2016 Honda Odyssey · symptom sheet
Check engine light or misfire
- 72owner reports
- 89,689median miles
- $3,830median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
140 of the 270 complaints on this car are about the engine. 72 of those describe misfire, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Odyssey.
Narrower sheets: Engine misfire (44 reports)
Tick what matches of 72 reports
Misfire on other Odyssey years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
These reports start with the check engine light. Many describe the engine running rough or shaking at idle, a P0300-series code, or a catalytic converter code. A worrying number say the light was flashing. Owners often list ignition coils or spark plugs already replaced, and the light coming back afterward.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the spark plugs (39 reports) and the ignition coils (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the engine cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The affected vehicles have fuel tanks that were manufactured with insufficient welds which may separate and allow fuel to leak out.
All 6 recalls on the 2016 Honda Odyssey, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Odyssey
Engine failure. Open.
No restart after auto start/stop engages. Open.
Engine failure. Closed aug 20, 2025.
Ignition interlock failure - rollaway. Closed jan 14, 2013, led to recall 12V-573.
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
What owners paid
21 of the 72 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,352 to $4,600.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 76,000 and 106,000 miles, from the 31 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Honda Odyssey that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
The piston ring function deteriorates due to ring low wear toughness and sticking from sludge. Oil adheres to the spark plug leading to carbon fouling and misfire.
The piston ring function deteriorates due to ring wear and sticking from sludge. Oil from the crankcase adheres to the spark plug leading to carbon fouling and misfire.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2014-2017 Odysseys and 2014-2015 Pilots with a customer complaint of the vehicle Check Engine Light (CEL) on with one or more of the DTC(s) listed below (in Qualifiers) stored.
TECHLINE SUMMARY ARTICLE IF THE ENGINE IS OVERHEATING AND THERES ENGINE OIL MIXED IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR, CHANCES ARE THE CYLINDER HEAD MAY BE CRACKED. A CRACK MAY FORM UNDER THE FRONT AND/OR REAR CAMSHAFT AT THE JOURNALS AND IS A RARE OCCURRENCE.
What owners wrote
“engine in this vehicle keeps having a misfire in Cylinder 2 (when looking at engine in car, it is the back side, 2nd from the left) caused by eco mode per honda techs. The piston ring needs replaced per tech and car is 2 model years outside the warranty for this issue that is still going on. its a common issue and is still occurring even is newer models according to the 2 local dealerships.”
Filed May 24, 2024
“Piston ring failure at 73k miles. Repair costs $5000. The check engine light started flashing and whole vehicle started shaking while driving it on the highway. This is a known issue with Honda and the VCM system they installed on these vehicles.”
Filed May 8, 2024 · 73,000 miles
“While driving the engine started to run rough and the vehicle started to decelerate. The check engine light and the traction control light came on. I let up on the gas pedal, the van continued to run rough. I made it home and the next day took the van to a mechanic, he told me that he observed oil fouling on the #3 spark plug, consistent with worn piston rings. The van is a 2016 Honda Odyssey with 91,000 miles.”
Filed Dec 29, 2023 · 91,000 miles
“While driving the vehicle the engine began to bog down and the check engine light came on.”
Filed Feb 1, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 72 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Which lights mean pull over now? Warning lights by color and urgency
Other problems on this car
- Seat belt or seat problems 28 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 25 reports