2021 Honda Odyssey: Problems & Reliability
CAUTION2021 Honda Odyssey: CAUTION — 148 owner complaints, rated on its recalls: 8 campaigns, 3 for fire or crash risk; top issue: electrical system (57 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2021 is 1.27, where 1.00 is a typical Odyssey year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60. Most complaints are about non-critical systems; only 29% are severe (crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system). Its raw count is below the median year, but it has been on the road only about 5 years, so complaints are arriving faster than for older Odyssey years.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
148
NHTSA complaints
1.27
Verdict score (1.00 = typical Odyssey year)
152
Service bulletins
8
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2021 Honda Odyssey problems
Electrical system is the clear leader, named in 39% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2021 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 57 | 39% |
| Unknown or other | 34 | 23% |
| Engine | 27 | 18% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 19 | 13% |
| Air bags | 16 | 11% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2021 Honda Odyssey recalls
8 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2021, reported between Jan 14, 2021 and May 22, 2026.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 26V332000 | May 22, 2026 | Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger |
| 26V227000 | Apr 10, 2026 | Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module › Software |
| 25V877000 | Dec 18, 2025 | Equipment adaptive/mobility › Wheelchair restraints/securement › Latch/anchor › |
| 24V064000 | Feb 1, 2024 | Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger |
| 23V858000 | Dec 19, 2023 | Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump |
| 23V431000 | Jun 15, 2023 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Display function |
| 23V174000 | Mar 16, 2023 | Visibility › Rearview mirrors/devices › Exterior |
| 21V010000 | Jan 14, 2021 | Fuel system, gasoline › Storage |
2021 Honda Odyssey service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 152 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2021 — close to the 129 of the median Odyssey year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover structure (57), electrical system (33), fuel system, gasoline (33). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2021 vs. the year before and after
From the 2020 to the 2021, owner complaints fell by more than half (493 → 148) — an improvement. The 2022 that followed held roughly level (148 → 143).
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Odyssey | AVOID | 493 | 197 | 14 | — |
| 2021 (this page) | CAUTION | 148 | 152 | 8 | — |
| 2022 Odyssey | AVOID | 143 | 131 | 9 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Honda Odyssey years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2021 Honda Odyssey
Electrical system (57 complaints on the 2021): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Engine (27 complaints on the 2021): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Forward collision avoidance (19 complaints on the 2021): ask about false automatic-braking events and look for driver-assist warning messages.
Air bags (16 complaints on the 2021): confirm the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that every air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
Lane departure (10 complaints on the 2021): on the test drive, check that lane-keeping assist neither pulls unexpectedly nor throws warnings.
Recalls: confirm all 8 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Nearby Odyssey years with a better rating: 2024.
Know what to pay for the right 2021 Honda Odyssey — then negotiate it
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FAQ
Is the 2021 Honda Odyssey reliable?
2021 Honda Odyssey: CAUTION — 148 owner complaints, rated on its recalls: 8 campaigns, 3 for fire or crash risk; top issue: electrical system (57 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2021 is 1.27, where 1.00 is a typical Odyssey year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60.
What are the most common 2021 Honda Odyssey problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2021 Honda Odyssey are electrical system (57, 39%), unknown or other (34, 23%), engine (27, 18%). The manufacturer has 152 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2021 Honda Odyssey have?
8 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2021 Honda Odyssey, most recently 26V332000 (May 22, 2026, air bags); 26V227000 (Apr 10, 2026, air bags); 25V877000 (Dec 18, 2025, equipment adaptive/mobility). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2021 Honda Odyssey before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2021 Honda Odyssey come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.