Service Bulletin - MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power. After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather (specifically near or below freezing temperatures). Usually after a long drive (around 2 hours) and accelerating while cornering.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Honda Odyssey engine problems
severe Owners of the 2020 Honda Odyssey have filed 26 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
26
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Odyssey | 76 |
| 2017 Odyssey | 6 |
| 2018 Odyssey | 122 |
| 2019 Odyssey | 64 |
| 2020 Odyssey (this page) | 26 |
| 2021 Odyssey | 8 |
| 2022 Odyssey | 7 |
| 2023 Odyssey | 6 |
| 2024 Odyssey | 11 |
1crash
1fire
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 26 engine 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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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 - The MIL flashes and vehicle will not accelerate, low power. After cycling the ignition, the symptom does not return with no stored DTCs. This issue is more common in regions with cold weather (specifically near or below freezing temperatures). Usually after a long drive (around 2 hours) and accelerating while cornering. Moisture accumulation in the intake manifold during long drives gets drawn into the combustion chamber while cornering, causing misfires.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Owner Notification Letter - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engaging, your vehicle may not automatically restart.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Due to variations in the purge control solenoid valve spring, the valve wears unevenly and intermittently sticks. This may result in setting DTC P0441 (Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Purge Flow Malfunction).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. Typically, the customer can immediately restart the vehicle by selecting Park and pushing the ENGINE START/STOP button.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2020 Odyssey's engine system shows two distinct failure patterns across these 24 complaints.
Auto Idle Stop failures occur when the engine shuts down at red lights and refuses to restart. Drivers release the brake, press the accelerator, and nothing happens—the vehicle becomes stranded in traffic. Some see "Collision Mitigation System Problem" alerts or "Shifting to Park" messages. Dealers frequently blame the battery, but testing shows the battery is fine. Honda issued Technical Service Bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 acknowledging the issue, and a software update rolled out in 2024, but owners report stalling continues after the update. The feature cannot be permanently disabled per dealer statements. Multiple owners disabled Auto Idle Stop manually before every drive as a workaround.
Connecting rod bearing failures cause the engine to seize while driving, often with an audible knocking sound beforehand. Mechanics find metal shavings in the oil. The engine requires replacement, typically at 68,000 to 130,000 miles despite documented regular oil changes. One vehicle seized a second time only 3,000 miles after engine replacement. Honda issued a recall for 2019 Odysseys with bearing issues but did not extend it to the identical 2020 model. Repairs are commonly denied warranty coverage.
One report describes a trunk fire at 24,000 miles; the cause remained undiagnosed.
Same Honda Odyssey engine reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Auto Idle Stop (AIS) malfunction / failure to restart
Engine shuts down during idle stop as designed, but fails to restart when driver releases brake and applies throttle. Vehicle becomes stranded in traffic with no warning. Some cases accompanied by Collision Mitigation System alerts, Drive indicator flashing, or 'Shifting to Park' messages. Dealers often misdiagnose as battery issue despite battery testing normal. Honda TSBs 23-008 and 23-009 reference similar AIS failures.
When: Occurs intermittently at traffic lights, intersections, rest areas; increasing in frequency for some owners. Reported from 2023 onward.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls or shuts off completely instead of restarting; Unexpected loss of power in traffic; Collision Mitigation System Problem alert displayed; Drive indicator light flashing; 'Shifting to Park: Apply Brake Pedal' message; Multiple restart attempts required before engine catches; Vehicle struggles when resuming from idle stop
Codes mentioned: Collision Mitigation System Problem (alert message), Low fuel pressure (complaint #23)
Repairs/costs cited: No permanent fix identified by dealers as of late 2025. Feature cannot be permanently disabled per dealer statements. Software updates attempted with limited or no success. Some owners disabled AIS manually on every drive as workaround.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Technical Service Bulletins 23-008 and 23-009 address similar AIS failures. Recall 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) issued for some model years but coverage unclear. NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA25-004 appears to reference this issue. No formal recall issued for 2020 model despite service advisors acknowledging similar complaints on newer Odysseys and Pilots.
Connecting rod bearing failure / internal engine seizure
Engine internal bearing components fail prematurely, resulting in complete engine seizure while driving. Owners report knocking or ticking sounds preceding failure. Metal shavings found in engine oil upon inspection. Engine requires complete replacement, typically occurring between 68,000 and 130,000 miles despite documented regular maintenance. One vehicle seized a second time after engine block replacement.
When: Occurs without warning; mileage range 68,000 to 130,000 miles. One failure at 3,000 miles (knocking sound noted). Another at 24,000 miles (trunk fire, undiagnosed). Seizure during highway driving, surface streets, or idle conditions.
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal knocking, ticking, or grinding sound from engine; Sound increases with throttle application; Complete loss of power while driving; Engine seizes and will not restart; Vehicle coasts to shoulder and cannot be moved; Metal shavings in engine oil; Engine oil low warning light (despite adequate oil level); No warning lights prior to failure in some cases
Codes mentioned: Connecting rod bearing failure (mechanic diagnosis), Metal shavings in oil (inspection finding)
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; cost cited as $10,000 in one case. One vehicle received second engine replacement after first replacement failed at 3,000 miles due to broken valves and metal in oil. Dealers replaced engine block, headers, intake manifold, injectors, and timing chain on second failure. Repairs typically denied under warranty once vehicle exceeds manufacturer coverage (noted out of warranty at 68,000 and 85,000 miles).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for 2019 Odyssey but not extended to 2020 model despite identical design per dealer statement. NHTSA Action PE25008 (Engine) referenced. Manufacturer confirmed no recall or warranty coverage in some cases. One owner noted similar issues documented on Honda forums and YouTube but no formal recall response.
Engine fire
Vehicle trunk caught fire without warning while driving at low speed. Owner was able to extinguish with shoe. Undiagnosed upon dealer inspection at time of complaint. Single incident reported.
When: At 24,000 miles, while driving at 30 MPH
Symptoms owners cite: Trunk fire without warning; No prior warning lights or symptoms
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealer; undiagnosed and unrepairedal time of complaint submission.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified of the failure.
Engine noise with unknown origin / possible bearing damage
Engine produces abnormal noise that dealer attributes to possible bearing failure. Dealer recommends oil pan removal for inspection but vehicle fails completely before diagnosis completed. Loud noise followed by sudden loss of power and failure to restart or shift.
When: Noise becomes apparent during normal driving; complete failure occurs while driving on highway before diagnosis
Symptoms owners cite: Loud abnormal noise from engine; Complete loss of power; Engine will not start; Vehicle will not shift into any gear; Requires towing
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer suspected bearing-related failure requiring oil pan removal; vehicle towed before service completed and diagnosis confirmed.
Synthesized from 26 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2020 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 engine problem on the 2020 Honda Odyssey?
It's a meaningful issue. 26 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 26 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 59,213 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2020/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.