Honda Pilot and Odyssey Transmission Problems: What You Should Know
Class action lawsuits have claimed that the 9-speed automatic transmission in Honda Pilot vehicles can hesitate, shift harshly and lose power.
Owners of 2020 and newer Pilots and Odysseys still report transmission problems to NHTSA, including judder, hard shifts and sudden loss of acceleration on the highway. If those problems keep coming back after repairs, your Honda may be a lemon.
Honda Transmission FAQ
Pilot and Odyssey owners describe lurching, harsh shifts and sudden loss of power. Here is what is behind those problems and what you can do about them.
Which Honda Pilot and Odyssey Models Have Transmission Problems?
Lawsuits alleged that some Honda Pilot SUVs and other Honda models had defective transmissions that made them unsafe to drive. Though Honda has updated its models with new transmissions over the years, multiple lawsuits have been filed alleging similar defects plaguing the vehicles.
A proposed class action over Honda’s 9-speed automatic transmission named vehicles including the 2020 to 2022 Pilot, the 2020 to 2025 Passport and the 2020 to 2026 Ridgeline. It was dismissed in January 2026 without a class settlement.
Owners of 2020 and newer Odysseys report the same kind of failures. One 2022 Odyssey owner told NHTSA the transmission shifted into neutral without warning at 70 mph on a busy interstate and had to be replaced after only 2,000 miles. A 2021 Odyssey owner said the van stopped accelerating at about 75 mph, and the dealer confirmed it needed a new transmission.
Our firm handles only 2020 and newer models, and only in California. If you are a California resident whose Honda was bought or leased from a licensed California dealer, we may be able to help.
What’s Wrong With Honda’s Transmission?
Honda Odyssey and Honda Pilot vehicle owners state that these transmission defects can cause recurring safety problems, such as lurching, sudden loss of speed and sudden transmission failure. One 2020 Odyssey owner said the van began lurching and slowed sharply in 65 mph traffic.
The Honda 9-speed transmission lawsuit alleged that a transmission programming defect caused rough, late or harsh shifts, loud shifting noises, sudden lurches and slowdowns, and sudden power loss.
Owners of 2020 Honda Pilots have told NHTSA about transmission judder or shudder, and one says the torque converter has shuddered since the day they bought it. The torque converter is a component that sits between the engine and the automatic transmission. It serves a similar purpose to the one a clutch serves in a manual transmission.
For the 2020 Pilot with the six-speed automatic, Honda’s own service bulletin says the transmission fluid can break down and foam during extended high-load driving, so the transmission can run too hot. Honda’s fix is a software update and three transmission fluid flushes.
Owners report that fluid changes do not always end the problem. The Pilot owner with the shudder says the dealer’s fluid flushes at 60,000 and about 80,000 miles did not last. The problem came back at 115,000 miles, and the transmission still slams into gear near 19 mph and again at 30 to 40 mph.
How Has Honda Responded?
According to these class action lawsuits, the recurring Honda transmission problems were never adequately addressed. Owners of newer Honda Odyssey and Honda Pilot vehicles continue to report transmission problems to NHTSA.
Lawsuits alleged that Honda knew about these transmission problems from its own technical service bulletins (TSBs) to dealers and from owner complaints. Separately, Honda has issued two transmission bulletins for the 2020 Pilot.
One covers certain 9-speed Touring and Elite models with harsh or jerky upshifts while accelerating steadily, and calls for a transmission software update. After the update, Honda says the transmission needs about 500 miles to adapt to how you drive. The other is the six-speed fluid bulletin described above.
As of October 2026, Honda has not recalled any 2020 or newer Pilot or Odyssey for a transmission problem, and NHTSA lists no investigation into their transmissions. We found no Honda transmission bulletin for the 2021 or newer Pilot or for any 2020 or newer Odyssey.
In the case of Honda’s 9-speed transmissions, the lawsuit alleged that Honda’s service campaign and the repairs in its technical service bulletins did not adequately address the transmission issues.
Is My Honda a Lemon?
Your Honda Pilot, Odyssey or other Honda model may be a lemon if Honda’s dealers cannot repair a transmission problem your warranty covers after a reasonable number of attempts, and the problem substantially impairs how you can use the vehicle, its value or its safety. Watch for these signs:
- Sudden, Unexpected Shaking
- Violent Jerking While Shifting or Accelerating
- Hesitation Before Acceleration
- Surging
- Hard Downshifting or Clunking
- Torque Converter Judder or Shudder
- Repeated Shifting Problems
- Sudden Transmission Failure
These transmission failures are particularly dangerous when the Honda Odyssey or Honda Pilot vehicles are accelerating from a stop, merging into traffic or shifting gears onto highways from low speeds, driving uphill, or shifting gears at low speeds. If you bought or leased your 2020 or newer Honda from a licensed California dealer, live in California, and the transmission still acts up after repairs, reach out to Lemon Law Help.
Is There a Honda Transmission Class Action I Need to Opt Out Of?
Not for 2020 and newer models. We found no open class action over the transmission in 2020 or newer Honda Pilots or Odysseys, as of October 2026. If a future class action covers your vehicle, you may need to opt out before its deadline to keep the right to file a lemon law claim of your own.
Your own claim rests on your Honda’s repair history and can seek cash compensation, a replacement or a buyback. Thinking about a claim against Honda? Reach out to us and a California lemon law attorney will go over it with you.
Lemon Law Help works only in California. We help California residents who bought or leased a defective model year 2020 or newer vehicle from a licensed California dealer. We cannot help people outside California, unless they are active-duty military.
If you choose to go ahead, our representation costs you nothing, and we seek cash compensation, a replacement or a buyback.
