How reliable is the new Honda Odyssey? Here’s what Consumer Reports says – Jalopnik

The Honda Odyssey has come a long way since it launched for the 1995 model year as a compact minivan with four-cylinder power and a platform borrowed from the Accord, but without sliding side doors. Honda launched the fifth generation Odyssey for 2018 and brought a mild facelift and new technology for 2021, followed by another facelift in 2025. This edition is almost 20 centimeters longer than the original. It also has V6 power and sliding doors, which started with the second generation.

A look at Reviews from Consumer Reports of the Odyssey shows a reliable coaster dating back to the 2001 model year. In the past quarter century, Honda’s sliding door people mover has only achieved an above-average reliability score for three model years (hint: this doesn’t apply to the latest versions – 2025 or 2026). This ranking is in stark contrast to the general ranking of car brands Consumer Reports (CR) for 2026, putting Honda fourth.

The 2025 Odyssey stands out (and not in a good way) with a below-average reliability score, even though it is a superior road trip solution. Meanwhile, the 2026 edition, which did not receive any noticeable updates, is upgraded to average in terms of reliability. Notably, the 2026 version is the first Odyssey model year to receive the organization’s “CR Recommended” approval, a thumbs up that started in 2021.

CR highlights two areas of concern for the 2025 Odyssey: the suspension/steering and the climate system. These red flags are enough to rank this vehicle last in reliability among the six 2025 model year minivans. Granted, the Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Pacifica and Chrysler Voyager also fall into the below-average category, slightly ahead of the Odyssey. The Kia Carnival reaches the average range, while the Carnival Hybrid climbs to the above-average range. 2025 is the first year for the Carnival Hybrid.

The outlook improves for the 2026 Odyssey, but CR uses a “predicted reliability” scale for the latest model year versus hard data and owner feedback. This ranking is “based on the model’s recent history”, an average of the overall reliability scores over the past three years (assuming no substantial changes in the new version), according to CR. As a result, there is no breakdown of specific problem areas.

This numerical analysis, or ‘prediction’ as CR calls it, takes the latest Odyssey to the next level. Its now average ranking puts this Honda fourth in predicted reliability among the seven minivans for the 2026 model year. Three Chrysler products anchor the bottom, while the average-ranked Toyota Sienna and Kia Carnival are higher in the index. The Carnival Hybrid remains at the top of the rankings with an above-average score.

In terms of reliability, the first three years (2018 to 2020) of the current generation Odyssey achieved below-average scores. CR points to the car’s electronics and build quality as notable problem areas in recent years, while the 2018-2019 editions have a history of reported problems with the fuel system/emissions and suspension/steering.

The 2021 Odyssey earned an average rating, while nagging noises/leaks and issues with the car’s electronics persist. CR gave the 2022 edition an above-average reliability score, making it the only fifth-generation Odyssey to achieve this status. Despite this stronger performance, CR still cites build quality issues and noise/leaks as potential issues. Build quality was at the center of a recall that affected mirrors from 2020 to 2022 Odysseys. The only other 21st century Honda Odysseys to receive an above-average reliability rating were the 2001 and 2002 model years.

The 2023 and 2024 Odysseys dropped to average reliability, with suspension/steering being a common problem area for the 2023 model year. CR flags ‘minor engine issues’ for the 2024 edition, but doesn’t go into further detail proverb These problems involve the “auxiliary belts and pulleys, the engine computer, the engine mounts, engine knocking or pinging, fuel leaks, [and] oil leaking.”