Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS receiver Capacity resulting in rollover of the internal chip memory; the rollover occurred on January 1, 2022, at 12:00AM local time.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Honda Odyssey electrical problems
severe 35 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
35
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
3crashes
2fires
2injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 35 electrical 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.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 19 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
ServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited GPS receiver capacity resulting in "rollover" of the internal chip memory; the "rollover" will occur on January 1, 2022, at 12:00AM local time. As a result, once specific triggers are met, the navigation date and time will be incorrect.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE BULLETIN - ALL OF THE LISTED VEHICLES HAVE A TYPE 4 IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM THAT DISABLES THE VEHICLE UNLESS A PROGRAMMED IGNITION KEY IS USED. THE TYPE 4 SYSTEM IS DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS SYSTEMS IN THAT THE TRANSPONDER ID CODE IN THE KEY IS A ROLLING-TYPE CODE INSTEAD OF A FIXED CODE. IN THIS SERVICE BULLETIN, A PROGRAMMED IGNITION KEY REFERS TO A TRANSPONDER-TYPE KEY THAT HAS BEEN CUT TO FIT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WHOSE TRANSPONDER ID CODE IS RECOGNIZED BY THE IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. IF YOU TRY TO START THE ENGINE WITHOUT A PROGRAMMED IGNITION KEY, THE ENGINE CRANKS, BUT IT DOES NOT START.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"JOB AID - DO YOU HAVE AN ODYSSEY IN YOUR SHOP THAT HAS A POWER SLIDING DOOR THAT WONT OPEN OR CLOSE BY USING THE FOLLOWING? POWER SLIDING DOOR MAIN SWITCH ON THE DASH KEYLESS TRANSMITTER B-PILLAR SWITCH (IF EQUIPPED) EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE CONNECT THE HDS TO THE VEHICLE. USING THE INFORMATION FROM THE POWER SLIDING DOOR DATA LIST, FOLLOW THE STEPS IN THE FLOWCHART BELOW TO TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Do you have an Odyssey in your shop that has a power sliding door that wont open or close by using the following? Power sliding door main switch on the dash Keyless transmitter B-pillar switch (if equipped) Either inside or outside door handle Connect the HDS to the vehicle. Using the information from the power sliding door data list, follow the steps in the flowchart below to troubleshoot the problem.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
2006 Honda Odyssey owners describe widespread electrical failures across multiple systems. Battery and charging issues top the list: several drivers report sudden loss of electrical power while driving, battery warning lights illuminating, and alternators failing to charge even after testing good. One owner experienced a complete electrical system shutdown that prevented access to the powered tailgate.
Water intrusion problems recur frequently. Owners cite moisture entering behind the left rear side trim panel, shorting the connector C701 and causing cascading failures in turn signals, power doors, sliding doors, door locks, and keyless entry—often in wet conditions. Honda service bulletins identify this as a known issue requiring sealing and dielectric grease application.
Power door and window malfunctions dominate complaints: sliding doors fail to close or open, pop open while driving and drain the battery, power windows stick (especially the driver's side), and door locks become inoperative. One owner's child was trapped inside when a loose master window control switch disabled all windows.
Airbag failures are documented in two impact incidents where side curtain airbags did not deploy despite what owners believe were appropriate impact conditions, causing head injuries.
Other reported failures include ignition key sticking, horn not sounding, fuse box relays clicking, complete no-start conditions, parasitic battery drain, engine stalling intermittently, and one vehicle fire attributed to an alternator area fault. Several owners note these problems affect multiple vehicles and appear endemic to the model year.
Same Honda Odyssey electrical reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Battery and alternator charging system failures
Complete electrical system loss while driving, battery warning light illumination, vehicle dying on highway, parasitic battery drain, and alternator not charging despite testing functional. Dealers unable to diagnose root cause.
When: 70 mph highway operation, 82,000 miles, 100,000 miles, intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: battery warning indicator illuminates; electrical systems die within 20 minutes; vehicle loses all electrical power while driving; parasitic drain on battery; alternator and battery test functional but vehicle still fails
Repairs/costs cited: New battery purchased by one owner without solving problem; alternator and battery both tested functional at service station
Power window failures—driver's side primarily
Driver's side power window often fails to close when commanded, worsening in rain and cold. Single window fails while other windows operate normally. Issue persists after dealer repair attempts and lubricant application.
When: within days of purchase, cold weather and rainy conditions, intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: window fails to close when button depressed; window stays down when should be closed; problem worse in cold and rainy conditions; three passenger windows click but do not operate
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to repair despite attempt; owner applied Jiffy Lube and Liquid Wrench per dealer recommendation with only temporary results
Water-intrusion electrical failures—rear trim panel connector
Moisture enters behind left rear side trim panel and reaches connector C701, causing multiple electrical failures. Turn signals, power sliding doors, door locks, windshield wipers, electronic liftgate, and keyless entry all fail in wet conditions. Honda Service Bulletin 08-078 identifies the defect.
