AutoUtility currently tracks 268 official NHTSA owner defect complaints for the 2016 Honda Odyssey. Engine & Cooling issues are the most frequently reported category, appearing in 88 complaints (32.8% of submitted records). Among these NHTSA complaint records, 9 filings cite a crash, 2 cite a fire, 10 report one or more injuries.

Key Problem Findings
  • Total NHTSA Complaints: 268 reports
  • #1 Reported Problem Area: Engine & Cooling (88 reports • 32.8% of submitted complaints)
  • Secondary Problem Areas: Electrical System (38), Powertrain & Transmission (38)
  • Crash-Citing Complaints: 9 filings
  • Fire-Citing Complaints: 2 filings
  • Complaints Reporting Injuries / Fatalities: 10 injury filings • 0 fatality filings
Reporting Methodology: Statistics describe unverified consumer submissions voluntarily filed with NHTSA. Complaint volume is not normalized for vehicle sales volume or miles driven. Multiple components can be cited within a single owner complaint submission.
Total Complaints
268
Submitted to NHTSA ODI
Crash-Citing Complaints
9
Filings citing a collision
Fire-Citing Complaints
2
Filings citing smoke or fire
Complaints Reporting Injuries
10
Filings citing one or more injuries
Complaints Reporting Fatalities
0
Consumer filings citing fatalities

Most Reported Problems for 2016 Honda Odyssey

Top automotive subsystem defect categories ranked by unique owner complaint volume in federal records

#1 Problem Area 32.8% of complaints

Engine & Cooling

88 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
✓ 0 crashes or fires cited
#2 Problem Area 14.2% of complaints

Electrical System

38 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
⚠️ 4 crash reports 🔥 1 fire report 🩹 2 injury report entries
#3 Problem Area 14.2% of complaints

Powertrain & Transmission

38 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
⚠️ 1 crash report 🩹 1 injury report entry
#4 Problem Area 10.4% of complaints

Body & Structure

28 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
⚠️ 1 crash report 🩹 2 injury report entries
#5 Problem Area 9.3% of complaints

Driver Assistance & Safety Tech

25 owner complaints submitted to NHTSA ODI
⚠️ 2 crash reports
Domain Share Note: Share percentage represents the proportion of unique complaint filings referencing each vehicle system. Because single complaints may cite multiple systems (such as engine and electrical simultaneously), domain percentages represent individual category incidence and may sum to over 100%.

Symptoms Mentioned in NHTSA Owner Reports for 2016 Honda Odyssey

Specific mechanical, electrical, and driver-assist defect symptoms identified via deterministic narrative analysis

AutoUtility uses deterministic phrase matching to identify recurring symptom descriptions within consumer-submitted NHTSA complaint narratives.

Powertrain & Transmission 3.4% of complaints

Loss of Motive Power While Driving

9 complaint narratives describe this symptom
Symptom Identification Method: A complaint may describe more than one symptom, so percentages may sum to more than 100%. Symptom identification reflects text contained in consumer-submitted complaint records and does not establish a confirmed mechanical diagnosis.

Recent NHTSA Owner Reports for 2016 Honda Odyssey

Representative defect filings submitted by owners to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Fuel & Propulsion System NHTSA ODI ID: #11760168
Filed: 08/27/2026

"the problem only happens after driving for more than 30 minutes. when I stop at a light, the engine starts shaking and stalls. the starter seems cranking normally, but it takes about 3 attempts and about 40 seconds to restart. One day, the engine stopped while I was driving. There is no Check..."

Incident Date: 08/26/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Other / Miscellaneous NHTSA ODI ID: #11760034
Filed: 08/27/2026

"The central front adjuster lever (the release mechanism located at the front bottom of the car seat shell) has suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure. The lever is physically stuck in the "open" position and fails to snap back down or engage. Because the lever remains stuck open, the internal..."

Incident Date: 08/24/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: CHEST CLIP, BUCKLE, HARNESS
Other / Miscellaneous NHTSA ODI ID: #11756578
Filed: 08/12/2026

"I am writing to formally report a serious and potentially life-threatening safety issue involving my Honda Odyssey’s locking system. For several years, I have experienced an ongoing problem in which the doors of my Odyssey have unexpectedly locked while the key fob was still inside the vehicle...."

Incident Date: 08/10/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Driver Assistance & Safety Tech NHTSA ODI ID: #11755217
Filed: 08/06/2026

"The contact owns a 2016 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, engine, and VSA warning lights were illuminated. While at the stoplight, the vehicle started jerking and sputtering. The contact stated that the failure was..."

Incident Date: 07/21/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Engine & Cooling NHTSA ODI ID: #11753773
Filed: 07/30/2026

"I have needed to replace my spark plugs multiple times because of an issue where, apparently when in eco mode, the pistons in the third cylinder flood with oil that causes the spark plugs to misfire. I was informed this is an issue common to Honda Odysseys on or about May 19th, when I was..."

Incident Date: 07/30/2026 • Raw NHTSA Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Consumer Narrative Notice: Excerpts are sanitized text descriptions submitted by vehicle owners to the federal ODI database. They reflect the reporting consumer's observations at the time of filing and have not been independently confirmed by vehicle manufacturers or government investigators.

