When applying the brakes under normal conditions, the vehicle begins to shake. I brought it into the Honda dealer for this issue, and they told me that the rotors are warped, the vehicle only has 16000 miles on it and it is only 8 months old. *tr
2013 Honda Odyssey brakes problems
moderate 41 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
41
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 41 brakes complaints filed for the 2013 Honda Odyssey, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 41 brakes 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.
Brakes accounts for 20% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 10 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 Honda Odyssey has a well-documented pattern of premature front-rotor warping starting around 12,000–15,000 miles, causing violent steering-wheel vibration during highway braking. Dealers acknowledge the defect is common but won't replace rotors, only resurface them—a temporary fix that costs $200–$600 and fails again within months, forcing some owners into repeated repairs totaling over $400 per occurrence.
Forty-one complaints center almost entirely on premature front-rotor warping causing severe steering-wheel and brake-pedal vibration at highway speeds. The shaking typically first appears between 10,000 and 20,000 miles on normal, gentle driving—far earlier than the 50,000+ miles owners expect. Multiple owners say the problem escalates on mountain descents or gradual braking from 50–75 mph, making the vehicle feel uncontrollable. Dealers consistently confirm warped rotors but refuse warranty replacement, offering only resurfacing ($200–$600) as a fix. That fix lasts a few thousand miles before the shaking returns. Owners report buying aftermarket rotors or discovering Honda released an improved rotor design with better heat dissipation—proof Honda knew the design was defective. Service advisors admit the issue is common across 2011–2013 Odysseys and Pilots, and note Honda issued recalls for the same problem in 2006–2010 models, yet no recall followed for 2013. One owner's spongy brake pedal persisted through booster replacement, master-cylinder replacement, and multiple bleeds. A separate complaint describes unintended vehicle rollback on a slight incline despite Park engagement and foot-brake pressure. One owner reports total brake failure—brakes would not engage—and another describes an air pocket that required brake-line flushing at 8,000 miles.
Same Honda Odyssey brakes reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Premature rotor warping causing steering wheel vibration and brake pulsation
Front brake rotors warp well below normal service life, typically between 10,000 and 31,000 miles on regular driving. Owners report violent shaking and vibration in the steering wheel and brake pedal when braking at highway speeds (50–75 mph), particularly when descending hills or braking gradually from highway speed. The shaking can be severe enough to frighten drivers and raise safety concerns about control loss. One owner report suggests the rotor design does not allow adequate heat dissipation, causing premature warping.
When: 10,000–31,000 miles; vibration typically first noticed around 12,000–15,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking or vibration in steering wheel when braking; Pulsation or thumping in brake pedal; Shaking worse at highway speeds and when braking downhill; Vehicle feels uncontrollable or hard to steer during braking; Shaking can occur during gradual braking, not just hard stops
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers initially resurface (machine) rotors at cost of $200–$223; replacement rotors cost approximately $600. Resurfacing provides only temporary relief—vibration typically returns within a few thousand miles. Owners report purchasing aftermarket rotors or Honda rotors with new 'corrected vein design' to improve heat dissipation; at least one owner mentions new part numbers are available. Multiple resurfacing operations over vehicle life have cost some owners over $400 per service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealers acknowledge the problem is common in Odysseys and Pilots (2011–2013 model years) and mention it was a recurring issue in 2006–2010 Odysseys for which Honda issued recalls. Dealers state resurfacing is covered under warranty initially but refuse warranty coverage for repeat occurrences. Owners report Honda corporate customer relations offered no acknowledgment of the problem and took no responsibility. One owner states Honda has redesigned front rotors with improved vein design but offers no warranty on the new design or replacement parts.
Spongy brake pedal with continued sinking under engine running condition
Brake pedal feels soft and spongy, and continues to sink toward the floor when held lightly pressed with the engine running. Despite multiple shop visits including brake bleeding (manual and computer-assisted), brake fluid flush, replacement of brake booster, and replacement of master cylinder, the spongy sensation persists. Owner spent over $1,000 on repairs without resolution.
When: Not specified; vehicle ownership history suggests sometime during normal use
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal feels spongy; Brake pedal sinks to near-floor when held lightly pressed with engine running; Pedal behavior persists after multiple repair attempts
Repairs/costs cited: Brake booster replaced; master cylinder replaced; brake fluid flushed; brakes bled multiple times using both manual and computer bleeding methods. Total cost over $1,000 with problem unresolved.
Brake system failure—brakes would not engage
Single complaint of complete brake failure when pulling out of driveway; brakes would not engage and felt as though they were not present.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes would not engage when depressed; No braking force available
Air pocket in brake system causing brake failure to stop vehicle
Air pocket trapped in brake system prevented brakes from functioning properly. Dealer diagnosed the condition at 8,000 miles and repaired by draining and refilling the brake line.
When: 8,000 miles (reported at 18,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes failed to stop the vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Brake line drained and refilled to remove air pocket.
Vehicle rolling unintended when parked on incline with parking brake engaged and foot brake applied
Vehicle in Park mode with foot brake engaged began rolling when engine was turned off while parked on a slight incline. Owner was knocked down by the door and run over by the front wheel, suffering severe bruising and head trauma. Vehicle continued to roll even though it remained in Park mode and foot brake was still engaged when husband inspected it afterward.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolled backward when engine turned off while in Park with foot brake applied; Vehicle remained in Park and foot brake still engaged during the roll
Synthesized from 41 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Braking at freeway speeds caused a significant vibration in the steering wheel. Brake rotors required resurfacing. I stated to the Honda dealer that I have owned a 2002 and 2008 odyssey and have essentially driven each the same way, so what is wrong with the 2013. He told me the 2011,2012 and 2013 pilots and odysseys have shown this tendency. It was repaired under warranty, but with such an…
When braking, steering wheel rapidly shakes/vibrates back and forth and feel like brak is not working as it should be. I had complained this to my previous service at dealer . They said rotor needs to resurface and they did . It last only 4 months and again I feel like the same problem. It is 2013 van and ran only 40k used and drove only by me .searches on internet reveal this is an extremely…
Had brakes trouble with your 2013 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 brakes problem on the 2013 Honda Odyssey?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 41 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 36 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 15,000 and 29,000 miles, with the median around 20,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,000; a quarter make it past 29,000. 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2013/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.