Do you have an Odyssey in your shop that has a power sliding door that won?t 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 ↗2008 Honda Odyssey cruise control problems
severe 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
3crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 21 cruise control complaints filed for the 2008 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
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 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 cruise control 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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Twenty-one complaints describe intermittent and dangerous throttle and braking malfunctions on 2008 Odysseys, ranging from near-new to 160,000 miles. The most common failure is unintended acceleration while braking—engine revs and vehicle surges forward with the brake pedal fully depressed. This happens most often during low-speed parking or at traffic lights, though one instance caused a total-loss crash when the van kept accelerating even after hitting a tree. Three owners had to shift to neutral to prevent collision.
A second major pattern is spontaneous hard braking during acceleration, especially on highway on-ramps at 40–50 mph. Several owners traced this to the VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) system and confirmed it stopped when they disabled VSA.
A third failure is rapid deceleration at highway speed without warning, in one case with unresponsive brakes requiring parking brake intervention. One severe case involved accelerator pedal sticking to the floor and steering locking up simultaneously at 60 mph.
Dealer responses are mixed and unhelpful. Most cannot reproduce or diagnose the failures; one told an owner to "drive more often" rather than repair. No repairs are recorded in most cases. Owners report no warning lights, computer codes, or service bulletins. Mechanics find nothing in system logs.
Same Honda Odyssey cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Spontaneous braking (VSA related)
Vehicle applies brakes suddenly and with force while driver is accelerating, often at highway merge speeds or during normal acceleration. Multiple owners report sudden deceleration of 20-30 mph without any brake pedal input. Several owners identified VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) system as the culprit and reported the issue stopped when VSA was disabled. One owner reports VSA light on intermittently with brake light coming on and vehicle braking harder on its own even after driver released brake.
When: At speeds 40-50 mph during acceleration or highway on-ramps; also reported during normal driving at 40-45 mph while VSA light was on; one instance at low speed during parking (25 mph area)
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden hard braking without driver input; Vehicle decelerates 20-30 mph from cruising speed; Seatbelts lock during braking event; VSA light on or cycling on/off; Brake light illuminates; Brake reapplies harder after driver releases pedal
Unintended acceleration while braking
Engine revs and vehicle surges forward despite brake pedal being fully depressed. Occurs most often during low-speed parking maneuvers or when stopped at traffic lights. Brake pedal remains firmly applied but engine rpm increases rapidly. In several cases driver had to place transmission in neutral to prevent collision. In one severe case, vehicle continued accelerating even after hitting a tree, resulting in total loss. One dealer was able to duplicate failure but advised driver to 'drive more often' without repair; most dealers unable to reproduce or diagnose.
When: Starting at 25,000 miles; first three incidents over 4-year period (2009-2013); continued through at least 160,000 miles; most common during low-speed parking or stopped at traffic lights; one incident at 70,400 miles; one at 38,800 miles; one at 2,400 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine races and revs up despite brake pedal fully depressed; Vehicle lurches or surges forward while braking; Engine RPM exceeds 7000 rpm; Accelerator pedal becomes stuck toward floorboard; Vehicle continues accelerating even after collision; Loud engine revving sound
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports dealer replaced torque converter but failure continued; most dealer visits resulted in inability to diagnose or duplicate; in severe crash case, vehicle was totaled; dealer advised continued driving to remedy issue (no parts replaced)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised contact unable to assist if dealer could not duplicate or diagnose failure; one dealer advised driving vehicle more frequently
Braking engaged during acceleration (no pedal input)
While driver applies accelerator pedal during normal driving, brakes engage automatically and vehicle decelerates sharply without any brake pedal input. Occurs during acceleration at speeds around 40 mph, sometimes during transmission downshift from 5th to 4th gear. Distinct from VSA spontaneous braking in that it happens while driver is actively accelerating.
When: During acceleration at 40 mph; reported multiple times over past year in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes apply during acceleration without driver input; Vehicle decelerates 20-30 mph from original speed; Occurs during transmission downshift; No warning lights or indicators
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealer examined vehicle and found no defect
Severe unintended acceleration with steering lockup
Vehicle accelerates to 60 mph immediately upon removing foot from brake at traffic stop. Accelerator pedal independently moves toward floorboard and becomes stuck. Steering wheel seizes abnormally. Vehicle continues accelerating even after shifting to neutral and removing ignition key. Required emergency brake and extreme force on brake pedal to eventually stall vehicle. Technician unable to diagnose failure at dealer.
When: At 70,400 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal acceleration to 60 mph from stop; Accelerator pedal moves toward floorboard and sticks; Steering wheel seizes; Vehicle continues accelerating even with key removed; Requires emergency brake and extreme brake force to stall
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was not repaired; dealer unable to diagnose
Sudden deceleration at highway speed
Vehicle decelerates rapidly without warning while driving at highway speeds (40-55 mph). Brake pedal does not respond initially, requiring use of parking brake to gradually stop vehicle. Mechanic unable to duplicate failure.
When: At 160,000 miles; also at 56,000 and 78,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid deceleration without warning; Vehicle decelerates at 40-55 mph; Brake pedal initially unresponsive
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of failure at 160,000 miles
High idle and surging while brakes applied
Vehicle surges forward with high idle rpm while brakes are depressed. Occurs intermittently and can happen at very low mileage (2,400 miles). One dealer was able to duplicate the failure through diagnostic testing but advised driver to 'drive more often' as remedy rather than performing repairs.
When: Starting at 2,400 miles; continued intermittently through at least 70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle surges forward while brakes depressed; High idle rpm; Intermittent occurrence
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; dealer advised to drive vehicle more often
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer performed diagnostic that duplicated failure but recommended increased driving frequency instead of repair
Poor acceleration / speed limitation
Vehicle fails to accelerate beyond approximately 25 mph despite continuous pressure on accelerator pedal. Occurs at 45,000 miles. Dealer replaced torque converter but failure continued to occur.
When: At 45,000 miles; no prior warnings
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fails to accelerate beyond 25 mph; No increase in speed despite pedal pressure; Problem persists after torque converter replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Torque converter replaced; failure continued after repair
Engine noise / vibration
Very loud humming or vibration noise from engine compartment and undercarriage when engine reaches 2000 rpm, particularly during cooler weather.
When: During cooler weather operation
Symptoms owners cite: Loud humming noise; Vibration sensation; Occurs at 2000 rpm; Originates from engine compartment and undercarriage
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Honda odyssey. The contact stated that as she removed her foot from the brake pedal to attempt to proceed from a traffic stop, the vehicle abnormally accelerated to 60 MPH. The accelerator pedal independently moved toward the floorboard and became stuck. In addition, the steering wheel seized abnormally. The contact was able to shift gears and remove the key from the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Honda odyssey. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle decelerated independently and without warning. The vehicle was not taken for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000.
Had cruise control trouble with your 2008 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 cruise control problem on the 2008 Honda Odyssey?
It's a meaningful issue. 21 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 32,000 and 78,000 miles, with the median around 56,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 32,000; a quarter make it past 78,000. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/2008/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.