How the 2017 compares
One of the better Odyssey years
Owners filed about 85% fewer complaints than a typical Odyssey year. The area owners reported most is the engine and cooling.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Odyssey years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Honda Odyssey. The most reported problem area is the engine and cooling (10, 26% of complaints), followed by the transmission and drivetrain and the electrical system. That is the fewest complaints of any Odyssey year from 2012 to 2024 on file. It has 2 recalls.
Complaints39filed with NHTSA
Recalls2for this model year
Crashes32 injuries reported
Fires0reported in complaints
1 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2017 Honda Odyssey before you buy.
Engine and cooling
10 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
At 60 mph the vehicle began shaking , I pulled over , put it in park while still running, and got out to inspect. I noticed some smoke from under the hood and by the time I got inside to release the hood latch , the smoke stopped. With multiple lights on the dash I shut it off . It would not restart . It was towed to my home. We pulled…Owner complaint, filed 2025
2017 Honda Odyssey Piston ring failure leading to stop spark plug working while driving. This makes car shake heavily and can’t drive more than 20mph, sound from engine is loud. Had been happening every 1000 miles or so, changing spark plug temporary fix it. Spark plug starts failing one after another. This started happening before 60K…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Transmission and drivetrain
7 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
-Torque convertor/transmission. We do currently have it and it could be inspected. -A sudden transmission failure could pose a safety risk to us and others. -Yes, see story below. Technician drove and did report feeling the shuddering. -Yes, by honda and now a third party mechanic. -No lights. We received a recall/extension warranty for…Owner complaint, filed 2025
I own a 2017 Honda Odyssey that is currently covered under an extended warranty related to the torque converter, specifically addressing Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0741. I experienced symptoms twice, once in January 2025 and again in May 2025, using an OBD-II scanner. I documented these occurrences with independent scan results in…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Electrical system
6 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
On two separate occasions, while unattended and sitting in my garage, the vehicle seemed to be attempting to start by itself. Instrument panel warning lights were all flashing on and off with ignition clicking. The key fob was nowhere near the vehicle. I started the vehicle but then WAS UNABE TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF by pressing the…Owner complaint, filed 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the alarm activated, and the contact attempted to turn off the alarm; however, the alarm failed to deactivate. The alarm went off for several hours before stopping. The contact stated that several days later while attempting to start the vehicle, the…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 90,000 miles
Brakes and stability control
4 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
At 25,000 miles on my honda when I applied the brakes the front end started shaking severely, toke the car to the honda dealer for service, they told me that the brake pads got hot the fixed the pads cost $200 another 25,000 miles sure enough the same problem this time I complained to the service mg he gave me a discount and said this…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 25,000 miles
While driving, the battery indicator light illuminated. Suddenly, the power turned off. The vehicle could be steered and brakes used, only. Then, as quickly as the power turned off, it restored and momentarily powered the accelerator. Then the power stopped again. The lights within the cabin and on the dash flickered and chimed like they…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Fuel system
3 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
- On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
- Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
Vehicle jerks and stalls while accelerating and has died and coasted at times. Was told it has a recall but was not issued one since I have owned it since early this year. Called a Honda dealership and was told that it did not qualify for the recall. Seems to do this after I’ve drove it for a while and it is warmed up.Owner complaint, filed 2026
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while at a stop light while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. Additionally, the vehicle was hesitating. The contact stated that the failure occurred daily. No warning light was illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 31,200 miles
Body, doors and structure
3 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
Driver side rear sliding door fell off after cables snapped when opening. This puts my kids at risk of falling out of the car. This happened spontaneously without any accidents or force.Owner complaint, filed 2025
Upon coming to a complete stop in the left turn lane and waiting for the red light to change, the sliding rear passenger side door automatically opened without prompt or warning. The door had just been opened and closed while the car was stopped, however the door opened even though the car was in Drive.Owner complaint, filed 2022
Lights, wipers and visibility
3 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
While the original owner of the vehicle was driving on a side road at approximately 40 MPH with a child in the rear seat, there was an abnormal noise. Upon investigation, the sunroof was found shattered with glass on top of the sun shade and a hole in the glass. Photos are attached showing the sunroof bulging upwards (indicating that it…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 honda odyssey. While the contact was inside the vehicle with his grandchild seated in the back seat, the sun roof exploded without warning. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to fisher honda (6025 arapahoe rd, boulder, co 80303, (303) 245-6417), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The [VIN] was made…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 23,000 miles
Air bags
2 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
I was driving on the highway at approximately 65 mph and the passenger side SRS (seatbelt and airbag) deployed. There was no collision, pothole or any other change in momentum to the vehicle immediately prior to deployment. No other airbags deployed.Owner complaint, filed 2026
Driver assist systems
1 complaintPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
- Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
- Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.
Tools that help
What owners said
Driving one day without warning the van was shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear when there was a hard slam, then the check engine light came on as well as the forward collision sensor failure. The van went into limp mode on the highway which was very dangerous. After having the Honda dealership investigate two times they said the only thing…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Cruise control and acceleration
1 complaintHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
Sudden unexpected acceleration. On two separate occasions. The second resulted in a collision. After collision dealer inspected and said no problem with throttle system, but refused to release test results claiming "proprietary." next took vehicle to independent expert who tested vehicle and reported that vehicle's event data recorder…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 15,013 miles
Seats and seat belts
1 complaintBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
- Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.
Tools that help
What owners said
In november 2017 honda announced a recall with their odyssey vans regarding a safety defect with the second row outer seat. I especially took note of this recall because I have a child car seat attached to it. I called my local dealership asking about it. The dealership told me the [VIN] parts were out of stock and to wait for honda to…Owner complaint, filed 2018
Honda Odyssey complaints by year
Compare the 2017 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2017 minivans
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Honda Odyssey | One of the better years | 2 |
| 2017 Toyota Sienna | Worse than most years | 10 |
| 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan | About average | 3 |
2017 Honda Odyssey recalls
This is every recall issued for the 2017 Honda Odyssey, not what is still open on one car. A recall that was fixed does not show up any differently here. Check a VIN at NHTSA to see what is still open on the car you are looking at, and ask the seller for proof any recall work was done.
Fuel system Fuel pump
- Risk
- Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Seats Mid / rear assembly
- Risk
- If the seat tips forward during braking, it can increase the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a bracket to the second row outboard floor strikers, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The second row outboard seats can slide sideways to one of two positions. If a seat is placed between either of the two positions when attaching the seat to the vehicle floor, the seat will not latch properly to the seat striker, allowing the seat to tip forward unexpectedly during braking.
2017 Honda Odyssey questions
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Honda Odyssey?
The most reported problem areas on the 2017 Honda Odyssey are the engine and cooling (10 complaints), the transmission and drivetrain (7 complaints) and the electrical system (6 complaints).
Is the 2017 Honda Odyssey a good year to buy?
One of the better Odyssey years. Owners filed about 85% fewer complaints than a typical Odyssey year. The area owners reported most is the engine and cooling. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Odyssey years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2017 Honda Odyssey have?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2017 Honda Odyssey. The most recent, from Dec 2023, covers the fuel pump. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
Which Honda Odyssey years should I avoid?
The Odyssey years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2018 and 2019. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2017 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
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Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.
- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
- Decode a VIN to see recalls, safety ratings and complaints for that exact year, make and model