Service Bulletin - American Honda announced a powertrain warranty extension in 2013 as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, Soto et al.v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Case No. 3:12-cv-1377-SI (N.D. Cal.). The piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align, which can lead to spark plug fouling. This can set DTCs P0301 No. 1 cylinder misfire detected, P0302 No. 2 cylinder misfire detected, P0303 No. 3 cylinder misfire detected, P0304 No. 4 cylinder misfire detected, and cause the MIL to come on. American Honda is extending the powertrain warranty to cover repairs related to engine misfire (that triggers DTCs P0301 through P0304) to 8 years with unlimited mileage fro
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Honda Odyssey engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2011 Honda Odyssey have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 57,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Odyssey | 71 |
| 2008 Odyssey | 40 |
| 2009 Odyssey | 31 |
| 2010 Odyssey | 39 |
| 2011 Odyssey (this page) | 17 |
| 2012 Odyssey | 24 |
| 2013 Odyssey | 56 |
| 2014 Odyssey | 39 |
| 2015 Odyssey | 29 |
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 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 engine 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.
These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of CARB certification. These SKUs can no longer be sold as they do not meet CARB standards, but parts on vehicles are not effected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of CARB certification. These SKUs can no longer be sold as they do not meet CARB standards, but parts on vehicles are not effected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - The front rocker arm oil control valve is leaking.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - American Honda is announcing a powertrain warranty extension as a result of a settlement of a class action captioned, Soto et al.v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Case No. 3:12-cv-1377-SI (N.D. Cal.). The piston rings on certain cylinders may rotate and align, which can lead to spark plug fouling. This can set DTCs P0301 No. 1 cylinder misfire detected, P0302 No. 2 cylinder misfire detected, P0303 No. 3 cylinder misfire detected, P0304 No. 4 cylinder misfire detected, and cause the MIL to come on. American Honda is extending the powertrain warranty to cover repairs related to engine misfire (that triggers DTCs P0301 through P0304) to 8 years with unlimited mileage from th
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2011 Honda Odysseys describe engine failures that leave them stranded and mechanics baffled. The most common complaint is rapid oil loss—reservoirs nearly emptying with no warning light—combined with burnt oil smell and residue on exhaust components. Multiple owners reference Honda's TSB 11-033 and a class action lawsuit over the 3.5L V6 VCM system's excessive oil consumption, though some dealers deny coverage using VIN-specific exclusions.
Engine stalling while driving is reported across multiple mileage ranges, including on highways, with no diagnostic codes and no warning. Loss of power steering and brakes during these events puts families at serious risk. Three different service facilities, including Honda dealers, failed to diagnose or repair stall issues despite multiple visits.
Cylinder misfires, primarily in cylinders 1 and 3, produce rough acceleration, hesitation, and stalling—especially during slowdown-to-acceleration transitions or on inclines. Owners report replacing spark plugs twice in 5,000 miles without resolution. Piston ring wear or failure is suspected by mechanics; repairs cost $2,000–$4,000 but are often denied as out-of-warranty. Some vehicles develop intermittent acceleration loss or unintended speeding during braking. Timing belt and pulley noise is documented but seldom repaired. Throughout these complaints, the pattern is clear: dealers cannot diagnose, multiple repair attempts fail, and warranty coverage is frequently denied.
Same Honda Odyssey engine reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Excessive oil consumption and burning
Engine consumes oil rapidly without warning indicators, leaving reservoir nearly empty. Owners report burnt oil smell through air vents and on exhaust components. Multiple owners cite Honda class action and TSB 11-033 for 3.5L V6 VCM-related oil burning.
When: 6,000 miles and beyond; one owner reported oil change on 6/19/2011, adding oil by 6/21/2011
Symptoms owners cite: burnt oil smell through vents; burnt oil residue on exhaust; oil nearly depleted in reservoir; no warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: One owner cited loose oil filter and improperly tightened drain bolt; dealer replaced oil pan, gasket, crankshaft, and main bearing bolt without resolution. Multiple owners mention piston ring replacement estimates ($2,000–$4,000) or engine replacement ($4,000–$8,000).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda TSB 11-033 and class action lawsuit settlement for VCM oil consumption. Some owners report Honda denying coverage citing VIN-specific recall exclusions or out-of-warranty claims. One owner mentions VCM disabling as alternative solution referenced in class action.
