Honda Odyssey Crash Tests: Is Your Family Safe?

Mar 5, 2021

Green 2020 Honda Odyssey With White Background

Safety comes first when you’re looking for a new vehicle. If you’re trying to buy a van, then one to consider is the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick for 2019, the 2020 Honda Odyssey.

How safe is the 2020 Honda Odyssey?

The 2020 Honda Odyssey was the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s 2019 Top Safety Pick. It received an overall “G” score. At the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it was given five out of five stars.

With the addition of 4.6-star expert ratings and 4.62 consumer ratings at Vehicle History, this is one popular van. In this article, you’ll learn more about its safety features and crash test results.

2020 Honda Odyssey Crash Test Rating

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Test/Results

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the 2020 Honda Odyssey an overall score of “G” for good. The vehicle receives “G” in all crashworthiness tests. Depending on the trim, it gets “A,” “M,” and “P” for its headlights. It received a G+ for the LATCH ease of use.

The IIHS gives the 2020 Honda Odyssey its 2019 Top Safety Pick award, which is only given to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific types of headlights.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Test/Results

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the 2020 Honda Odyssey five out of five stars for safety. The overall front star rating was five out of five with both the front driver and passenger tests receiving five stars.

The side crash test also received five stars overall. This includes the combined side barrier and pole ratings, side barrier and overall side pole star rating.

The vehicle did well on the rollover test, but it was only given four out of five stars. It had no tip during the dynamic tip test and a 13.6% rollover risk.

Other Reputable Tests/Results

At J.D. Power and the NADA Guides, the 2020 Honda Odyssey received five out of five stars on all safety tests performed on the various trims. The trims ranked on the website include the Touring Auto, Elite Auto, Ex Auto, EX-L Auto, Ex-L with navigation/RES Auto and the LX Auto.

The site does report a safety recall number 20V438000 from the NHTSA, which is for trouble with the rearview camera mounting horse and camera lens. A distorted image or no image would come up due to the defect. This could lead to a crash.

2020 Honda Odyssey Available Safety Tech

Forward Collision Warning

Forward collision warning is optional as an upgrade on the 2020 Honda Odyssey. This technology alerts drivers to impending collisions, such as rear-end crashes, so that the driver can steer away and avoid the collision.

The system is not designed to steer the vehicle. Instead, it sounds a warning for the driver.

Crash Imminent Braking

Crash imminent braking takes over when you don’t put on the brakes when they’re needed. If the vehicle senses that you are about to hit another object or that you are approaching too quickly, then it will begin to reduce your speed by engaging the brakes.

This is an automatic function that is designed to reduce the severity of a collision or to prevent one completely.

Lane Departure Warning

If you start to drift out of your lane without using a turn signal, then lane departure warning will turn on. This optional technology lets you know that you’re leaving your lane with a warning alarm so that you can redirect your vehicle.

The goal of LDW is to prevent side-swipe crashes, as well as others, caused by distractions, impairment, drowsiness and other factors.

Dynamic Brake Support

Dynamic brake support takes over when you don’t put down enough brake pressure or are approaching other objects or vehicles too quickly. This is an optional feature on the 2020 Honda Odyssey, and it is one that is designed to prevent serious crashes.

The dynamic braking system automatically applies additional brake pressure.

Buying a 2020 Honda Odyssey? Compare Vehicles at Vehicle History

At Vehicle History, you can join millions of unique visitors and compare the vehicles you’re interested in buying to get a better idea of what you want. Use our free tool to search for your next vehicle today.

Owner Reviews

Write a Review

Frances M on May 24, 2021

Best 2020 car selection for a family selection.

I love my vehicle, as it is very spacious and the features are much more updated. I love the way it drives, very smooth. Most important to me; I bought it for my 6 year old who has mild cerebral palsy. It is much more easier for him to climb in and out, compared to the Honda pilot I drove before the odyssey. My three children live and appreciate this vehicle. I have had no issues with this vehicle as yet. Nothing, but good personal review!

