2020 Honda Odyssey · symptom sheet

Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)

97owner reports
51,000median miles
$2,000median quote
1involved a crash

Newest report Sep 3, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

185 of the 458 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 97 of those describe phantom braking.

Tick what matches of 97 reports

nothing was in front of me

on the highway

near an overpass, shadow or truck

nearly rear-ended

the dealer found no fault

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the radar or camera sensor (75 reports), the windshield (15 reports) and the software (15 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on collision avoidance covers the 2020 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into collision avoidance on the Odyssey

EA09-014opened Oct 19, 2009

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · model years 2007 to 2008

Air in brake system. Closed may 11, 2010, led to recall 10V-098.

NHTSA summary

By letter dated March 15, 2010, American Honda Motor Corp. (HMC) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA Recall No. 10V-098) to address a defect in approximately 412,000 model year (MY) 2007 and 2008 Honda Odyssey and Element vehicles equipped with an ABS/VSA/TCS modulator. The recalled Odyssey vehicles were built from August 2006 August 2008.The recalled Element vehicles were built from July 2006 to July 2008. According to Honda, during an initial self-check process that occurs shortly after each engine ignition cycle, the self-diagnostic software for the VSA modulator allows a vacuum condition that can exist for several hours, allowing air to enter the VSA modulator pump.Over time, and thousands of engine ignition cycles, it is possible for enough air to enter the system to result in a brake pedal that feels soft or lower to the floor.If the customer does not have any brake service or maintenance performed over a period of months or years, the system can continue to accumulate enough air to affect braking performance.To correct the safety defect, Honda dealers will remove existing air in the brake system then apply sealant and caps to the VSA modulator to prevent air from entering the brake system, free of charge. The action taken by Honda is sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation. The agency will continue to monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warr

PE09-024opened May 13, 2009

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · model years 2006 to 2008

Air in brake system. Closed oct 19, 2009, led to recall 10V-098.

NHTSA summary

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS RECEIVED 69 COMPLAINTS, AND HONDA HAS RECEIVED 613 COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS, ALLEGING LOW/SOFT/SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2006 THROUGH 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY MINIVANS.TWENTY-SIX ODI COMPLAINTS WERE ALSO REPORTED TO HONDA, RESULTING IN A TOTAL COMPLAINT COUNT OF 656.SOME COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE CONDITION RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES, INCLUDING SOME REPORTS OF ROLLING PAST STOP SIGNS OR TRAFFIC LIGHTS.THERE ARE 14 ALLEGED CRASHES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION RELATED TO LOW/SOFT PEDALS. IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST FOR PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE09-024, HONDA INDICATED THAT SMALL AMOUNTS OF AIR MAY ENTER THE BRAKE SYSTEM DURING INITIAL DIAGNOSTICS OF THE VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA) MODULATOR WHILE THE PUMP IS BRIEFLY ACTUATED FOR SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED.THE AMOUNT OF AIR GRADUALLY INCREASES WITH EACH SUCCESSIVE ENGINE START CYCLE, RESULTING IN PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING BRAKE PEDAL STROKE.ACCORDING TO HONDA, THE CONDITION DOES NOT PRESENT A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY BECAUSE THE PEDAL STROKE GRADUALLY INCREASES, PROVIDING THE DRIVER WITH INFORMATION THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HEIGHT IS CHANGING AND REQUIRES ATTENTION.HONDA HAS FURTHER INDICATED THAT THERE IS NO DETERIORATION OF BRAKING PERFORMANCE CAUSED BY THE SUBJECT CONDITION, EVEN THOUGH THE PEDAL HEIGHT AND FEEL ARE DIFFERENT, UNTIL PEDAL STROKE HAS REACHED THE END OF TRAVEL AND THE DRIVER CANNOT PROD

None of these investigations covers the 2020 model year.

What owners paid

39 of the 97 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,300 to $2,104.

$1,300$2,000$2,104

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 35,000 and 60,000 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.

121

222

623

2024

3125

3726

What owners wrote

“Multipurpose camera is defective- broken after only 80,000 miles. No longer functions at all. No automatic emergency braking, no forward collision warning, no lane departure warning, no lane keeping assistance, no adaptive cruise control. Dangerous now without all those computer controlled safety functions. $2400 replacement. I donât have $2400.”
Filed Jun 4, 2026 · 80,000 miles

“All warning lights came on for Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Keeping Assistance.Based on my research, it seems the forward facing camera has failed. The vehicle only has 37,000 miles on it and it is only 5 years old.”
Filed Oct 26, 2025 · 37,000 miles

“Out of nowhere I got a bunch of errors involving the addaptive cruise, lane keep assist, auto highbeams, collision avoidance, and the brake system light came on. the van has under 40K miles on it. From a quick search I can see that this is a VERY common issue.”
Filed Apr 11, 2025 · 40,000 miles

“Our vehicle is only a few years old and the front camera failed. It will not do any Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, etc. Honda refuses to cover this even though it is a manufacturer defect.”
Filed Apr 29, 2024

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 97 reports involved a crash and 1 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.