Dealer message - American Honda (AHM)is investigating certain 2013-2014 Odysseys, Pilots & Ridgelines with a complaint of steering wheel vibration due to wheel/tire imbalance. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to your attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Honda Odyssey steering problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Honda Odyssey have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 26,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Odyssey | 8 |
| 2010 Odyssey | 12 |
| 2011 Odyssey | 10 |
| 2012 Odyssey | 21 |
| 2013 Odyssey (this page) | 14 |
| 2014 Odyssey | 11 |
| 2015 Odyssey | 6 |
| 2016 Odyssey | 6 |
1crash
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
Dealer message - American Honda (AHM)is investigating certain 2013-2014 Odysseys, Pilots & Ridgelines with a complaint of steering wheel vibration due to wheel/tire imbalance. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to your attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2013-2014 Odysseys, Pilots & Ridgelines with a complaint of steering wheel vibration due to wheel/tire imbalance. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to inspect the vehicle prior to your attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2010 & 2013 Accord V6s, Pilots & Odysseys with a complaint of the steering wheel vibration and pulsation/vibration in the front brake when braking. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2010 & 2013 Accord V6s, Pilots & Odysseys with a complaint of the steering wheel vibration and pulsation/vibration in the front brake when braking. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from 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 dominant complaint is premature brake rotor wear paired with severe steering wheel vibration during braking, particularly at highway speeds or going downhill. Owners consistently describe intense shaking that makes the steering wheel hard to control and requires both hands to grip firmly. The problem appears between 16K and 35K miles, and multiple owners note it recurs within weeks or months after dealer resurfacing. One owner at 31K miles was told rotors cannot be resurfaced again and must be replaced entirely. Service bulletins or recalls are not mentioned; instead, dealers classify this as normal wear and tire warranty limits run 12 months or 12K miles, putting many repairs outside coverage.
A secondary pattern involves power steering pump failure—one long-term Odyssey owner reports this across six vehicles of various model years, with his 2013 failing at 41K miles. Loss of power assist happens suddenly and without warning, creating immediate danger during turns.
A single report describes abrupt steering wheel movement and loud noise from the front driver's side at 10K miles, resulting in a crash; the dealer could not duplicate the fault. Another complaint involves the vehicle pulling hard to the left above 60 mph despite alignment and tire pressure adjustments. One owner reports vibration in the accelerator pedal alongside brake vibration, unresolved after rotor resurfacing.
Owners express frustration that this is a known pattern within the dealer network itself—one notes the service department routinely asks about brake shaking at every visit—yet Honda has not issued a recall.
Same Honda Odyssey steering reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Warped/Premature Brake Rotor Wear with Steering Wheel Vibration
Front rotors warp prematurely or wear excessively, causing severe steering wheel vibration and vehicle shake during braking, especially on hills or at highway speeds. The problem recurs repeatedly after dealer resurfacing or replacement, sometimes within a few thousand miles. Owners report the shaking intensifies under braking pressure on downhill grades and can make the vehicle difficult to control.
When: Between 16K–35K miles; occasionally noticed as early as 18K miles. Problem often worsens after prolonged driving (~120 miles) when rotors heat up.
Symptoms owners cite: Severe vibration in steering wheel during braking; Whole vehicle shake and rattle during braking; Vibration worse when braking on hills or downhill grades; Vibration worse at highway speeds; Hard to control steering; need both hands on wheel; Problem recurs after dealer repairs within weeks to months; Tires may show uneven wear from vibration
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer resurfacing (turning) of rotors temporarily fixes the problem but it recurs. At higher mileage (31K+), dealers refuse to resurface again and recommend full rotor replacement. Some owners report paying multiple times for temporary fixes.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda service personnel acknowledge warped rotors are 'quite common on Odysseys and Pilots.' Honda classifies the issue as 'wear and tear' and declines recalls. Braking warranty is typically 12 months/12K miles. One owner noted Honda performed free resurfacing as a one-time courtesy despite warranty limits. Class-action suit letters mentioned by one owner.
Power Steering Pump Failure (Whining, Loss of Assist)
Power steering pump fails to pump properly or loses pressure entirely, resulting in abrupt loss of power steering assist. Owner reports the pump whines and loses function. Failure is sudden and intermittent, returning steering to manual effort levels. One owner reports this pattern across six Honda Odysseys owned (2007 and later models), with the 2013 failing at 41K miles.
When: At 41K miles on this 2013; owner notes pattern across multiple Odyssey model years starting 2007.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering suddenly becomes very hard to turn (no power assist); Whining noise from pump; Intermittent, random failures without warning; Power steering may recover after a short time; Loss of assist while turning at low speed creates immediate safety hazard
Repairs/costs cited: Owner states Honda refuses to replace the pump under warranty because the vehicle has over 36K miles, despite the owner's history of this being a known defect across multiple Odysseys. Replacement cost not stated.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda will not replace the pump under warranty once vehicle exceeds 36K miles, citing it outside warranty. Owner characterizes this as refusing to address a 'known defective' part that has failed across multiple model years in his ownership history.
Vehicle Pulling to One Side at Highway Speed
Vehicle pulls sharply to the left above 60 mph, worsening at higher speeds. Dealer attempted realignment and tire pressure reduction without resolving the issue.
When: Present on newer vehicle, mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls to left above 60 mph; Pull worsens at higher speeds (owner noted 75 mph is difficult to manage); Requires constant steering input to maintain straight course
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed wheel alignment and lowered tire pressure to 30 psi. Owner prefers 35 psi but problem persists.
Sudden Abrupt Steering Movement (Front Driver's Side Noise/Failure)
Front driver's side emitted loud noise as steering wheel moved abruptly to the left without driver input. Vehicle lost control and crashed into a ditch.
When: At 10K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud noise from front driver's side; Abrupt steering wheel movement to left; Loss of vehicle control; Crash resulted
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer was unable to duplicate the failure and did not repair the vehicle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was made aware of the failure.
Vibration in Brake Pedal, Accelerator Pedal, and Steering Wheel (Unresolved)
Vibrations felt in brake pedal, accelerator pedal, and steering wheel during braking and acceleration in the 35–40 mph range. Rotor wrapping resolved braking vibration, but accelerator vibration persists and dealer was unable to resolve it.
When: At 19,600 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration in brake pedal during braking; Vibration in accelerator pedal during acceleration; Vibration in steering wheel during braking and acceleration; Occurs primarily at 35–40 mph speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer wrapped (resurfaced) rotors, which resolved braking vibration but left accelerator vibration unresolved. Dealer stated vibration was 'not heavy' enough to diagnose further.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering 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 steering problem on the 2013 Honda Odyssey?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 18,000 and 41,000 miles, with the median around 26,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 18,000; a quarter make it past 41,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.