Ok, so you got talked into buying a minivan, cool, it’s a Honda Odyssey, that means something, right? And then it starts to misfire, make noises, and break down. Now you’re the owner of a minivan stranded on the side of the road. But hey, it’s a Honda.
Have there been any engine misfire recalls on the Honda Odyssey?
No. The NHTSA never identified the Honda Odyssey misfire problem as a safety issue, which is required for a safety recall to be issued. However, there was a major class action lawsuit against them about the misfires, ending in a 1.5 million settlement.
Keep reading to learn about the results of that lawsuit, and whether there is still any remedy for Honda Odyssey owners who’ve had to deal with engine misfires.
The Honda Odyssey (and Other Models) Misfire Problem
The problem with the Honda Odyssey and several other models started with the 6-cylinder engine with Variable Cylinder Management that debuted in several of its 2008 model vehicles.
This engine was equipped in many of the trim versions of the following vehicles over the next few years:
- 2008 to 2013 Honda Odyssey
- 2008 to 2012 Honda Accord
- 2009 to 2013 Honda Pilot
- 2010 to 2011 Honda Accord Crosstour
- 2012 Honda Crosstour
Many of the engines equipped with Variable Cylinder Management burned way too much oil. This resulted in the Honda Odyssey misfires that you may have heard of. It also caused the spark plugs in the engines to degrade much too quickly and resulted in costly engine repairs for Honda owners.
While this was never identified as a safety issue that could lead to injury or death (hence, no safety recall), it did lead to a major class action lawsuit.
Honda Odyssey Misfire Lawsuit and Settlement
Honda agreed to a settlement in federal court to resolve the case (Soto, et al v. Honda Motor Co.). The settlement wrapped up in October of 2013.
While Honda admitted to no wrongdoing as part of the agreement, the company did agree to fully compensate vehicle owners who had to pay out-of-pocket for engine repairs on all of the model years listed above.
Honda also extended the warranty for engine repairs on the affected vehicles to a period of 8 years.
Can You Be Compensated for Honda Odyssey Engine Repairs?
To be financially reimbursed for Honda Odyssey misfire repairs, all owners had to file a claim no later than April of 2014. So, unfortunately, that boat has sailed if you’re just learning about this now.
However, with the extended warranty for engine repairs, 2012 Honda Odyssey vehicles are still within the warranty window until the end of 2020.
Likewise, 2013 Honda Odyssey vehicles will be covered until the end of 2021. And again, that is only for Honda Odyssey vehicles equipped with the 6-cylinder engines with Variable Cylinder Management.
How to Check Your Honda Odyssey Against a Recall
If you’ve recently purchased a used Honda Odyssey and want to know if there are any safety recalls against it, you can search with your vehicle’s VIN number on the Honda Recall Lookup website.