Angie L on September 2, 2021

Comfortable car which is also very convenient.

My vehicle usually does not have any problems. It's very comfortable and durable. It also looks great! Sitting down in the car makes me feel like I am at home. The seat is very comfortable and soft but not too soft. The vehicle has so far been awesome! It also has plenty of seats which some are removable. A lot of people can sit in this car. Even if you do not have that many passengers, you can remove the seats and it'll have more space!

Tangela D on August 30, 2021

The highlight of Honda. Relaxing, luxury vehicle, GPS special features.

My Honda is luxury, comfortable, it has a lot of space, very reliability the features are nice. I can relax and go to sleep in, vehicles. I also can use my Honda like a truck. My kids has plenty of room where they can relax and do not disturb each other. It ride smooth and the radio equipment is off the hook because I get to used my phone and listen to youtube as I drive. Also I have a exactly GPS system.

Arianna S on July 16, 2021

A family friendly vehicle.

Very spacious seating with lots of trunk room, heated front seats keep you warm on the harshest winter days, air control in the back seats, along with multiple electrical ports. The sunroof is beautiful and not too big and not too small, the seats are easily adjusted to maximize space when needed. Drives incredibly smooth, I left my phone on the top of the roof and it didn’t fall off for a few miles.

Ana C on March 8, 2021

Great family vehicle! Honda odyssey is safe, spacious, and great gas mileage!

I love my vehicle. It is perfect for a family with small children. The safety features are great! I also really like that you can connect your phone to the main screen- this feature allows you to use your favorite apps to listen to music, get directions, and much more. The trunk space is amazing! Third row is roomie and easily accessible! Lots of cup holders! Best part- great gas mileage!

Leah D on June 24, 2021

The perfect family vehicle.

We love this van! The drive is really comfortable, the tech features are awesome, and it's a great vehicle for hauling kids, dogs, and stuff. Apple play is one of the most convenient features, but we also like the way we can move the seats around to fit more people or stuff depending on our needs for that day. So far we have had no issues with and repairs or other problems.

Anna J on March 7, 2021

The Honda odyssey, more like the Honda odyssey.

Absolutely reliable vehicle! Plentiful of space for the whole family or item/luggage storage. Drives/rides smoother than butter. Has several advanced features to assure safety on the ride. Including assisted steering, lane correction, rear view cameras, side mirror camera, and a safety feature that does not allow for certain functions/setting to be adjusted whilst driving.

Rachael T on September 6, 2021

Magic slide seats are the best and all easy to use!

The Honda odyssey is the perfect family vehicle. The sliding doors are so easy for little ones to get in and out of on their own without worrying about slamming doors into cars parked nearby. The magic slide seats are also wonderful to easily separate when the kids just cannot seem to get along. The numerous latch locations make installing car seats a breeze!

Jenny N on May 14, 2021

Lots of space for child seats and more.

I love this van. Fits two child car seats well with lots of room to spare in the back. Love the back up camera and assistance features to help with blind spots and sudden braking. Wish 2nd row could be moved back a little more to accommodate my very tall husband when he drives (infant seat is behind driver seat). Wish there was auto button for the hatch.

Kim S on September 12, 2021

Best vehicle for your money.

It is very spacious for my family and their gear as well as economical on gas. The vehicle is affordable and the design is sleek and modern. It feels very luxurious with features such as lane departure, remote start, window shades and easy to operate sliding doors. I love this vehicle and would definitely recommend it to both large and small families.

Joseph L on March 30, 2021

The Honda odyssey: the reliable stereotypical soccer mom car!

So far I have had no problems with the car. It seems reliable and has great mileage which I love. I have only had the car for a couple of months, but in that time period I have had no issues. It seems reliable and is very comfortable I like the heated seats when it's cold, blind spot warning is helpful and so is the backup camera and warning systems.

Laura C on July 26, 2021

Sporting the mom-vehicle in NC.

