Honda Job Aid - Power Sliding Door Troubleshooting.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Honda Odyssey body problems
severe 116 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
116
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
21injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 116 body complaints filed for the 2007 Honda Odyssey, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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
Of the 18 model years of Honda Odyssey we track for body problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 116.
Owners have filed 116 body 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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body 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.
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 ↗HONDA: SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT OPEN ALL THE WAY EVEN THOUGH WINDOW IS CLOSED. THE WINDOW REGULATOR IS NOT CONTACTING THE LEVER ARMY PROPERLY, MAKING THE SLIDING DOOR CONTROL UNIT THINK THE WINDOW IS OPEN.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Power sliding doors on 2007 Odysseys fail across multiple failure modes. The most common complaint is doors that won't stay closed—they pop open partially or fully while driving or parked, sometimes requiring multiple remote/button attempts before they seat. Several owners report doors that close mid-operation then reopen, or close extremely slowly. In severe cases, doors derail from tracks, leaving them hanging by hinges until manually reinstalled.
A dangerous pattern involves doors closing unexpectedly on passengers—children and adults have been crushed, with injuries including arm entrapment, hand bruising, and in one incident, a child's teeth caught in a retractable sunshade. Owners note the power doors lack obstruction sensors and cannot be stopped once closing begins except via manual interior handle. The liftgate struts fail suddenly without warning, causing the heavy hatch to drop. Multiple owners report being struck on the head by falling liftgates; one elderly owner struggled to catch the falling gate manually. Struts have failed even shortly after dealer replacement. Paint peeling on roof and hood areas has affected multiple vehicles, with Honda's Service Bulletin 08-031 acknowledging the defect for certain configurations but Honda refusing warranty coverage on many affected units. Cargo area soundproofing panels disintegrate, leaving tarry residue stains.
Same Honda Odyssey body reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Power sliding door closure/latch failure
Doors fail to close securely, pop open partially or fully while driving or parked, require multiple remote/button attempts, or close then reopen unexpectedly. Mechanical sliding doors derail from tracks or hang from hinges.
When: Reports span from low mileage (13,000 miles) to higher mileage (115,000+); timing variable from early ownership to several years of use
Symptoms owners cite: Door pops open while parked or while vehicle is moving; Door closes midway then reopens; Door closes extremely slowly; Door won't latch completely; back portion pops open after manual closure; Door makes thumping/banging noise while closing; Door derails from track, hangs from hinges only; Audible chime indicating door ajar; no dashboard warning light; Door won't close tightly; manual handle required to fully close; Electrical controls (remote, dashboard button) fail to operate door
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite Honda dealer replacements of door harness, pinch center, middle roller, and door latches; repair costs mentioned as upwards of $500; multiple replacements have not resolved the issue; dealers unable to replicate problem when vehicle is brought in
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda refused to pay for repairs on high-mileage vehicle citing warranty expiration; dealership mentioned hearing about the problem; Honda Customer Service declined to cover defect; dealership admits seeing many such failures in 2007-2008 Odysseys
Power sliding door entrapment hazard
Power sliding doors close without sensor-based obstruction detection, crushing and entrapping hands, arms, wrists, and teeth. Doors continue closing despite direct contact with body parts and do not respond to remote or dashboard stop commands.
When: Multiple incidents reported; one occurred when child attempted to climb into vehicle while door auto-closing; another when child's hand caught at door back section; one incident with child's teeth caught in retractable sunshade
Symptoms owners cite: Door closes on body part without stopping; Door continues closing despite physical contact or resistance; Child's arm crushed between door and jam; Child's teeth caught and displaced nearly 90 degrees by sunshade opening; Adult wrist jammed in door; No sensor to detect obstruction in path of closing door; Remote button and dashboard button will not stop closing door mid-operation; Only manual interior handle can stop door
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs mentioned; one case resulted in dental intervention; multiple families report using manual door handle to prevent injury during incidents
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda told owner there is no product to lock sunshade in retracted position and suggested moving child to back seat; declined to address lack of door sensors
Liftgate strut failure and sudden collapse
Gas-filled liftgate struts fail suddenly without warning, causing the heavy liftgate to drop from open position. One or both struts lose structural integrity and leak fluid, preventing hatch from remaining in open position.
