Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2014-2017 Odysseys and 2014-2015 Pilots with a customer complaint of the vehicle Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with one or more of the DTC(s) listed below (in Qualifiers) stored. To better 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 ↗2016 Honda Odyssey electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Honda Odyssey have filed 35 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 25,000 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
35
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Odyssey | 32 |
| 2013 Odyssey | 13 |
| 2014 Odyssey | 27 |
| 2015 Odyssey | 24 |
| 2016 Odyssey (this page) | 35 |
| 2017 Odyssey | 5 |
| 2018 Odyssey | 214 |
| 2019 Odyssey | 192 |
| 2020 Odyssey | 150 |
3crashes
1fire
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 35 electrical complaints filed for the 2016 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 35 electrical 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.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 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 electrical 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 Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2014-2017 Odysseys and 2014-2015 Pilots with a customer complaint of the vehicle Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) on with one or more of the DTC(s) listed below (in Qualifiers) stored. To better 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 ↗ServiceNews Article - Here's something you really ought to know about: When you play a DVD with 5.1 surround sound (Dolby Digital), you'll hear the dialogue coming from just the front speakers. You won't hear it coming from any of the rear speakers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Tech line summary article - We?re currently looking at an issue that when connected to Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® using an iPhone with iOS 11, there?s no phonebook showing up on the On Demand Multi-Use Display? (ODMD). If the phonebook doesn?t download, customers will have trouble accessing phonebook contacts using the voice control system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Tech line summary article - If the On Demand Multi-Use Display? (ODMD) isn?t responding to touch or is freezing up, the reason could be there?s debris lodged in the gap between the touch screen and the bezel. Lodged debris contacting the screen can cause a false input, resulting in this issue. And since that gap widens and narrows with cabin temperature, this issue can be
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2016 Odysseys report a constellation of electrical faults that range from annoying to genuinely life-threatening. The most severe: complete shutdown of the electrical system while driving at highway speeds, killing propulsion, steering, and brakes. One owner coasted across two lanes of 75 mph traffic; another lost power at 70 mph on an interstate. A few owners experienced this same failure multiple times after dealers attempted repairs—temporary fixes that held days or months before the vehicle went dead again.
Sliding door systems fail chronically. Motors and cables malfunction; doors won't close or latch; latches fail while children are exiting. One child's head was trapped between a closing door and frame for several minutes, with the door applying extreme pressure to the skull. One door's cable snapped. Multiple owners forced to disable automatic door operation because of repeated glitches and false-open sensor alerts.
Keyless systems malfunction, leaving families stranded when the car refuses to start. Dashboard flickering, horn honking spontaneously, inability to power off the vehicle, and rapid battery drain all point to electrical control module corruption. Backup cameras fail with burned and discolored displays. Power windows roll down on their own. Rear hatches won't open in cold weather. Owners describe bringing their Odysseys to dealers three or four times for the same issues only to have problems persist.
The spool valve oil leak that pours onto the alternator is documented in a Honda service bulletin, but Honda did not always link the bulletin to owners' specific VINs.
Same Honda Odyssey electrical reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Spool valve (oil control valve) seal failure
Front rocker arm oil control valve gasket deteriorates or groove goes out of specification, allowing oil to leak onto the alternator. Failure can cause complete electrical system shutdown and engine fire.
When: Unspecified mileage; service bulletin issued to address recurring issue
Symptoms owners cite: No warning lights before event; Complete electrical system failure while driving; Entire propulsion lost; Oil leak onto alternator
Repairs/costs cited: Part #15810-R70-A04 (Front Rocker Arm Oil Control Valve) replacement; service personnel report multiple replacements per month
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin issued directing inspection and replacement if leaks found; bulletin not always linked to vehicle VIN
Complete electrical system shutdown (cause undetermined)
Vehicle loses all electrical power while driving, including dashboard functions, propulsion, power steering, and brakes. Occurs randomly and recurs even after dealer repair attempts.
When: After purchase with 28K miles; recurred after 4 months, then April-May; one incident at 17K miles
Symptoms owners cite: All dashboard functions turn off (blinkers, speedometer, radio, information panel); Loss of gas pedal response and power steering; Vehicle gradually slows; Hazard lights continue to work; Car restarts and functions normally after stopping; Extremely dangerous at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Electrical harness replaced by dealer; temporary fix lasting ~4 months before recurrence
Keyless access control unit failure
Keyless entry system malfunctions, causing vehicle immobilization, dashboard flickering, horn honking, and inability to turn off vehicle. Oil spill during service may trigger shorting of circuitry.
When: One week after oil change service; another case at ~7 years old
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard flickering with FCW system failure; Horn honks itself; Dashboard power cannot turn off with ignition switch; Keyless system error message; Lights flicker and clicking noise from hood; Car alarm goes off randomly with no trigger; Vehicle refuses to start
Codes mentioned: Keyless System Error message
Repairs/costs cited: Keyless Access Control Unit replacement required (Part #38329-TK8-A01); part on critical backorder; out-of-warranty customers charged full replacement cost
Backup camera display degradation
Backup camera screen develops burned spots and discoloration that radiate across the display, rendering it partially or completely unviewable. Defect occurs within weeks of purchase on new vehicle.