Complaint History for Honda Odyssey

Reported defect complaint volume across sibling model years (2015–2026)

Model Year NHTSA Complaints Crash Reports Safety Recalls Detailed Report
2015 Honda Odyssey 203 8 6 View 2015 Problems →
2016 Honda Odyssey Current Page 268 9 6 Current
2017 Honda Odyssey 39 3 2 View 2017 Problems →
2018 Honda Odyssey 969 13 16 View 2018 Problems →
2019 Honda Odyssey 930 15 20 View 2019 Problems →
2020 Honda Odyssey 452 4 14 View 2020 Problems →
2021 Honda Odyssey 136 2 8 View 2021 Problems →
2022 Honda Odyssey 130 4 9 View 2022 Problems →
2023 Honda Odyssey 95 2 5 View 2023 Problems →
2024 Honda Odyssey 90 1 3 View 2024 Problems →
2025 Honda Odyssey 325 2 2 View 2025 Problems →
2026 Honda Odyssey 0 0 2 View 2026 Problems →
Comparative Disclaimer: Complaint totals are unadjusted historical counts and are not normalized for vehicles sold, active fleet size, or total road mileage. Newer model years naturally have had less calendar exposure time to accumulate owner filings.

Detailed NHTSA Component Breakdown for 2016 Honda Odyssey

Complete distribution of consumer defect reports across all 66 granular NHTSA system and subsystem classifications

Vehicle Component / System Total Complaints Crash Reports Fire Reports Reported Injury Entries Reported Fatality Entries
Engine NHTSA category: ENGINE 63 0 0 0 0
Powertrain NHTSA category: POWER TRAIN 24 0 0 0 0
Seats & Restraints NHTSA category: SEATS 24 0 0 4 0
Other / Uncategorized NHTSA category: UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19 0 0 1 0
Structure & Body NHTSA category: STRUCTURE 16 0 0 1 0
Electrical System NHTSA category: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14 0 0 0 0
Air Bags NHTSA category: AIR BAGS 7 1 0 2 0
Fuel & Propulsion System NHTSA category: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 7 0 0 0 0
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 5 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE 4 0 0 1 0
ENGINE,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 4 0 0 0 0
Service Brakes NHTSA category: SERVICE BRAKES 4 2 0 0 0
Vehicle Speed Control NHTSA category: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 2 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 0 0 0 0
Engine & Cooling NHTSA category: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 3 0 0 0 0
Steering NHTSA category: STEERING 3 0 0 0 0
Tires NHTSA category: TIRES 3 0 1 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 2 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE 2 0 0 0 0
Doors, Latches & Locks NHTSA category: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2 0 0 0 0
Seat Belts NHTSA category: SEAT BELTS 2 0 0 0 0
STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES 2 0 0 0 0
STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 0 0 0 0
Visibility & Wipers NHTSA category: VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 0 0 0 0
Wheels & Hubs NHTSA category: WHEELS 2 0 0 0 0
AIR BAGS,SEATS 1 0 0 0 0
CHEST CLIP, BUCKLE, HARNESS 1 0 0 0 0
CHEST CLIP, BUCKLE, HARNESS,OTHER/I AM NOT SURE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE 1 1 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 1 1 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 1 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY 1 0 0 0 0
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE 1 0 0 0 0
Fuel System NHTSA category: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 1 0 0 0 0
LANE DEPARTURE,POWER TRAIN 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 1 0 1 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES 1 0 0 0 0
POWER TRAIN,WHEELS 1 0 0 0 0
SEAT BELTS,SEATS 1 0 0 0 0
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
STRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 1 0 0 0 0
SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 0 0 0 0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 0 0 0 0
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 1 0 0 0 0
Visibility / Glass NHTSA category: VISIBILITY 1 0 0 0 0
Data Attribution & Reporting Methodology: Complaints are unverified voluntary submissions to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Because multiple vehicle components can be cited within a single owner complaint submission, component-level rollups may sum to more than the unique complaint count (268). Injury and fatality entries in the detailed table reflect raw values entered by reporting consumers across individual submissions; they are not deduplicated casualty statistics and may include duplicate or unverified entries. Complaint volume is not normalized for sales volume or vehicle mileage and does not represent an audited component failure rate.

Official NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

1 OPEN

Formal safety defect inquiries and engineering analyses opened by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Official Federal Inquiries: NHTSA opens a defect investigation when safety screening or consumer defect trends indicate a potential unreasonable safety risk. An open investigation is a formal inquiry and does not by itself confirm a defect or result in a mandatory recall.
OPEN Defect Petition (DP) ODI Action #DP26005
Opened: 2026-07-13 • Currently Active

Inadvertent Deployment of Air Bags

Affected Component: AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a Petition dated May 30, 2026. The Petition is requesting an investigation into inadvertent air bag deployment in model year (MY) 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The Petition contends that air bags can deploy absent a sufficiently severe event to trigger a deployment, such as an impact, rollover event, or G-force threshold breach. The Petition further alleges that the Diagnostic Trouble Codes (...

Active federal investigation. Official NHTSA File →
Official US Government Data Provenance

The complaint records on this page are retrieved directly from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) public database.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.