CarComplaints.com Notes: Aside from peeling paint, the 2008 Honda Odyssey is a pretty reliable, generally trouble-free minivan.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
93,867 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Honda Odyssey engine problems

engine problem

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2008 Honda Odyssey Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #37

Jul 162021

Odyssey

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2008 Honda Odyssey with issue with piston rings confirmed by mechanic. There are known issues with the piston rings in certain cylinders may rotate and align, leading to engine oil consumption and spark plug fouling. Honda has agreed to settle a massive class-action lawsuit brought against it for engine trouble potentially affecting nearly 1.6 million vehicles. The lawsuit includes Accord (2008-12), Odyssey (2008-13), Pilot (2009-13) and Crosstour (2010-13) models equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 with Variable Cylinder Management, which might experience engine misfire, excessive oil burning and premature spark plug fouling issues.

- Parma, OH, USA

problem #36

Mar 042021

Odyssey

  • 244,567 miles
My car was stationary, and someone hit it on the driver side and sped off. They backed into me hard though and messed up the back driver side door off won't open

- Missouri City, TX, USA

problem #35

Aug 222020

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 196,000 miles
The contact owned a 2008 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced eight days prior at the local dealer. The contact stated that while driving a burning odor occurred inside the cabin. The contact pulled over to the side of the road as smoke was seen coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact and her family was able to exit the vehicle safely. After, exiting the vehicle she noticed fire and liquid was dripping under the chassis. The front end of the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The contact mentioned that several explosions were heard and pieces of the vehicle flew off. The contact called the park Ranger and then the fire department extinguished the fire. The fire department filed a report. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and where the insurance company deemed the vehicle as total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 196,000. The consumer stated the vehicle was serviced on 8/11 for a leaking power steering hose.

- Ringgold, GA, USA

problem #34

Aug 062019

Odyssey

  • 132,734 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall. On the highway I noticed a burning smell with no other indication that anything was wrong. Then check engine light and reving of engine and shifting issues.

- Waterbury, CT, USA

problem #33

Sep 052018

Odyssey

  • 155,000 miles
Engine has excessive oil consumption. Our mechanic has looked multiple times for an oil leak and can't find one. The engine has been observed to burn 3 quarts of oil between oil changes every 3,000 miles.

- Eugene, OR, USA

problem #32

May 152018

Odyssey

  • 75,000 miles
15may2018. In a slow traffic, I felt a slight vibration on the engine and the engine stopped. While turning on again, the engine starts up, but dies again. A red warning flashes showing battery and oil symbols. The same repeated. Vehicle towed to a mechanic. When the mechanic started, engine runs fine. Mechanic's diagnostics did not find anything wrong. I drove back home 60 miles away. No issues. Fearing for my life, if this happens again on highway.

- Wappingers Falls, NY, USA

problem #31

Jan 012011

Odyssey

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I don't have the exact dates of when this started, but the Odyssey started consuming enough oil around 2011 that I had to add it between changes. Then in the last few years, it's gotten to the point where you can smell the oil burning and sometimes the exhaust is gray, a dead-tell of burning oil. Now it will not pass smog as of Dec 2017. When I was looking for information about the smoking, I found out about the lawsuit and settlement - we never got any indication that there was a settlement about the excess oil consumption and our van could be fixed by Honda, even back when it was just using a lot of oil, but not smoking visibly yet. Now we have to get it fixed to pass ca smog, but Honda is making us go through multiple 1000 mile consumption tests to prove there is a problem despite the fact that you can see and smell the burning oil in addition to the excess oil usage. This problem is a lot wider than Honda has admitted to, and they did not notify all owners about the lawsuit settlement because we never got a card, despite getting notices about other warranty recalls, etc. I noted that this started in 2011, but it's ongoing, getting worse and culminating with failing smog testing in 2017 for burning oil.

