Power tailgate problems in 2018–2021 Honda Odyssey minivans have prompted a class action lawsuit that claims defective seam seals allow leaking water to cause power tailgate failure.
Failing tailgates in Honda Odyssey minivans can allow items in the trunk to roll out of the vehicle while it is in motion. When items fall out of a moving vehicle, vehicles driving close behind may either get hit by the items or attempt to veer out of the way, increasing the risk of an oncoming collision.
Leaking water also causes a host of other issues for Honda Odyssey owners, who allege that they cannot get repairs covered by their manufacturer warranties. For reference, Honda Odyssey vehicles often are sold with a New Vehicle Limited Warranty lasting 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first) and a Powertrain Limited Warranty lasting five years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first).
Honda Odyssey power tailgate problems diminish the value of the vehicles and make them unsafe to drive, according to the lawsuit. If your Honda Odyssey has water leaking and tailgate issues, it may be included in this class action lawsuit. Read this Honda Odyssey tailgate issues guide to understand your legal options, how your rights are affected by a class action lawsuit, how to recognize potential tailgate defects and what to do if you suspect that your Honda Odyssey is defective.
What are the Honda Odyssey Power Tailgate Problems?
Owners of 2018–2021 Honda Odyssey minivans allege that water leaks into the power tailgate control module cause the tailgates to open and close at any time.
Honda Odyssey power tailgate issues are caused by defective rear body seam seals made of polyurethane that allow water to leak into the rear driver’s side panels. When these polyurethane seals crack, water leaks into the control module for the power tailgate.
Water leaking into the control module causes the following Honda Odyssey tailgate issues:
- The tailgate opens and closes at random.
- The tailgate stays open or fails to close.
- Tailgate short circuits and causes a fire.
- Water leaks cause mold and rusting.
Unreliable tailgates, electrical short circuits, growing mold and rusting metal can increase the risk of a collision and make your Honda Odyssey unsafe to drive.
It is worth separating the two halves of this problem, because owners often only report one of them. The Honda Odyssey tailgate failure is the symptom you notice: the liftgate will not open, will not close, opens on its own, or the van insists the tailgate is open when it is shut. The water intrusion is the cause, and it keeps working on the vehicle long after the tailgate is replaced. Owners describe corroded control boards, damp carpet in the rear quarter, mold, and rust forming out of sight behind the trim. Replacing the control module without sealing the leak simply resets the clock on the same failure, which is exactly what several of the owners quoted below found out at their own expense.
How has Honda allegedly responded to the power tailgate issues?
According to the class action lawsuit, Honda allegedly will not repair the seals that allow water leaks and tells Honda Odyssey owners that their water leak and power tailgate issues are not covered by their warranties.
The lawsuit also accuses Honda of concealing the water leak and tailgate problems. We have not found a safety recall covering the Odyssey power tailgate seals, and the lawsuit alleges Honda has not offered owners a repair that actually holds. Recall lists change, so check your own VIN on the NHTSA recall tool rather than taking any article, including this one, as current for your van.
Honda Odyssey owners are forced to pay for expensive repairs out of pocket. The replacement control units for the rear power tailgates are also prone to failure due to the unrepaired seals allowing for further water leaks.
In Their Own Words: Honda Odyssey Power Tailgate Complaints
The accounts below come from two places, and the difference matters. Two are complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a federal database where the complaint is submitted under the owner’s name and tied to a specific vehicle; the relevant NHTSA ID numbers for the Odyssey tailgate complaints are 11620247 and 11616232. The other three are posts from an owner forum, which are useful for seeing how widely a problem is felt but are not verified records. We have labelled each one so you can weigh it accordingly.
“My tailgate stopped working, I was getting messages on my dash board that there was transmission system problems, reverse warning problems, keyless entry system problems. It always seemed to happen after a rain. I took it to a Honda dealer, they could not get it opened, and said they would have to break the interior panel to get it open. I told them I would take it to my mechanic. He was able to get it open, and found that the van is leaking water through the driver’s side roof rack gully, near the back, and water is leaking right on the tailgate control system, causing all these other problems. I still need to get the leak fixed at a body shop.”
