Camera projector fail and 6 warning ️ lights came on, very common issue.
2018 Honda Odyssey cruise control problems
moderate 29 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Complaints
29
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 29 cruise control 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.
Among the 14 model years of Honda Odyssey in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2018 Honda Odyssey has widespread complaints about transmission hesitation on acceleration from stops (1–5 second delays followed by aggressive surging) and multipurpose camera failures that disable cruise control and multiple safety systems at 90k+ miles. Owners also report false CMBS braking and total accelerator loss at highway speeds, with Honda dealerships often claiming they cannot replicate or fix these issues.
Owners describe a persistent transmission hesitation issue where the vehicle stalls or hesitates for 1–5 seconds when accelerating from a stop, then suddenly surges forward with aggressive throttle response, causing tire spin. This happens consistently during left turns across traffic, merges, and stop-light acceleration—situations where safe passage depends on predictable power delivery. Dealerships frequently claim they cannot replicate the problem or find fault codes, even though owners report it occurs multiple times weekly. One owner noted that switching to manual shift mode (S position) with the paddle shifters eliminates the hesitation entirely, suggesting the issue lies in the transmission's automatic control software.
The front-facing Honda Sensing multipurpose camera fails prematurely (around 90k miles or shortly after battery replacement), disabling cruise control, adaptive cruise, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking, auto high beams, and road departure mitigation simultaneously. Honda charges $1,400–$1,500 for replacement and denies warranty coverage beyond three years, despite owners contending these are permanent safety systems. Some owners report this failure occurs within weeks of Honda's rear camera recall repair.
Separate from the transmission hesitation, owners report the Collision Mitigation Braking System activates without cause during normal highway driving and heavy braking that nearly causes rear-end collisions or stops the vehicle mid-intersection. Owners also describe one incident of total accelerator loss at highway speed (72 mph) requiring the vehicle to coast off the roadway, and another where accelerator input froze during normal driving with no warning lights.
Same Honda Odyssey cruise control reports on nearby years: 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Accelerator lag / hesitation on takeoff from stop
When accelerating from a complete or near-complete stop, the accelerator becomes unresponsive for 1–5 seconds. After the delay, the engine overcorrects and accelerates aggressively, sometimes causing tire spin. Owners describe this as a transmission software issue tied to shifts between first and second gear or neutral.
When: Occurs consistently from stop; some owners report it worsens in winter; happens whether eco mode is on or off.
Symptoms owners cite: Delay of 1–5 seconds between depressing accelerator and vehicle response; Abrupt, aggressive acceleration once response resumes; Tire spin or wheel hop during rapid acceleration; Lurching forward after delay; No warning lights or error codes before, during, or after incident
Repairs/costs cited: Honda dealership software updates applied but have not resolved the issue. Dealerships often claim they cannot duplicate the problem or find no fault. Mechanics have advised transmission replacement in severe cases. Switching to manual shift mode (sport/S mode) using shift paddles eliminates the hesitation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda service technicians report no error codes and claim the issue cannot be found or replicated, denying warranty coverage even when vehicles are under warranty at time of first occurrence.
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) false activation
The CMBS engages suddenly and forcefully during normal driving or when the driver is actively accelerating, causing the vehicle to brake hard or stop without obstruction. Incidents include unexpected hard stops in multi-lane traffic, stops on hills, and stops at intersections where no collision threat exists.
When: Occurs at highway speeds and low speeds; multiple times per owner; while passing vehicles; while turning with green arrow.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden, unpredictable hard braking without driver input; Complete stop in the middle of traffic lanes; Braking while accelerating to pass another vehicle; Braking when oncoming traffic is visible but not an actual threat; Vehicle locking onto vehicles turning left from opposite direction and braking; No warning before activation
Repairs/costs cited: No repair reported. Owners have had CMBS-related warnings appear after multipurpose camera failures.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in these narratives.
Multipurpose camera failure (Honda Sensing)
The front-facing Honda Sensing multipurpose camera fails, disabling multiple dependent safety and convenience systems simultaneously: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), regular Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), auto high beams, and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM). Some owners report camera failure shortly after rear camera recall repair.
When: Failures occur at 91k miles, during or shortly after battery replacement, and within weeks of rear camera recall repair; can fail at startup or during driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Warning lights illuminate: BRAKES, ACC, LKAS; Total loss of adaptive and standard cruise control; Loss of lane-keeping assist and road departure mitigation; Loss of forward collision warning and auto high beams; Potential battery drain from faulty camera module; System failures occur immediately upon startup or suddenly during driving; Multiple system losses occur simultaneously
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement camera costs $1,400–$1,500. Owners report that Honda dealerships deny coverage citing expired 3-year/36k-mile warranty, despite claims this is a non-wear safety electronic that should last the vehicle's life. Some owners were also told the camera 'coincidentally' failed after battery replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: American Honda (Case #16167889) denied assistance citing expired warranty. Manufacturers and NCDS declined to cover repair. Honda has issued Recall 23V-431 for related electrical architecture defects; some owners contend this camera failure is an extension of known defects.
Total accelerator input loss at highway speed
The accelerator completely stops responding while the vehicle is traveling at highway speed (65–72 mph). The vehicle loses speed, and the driver must coast or exit the road. The problem resolves at lower speeds, though the vehicle may lurch and jerk. This represents total loss of speed control in traffic.
When: Occurs at 65–72 mph on highway during acceleration; one owner reported a prior incident a year earlier where all lights came on and the vehicle stopped responding.
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of accelerator response despite repeated pedal input; Continuous speed loss while coasting; Lurching and jerking at lower speeds once control resumes; No warning lights prior to failure; Vehicle unresponsive until speed drops to 30 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic advised transmission replacement. Honda dealership previously found no issues during inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda inspection found no issues. No manufacturer response documented.
Adaptive Cruise Control overspeed on downhill grades
When Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is set and the vehicle descends a hill or moderate slope, the brakes do not apply properly and the vehicle speed continues to increase, violating the set cruise speed. In some cases, the engine accelerates to high RPM while the cruise is supposed to be maintaining or reducing speed.
When: Occurs when ACC is engaged and traveling downhill, even on gentle slopes.
Symptoms owners cite: Speed increases beyond set cruise control limit; Improper brake application while descending; Engine engages high RPM despite cruise control setting to lower speed; Vehicle accelerates dramatically downhill
Accelerator lockout during normal driving (CMS-related)
The accelerator stops responding entirely during normal driving without collision warning, disabling driver control temporarily. In at least one incident, the vehicle engine went to idle and the driver received no audible, visual, or haptic warning. The issue resolves spontaneously once the vehicle is back in its lane.
When: Occurs during active acceleration at low speed (40 mph on secondary roads).
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of accelerator response; Engine drops to idle; No warning lights, audible alerts, or haptic feedback; Loss of vehicle control during passing maneuver; Automatic restoration of control after vehicle repositions
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted or documented.
Synthesized from 29 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2018 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 cruise control problem on the 2018 Honda Odyssey?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 29 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Based on the 29 complaints filed, cruise control issues most often appear around 29,038 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/2018/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.