SERVICE BULLETIN - OVER TIME, THE FUEL FILTER ASSEMBLY MAY BE EXPOSED TO CERTAIN EXTERNAL CONDITIONS THAT MAY CAUSE CUSTOMERS TO NOTICE A FUEL SMELL. REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER SET WITH THE IMPROVED PARTS SET TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Honda Odyssey fuel system problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,200 · see fuel system across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,200
1fire
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering fuel system 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.
Service bulletin - Over time, the fuel filter assembly may be exposed to certain external conditions that may cause customers to notice a fuel smell.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - Over time, the fuel filter assembly may be exposed to certain external conditions that may cause customers to notice a fuel smell.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - Over time, the fuel filter assembly may be exposed to certain external conditions that may cause customers to notice a fuel smell.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - For dealers experiencing a strong fuel smell from storing the fuel pump sets replaced under service bulletin 14-032: Safety Recall: Odyssey Fuel Pump, these fuel sets may be disposed of immediately in accordance with local regulations
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2006 Odyssey fuel system shows multiple failure modes across these ten complaints. Most commonly, owners report fuel pump housing defects with spider cracks at the tank top, causing fuel to seep and drip. One owner found liquid fuel dripping from the pump housing; others detected strong fuel odor in the cabin and fumes entering while driving. At 120,000 miles one owner had the pump replaced; at 185,000 miles another vehicle suffered a complete fire 20 minutes after parking—the vehicle had previously been serviced under recall 14V112000.
Honda issued NHTSA Campaign 14V112000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) to address these issues, but parts were delayed or unavailable at dealers, leaving some owners waiting indefinitely for recall work. Even after recall service, one owner reported persistent strong fuel odor that dealers could not diagnose.
Earlier in the vehicle's life (36,500 miles), one owner experienced sudden loss of acceleration at 65 mph, recurring within 15 minutes; the dealer suspected fuel injection but never confirmed or fixed it.
A separate complaint documents a hard clunking noise from underneath during stops, attributed by Honda to gas tank movement—described as a design characteristic. No repairs were offered.
Same Honda Odyssey fuel system reports on nearby years: 2005
Failure modes owners describe
Fuel pump housing cracks and leakage
Spider cracks develop in the top of the fuel pump housing, causing fuel to seep and drip from the tank top. Fuel odor enters the cabin and fumes are detectable while driving. Owners report abnormal fuel smell inside the vehicle and fuel leaking through the top of the tank.
When: 120,000–185,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Strong fuel odor inside cabin; Fuel fumes entering vehicle while driving; Liquid fuel dripping from top of fuel tank; Spider cracks visible on fuel pump housing; Fuel seeping from top when engine is started
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump replacement required. Owners report replacement at independent mechanic and dealership service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V112000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) issued; parts were delayed and unavailable at some dealers. Some owners sought reimbursement for pre-recall repairs.
Sudden loss of acceleration
Vehicle unexpectedly stops accelerating while driving at highway speed. Failure is intermittent and temperature-dependent. Dealer suspected fuel injection system involvement but could not duplicate or confirm the cause.
When: 36,500–37,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of acceleration while driving 65 mph; Vehicle slowing down unexpectedly; Failure recurring within 15 minutes after initial occurrence; Temperature-dependent behavior
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was not repaired; dealer unable to duplicate failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer assistance provided.
Gas tank clunking and movement
Clunking or hard clunk noise from underneath the vehicle when coming to a stop. Honda representatives attributed the noise to gas tank movement and movement inside the tank, claiming it is a characteristic of the 2006 Odyssey model. Noise intensity varies with fuel tank fullness.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise from underneath vehicle at stops; Loud and hard clunking observed at times; Noise correlates with fuel tank level
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs attempted; Honda stated noise is a design characteristic.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealer advised owner to check fuel tank fullness; no corrective action offered.
Persistent fuel odor after recall service
After fuel system service under NHTSA Campaign 14V112000, a strong fuel odor remains in the vehicle. Odor is severe enough to be intolerable for an odor-sensitive owner. Odor was not diagnosed when vehicle was returned to the dealer.
When: Unknown mileage; post-recall repair
Symptoms owners cite: Strong persistent fuel odor in vehicle after recall service
Repairs/costs cited: Odor not diagnosed or addressed by dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle serviced under NHTSA Campaign 14V112000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); cause of persistent odor not identified.
Vehicle fire
Vehicle caught fire and was completely destroyed. Fire occurred approximately 20 minutes after the vehicle was parked. Vehicle had been previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign 14V112000.
When: 185,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fire post-repair
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to salvage yard and deemed destroyed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V112000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) had been performed; cause of fire not documented as investigated by manufacturer.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had fuel system 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 fuel system problem on the 2006 Honda Odyssey?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,200.
At what mileage does the fuel system typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, fuel system issues most often appear around 113,031 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,200 for fuel system 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 fuel system?
No active recalls currently cover fuel system 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.