“I have a 2018 Honda Odyssey with 98k miles on it. I’ve been dealing with water leaking into the control module circuit board for the power tailgate causing it to fail. My mechanic has replaced the control module twice in the past 3 months due to this leaking issue. It’s very irritating. This seems to be a known issue, but there is no sign of any recalls on the horizon. I was wondering if there is any way to prevent this from happening again? Has anyone had this problem and found a solution? Thanks”
“I have a 2019 Honda Odyssey EX-L that I bought new. Starting about 2 months ago (late July, 2024), the power tailgate failed. Long story short, I discovered that the controller board box that is behind the trunk trim above the left rear wheel was getting infiltrated by water. When I unplugged and removed the box and tilted it down, a good amount of water came out. When I opened the box and took out the controller board, it was completely corroded. I went to the dealer and bought a new board ($330 or so), installed it and the tailgate worked fine again. Until it rained – then the whole process started over. Water in the box, corroded board. Dealer replaced the new board under warranty, reinstalled, all is well. Happened again a few weeks later. To their credit, the dealer replaced the board again under warranty and it worked again. This time, I duct taped every opening I could find around the black controller box so that there was no chance of water getting in. However, once again last night, the board failed and the box was full of water. I believe there are some hidden holes in the controller box; I took the board out, dried out the box and then dunked it in a bowl of water with the back of the box down – water started coming in, which confirmed my suspicions about the box having additional hidden openings.”
“After weathering hurricane Milton, the rear liftgate on my 2018 Honda Odyssey will not open. No apparent damage was done to the vehicle, however after starting the van, the dash stated there is a power liftgate issue. This warning was not present before. After doing some research the issue appears to be the tailgate control module, as many other people have found this to be the case. Some people have said to open the tailgate from the inside using the manual latch. However, in my case after attempting to do so, the door remains stuck. A lot of people have pointed to water intrusion as the reason for a faulty Tailgate Control Module. If I am able to open the liftgate manually I intend to replace the faulty module.”
“The tailgate malfunctions and the car does not register the tailgate as closed even if it is closed. The power tailgate ceases to be operational and the locks do not work. The cause is a defect in a seam which allows rain water to reach the control unit for the tailgate. This was confirmed after an inspection at an official Honda dealer. This is a safety issue because it renders the car inoperable. The “tailgate open” warning signs and sounds flash. There is currently a Honda ‘Engineering Request for Investigation’ released.”
Why Opt Out and Pursue an Individual Vehicle Defect Case?
Class action lawsuits and individual lemon law cases can do a great deal of good for consumers who were unwittingly sold defective vehicles and need financial restitution.
The primary difference between these lawsuits is that, while class action lawsuits represent a large number of consumers with broadly similar complaints against a manufacturer, a lemon law case represents an individual claim against a manufacturer for far more specific charges. In addition, members of class action lawsuits get a portion of a larger settlement and the size of that portion will depend on the settlement terms. A plaintiff for an individual lemon law claim may get a much larger settlement from the manufacturer. An individual lemon law case also has different criteria for eligibility, so we recommend consulting with a lemon law attorney to see if you have a potential case for your vehicle.
If your vehicle is found to be defective under the California Lemon Law, you may be eligible for a cash settlement, a replacement vehicle that is broadly similar to your current model, or a repurchase of your vehicle for an amount roughly equivalent to what you paid for the vehicle – learn about lemon law buyback calculation. If you win your claim, the manufacturer has to cover your attorneys’ fees and costs as part of the final settlement.
I Think I’m Included In This Lawsuit. What Do I Do With My Honda Water Leak Problems?