- Redding, CA, USA

problem #30

Mar 072018

Odyssey

  • 150,000 miles
There was a previous lawsuit against Honda for Honda Accord having a problem with excessive oil consumption. I have a 08 Odyssey that's having the same problem but unfortunately I didn't know about the problem and it got so bad I was told I need a new motor. I went to have an oil change at the Honda dealership back in November and last month was told that the oil was bone dry. How's that possible if it's not burning or leaking oil? Honda knows of the problem yet refused me any help and told me I have to bring it in for a diagnostic that I would have to pay for on top of replacing the motor on my own. There are a lot of complaints I found online with people who have the same vehicle and same problem. Unfortunately they know about it and are keeping up with having to constantly add oil, where I had no idea about this problem and apparently I was driving it with no oil for only god knows how long. This is a major problem and its not fair that we should have to pay the price. I'm a single mom, 2 special needs kids, I don't have over 3000 to repair a motor that broke because of a manufacturer defect. This needs to be heard and we need to get Honda to do a recall and fix this problem because there's gonna be hundreds if not thousands of people who are gonna have the same problem. Honda is a crooked dealership and doesn't care about their customers. Now I'm sitting here stuck with a van which I purchased with my son's disability money btw, with a bad motor cause of a mistake Honda made when making these vans. Please get my story out there, let this be heard. I need someone to help me do something. This is sad and wrong and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I'm also going to contact the BBB and the local attorney general office. They've already had lawsuits for the same problem but for the Honda Accord, now we need to start one for the Honda Odyssey

- Central Falls, RI, USA

problem #29

Mar 092018

Odyssey

  • 9 miles
Engine damage

- Moorhead, MN, USA

problem #28

Nov 202017

Odyssey

  • 137,000 miles
Following a service in which my timing belt, serpentine belt, water pump, and power steering pump were changed, the tensioner bolt was sheared off twice while I was driving. The first time that this happened, the mechanic reported that he had never seen this particular problem before. The second time that the bolt was sheared off (both events were within a week of the servicing), the mechanic informed me that he had done research and this seemed to have happened to numerous Honda Odyssey owners. As state above, this has happened twice in the past week while I was driving, once on a ramp, entering the interstate and once turning right onto a main road from a parking lot.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #27

Jul 102017

Odyssey

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Noticed that my car was not running like it has been and then it got worse over the next day or two then before I could get it in for service the oil light began flashing. I drove the car straight to my Honda dealer and there is no external oil leak therefore it was determined that oil is leaking inside the engine and burning and that is why the smoke is coming from by tailpipe however the light indicator was a little to late because the damage is already done and now the engine has to be replaced along with my catalytic converter and no telling what else. The dealer never told me about this a lawsuit indicating that this was a problem in this make and model so I picked the vehicle up and as I tried to make it home it broke down on me in the middle of the interstate in rush hour traffic, had to tow it home. Called Honda manufacturer and my VIN number does not qualify under that class action even though it is a 2008 Odyssey. Now I have a vehicle sitting in my garage that does not run and has no resale value and it doesn't look like Honda is going to help out in any way. If you own a 2008-2013 Honda you may want to check your oil level regularly because the light indicators or not very reliable.

- Beaumont, TX, USA

problem #26

Apr 012017

Odyssey

  • 121,500 miles
Check engine light on, error code P3497. Engine burns more oil than normal. Honda issued service bulletin 11-033, yet refuse to fix the car at their expense. I get the usual run around of "add more oil every now and again."

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #25

Nov 082016

Odyssey

  • 89,250 miles
Excessive oil consumption on Honda Odyssey 2008 exl - same run-around with Honda stating 1 qt oil for every 1400-1500 miles is "normal". informed dealership of class-action lawsuit and then they initiated a controlled oil consumption test which just ended recently. Awaiting response from Honda Corp regarding next steps as software update for vcm did not correct.

- Centerville, OH, USA

problem #24

Oct 012016

Odyssey

  • 106,000 miles
Purchased vehicle used from Honda dealership in April 2016 with 102,000 miles. I now have 106,000 miles and my low oil pressure light came on. Upon checking the oil level it shows the case as being empty of oil. I show no evidence of an oil leak on the engine or any tell tale signs on the garage floor or driveway. Highly concerned that the low oil pressure light comes on this late in the decline of engine oil.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #23

Sep 242016

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 99,500 miles
Turning onto highway, heard a loud bang, checked my dash, no warning lights illuminated, thought it was a rock or road debris that hit the vehicle. Continued toward our destination at 55 mph, about a mile down the road the ABS lighted up, then the vsa, then the TPMS, then the seatbelt light, then the radio went out, the gauges were next, finally the battery light came on, I let the vehicle come to a halt using very little brakes. As soon as I stopped the engine died and no lights would come on, had to manually unlock and manually open the door. Called the Honda dealership, said it would be towed in that day 24 Sept 2016, there was no accident, but for this to happen with no warning whatsoever, is of concern to me. I don't know if this is a hardware or software glitch, we had the vehicle in for maintenance just this past week, timing belt, rear brakes, oil change. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you for considering this statement.

