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 ↗2011 Honda Odyssey powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Honda Odyssey have filed 18 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 24,998 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Odyssey | 69 |
| 2008 Odyssey | 34 |
| 2009 Odyssey | 14 |
| 2010 Odyssey | 19 |
| 2011 Odyssey (this page) | 18 |
| 2012 Odyssey | 22 |
| 2013 Odyssey | 13 |
| 2014 Odyssey | 70 |
| 2015 Odyssey | 39 |
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 18 powertrain complaints filed for the 2011 Honda Odyssey, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 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 powertrain 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 - 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."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2011-2014 Odysseys with a complaint of the power sliding doors detaching from rollers. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2011-2014 Odysseys with a complaint of the power sliding doors detaching from rollers. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2011-2014 Odysseys with a complaint of the power sliding doors detaching from rollers. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2011 Odyssey shows a troubling pattern of powertrain failures across transmission, engine, and shift control systems. The most frequent complaint involves transmission shudder between 40-45 mph and during gear shifts—multiple owners report this recurring despite transmission fluid service, software updates, and component replacement. Several describe the issue worsening over time; one owner had three separate dealership visits for the same shudder over four years, with techs eventually confirming torque converter judder but declining to fix it.
Acceleration hesitation and stalling are widespread. Owners report 1-5 second delays when pressing the accelerator, particularly after lifting off the gas in traffic or attempting to cross lanes. These events feel like the engine shut off, then jerk forward suddenly. One owner noted this happened three times within minutes on a dealer test drive from the lot.
A critical safety complaint describes the vehicle rolling down a driveway while parked, with the shifter remaining in Park throughout the incident. Honda's inspection found no fault.
Shift quality problems include hard downshifts under 30 mph, transmission slip and shudder at specific speeds (35 and 70 mph), and in one case the transmission selecting Reverse when Drive was commanded. A few owners report the transmission doesn't know when to shift or hesitates on reverse engagement.
Engine issues include shuddering at low speeds and uphill, with RPM fluctuations during cruise. One owner noted transmission overheating at 95,000 miles despite no towing use. Battery warning lights intermittently illuminate even with fully charged batteries.
Same Honda Odyssey powertrain reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Vehicle rolls away from Park
Vehicle rolls down driveway on its own while in Park with shifter never leaving Park position. Tow truck driver had to use shift lock release to move vehicle. Honda dealer inspection found nothing wrong.
When: Reported incident on flat driveway; inspection performed 5/23 at dealership
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle moves on its own while in Park; Shifter remains in Park throughout incident; No warning signs reported
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealership (Brannon Honda, Birmingham AL) inspected on 5/23 and stated nothing is wrong with vehicle
Acceleration hesitation and stalling
Engine hesitates, stalls, or fails to respond to accelerator input for 1-5 seconds before jerking forward. Most common when accelerating from light throttle or attempting rapid acceleration after coasting. Occurs roughly 1 per 1000 miles. Owner suspects cylinder deactivation system malfunction.
When: Occurs intermittently throughout ownership at low speeds (15-20 mph reported) and under 30 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Delay in acceleration response (1-5 seconds); Engine feels like it has stalled or ignition turned off; Sudden jerky acceleration after hesitation; Happens most after lifting foot from gas pedal; Most common in traffic during lane changes; Can occur multiple times during highway crossing maneuver
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate problem on test drive
Transmission shudder at 40-45 mph and during shifts
Persistent shudder occurs at 40-45 mph speeds and during transmission shifts from 2nd through 5th gear. Service records show multiple attempted fixes including transmission fluid drains, brake caliper replacement, and drive shaft replacement. Owner research indicates torque converter problems are common on this model year. Software updates have not resolved issue. Honda declines to accept the defect.
When: Reported at 40-45 mph; first complaint Nov 2016, recurring May 2018, Oct 2019, and beyond. Occurs across multiple mileage points.