First, confirm whether you are included in the Honda power tailgate lawsuit. Michael Dubrosky v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., et al. was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and represents purchasers of 2018-2021 Honda Odyssey vehicles. The case is being contested: as CarComplaints reported in August 2025, the judge dismissed several of the claims without prejudice, meaning they can be refiled, while allowing others to move forward. There is no settlement and no claim form. Our lemon law firm can walk you through where you stand during a free consultation.
Depending on your vehicle model year, you may be able to retain the services of a lemon law attorney if you opt out of any existing class action lawsuits to retain your individual right to sue.
If you have visited a Honda dealership for repairs (for any reason), gather your repair orders. If you do not have a copy of your repair orders, request a copy from the dealership where the repairs took place. These repair orders can document a basic timeline of your vehicle issue history. They will list the date, time and mileage at which the repair visits took place, the issues you reported, and the services performed in an attempt to repair your vehicle to conform to warranty. Keep copies of any other communications or correspondences you have had with Honda dealerships or the manufacturer. We also recommend that you locate or acquire a copy of your Honda Odyssey’s warranty information.
Do not wait until after you have opted out to get a free consultation from a lemon law attorney. Every vehicle defect case is unique. A proper consultation will help you understand your legal options. If you have a viable case for an individual lawsuit and have not yet opted out, a lemon law firm can help you opt out before certain deadlines take place.
Consult a Honda Lemon Law Attorney Today
Our Honda lemon law attorneys handle California lemon law cases from the first consultation through trial and settlement. California’s lemon law is the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, and it applies when a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the use, value or safety of your van and Honda has not repaired it within a reasonable number of attempts. A tailgate that has been through two or three control modules because the leak behind it was never sealed is that kind of history.
If Honda has sold you a defective vehicle, we may be able to help you recover the total amount paid or payable to your vehicle as determined by the law. If a manufacturer has willfully violated your consumer rights, the manufacturer may be on the hook for civil penalties, resulting in a final settlement up to roughly three times the initial cost of your vehicle.
Where the standard is met, Honda has to repurchase or replace the van. A repurchase returns what you actually paid, less a mileage offset for the miles driven before the first repair attempt for that defect, and on a successful claim Honda pays your attorney fees and costs rather than you. If Honda willfully failed to honor the warranty, the statute allows a civil penalty of up to two times your actual damages.
Read more in our California lemon law guide or on our lemon law FAQ page. Our Honda lemon law attorneys are ready to hear the details of your case. If you suspect your Honda is defective, fill out the consultation form below or call our firm at 833-208-8181.
Honda Odyssey Tailgate Questions
Is there a Honda Odyssey tailgate recall?
We have not found one covering the leaking rear body seam seals or the power tailgate control module. Honda has recalled the Odyssey for other issues over the years, so the only reliable answer for your van is your VIN checked against the NHTSA recall tool. Bear in mind what a recall would and would not do: it obliges Honda to repair the named defect for free, but it does not compensate you for the modules you have already paid for, and it does not buy the van back.
Why does my Honda Odyssey tailgate open by itself?
Because water has reached the control module that operates it. The polyurethane seal along the rear body seam cracks, water runs down into the left rear quarter panel and sits on the tailgate control unit, and a corroded board starts sending commands nobody asked for. That is why the fault so often appears after rain and disappears in dry weather, and why a dealer who tests it on a sunny afternoon may find nothing wrong.
Does Honda cover power tailgate water damage under warranty?
It should, while the vehicle is in warranty. Honda Odyssey vans are generally sold with a New Vehicle Limited Warranty of 3 years or 36,000 miles and a Powertrain Limited Warranty of 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first, and a leaking body seal is a manufacturing defect rather than wear. Owners in the lawsuit say they were told otherwise and paid out of pocket. If that happened to you, keep the invoices, because reimbursement of those costs is part of what a California lemon law claim recovers.
Reviewed by Roger Kirnos, Managing Attorney, California State Bar No. 283163.