I have not had any major issues with my vehicle. We have enjoyed the performance, comfort and features. We went with the high end model so we could have features like cooling seats. I enjoy the safety features, including back-up camera. The only issue I have had is playing Spotify on my iPhone through the car, but I think that may be resolvable.

Samantha S on June 12, 2021

Mini van with modern tech.

I love my Honda odyssey. It has modern technology like apple CarPlay. I love how can plug my phone in and it reads my text messages and shows my GPS on the screen. My van has comfortable leather seating and has a nice snow mode for the winter months. I also like the maintenance feature which shows the oil life and tire pressure.

Ana G on June 9, 2021

Reliable Honda odyssey with minor issues.

A problem would be the seats are difficult to move there and back along with the passenger doors occasionally getting stuck. The car however is very reliable and the only problem I have encountered was that while driving in the snow a warning light went off that was a false alarm just because of snow covering a camera.

Christine Z on August 1, 2021

Definitely recommend this car for families.

Doors open automatically, navigation system, drives smoothly, doesn; t seem like I am in a minivan, comfortable seating, has Bluetooth, options, rear end camera, alerts on the car for objects, window locks, pilot seating, phone charging options, Bluetooth option, mobile app, rear windows open and close.

Shaenna S on July 24, 2021

Cannot put in drive with driver door open.

It is very comfortable. It is a little complicated navigating the system and getting it to connect to the Honda link app. One thing I really do not like about it is you cannot move forward with the driver door open. If you put it in drive with the driver for open it automatically puts it back in park.

Julie B on April 9, 2021

Best minivan on the market.

Lots of room. So many safety and comfort features. Great for long family trips. The magic seats are a neat feature. I love the keyless start and that it recognizes and adjusts the seats for two different drivers. The lane assist and cruise control special features make long highway driving a breeze.

Gina Z on July 15, 2021

Great for families with young children.

Great for small children. We have 3 rear facing car seats and the odyssey works perfectly for it, especially the removable second row seats which makes for much easier access to the third row. Even with all of the rows up there's plenty storage space in the trunk as well.

Kelly H on March 14, 2021

A great vehicle. Wonderful seats.

The seats are very comfortable and the leather holds up very well. I have not had any major issues with my vehicle so far. The car is a very good size. My vehicle beeps when I am close to objects so I know when I am approaching something. I overall really like my vehicle.

Anne H on April 29, 2021

Perfect for big families!

The Honda odyssey is perfect for our family of five. My favorite feature is the ability to remove the middle seat of the middle row. The seats then slide back and forth for ease of use. The van is very roomy without feeling clunky to drive. It was the best choice.

Lacey F on July 17, 2021

The Honda odyssey is my favorite van of all the styles I researched.

I love the reliability of Honda vehicles. I love all the safety features that came in the vehicle. I like all the outlets and ports throughout the car. The navigation system is awesome. I love the blu ray player and the wireless headphones that came with the car.

Amy H on March 17, 2021

This van has lots of charging opportunities!

Just bought it and has 3 recalls on it. But the use of space and the fold down seats are amazing. There are lots of charging options and there are even ports in the back of the van for more charging. The van drives great and we get really good gas mileage on it.

Shanda D on August 23, 2021

It has awesome safety features.

It is really roomy and comfortable. Great for large families. It gets great gas mileage and has a lot of really amazing safety features! If you are looking for a safe and reliable and not to mention stylish vehicle then look no further than a 2020 honda odyssey!

Chris K on May 8, 2021

Awful electronics and transmission

Don't buy - not sure how this is Honda quality - Too many times to the shop for electronics (4x in 1 year + multiple recalls) and transmission seems to be problematic but it "working as intended" - would not buy.

Shonna P on March 25, 2021

Best van out there with a reasonable price and lots of amenities.

This van is amazing in every way, it is very roomy and comfortable. It has all the luxuries of an expensive van but is very reasonably priced.

Catrina C

Catrina C. is a former auto auction block clerk and current freelance automotive industry writer. She enjoys writing, taking long trips in her Ford and providing solid automotive advice.