When: Failures reported from 13,000 miles to 106,000+ miles; sudden and instantaneous; some failures repeat within months of dealer replacement; one incident noted strut failure within 2 hours of normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: Liftgate becomes extremely heavy and won't remain open; Liftgate suddenly closes or crashes down from open position; Strut leaks fluid; Clicking noise from strut before failure; Both struts fail simultaneously; Strut fails again shortly after dealer replacement (some within months, one within 2 years); No warning before failure—gate working normally one moment, failed the next
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite replacement by Honda under extended warranty (multiple replacements in some cases); strut part numbers mentioned: 6826UR 0810N 251/06 A5 (also 74820-SHJ-A012), 6826UR 0810N 334/06 C7; repair costs borne by owner when outside warranty window; third-party strut replacement pursued by some owners
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda claims no known defects with struts; declined warranty coverage when failure occurred outside 12-month replacement window; suggested owners source higher-quality third-party struts if dissatisfied; 2008+ models have recall (NHTSA Campaign #12V062000, Action #PE11034) but 2007 models not included despite identical strut design
Paint peeling and adhesion failure
Paint on roof, hood, and front fender areas peels or flakes off, exposing primer. Issue is widespread across multiple 2007 Odysseys built at Alabama plant, despite Honda Service Bulletin 08-031 acknowledging defect only for 2003–2005 dark blue models.
When: Peeling began 3–4 years after purchase; multiple owners report issue within warranty period; continued deterioration over time if not repaired
Symptoms owners cite: Paint peeling on roof toward front side; Paint peeling on hood and top of front fenders; Paint flaking in same locations as depicted in Service Bulletin 08-031; Exposed primer below peeling paint
Repairs/costs cited: Honda Service Bulletin 08-031 specifies paint-to-primer adhesion repair and 7-year warranty paint coverage for affected units; owners cite repair cost implications and risk of premature rust without solid paint coverage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Service Bulletin 08-031 issued but scope limited to 2003–2005 dark blue Odysseys built at Alabama plant (VIN starting with 5FN); Honda Customer Service refused repair coverage on 2007 light blue models despite identical issue and same manufacturing plant/VIN prefix; dealers refused to honor extended warranty for paint defect; Honda refused to acknowledge defect as widespread
Cargo area panel deterioration and staining
Gray soundproofing or undercoating panel in cargo/rear storage area disintegrates, leaving tarry or oily residue that seeps up through carpet, causing stains. Residue has consistency of lithium grease or tar.
When: Issue discovered approximately 3 months after purchase of used vehicle; deterioration occurred during normal use
Symptoms owners cite: Small stains on rear storage carpet; Stains expand when cleaned with standard carpet cleaner; Oily, tar-like residue with lithium grease consistency found in vacuum; Gray panel under carpet disintegrating; Stains appear directly above deteriorating panel; No visible leaks or damage before staining noticed
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs mentioned; owner cleaned carpet and discovered residue composition
Electrical failure affecting multiple door actuators
Passenger door and liftgate fail to open simultaneously via any method (remote, button, interior/exterior handles), coinciding with right tail light failure. Suggests shared electrical issue affecting multiple actuators.
When: Sudden failure affecting low-mileage vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger door will not open via remote, button, or manual handles (interior/exterior); Liftgate will not open via remote, button, or manual handles; Right tail light stops functioning simultaneously; Potential trap hazard for vehicle occupants in emergency
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer estimate $1,000 for repair; dealership unable to explain coincidence suggesting shared electrical root cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership provided repair estimate but no manufacturer response documented
Sliding door water intrusion and interior wetness
Water leaks into interior through sliding door, wetting seat belts and door interior. Associated with door closure issues and grinding/bumping motion.
When: Reported after extended use of vehicle experiencing door closure problems
Symptoms owners cite: Seat belt frozen and wet; Water stain along top of sliding door interior; Wet staining in rear driver-side area; Water intrusion correlates with door grinding/bumping during operation
Repairs/costs cited: No repair mentioned; owner expressed disappointment with condition
Synthesized from 116 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Honda odyssey. The contact stated that the driver and passenger sliding doors would not open yet the doors were unlocked. The warning light would chime while driving. The vehicle was never taken to the dealer for inspection on repairs. The failure persisted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Had body trouble with your 2007 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 body problem on the 2007 Honda Odyssey?
It's a meaningful issue. 116 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 92 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 45,000 and 104,500 miles, with the median around 70,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 45,000; a quarter make it past 104,500. 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 $1,500 for body 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 body?
No active recalls currently cover body 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/2007/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.