When: in or after wet/rainy conditions, intermittent, 37,000 miles on one vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: turn signal inoperative; power sliding doors fail; door locks inoperative; keyless entry does not function; windshield wipers fail; electronic liftgate unresponsive; failures occur primarily in wet conditions
Codes mentioned: B-CAN DTC
Repairs/costs cited: Honda service bulletin corrective action: seal power sliding door pulley mount, reposition foam block, dry connector C701, apply dielectric grease to connector. Owner paid half cost after warranty; problem recurred shortly after pickup from dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Service Bulletin 08-078; goodwill consideration offered outside warranty if requested
Power sliding door malfunction and safety failures
Rear power sliding doors fail to open or close, open and close by themselves while driving, and pop open autonomously. One power tailgate descended and struck an owner's wife. Doors remain stuck open or closed even after repair attempts, draining battery when stuck open.
When: intermittent, while driving, at 126,000 miles, various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: sliding doors fail to close; doors open and close spontaneously; doors pop open while driving down the road; power tailgate drops unexpectedly; doors stuck in open position, draining battery; manual operation required
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer repaired doors but failure recurred; specific parts unknown. Owner disconnected electric door system. One repair involved tailgate strut; EA08-015 recall noted for 2008-2009 models (same root cause suspected).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: EA08-015 recall on 2008-2009 models for tailgate strut
Ignition switch and key sticking
Ignition key becomes stuck and difficult to turn or remove. Vehicle rolled out of garage with keys not in ignition, indicating ignition switch failure. Ignition switch tested faulty by manufacturer but not repaired.
When: sporadically, approximately 100,000 miles, 92,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ignition key difficult to turn; key becomes stuck in ignition; key cannot be pulled out of ignition; vehicle rolls despite keys not in ignition
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle required tow after key stuck and would not start (7,000 miles); repair cost quoted at $1,300 for cable damage (dealer attributed to rodent chewing). Ignition switch failure duplicated in another case but not repaired.
Airbag non-deployment in impacts
Side curtain airbags failed to deploy in two documented crash incidents. In the first, impact to front and rear at approximately 60 mph resulted in no airbag deployment despite high-impact collision. In the second, left front quarter panel impact at unknown speed resulted in steering column airbag deploying but driver's side curtain airbag not deploying, causing head trauma.
When: during vehicle impact, two separate incidents reported
Symptoms owners cite: side curtain airbag does not deploy during side impact; front airbags do not deploy during front impact; head trauma from impact due to lack of airbag cushioning
Repairs/costs cited: Honda declined to inspect first vehicle for airbag failure investigation despite owner request and insurance hold. Second vehicle was totaled and sold without dealer inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda case 12015-04-0701544; manufacturer declined to inspect vehicle for defect verification
Turn signal and electrical feature failures
Turn signals fail intermittently or completely. Multiple electrical features including windshield wipers, headlights, door locks, and rear sliding doors become inoperative, sometimes in tandem, often related to water intrusion or broader electrical system faults.
When: intermittent, while switching lanes on freeway, at 130,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: turn signal does not work when signaling lane change; turn signal inoperative; windshield wiper failure; headlight failure; door lock failure; combination of electrical features fail simultaneously
Repairs/costs cited: Turn signal failure attributed to water intrusion and corrosion at connector C701 in some cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Service Bulletin 08-078 addresses water intrusion; goodwill repair available if requested
Fuse box and relay noise and failures
Loud static noise emanating from the fuse box when starting vehicle. Fuse box relay failures cause clicking sounds. Fuse box and starter relay replaced without resolving noise. Multiple fuse and circuit breaker failures reported.
When: on startup, intermittent, at 10,000 miles, 115,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: loud static noise from fuse box on startup; relay clicking sounds; fuse box malfunctioning
Repairs/costs cited: Fuse box and starter relay replaced; dealer advised noise was normal after replacement. One report of 30 fuse and circuit breaker failures.
Engine starting and no-start problems
Intermittent no-start conditions where vehicle will not start as if battery is dead, then operates normally 10 minutes later. All electronic codes reset as if battery was disconnected. New battery installed did not resolve issue. Problem recurs despite dealer inability to replicate.
When: intermittent, 60,000 miles, after battery replacement
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle will not start; appears as dead battery; all codes reset after waiting; problem recurs days or weeks later; starter broke requiring engine mount replacement
Repairs/costs cited: New battery purchased and installed; problem returned after few weeks. Dealer unable to replicate issue when vehicle starts fine. Engine mounts in front and rear failed requiring replacement.
Door lock and entry system failures
Power door locks inoperative. Keyless entry does not function. One child was trapped inside vehicle when loose master window control switch disabled all windows and door locks simultaneously.