Symptoms owners cite: Shudder between 40-45 mph; Shudder during 2nd through 5th gear shifts; RPM jumping 100-200 rpm randomly in overdrive/6th gear; Weird wind-like noise from transmission during acceleration; Hard downshifting under 30 mph with progressive worsening
Codes mentioned: Torque converter judder (verified by service tech snapshot)
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission fluid drained (Nov 2016), front brake caliper and left front drive shaft replaced (May 2018), transmission fluid changed again (Oct 2019). Software updated. Transmission fluid was clean and transparent with no burnt smell despite tech recommendation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda software update performed; Honda declines to accept the issue as a defect
Hard transmission downshift
Transmission downshifts hard and feels jerky when slowing to under 30 mph. Failure becomes progressively worse over time. Dealer confirmed transmission was defective and computer caused failure, but manufacturer engineer disagreed and stated transmission was normal. Vehicle not repaired.
When: Failure noted at 15,000 miles; reported again at 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Hard downshift under 30 mph; Felt and heard transmission downshifting; Progressively worsening condition
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer engineer inspected and stated nothing wrong with transmission and it was shifting normally; no repair performed
Transmission slips and shudders at speed thresholds
Transmission slips and shudders when speed crosses 35 mph and again at 70 mph. Vehicle creeps forward slightly even with foot brake applied. Issue present since purchase.
When: Since purchase; affects speeds at 35 mph and 70 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slip at 35 mph; Transmission shudder at 35 mph and 70 mph; Vehicle creeps forward a few centimeters even with brake applied
Transmission overheating and torque converter failure
Automatic transmission overheated at 95,000 miles due to insufficient cooling and faulty torque converter. Vehicle was never used for towing. Owner notes bad transmissions appear to be chronic issue with this model year.
When: 95,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission overheating; Torque converter failure
Engine shudder and cylinder deactivation issues
Engine shudders at low speeds and going uphill. Battery low indicator warning pops up even when battery is fully charged. May require software update to battery management system or cylinder deactivation system.
When: Occurs at low speeds and uphills
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shudder at low speeds; Engine shudder going uphill; Battery low warning light despite fully charged battery; RPM going up and down while cruising 30-45 mph and 60 mph
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda declines to accept the issue
Erratic gear shifting and judder during cruise
Engine and transmission judder with constant gear shifting up and down while cruising between 30-45 mph and 60 mph. RPM seen going up and down. Transmission does not know when to shift, sometimes delays when shifting into reverse.
When: During cruising at 30-45 mph and 60 mph speeds; affects current mileage of 44,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine and transmission judder; Constant gear shifting up and down during cruise; RPM fluctuation; Transmission hesitates on shift timing; Delayed reverse shifting; Vibration and shudder
Shift selector visibility issue
Letters on gear shifter are not visible at night, creating safety concern that driver might shift into wrong gear. Dealer offered no assistance and manufacturer did not respond to written complaint.
When: Issue noted at 15,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shifter letters not visible at night
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer received letter complaint but provided no response; multiple dealers offered no assistance
CV joint wear
Ticking sound when turning steering wheel at low speed (5 mph). Independent mechanic diagnosed CV joints as needing replacement. Vehicle not repaired and manufacturer made aware but did not respond.
When: Approximately 5,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Ticking sound when turning steering wheel
Repairs/costs cited: CV joints need replacement per independent mechanic diagnostic
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware of failure but no response or assistance offered
Transmission engages reverse instead of drive
When starting vehicle and shifting into Drive, vehicle proceeded in Reverse instead. Failure occurred twice. Vehicle not repaired and manufacturer not notified.
When: Approximately 32,000 miles; occurred twice
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle goes in Reverse when Drive selected
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The engine shutters at low speeds and going up hill. Honda declines to accept the issue. Battery low indicator warning pops up even when the battery is flooded. May need a software update to battery management system.
On 3/8/14, I purchased this van as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle from an authorized Honda dealership, but wasn't notified of known defects resulting from the Alex Soto v American Honda Motor Co, Inc class action suit. The suit wasn't finalized until 4/10/14, yet Honda NEVER notified me, as REQUIRED by the settlement. Had I been notified prior to purchase, I would NOT have purchased the van. If…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2011 Honda Odyssey?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 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 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 15,000 and 40,000 miles, with the median around 24,998. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,000; a quarter make it past 40,000. 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/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.