- Hilo, HI, USA

problem #22

Sep 012016

Odyssey

  • 70,000 miles
Excessive engine oil burning. My car burns engine oil such a way that I have to check the engine oil level frequently. Once I had to fill more than 4qts to get the oil level to normal. More over the indicator never shows that the oil level is low. I went on speed bump at that time the indicator just flashed once thats how I got a doubt and checked oil level. It was almost empty that time and I had to fill more than 4qts of oil. The check engine light comes frequently.

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

problem #21

Aug 192016

Odyssey

  • 68,590 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey. When the contact took the vehicle to be serviced for regular maintenance, he was informed that the front and side engine mounts were fractured. The vehicle was diagnosed, but was not repaired. The manufacturer stated that they would not cover the failure because the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was 68,590.

- Williston Park, NY, USA

problem #20

Aug 012014

Odyssey 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
Engine is burning about a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. I think this should be covered under their extended warranty. Here is what I found out about this extended warranty... on October 22, 2013, Honda America agreed to settle the class-action suit. As part of the settlement, Honda extended the powertrain warranty on these models for eight years from the time of purchase or lease with no mileage limits. Honda also offered to reimburse customers who had to pay out-of-pocket expenses for related repairs such as spark plugs, pistons or even entirely new engines (with limitations). United States district court for the northern district of California a federal court authorized this notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer. If you are a current or former owner or lessee of any of the following Honda vehicles equipped with a 6-cylinder ("V6") engine with variable cylinder management ("vcm-2") you could receive benefits from a class action settlement concerning engine misfire, 1 including a limited warranty extension and reimbursement of outof-pocket expenses for engine misfire-related repairs: " 2008-2012 Honda Accord; ? 2008-2013 Honda Odyssey; ? 2009-2013 Honda Pilot; ? 2010-2011 Honda Accord crosstour; or ? 2012 Honda crosstour my van meets all the criteria... 1. 2008 Odyssey 2. motor is a 6-cylinder (?V6") engine with variable cylinder management ("vcm-2") 3. motor is burning oil I've called Honda usa directly and they were not able to tell me why my vehicle was not covered. The only they said was that, "my VIN was not part of the batch for the extended warranty. I only have until September 1, 2016 to qualify for this extension and after that date my van will not qualify if Honda will let it qualify. I am asking for your assistance with trying to get my van to qualify for the extended warranty. Thank you

- Carpentersville, IL, USA

problem #19

Apr 182016

Odyssey

  • 121,868 miles
I never had any major problems with my van up until this point. The check engine light would come on and go off from time to time and I took it in for a diagnostic check each time and it was the same code for catalytic converter. My car ran well and then suddenly, while taking my kids to school on a city street, the muffler began smoking when I would either idle or drive. It only did this the night before I brought it into the shop and the day of. It would hesitate also. I felt like it was going to die at any minute, so I took my kids to school and brought it to the shop immediately. The mechanic then told me I did not have a drop of oil. This seemed strange because I had never seen a leak (I park in the same place at my house). He tested my car for a leak and did not detect any. Some people suggested that the oil change place forgot to put oil in my car. That is highly unlikely since I had just gone to have my oil topped off about a month before. I had also driven it for about 2500 miles since then. Because of the lack of warning, I have to replace my engine...it is shot.

- Lafayette, LA, USA

problem #18

Dec 212015

Odyssey

  • 88,406 miles
My engine is using oil. It used 1 quart of oil in 2,826 miles of driving and 1/2 quart in the next 580 miles. The rate of oil use is increasing. Honda says these engines are passing oil thru the rings on 4 of the 6 cylinders. Honda will not do anything until engine light comes on or engine starts missing. I have to constantly check the oil level to make sure it is not to low. On the internet I found there are many Odyssey doing this. Honda sold this van to me without being told of this problem until after I bought this van. There needs to be a recall on these engines to fix this problem.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

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