1997 Honda Odyssey

Routine

Owners filed 20 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system › ignition › switch. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch4
000
Vehicle Speed Control2
101
Electrical System › Ignition2
000
Electrical System2
010
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer1
000
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls1
010
Tires › Tread/Belt1
000
Suspension › Rear1
000
Steering1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch02V120000
Filed May 16, 20021,000,000 vehiclesAmerican Honda Motor Co.

Defect. ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.

Risk. WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint99V069000
Filed May 10, 1999124,875 vehiclesAmerican Honda Motor Co.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.

Risk. THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering
Filed Sep 5, 2021GU

Transmission problem

Electrical System
Filed Apr 2, 2011150,000 milesNE

FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SPONTANEOUSLY SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. SINCE THE ENGINE CANNOT BE RESTARTED WHILE NOT IN PARK, THIS REQUIRES COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT THE AID OF POWER BRAKES OR STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND VARIOUS SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS. IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE SITUATION IN RECALL 05V025000. *TR

Suspension › Rear
Filed Jul 14, 20045,000 milesWA

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION FROM THE REAR RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE WHEN THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHAT COMPONENT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM.*AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Jun 23, 2004120,000 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGHLY. CONSUMER EXAMINED THE TIRES AND SAW THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED ON THE RIGHT REAR. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE. DEALER GAVE THE CONSUMER A DISCOUNT ON THE FIRST TIRE, BUT REFUSED ANY DISCOUNT ON THE SECOND TIRE.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 20, 200488,000 milesOH

THE IGNITION LOCKS WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Nov 18, 2002NC

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL ON IGNITION OIL RETAINER. UPON PICKING UP VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED ALARM SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLES DOOR WOULD NOT STAY LOCKED, LOCKS WERE POPPING UP ON THEIR OWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 23, 2002FL

WHILE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, KNOCKING CONSUMER OUT TEMPORARILY. THE AIR BAG HIT CONSUMER SO HARD TO THE POINT IT KNOCKED HER RIGHT LEG UP AND HIT THE DASH CAUSING BRUISING AND A NASTY CUT. FOUR WEEKS LATER, CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING PAIN IN THE CHEST AREA DUE TO THE AIR BAG. WHEN CONSUMERS HUSBAND WHO WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HE ONLY RECIEVED A RED SPOT ON HIS ARM. *JG

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Aug 21, 2002CA

RECALL 02 V 120 000/IGNITION SWITCH: DEALER: CUSH HONDA IN ESCONDIDO, CA. PHONE # 760/737--3259 REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL. DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE MUST REACH 65,000 MILE BEFORE RECALL REPAIRS COULD BE DONE. SEEKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Jul 29, 2002MN

WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Jul 11, 2002NJ

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED REPEATEDLY. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THERE WAS RECALL 02V120000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER WAS VERY UPSET THAT NEVER NOTIFIED OF RECALL. DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER HE DID HAVE PARTS TO REPAIR VEHICLE/ CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY UNTIL REPAIRS WERE MADE. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed May 23, 2002OK

WHILE DRIVING ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS STOPPED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Apr 12, 2002SC

CONSUMER NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL. VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY A MECHANIC. MECHANIC NOTICED A HOLE IN FUEL TANK THAT WAS CAUSED BY CONSTANT CONTACT WITH METAL UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *TT

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Mar 27, 2002TX

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE VEER INTO HER LANE, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. NLM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 28, 2002NY

CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A COUNTER SHAFT IN THE TRANSMISSION CONTAINED A FLAW, WHICH RESULTED IN ROUGH SHIFTING FROM THE VERY MOMENT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.*JB

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Nov 14, 2001IL

VEHICLE HAD A TOTAL ELECTRICAL SHUTDOWN. CONSUMER LOST BRAKES/POWER STEERING, AND SMOKE CAME FROM IGNITION HOUSING. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED DEFECTIVE PART WITH 35130-SXO-AO1 STEERING SWITCH. *AK

Visibility › Power Window Devices and ControlsFire
Filed Aug 27, 2001VA

7/29 LARGE QUANTITY OF SMOKE EMITTING FROM DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WHILE DRIVING AND ONE WINDOW STOPS OPERATING. 7/30 HAPPENS AGAIN WHILE VAN IS STATIONARY AND ANOTHER WINDOW STOPS WORKING. I DISASSEMBLED THE DOOR AND WIRING HARNESS TO PREVENT FURTHER SMOKE/FIRE DAMAGE. PLASTIC AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE POWER WINDOW CONTROL ARE MELTED. AMERICAN HONDA IS VERY UNCOOPERATIVE AFTER A MONTH OF DISCUSSIONS AND INVESTIGATION BY HONDA TECHNICIANS. THEIR STORY KEEPS CHANGING. TODAY THEY REQUESTED THAT I MAIL ALL PARTS IN QUESTION TO THEM IN CA.*AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jun 1, 2001FL

RIGHT WINDSHIELD WIPER PIN THAT HOLDS POSITIONING ARM ON WINDSHIELD WIPER BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THEN TANGLED WITH LEFT WINDSHIELD WIPER CAUSING CONTROL LOST DURING RAIN STORM.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 21, 2001OH

THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THIS CAR CAUSES THE SPEED TO INCREASE WHILE TRAVELING UP LONGER GRADES. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES DURING OUR OWNERSHIP WHEN THIS HAD CAUSED VERY AWKWARD AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. OTHER DRIVERS WHO BEGIN TO PASS ON A HILL HAVE GOTTEN ANNOYED WHEN OUR CAR PICKS UP SPEED WHILE THEY ARE TRYING TO PASS. ON OCCASION THE INCREASE IN SPEED HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL, AS MUCH AS 8 MILES PER HOUR. SOMETIMES, WHEN CRESTING A HILL, THE CAR CONTINUES AT THE FASTER SPEED, WANTING TO GAIN EVEN MORE SPEED AT THE NEXT HILL. THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THIS IS TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE WHEN APPROACHING HILLS. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER EARLY ON, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK

Electrical System › Horn
Filed Oct 7, 1999FL

HORN DESIGN ONLY CONTAINS TWO SMALL SPOTS TO ACTIVATE HORN, IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHEN TRYING TO AVOID VEHICLE. MJS

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 5, 1997KY

APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING THE VEHICLE LUNCHED FORWARD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A BRICK WALL. ANOTHER TIME, APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC. *AK

20 of 20 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2018
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202636200Routine
2025368200Above average
2024102300Routine
202398530Routine
2022133920Routine
2021140810Routine
20204651410Above average
20199602070Above average
20189851633Fatalities reported
201739200Routine
2016269620Above average
2015206630Above average
2014307500Above average
2013210640Above average
2012244560Above average
2011233520Above average
2010255280Above average
2009198460Routine
2008499580Above average
20078305150Above average
20067034111Fatalities reported
2005830990Above average
20045851361Fatalities reported
200391415120Above average
20029601050Above average
2001619140Above average
2000675639Fatalities reported
1999518972Fatalities reported
199873430Routine
1997 — this page20320Routine
199670120Routine
199596120Routine
19941010Routine
19902000Routine

Compare every Odyssey year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 7, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.