complete or intermittent brake failure occurs in multiple reports—pedals freeze solid, vehicles fail to decelerate despite hard pedal pressure, or brakes become unresponsive mid-drive. Downhill braking shows severe degradation; extended application produces squealing, shuddering, and loss of stopping power. Rear brakes have locked up unexpectedly, causing loss of vehicle control.
Honda dealers consistently dismiss complaints, claiming soft pedals and grinding are "normal" or attributable to driver technique. Owners note Honda excluded 2006 models from recalls issued for identical symptoms in 2007–2008 Odysseys, despite the problems appearing before the vehicle was purchased in many cases.
Same Honda Odyssey brakes reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Warped Front Rotors with Grinding and Vibration
Front rotors warp repeatedly, causing grinding noise and steering wheel vibration during braking. Owners report needing replacement every 12,000 to 23,000 miles. Issue appears early—some within first 12 months—and recurs cyclically.
When: 12,000 to 30,000 miles typically; some from 6,000 miles onward; recurs annually or every 1–2 years
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise from front brakes, especially under firm application; Steering wheel and front-end vibration/shaking while braking; Vibration felt throughout cabin; Screeching or squealing sounds; Noise and vibration worse at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Front rotors resurfaced or replaced; front brake pads replaced. Owners report costs of rotor resurfacing or replacement multiple times over vehicle life.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued internal service bulletin acknowledging defect in brake pads; some repairs covered under warranty initially. After warranty expiration, repairs at owner expense. Honda denied extended warranty coverage for these parts according to one mechanic.
Soft/Spongy Brake Pedal with Extended Stopping Distance
Brake pedal feels abnormally soft, requiring excessive travel and pressure. Pedal often goes lower than gas pedal or nearly to floorboard. Extends stopping distance significantly, creating unsafe braking conditions.
When: Can begin early in ownership; some noticed at purchase; others develop over time
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal travels excessively; goes lower than accelerator or toward floor; Requires hard pressure to engage brakes; Extended stopping distances; Spongy brake feel; Reduced braking power, especially at higher speeds or on downhill sections
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers attempted bleeding brakes multiple times; some cases required master cylinder rebuild or replacement; VSA modulator replacement noted in several cases (~$1,000 parts cost when out of warranty); one case after VSA modulator replacement had air in brake lines requiring system bleeding.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers told owners this is 'normal' for the Odyssey or 'the way you drive.' Recall 10V504000 (master cylinder O-ring) issued for some model years; 2006 models reported excluded from recall despite identical symptoms to 2007–2008 models. Recall 10V098000 (air in brakes) applied to 2007–2008 but not 2006.
Complete or Intermittent Brake Failure
Brakes fail partially or completely during normal driving. Pedal becomes unresponsive, frozen, or ineffective despite pressure. Some cases involve inability to stop vehicle at safe distance; others involve brake pedal lock-up.
When: Various mileages reported from early ownership through 76,000 miles; occurs intermittently or repeatedly
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal unresponsive or frozen (no movement despite heavy pressure); Vehicle continues forward despite brake application; Brake pedal falls to floorboard; Slow response to brake pressure; Total loss of braking power on downhill driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to duplicate problem in many cases, resulting in no repair. One case involved air in brake system requiring line bleeding post-recall service. Master cylinder pressure loss suspected in at least one case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One case noted recall 10V504000 (master cylinder). Dealer unable to diagnose in multiple cases. One case service director suspected vacuum release issue but was unsure how to fix it.
VSA Modulator and ABS System Faults
VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) modulator fails, causing soft brake pedal, extended stopping distance, and air pockets in brake system. ABS lights illuminate; in one crash case, both ABS and ABI lights remained on after the incident.
When: Noted at 10,000 miles; reported at various mileages through 75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: VSA warning light illuminates intermittently or persistently; Soft, spongy brake pedal after modulator failure; Extended stopping distance; Air pockets in brake system; ABS lights illuminated; Low brake pedal that persists even after system bleeding and flushing
Repairs/costs cited: VSA modulator replacement cost ~$1,000 for parts alone when out of warranty. Even after replacement and brake system bleeding (performed twice in one case) and flushing (twice in one case), pedal remained slightly low.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2006 models excluded from 2007–2008 recall despite presenting same modulator failure symptoms. One owner noted Honda did not include 2006 in the recall despite identical problems. Dealer cleared codes but failures recurred; vehicle was not repaired after third dealer visit.
Rear Brake Lock-up and Caliper Failure
Rear brakes lock up unexpectedly, making vehicle difficult to control. One case resulted in highway skid and crash into road sign; another involved rear brake caliper failure.
When: One case at ~9,933 miles; another at higher mileage (240,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Rear brake lock-up during normal driving; Vehicle skids to side of road; Difficult to steer/control after lock-up; Brake pedal goes to floor without stopping vehicle immediately (caliper failure case)
Repairs/costs cited: One case: rotors, backing plate, shoes, and springs replaced; failure recurred immediately upon pickup, then again at 65 mph leading to crash. Rear caliper replacement needed in another case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer unable to diagnose after repeated repairs. No recall identified.
Brake System Air Pockets and Master Cylinder Issues
Air enters brake system, creating soft pedal and loss of pressure. Master cylinder loses pressure intermittently or continuously. One case involved air in lines after recall service; another involved master cylinder O-ring failure.
When: Reported at various mileages; one case noted 2-year history; another at 78,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Soft, spongy brake pedal; Air in brake lines (identified after system inspection); Low brake pressure; Master cylinder pressure loss; Pedal falls to floor intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Brake system bleeding required (often multiple times); flushing performed; master cylinder O-ring replacement covered under recall 10V504000 in some cases; one case suggested full master cylinder pump replacement needed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 10V504000 issued for master cylinder O-ring; 2006 excluded in some cases despite same symptoms. Air in brakes found after recall service in one case, corrected by bleeding.
Poor Braking on Downhill Sections
Brake effectiveness severely diminished on downhill driving, particularly with prolonged brake application. Vehicle shudders, squeals, and loses braking power even in low gear. Two cases involved near-miss or collision avoidance on downhill sections.
When: Reported in context of hill/downhill driving; one case noted after 15+ minutes downhill with continuous braking
Symptoms owners cite: Total loss of braking power on downhill sections; Metal grinding/squealing noise during extended downhill braking; Vehicle shudder and vibration; Extended stopping distance of 6–8 feet from normal braking speeds
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repairs documented for downhill braking issue; dealers found nothing wrong.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated behavior is 'normal' for the vehicle.
Synthesized from 64 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 Honda odyssey. While driving approximately 30 MPH and coming to a stop the brake pedal fell to the floor slightly. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The contact stated that he was an independent mechanic and that the master cylinder lost pressure which caused the failure to occur. The contact received a recall notice for…
I recently have been hearing my brakes begin to screech whenever I make a left turn or right turn. This occurred at around 25,000 miles. At first I thought the it was the pads being worn out. I had the pads checked and the service people said it was an probably a defect with brake mechanism. *tr
Had brakes trouble with your 2006 Honda Odyssey?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2006 Honda Odyssey?
It's a meaningful issue. 64 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 49 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 20,000 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 39,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 75,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Honda/Odyssey.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.