When: First week of February 2017, weeks after January 2017 purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Burned spots on screen; Discoloration of mixed colors (blue, red, green, orange, purple); Covers half or more of screen; Screen unviewable in many instances; Spots expand over time
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda case managers told owner defect is normal for Odyssey; no repair offered
Power sliding door cable and motor failure
Driver and passenger side sliding doors fail to open or close properly, requiring manual operation or power shutdown and restart. Door motors, cables, and latching mechanisms malfunction repeatedly even after dealer repair attempts.
When: At 60K miles (one case); at 16K-25K miles (multiple cases)
Symptoms owners cite: Door fails to close completely; Door hesitates and stops as if obstructed when nothing is in the way; Door does not latch properly; Door closes abruptly on its own; Door does not recognize passenger exiting; Broken wires to sliding door; Cable snapped while attempting to open
Repairs/costs cited: Door motors and cables replaced twice in one case; lubricant applied; repeated failures; costs reported as $1500 for repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers acknowledge seeing many similar complaints; dealership disabled automatic door feature; Honda told owner nothing could be done
Power sliding door false open sensors
Door open sensors trigger false alerts and warnings while doors are actually closed and latched. Causes constant beeping while driving.
When: At 25K miles; occurs randomly while driving
Symptoms owners cite: Door open sensor alarm sounds while driving; Doors are actually closed and latched; Constant beeping occurs at least once per week; Major distraction while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Owners forced to shut off power sliding door feature to stop false alerts
Power window malfunction (auto-up feature)
Front driver side window with auto-up feature rolls back down immediately after button is released, requiring continuous button hold to fully close.
When: Occurs randomly
Symptoms owners cite: Window rolls down as soon as button is released; Requires continuous button hold to complete closing; Windows roll up and down on their own repeatedly; Occurs on driver and passenger side windows
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer lubricated windows; failure recurred
Rear hatch cold-weather failure
Rear liftgate/hatch door will not open or requires prolonged button pressing in cold weather. Functions normally in warm weather. Prior model years had recall for this issue but 2016 model excluded.
When: Cold weather months; first reported spring, recurred September with cold weather
Symptoms owners cite: Hatch will not open in cold weather; Requires 5+ minutes of button holding in cold; May not open at all despite attempting; Immediate operation in warm weather; Open switch does not work when outdoor temperature is cold
Repairs/costs cited: Latch replaced during warranty service; failure recurred once warranty expired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Prior model years had recall; 2016 model not included despite same defect
Intermittent dashboard warning light illumination
Dashboard warning lights (engine, LDW, FCW, emissions, VSA) illuminate unexpectedly every couple of weeks and stay on for hours to days, then turn off. Lights remain on despite no actual fault conditions detected.
When: Occurs every couple of weeks; pattern random
Symptoms owners cite: Engine light comes on; LDW (Lane Departure Warning) light on; FCW (Forward Collision Warning) light on; Emissions warning light on; VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) light on; All dashboard lights flicker on and off repeatedly for 30 seconds; Sequence repeats for several minutes
Codes mentioned: P060A
Car alarm random activation
Car alarm sounds repeatedly and randomly with no legitimate trigger, depleting battery and causing electrical system strain.
When: Occurs randomly; frequent occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Alarm goes off randomly very frequently; No one touching or attempting to enter vehicle; Rapid clicking from dash accompanying alarm; Can occur while car is parked and off
Steering wheel control source-change malfunction
Using steering wheel volume controls with rear entertainment playing through main speakers changes the audio source instead of adjusting volume. Happens consistently every time.
When: When rear entertainment is playing through main speakers
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel volume controls change audio source instead of volume; Occurs every single time, not randomly
Ignition harness failure
Ignition harness deteriorates or fails, causing vehicle stall and all warning indicators to illuminate while driving.
When: At 17K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls while driving; All warning indicators illuminate; Vehicle able to restart and function normally after incident
Repairs/costs cited: Ignition harness needs replacement per independent mechanic diagnosis
VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) module failure
VSA module malfunctions, causing all dashboard lights to illuminate and blink continuously, relays to cycle on and off. Vehicle randomly shuts off while driving, making it unsafe to operate.
When: At 7 years old (~2023)
Symptoms owners cite: Car turns on by itself; Lights come on and will not turn off; Dashboard lights up with every symbol blinking; Relays under hood turn off and on non-stop; Vehicle randomly shuts off while driving
Repairs/costs cited: VSA module replacement required; part on backorder for 4 months; vehicle unsafe to operate until repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Backorder on replacement module; older vehicles deprioritized
Automatic windows and rear hatch spontaneous opening
Automatic windows, sunroof, and rear door open by themselves and stay open while vehicle is parked. Creates security and safety hazards.