When: intermittent, at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: power door locks do not work; keyless entry nonoperational; key fob does not unlock doors; child trapped inside due to combined door lock and window failure
Repairs/costs cited: Master control switch in driver's door required repair (loose connection); child lockout resolved after repair
Grounding and electrical safety defects
Engine chassis grounding strap attached to painted surface rather than bare metal. Ohmmeter testing revealed 100-200 milliohms resistance at attachment points, significantly higher than electrical safety standards (E3 standards) permit. Defect creates electrical safety risk.
When: at manufacture, discovered during routine maintenance
Symptoms owners cite: improper grounding connection to painted surface; excessive resistance measured at grounding lug
Repairs/costs cited: Ohmmeter measured 100-200 milliohms resistance; electrical safety standards typically require much lower resistance
Vehicle fire—electrical origin
Vehicle caught fire while being driven. Honda investigation concluded probable cause was alternator area fault in sub-cord from alternator to fuse box. After fire suppression and repair, vehicle developed violent shaking at idle (RPMs dropping to near zero) and dealer blamed rubber motor mounts, claiming heat from fire caused them to melt—but refused to cover repair costs.
When: 10/11/2014, after 31-day dealer repair period, fuel pump recall work performed
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle caught fire while driving; violent shaking after fire repair; RPM drops to nearly zero; alternator area electrical fault
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump recall was performed during fire repair (31 days in dealer shop). Dealer later blamed motor mounts for shaking but refused to repair without customer payment, claiming fire-caused melt is customer responsibility.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda fuel pump recall performed; investigation identified probable cause as alternator-to-fuse-box sub-cord fault
Horn failure
Horn fails to sound when engaged while driving. Taken to authorized dealer four times but cause could not be located or repaired.
When: at 87,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: horn does not sound when horn pad engaged; intermittent or complete horn failure
Repairs/costs cited: Four dealer visits unable to identify or correct problem
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified
Rear headphone system failure with DVD operation
Rear headphone system (both wired and wireless headphones) does not work when DVD system is in operation. Headphones function normally for CD and radio. Problem occurs primarily when vehicle is in gear; functions correctly when in park.
When: during DVD operation in gear
Symptoms owners cite: rear headphones do not work with DVD; headphones work for radio and CD; failure occurs when vehicle in gear; works when vehicle in park
Electrical system complete loss with immobilized tailgate
Complete electrical system failure left owner unable to open powered tailgate. Doors were locked prior to failure, emergency release was blocked by dog crates, and no outside key access or manual driver-compartment release exists for tailgate. Created safety hazard for trapped animals.
When: while vehicle in operation
Symptoms owners cite: electrical system completely dead; tailgate cannot be opened manually or via emergency; doors locked, preventing external access
Repairs/costs cited: No design provision for manual tailgate operation when power fails
Engine stalling and check engine illumination
Vehicle stalls intermittently while driving. Check engine warning indicator illuminates. Dealer diagnosed as electrical failures.
When: intermittent, at 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: check engine warning light illuminates; vehicle stalls intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosed as electrical failures by dealer; specific repairs unknown
Dashboard warning lights illumination without corresponding faults
All instrument panel warning lights illuminate while driving. Brake pedal engagement occurred without driver input. Vehicle unable to restart after parking.
When: at 84,000 miles, while driving 65 mph
Symptoms owners cite: all instrument panel lights illuminate; brake pedal engages without being depressed; vehicle unable to restart after stopping
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired
Electrical system transient loss of power
Battery warning light illuminates and vehicle loses electrical power briefly (15 seconds) while driving at low speed, then functions normally. Cannot be duplicated for diagnosis.
When: at 82,000 miles, while driving 15 mph
Symptoms owners cite: battery warning light illuminates; complete loss of electrical power for approximately 15 seconds; vehicle resumes normal operation
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate failure; no repair performed
Dashboard grinding or crunching noise
Grinding or crunching noise emanates from area behind steering wheel in dashboard. Constant noise regardless of speed or driving conditions.
When: intermittent or constant
Symptoms owners cite: grinding noise from dash behind steering wheel; crunching sound; constant noise regardless of speed or conditions
Synthesized from 35 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Re: Honda case number : n012006-12-2800187 I have 2006 Honda odyssey minivan with 7000 miles on it. The van didn't start and even I couldn't pull my key out from the ignition. I had to tow the local Honda dealer on 12/22/06. After 6 days of investigation, the dealer reported to me that they found the cable was eaten by rodents. The repair cost will be $1300 since the warranty doesn't cover…
Had electrical 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 electrical problem on the 2006 Honda Odyssey?
It's a meaningful issue. 35 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 26 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 60,000 and 126,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,000; a quarter make it past 126,000. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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.