While driving on highway, 3 hours away from home, all of a sudden van slowed down and jerking and shaking with loud grinding movement sound from the van started. No warning sign displayed on the dashboard display screen and no warning alert either. Luckily got out of the exit and parked the van. Van was not going beyond first gear and jerking and shaking and making loud grinding sound. Van was…
2020 Honda Odyssey powertrain problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A 2020 Honda Odyssey buyer should be aware that multiple owners report sudden, unwarned transmission failures resulting in loss of highway power, engine stalling episodes, and false warning messages that can trap the vehicle in park at traffic lights. These failures occur without diagnostic alerts, creating serious safety hazards; repairs range from TCM replacement to full transmission replacement ($10k+) with dealers sometimes refusing warranty coverage for fluid damage.
Owners of the 2020 Honda Odyssey describe a constellation of powertrain failures across transmission, engine, and electronic control systems. Engine stalling occurs unpredictably while driving—sometimes triggered by turns or brake engagement—accompanied by all dashboard warning lights illuminating. In some cases the engine restarts on its own; in others, manual restart is required. One owner reports a "big bang sound" at stall events.
Transmission failures—the dominant complaint—manifest as sudden loss of power while driving at highway speeds, vehicle entering limp mode at 15–20 mph without warning, inability to engage reverse or shift out of park, jerking from stops and refusal to advance past first gear, and loud grinding with shaking. In several incidents, transmission fluid is found charred or burnt, indicating severe heat damage. Notably, owners report these failures occur *without* check-engine lights or diagnostic warnings, creating serious highway safety hazards when vehicles suddenly lose power in traffic.
Restart and idle issues also surface: vehicles stalling at traffic lights, illuminating "Shift to Park" messages falsely, and requiring ignition cycles to resume operation. One owner reports the transmission control module (TCM) failed and required replacement under warranty; another identified code P0736 in the TCM.
Engine knock/ticking noise under light acceleration is reported by one owner, who references Honda service bulletin 23-097 addressing crankshaft bearing issues—though his 2020 model falls outside the bulletin's stated production year range.
Same Honda Odyssey powertrain reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stalling while driving
Engine unexpectedly stalls during normal driving—sometimes while turning, sometimes at stops. All dashboard warning lights illuminate. Engine may restart on its own or require manual restart. Occurs intermittently over vehicle ownership period.
When: Occurs unpredictably while driving; one reported event after 2 years of ownership, another after brief period of normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning; All dashboard warning lights illuminated; Loud 'bang' sound reported during stall event; Vehicle immobile until restart
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports throttle carbon buildup cleaning performed by dealer; another recalls jump-start attempts failed during incident
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealer attributed stalling to brake-hold system use while driving and advised discontinuing it; another dealer found no problems after diagnostic check
Transmission failure with no warning indication
Transmission suddenly loses power on highway or during normal driving, vehicle enters limp mode or fails to shift, accompanied by grinding and shaking. No check-engine light or warning alert precedes failure. Transmission fluid found charred/burnt, indicating severe thermal damage. Vehicle becomes undrivable or barely drivable.
When: Occurs at 24,000 miles, 32,000 miles, highway driving at 65 mph; one case at 67,000 miles with lurching in 4th gear
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power while driving; Vehicle restricted to 15–20 mph (limp mode); Loud grinding and shaking; Inability to engage reverse or shift out of park; Jerking from stops, refusal to advance past 1st gear; Severe burning/heat smell from transmission/engine compartment; No check-engine light or prior warning
Codes mentioned: P0736 (TCM code reported in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission Control Module (TCM) replacement under CPO warranty in one case; new transmission required ($10k+ cost cited); transmission fluid flushed in one case; dealer refused to cover transmission fluid or engine fluid replacement despite heat damage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TCM replacement covered under Honda Certified Pre-Owned warranty; one dealer diagnosed '10 speed Automatic transmission failed and needs new transmission'; electronic defect destroyed transmission in another case; one owner reports multiple similar transmission replacements on 2020 Odyssey Owners Forum
Transmission lag and delayed acceleration from stops
Transmission fails to respond promptly to throttle input when accelerating from complete stop, especially when pulling into traffic, making turns, or accelerating from lights. Vehicle does not move or moves very slowly despite throttle input.
When: At 7,000 miles reported; occurs regularly during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed or no acceleration response from stop; Engine revs excessively without corresponding acceleration; Lag between brake release and vehicle motion
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer states 'normal' operation and 'the way the transmission works'—no repairs performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claims normal transmission behavior; no defect acknowledged
Reverse engagement failure
Vehicle fails to engage reverse gear on first attempt despite backup camera activation. Multiple ignition cycles required before reverse engages.
When: Approximately 32,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Reverse gear does not engage initially; Backup camera activates but vehicle remains stationary; Vehicle eventually engages after multiple start cycles
Vehicle stuck in park, unable to shift
Vehicle shifts into park on its own while running and cannot be shifted out of park or turned off. After several minutes, vehicle can be shifted back to drive and operated normally.
When: During traffic/stop-and-go driving
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle automatically shifts to park; Cannot be shifted out of park; Cannot be turned off; Engine continues running; Condition resolves after 5 minutes
False 'Shift to Park' messages and stalling at idle
Vehicle displays 'Shift to Park' message and/or 'Collision Mitigation Warning' while idling at traffic lights despite no collision hazard. Vehicle either stalls or loses ability to accelerate when brakes are released. Condition occurs repeatedly and worsens over time.
When: Multiple occurrences; frequency increasing over time
Symptoms owners cite: False 'Shift to Park' message on dashboard; False 'Collision Mitigation Warning' on dashboard; Vehicle stalls or fails to accelerate after idle; Check engine, emissions, and backup camera/sensor warning lights illuminate; Condition resolved by restarting vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced battery after first occurrence (claimed low battery); now requires starter replacement per dealer diagnosis; dealer claims able to replicate issue but states VIN not part of 'bad batch'
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: First visit: battery replacement; subsequent visits: starter replacement recommended; manufacturer states VIN not part of affected batch despite issue replication
Engine knock/ticking noise under light load
Knocking, ticking, or rattling noise emanates from engine during stand-still acceleration at low speeds under light load. Does not occur when revving in park, only under light load conditions. Sound presence unaffected by HVAC operation. Noise absent when engine cold or after long trips.
When: At 30,000 miles on 2020 model
Symptoms owners cite: Engine knock/ticking/rattling noise; Occurs only during low-speed light-load acceleration; Does not occur when revving in park; Does not occur when engine cold or after long trips; Noise independent of HVAC operation
Repairs/costs cited: $38,000 vehicle; owner spent this amount with 30,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda aware of issue per service bulletin 23-097 involving crankshaft bearings and related components; service bulletin addresses affected production years but 2020 model falls outside stated range; dealer refused to diagnose or repair; corporate referral to dealership with no resolution offered
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Upon acceleration from a stop, transmission lags to the point of car not moving. It happens when pulling out into traffic, making a turn or pulling away from a light. Have taken to dealer twice to report..now have 7000 miles on car..dealer says its normal..there is nothing wrong with the car..its the way the transmission works.
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2020 Honda Odyssey?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 32,000 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.