Engine stall/shutdown while driving
Engine dies suddenly during operation without warning, causing loss of power steering and brakes. Occurs at various speeds including highway driving. No diagnostic codes generated on computer scans despite multiple dealer and independent inspections.
When: Approximately 25,000 miles reported in one case; timing varies across complaints
Symptoms owners cite: engine dies while driving; loss of power steering and brakes; no warning prior to failure; can be restarted but recurs
Repairs/costs cited: Three different service garages (including certified Honda dealer) unable to reproduce or diagnose issue. No codes present to guide repair. Dealers suggested part replacement at high cost with no assurance of fix.
Cylinder misfire and rough running (oil fouling and ignition issues)
Persistent misfire codes in individual cylinders (primarily cylinder 1 and 3) with rough acceleration, hesitation, and stalling during slowdown-to-acceleration transitions. Multiple owners report repeated spark plug replacement (up to twice in 5,000 miles) without resolution. Oil fouling and piston ring wear suspected as root cause.
When: 40,000 miles and lower; one owner reports cylinder 3 fouling recurrence over 2-year period
Symptoms owners cite: cylinder misfire codes (cylinder 1, 3); rough acceleration and hesitation; stalling on inclines or during light-load transitions; stuttering and pausing before acceleration; corroded or fouled spark plugs; ECO light activation at stops with RPM drops
Codes mentioned: P0300-series misfire, cylinder-specific codes (cylinders 1–3)
Repairs/costs cited: Spark plug replacement at dealer (performed multiple times ineffectively). Piston ring replacement quoted at $3,000+ but not completed. One owner reports wrong spark plug allegedly installed by mechanic (unconfirmed by dealer).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda TSB 11-033 and misfire settlement lawsuit mentioned by owners. Dealers deny coverage under extended warranty or claim VIN-specific exclusion. Some owners advised piston ring replacement as fix, but denied warranty coverage.
Intermittent acceleration/deceleration control loss
Van intermittently speeds up when driver is slowing down or braking, particularly during construction zones or slowdown-to-acceleration scenarios. Also reported as dead spot in throttle response during acceleration from standstill, requiring 2+ seconds to respond.
When: Mileage not specified for most; one report at relatively low mileage
Symptoms owners cite: unintended acceleration during braking or slowdown; dead spot in throttle response; vehicle continues to speed up despite brake application; rough idle transitions; limp mode activation on freeway
Codes mentioned: P0302, emissions failure codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnostic found nothing; multiple repair attempts made without resolution. One vehicle went into limp mode on freeway with vibration and poor acceleration.
Timing belt and pulley noise
Humming and squeaking noise at startup that decreases after warmup but increases during acceleration. Rattling noise that worsens over time. Certified mechanic attributed to poorly made timing belt tensioner pulley and water pump pulley.
When: Approximately 65,440 miles; one unconfirmed noise report at 29,150 miles
Symptoms owners cite: humming and squeaking at startup; noise decreases when warmed; noise increases during acceleration; rattling sound that increases over time
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic suggested replacement of timing belt tensioner pulley and water pump pulley, but vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Replaced the spark plugs for 2nd time in about 5000 miles or less, many error codes I cant erase.burning oil, Honda says it needs piston ring replacement, but they said it is out of warranty I called Honda another location they said the delivery date is 12/3/2010, but they never released the sale date. They have given me estimates of $4,000 to replace the motor or $2,000 to fix it, but I…
Had engine trouble with your 2011 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 engine problem on the 2011 Honda Odyssey?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 25,000 and 109,000 miles, with the median around 57,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 25,000; a quarter make it past 109,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2011/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.