Transmission failed after 84,000 miles. Transmission shudders between gears at various speeds when accelerating. Reverse also does not engage and appears to exhibit slippage. *kb
2006 Honda Odyssey powertrain problems
severe 77 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
77
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
4crashes
3fires
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 77 powertrain complaints filed for the 2006 Honda Odyssey, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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 77 powertrain 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 powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2006 Odyssey has well-documented transmission and torque converter problems that appear to be design-related rather than wear items; even with careful maintenance, owners report costly failures as early as 80,000 miles and dealerships often misdiagnose the root cause. Power steering and rolling-vehicle issues also merit inspection on any used example.
2006 Honda Odyssey powertrain complaints cluster heavily around transmission and torque converter failures between 20,000 and 200,000 miles. Owners describe shuddering at 25-45 mph that dealerships repeatedly fail to diagnose, followed months or years later by transmission replacement recommendations costing $1,500 to $5,300. Several report the vehicle lost all acceleration on highways or while climbing grades, forcing emergency pulloffs; one stalled at 60 mph with transmission fluid leaking underneath. Burning transmission fluid smell and white smoke appear before catastrophic failure in a dozen narratives. A few owners cite torque converter lockup malfunction that dropped them into neutral at highway speeds—a serious safety event. Power steering issues appear separately, with owners reporting pump failure at 20,000 miles despite five dealership visits finding "no issue," and later discovering a failing rack. One new vehicle had a cracked transmission casing from manufacturing. A couple narratives mention vehicles rolling backward after owners believed they'd set the gear to Park, resulting in injury. Engine vibration tied to Eco Mode or variable cylinder management (VCM) shows up repeatedly, with one dealer acknowledging the transmission weight wasn't matched to the vehicle design. Owners point to online forums and service bulletins (Honda SB 07-005 for 2005–2008 models) as evidence Honda is aware of systemic problems but has not issued recalls.
Same Honda Odyssey powertrain reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission shudder and torque converter malfunction
Shuddering at 25–45 mph during light acceleration or in traffic, often accompanied by rpm drop and hesitation before upshifting. Later develops into full transmission failure with loss of acceleration, slipping, and inability to shift. Owners report burning transmission fluid smell, white smoke, and fluid leaks preceding complete failure.
When: Ranges from 20,000 miles to 198,000 miles; many failures occur between 80,000 and 150,000 miles despite regular maintenance
Symptoms owners cite: Shudder or vibration felt through steering wheel and brake pedal at 25–45 mph; Hesitation or difficulty shifting gears, especially when accelerating on slight inclines; Loss of acceleration; engine revs but vehicle does not move; Sudden drop in RPM during acceleration; Burning smell from transmission fluid; White or light smoke from under the hood or undercarriage; Transmission fluid leak; Clanking noise under driver seat before stalling; Forward jolting on downshift that feels like unintended acceleration
Codes mentioned: Check Engine Light, Transmission Warning Light, Diagnostic: internal transmission failure, Diagnostic: faulty torque converter, Diagnostic: torque converter lockup malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement $3,700–$5,300 at dealer; transmission rebuild $1,100–$3,463 at independent shops. One owner reports transmission casing crack discovered at manufacturing. Another had transmission replaced, then failed again shortly after.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Service Bulletin 07-005 (revised 2007) issued for 2005–2008 models addressing power steering pump failure; NHTSA recall 04V176000 for automatic transmission in 2007. Owners report Honda refusing warranty coverage beyond initial years/miles and offering only partial cost-sharing. No recall issued for transmission failures despite owner claims of widespread online complaints.
Power steering pump and rack failure
Whining or humming noise after 20–30 minutes of driving, persisting regardless of weather. Initial dealership visits find no issue; after warranty expiration, diagnosis reveals pump failure. Pump replacement is followed months or years later by power steering rack failure requiring full system replacement at high cost.
When: Pump failure reported at 20,000 miles; rack failure follows years later
Symptoms owners cite: Whining or humming noise from steering wheel area after 20–30 minutes of driving; Freezing up of power steering on slow turns; Loss of steering control potential if fluid leaks out
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering pump replacement covered 75% by Honda after warranty discussion. Full power steering rack replacement cost $1,500.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Service Bulletin 07-005 issued for 2005–2007 and some 2008 models. Honda initially denied warranty coverage for rack failure after pump was already replaced.
Vehicle rolling backward after placed in Park
Vehicle rolls backward after driver shifts into Park and exits, resulting in contact with other vehicles or driver injury. Suggests ignition interlock or transmission Park function may not hold securely.
When: Reported at 70,000 and 87,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward after driver shifts to Park and exits; Driver injury (one report of leg run over; another of vehicle hitting person exiting)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles not repaired; damage claims filed with insurance.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda stated vehicle not included in recalls. Note: Honda did recall 2003–2004 Odyssey ignition interlock devices; 2006 model was not included despite similar failures reported.
Engine vibration in Eco Mode / variable cylinder management
Excessive vibration from engine compartment, particularly when variable cylinder management (VCM) or Eco Mode activates. Occurs across all speeds. One dealership acknowledged vehicle weight was not matched to transmission in design.
When: Multiple reports starting at 57,000 miles and higher
Symptoms owners cite: Violent or excessive vibration from engine at 35–40 mph and 1,500–2,000 rpm; Vibration occurs whenever Eco Mode or VCM activates; Shimmying of steering wheel during vibration
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnoses include faulty engine mounts (repair estimate $866–$2,000) and transmission issues. One owner states the problem may be inherent design mismatch between transmission and vehicle weight.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response reported; owners cite online Honda owner groups identifying this as a known manufacturer defect.
Transmission casing manufacturing defect
Crack discovered in transmission casing on new vehicle within weeks of purchase, causing transmission fluid leak. Honda refused to replace with new transmission, offering refurbished parts from 2005–2006 vehicles with unknown history instead.
When: Discovered at 7 weeks of ownership on new 2006 model
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission fluid leak on garage floor
Repairs/costs cited: Honda refused new transmission replacement; offered refurbished parts mismatch from multiple model years. Owner declined repair due to quality concerns.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda will not guarantee source or condition of refurbished parts; refused to replace with new transmission unit.
Transmission fluid spool valve leak
Oil leak identified as spool valve in transmission. Leak occurs onto exhaust manifold, creating fire hazard. Replacement parts unavailable through Honda.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leak from transmission; Burning smell from leaking oil on exhaust manifold
Repairs/costs cited: Honda dealer stated no replacement parts available.
Synthesized from 77 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
During acceleration or deceleration, the steering and transmission shudders between 30 and 45 MPH. When this condition happens, the vehicle becomes difficult to control and can easily become unsafe. While accelerating, the vehicle can shudder and easily shift to one side. This condition has occurred over the past year. It is now happening repeatedly and with increasing severity. I have…
The car shakes really bad at about 30-35 miles per hour and also hesitates at times. You can feel the van shift very hard also. *tr
I was driving on my way back from cleveland ohio. Noticed a shaking feeling on a transmission shifting gear. I looked it up on the internet and there is a ton of people with the same complaint :( *tr
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2006 Honda Odyssey?
It's a meaningful issue. 77 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 67 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 69,000 and 139,000 miles, with the median around 93,699. A quarter of owners report trouble before 69,000; a quarter make it past 139,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.