Diagsheet

2018 Honda Odyssey · symptom sheet

Tailgate or liftgate will not open or close

  • 39owner reports
  • $331median quote
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Sep 4, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026

111 of the 979 complaints on this car are about the structure. 39 of those describe tailgate or liftgate failure.

Tick what matches of 39 reports

8
10
32
4
3
10

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the control module (20 reports), the latch (8 reports) and the lift struts or motor (4 reports).

Recalls and investigations

2 recalls on the structure cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

20V-437Jul 28, 2020
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Odyssey vehicles. Water may enter the outer door handle cables for the sliding doors. If this occurs, the outer door handle cables may freeze in cold temperatures, preventing the front and rear sliding door latches from securely latching.

Risk and remedy
Risk: A power sliding door that fails to latch may open while moving, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power sliding door outer handle cables, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is A88.
18V-795Nov 9, 2018
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2018 and 2019 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The latch assemblies for the power sliding doors may stick and not properly latch to the door strikers.

Risk and remedy
Risk: If the power sliding doors fails to latch, the doors may open while moving, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right power sliding door rear latch assemblies, free of charge. The recall began January 3, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Z33 and O36.

NHTSA investigations into the structure on the Odyssey

EQ12-010opened Sep 28, 2012
Structure · model years 2005 to 2009

Stabilus rear liftgate struts failing. Closed dec 31, 2012.

NHTSA summary
Please see the attached closing resume summary.It has been attached to this document as a PDF.
PE11-034opened Sep 23, 2011
Latches/Locks/Linkages · model years 2008 to 2009

Unexpected closing of power liftgate. Closed feb 29, 2012, led to recall 12V-062.

NHTSA summary
The investigation found that the liftgate struts were failing prematurely and at an abnormal rate in certain model year (MY) 2008 Honda Odyssey Touring and 2009 Honda Odyssey Touring and EX-L model vehicles equipped with power-operated rear liftgates (note: MY 2008 Odyssey EX-L was not equipped with a power liftgate).Unlike vehicles with non-powered (manual) liftgates, the subject vehicle's liftgate can be opened automatically (via the power liftgate motor) even when the struts are in a degraded condition and can no longer support it in the open position.Consumers standing or accessing the rear cargo area under the liftgate and expecting the liftgate will stay open, can be struck when the liftgate unexpectedly drops, or can be trapped under the liftgate as it power closes, both of which can occur when the system detects and reacts to degraded struts.By contrast, users of a manual liftgate assist in lifting it, and thus notice the lack of support as the struts degrade.Honda is conducting a recall to replace the liftgate struts in approximately 45,747 MY 2008 and early MY 2009 Odyssey vehicles equipped with power liftgates built before a manufacturing change of the liftgate strut assembly that occurred on January 13, 2009 (see NHTSA Safety Recall No. 12V-062 for further details).The vehicles subject to the recall account for 101 complaints, 12 injuries, and 5,630 of the warranty claims shown above (i.e., the MY 2009 and 2010 vehicles built after the manufacturing change experie
EA08-015opened Aug 8, 2008
Structure · model years 2005

Unexpected closing of power liftgate. Closed apr 12, 2010, led to recall 10V-055.

NHTSA summary
Honda will replace the liftgate struts in approximately 21,776 model year 2005 Honda Odyssey Touring vehicles equipped with power liftgates that were built before a manufacturing change of the liftgate strut assembly on July 16, 2005 (NHTSA Recall No. 10V-055).Vehicles built after the change experience significantly lower failure rates.The recall will inform consumers of the dangers of the existing struts and provide the opportunity for vehicle owners to obtain new struts that are more robust.Based on Honda's action, the agency has decided to close the investigation.While Honda has not made a decision that the recalled vehicles contain a safety-related defect, in view of the recall, further use of the agency's resources does not appear to be warranted.The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.Additional information can be found in the attached Engineering Analysis Report.
PE08-026opened Apr 10, 2008
Structure · model years 2005

Unexpected closing of power liftgate. Closed aug 8, 2008.

NHTSA summary
THE LIFTGATE GAS STRUTS FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY HAVE DAMAGED GAS SEALS THAT ALLOW THE LIFTGATE TO CLOSE UNEXPECTEDLY.AT THE COMPLETION OF A POWER-OPEN COMMAND, THE POWER LIFTGATE MAY EITHER CLOSE WITHOUT POWER ACTUATION (I.E., DESCEND UNASSISTED UNDER THE FORCE OF GRAVITY) OR AUTOMATICALLY POWER-CLOSE WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE OPERATOR.SOME OWNERS ARE CAUGHT UNAWARE OF THE UNINTENDED CLOSING OF THE LIFTGATE WHILE UNDER THE REAR LIFTGATE DOOR.THERE HAVE BEEN TEN REPORTED INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED PROBLEM ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA08-015).

None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.

What owners paid

7 of the 39 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $200 to $2,000.

$200$331$2,000
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.

221
222
523
1524
825
726

What owners wrote

“Crack in body seam above driver and passenger side of the tailgate AND underneath the roof rail cover caused water leakage. This resulted in a short of the power tailgate control module which draws down my battery and causes unexpected trunk closing during normal use. Family members have been hit in the head by the trunk due to the unexpected automatic emergency closing.”

Filed Jun 24, 2025

“There is water leaking in the body which damages the power tailgate control module located at the rear driver side. the tailgate doesn’t open and endanger people inside in case there is any accident.”

Filed Feb 24, 2025

“Leakage through the top driver's side pinch weld near the rear of the vehicle has allowed water to infiltrate the power tailgate control module and render it sporadically operable. This has affected the vehicle main computer, causing unreliable operation of powered vehicle exit doors.”

Filed Feb 5, 2025

“Tailgate warning beeps. Tailgare Will NOT open or Close. Dashboard lites flash. Vehicle will NOT START ! CANNOT START or move Vehicle!”

Filed Jan 7, 2025

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 39 reports involved a crash and 3 people were hurt. 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.

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