When: Occurs several nights while parked
Symptoms owners cite: Windows open by themselves while parked; Sunroof opens by itself; Rear door opens by itself; Systems stay open; Happens multiple times including on hillside parking
Keyless entry module chip inadequate protection
Keyless entry module chips are inadequately protected from the elements, causing vehicle immobilization and failure to start.
When: Vehicle unable to start while owner shopping
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle refuses to start; Owner and children stranded
Low fuel warning inadequate design
Fuel level indicator positioned on right side of dashboard where it is blocked from view by steering wheel. No audible alert for low fuel. Driver runs out of gas unexpectedly while driving.
When: Occurs during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Low fuel warning light blocked by steering wheel; Light mostly blocked depending on driving position; No audible beep or alarm for low fuel; Sudden loss of engine power while driving; No warning prior to running out of gas
Battery drain and starter engagement issues
Battery drains rapidly. Starter engages multiple times on its own while vehicle is off. Cabin lights come on without being triggered, contributing to battery depletion.
When: Early ownership; one case required battery replacement after 2 years
Symptoms owners cite: Starting problems; car won't start; Cabin lights turn on by themselves; Clicking sound like starter engaging several times; Clicking occurs while vehicle is off; Low battery condition develops; Rapid battery drain
Codes mentioned: P060A
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacement after ~2 years of ownership
Dashboard and infotainment system power loss
Dashboard, radio, and camera systems shut off abruptly while driving, then power back on after seconds to 30 minutes. Occurs consistently despite multiple dealer service visits.
When: Consistent occurrence while driving
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard shuts off while driving; Radio shuts off while driving; Rear camera shuts off; Side camera shuts off; Systems power back on after delay; Happens consistently throughout use
Repairs/costs cited: Brought to Honda dealership 3 times; vehicle stayed for a week each visit; problem persists
Key fob malfunction and intermittent power loss
Key fob no longer locks or unlocks vehicle. Vehicle experiences intermittent power loss, feeling like it will stall while driving.
When: Ongoing since June 2023
Symptoms owners cite: Key fob will not unlock van; Key fob will not lock van; Vehicle loses power while driving; Intermittent stalling sensation
Power sliding door lock failure post-accident
After front-end accident, electric side doors lock and do not open. Creates entrapment hazard during emergency situations.
When: Following front driver side impact accident
Symptoms owners cite: Driver side sliding door locked and would not open; Passenger side sliding door did not work; Door does not respond after accident; Door is now inoperable
Repairs/costs cited: Door eventually opened with assistance of multiple people; door now non-functional
Warning chime inadequate volume
Sliding door open warning chime when reversing is too quiet or does not sound at all after software update. Chime cannot be adjusted or made louder.
When: At 25K miles, after software update
Symptoms owners cite: Warning chime does not sound when reversing with door open; Warning chime is very low; Door open warning inadequate
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service agent stated chime is not adjustable, performing as designed, cannot get louder
Sliding door entrapment incident
Power sliding door malfunctions, trapping child's head between door frame and door while opening. Door applies extreme pressure to child's skull and does not release for several minutes.
When: Vehicle parked in driveway; door had malfunctioned once before
Symptoms owners cite: Door operated improperly while opening; Door lodged child's head between frame and door; Door applied extreme pressure to skull; Child trapped for several minutes; Door did not release automatically
Repairs/costs cited: Child required pediatrician evaluation after incident; dealer previously looked at door malfunction
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda's response was that door operated as it should
Alternator failure
Alternator fails after engine rebuild was performed for unrelated issue. Failure occurs suddenly while driving, causing complete power loss.
When: August 2023; after previous major repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light begins flashing; Car loses power and cannot accelerate; Multiple dashboard lights flash; Car completely shuts down while driving at 70 mph; Car dies suddenly on major interstate
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replacement required
Synthesized from 35 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Takata recall my Honda odyssey is a 2016 model. I took it to the dealer when I discovered the wires were broken to the sliding electric door. I was told it would be $1500 to fix. I inquired about this because a Mini van is built to allow the doors to easily be opened and closed. The dealership said that they had seen many complaints about the door regarding this model.they turned off the door,…
The passenger side sliding door consistently fails to close. It will start to close, and then hesitate and stop as if something were in the door to stop it, when nothing is. We typically have to turn the power off and close it manually to make it shut. Also, when putting the van into reverse, the backup camera screen often goes black, and the only way to get off of the black screen is to shut the…
Rear door can not be opened in the cold weather. Rear door can only be opened in the warm weather
Passenger powersliding door sensor went off while driving indicating door was open when it was closed, door not latching properly to close
The car is stationary. The same thing occurs if the van is running or not. The rear hatch open switch does not work when the outside temperature is cold. The minute the outdoor temperature warms up I can open the rear hatch.
Had electrical trouble with your 2016 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 electrical problem on the 2016 Honda Odyssey?
It's a meaningful issue. 35 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 16,000 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 25,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 16,000; a quarter make it past 60,000. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2016/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.