Best and worst Honda Odyssey years — which to avoid

Honda is a synonym for reliability in the automotive world, but making a well-informed Odyssey buying decision can greatly depend on knowing which years to avoid. Although it’s a pretty reliable vehicle, some Odyssey model years were made worse than others, and our team will elaborate on that in this guide.

We’ve ranked the best years to buy and worst Honda Odyssey years to avoid based on real driver ratings and experiences, as well as reported complaints and problems. By looking at the NHTSA reports and basic information on Honda Odyssey recalls, we were able to distinguish the best model years from bad ones, so let’s take a closer look.

Why you can trust REREV’s advice on which car model years to avoid: Our car experts look at official data, ask real drivers what they think, and talk to experienced mechanics to make sure our list is useful. This reliable info can make buying a car easier for you. Want to know how we do it? Find out more about our research methodology.

How we rated the best and worst Honda Odyssey years

To evaluate and rank the best and worst Honda Odyssey years, our team used a variety of metrics and reports from reliable sources. By that, we mean organizations like NHTSA and other prominent automotive databases that include the details behind common recalls and driver complaints.

We also used platforms like Car Complaints to identify common problems of Honda Odyssey and figure out which model years had the most problem reports. Our team also wanted to deliver genuine ownership headaches and benefits to help form your opinion, so we referred to Consumer Reports and various Odyssey forums searching for verified data.

Based on that, you’ll find the results of our research below as we’ve determined the best and the worst Honda Odyssey model years:

Most common Honda Odyssey problems

It’s inevitable for any car to avoid struggling with a few problems over the production span, and the Honda Odyssey is no different. It has been one of the most reliable cars in the category for years, but it still has a fair share of problematic model years that are best to avoid.

To give you the specifics, our team explored the list of common driver complaints and reports from Car Complaints and NHTSA among others, so here’s what we’ve learned:

1. Transmission problems

One of the main issues you’d want to avoid when thinking about buying a used Honda Odyssey is the repetitive transmission fault. It’s been present for numerous generations, starting from the 1999 model year. The problem also extended to the 2001, 2003, and 2007 production years.

It mostly became visible when the car reached the mark of around 100,000 miles, and Honda issued a major recall in 2004 to deal with this issue. Sadly, not all of them were sorted out, and bad torque converter symptoms were among the most frequent. If the torque converter goes out, you not only risk your driving safety but the transmission as a whole as well.

It leads to improper power distribution to the wheels, frequent overheating and shuddering, and sometimes even slipping. While most of the transmission problems were sorted out with the 2007 model year, some software issues appeared for the 2018-2019 model, causing sudden shifts to park mode.

2. Problems with the engine

Honda Odyssey mostly used reliable engine options like the 2.2-liter and 2.3-liter VTEC that also came in an Accord at the time and a more recent 3.5-liter V6. While these are all reliable engines, there were some manufacturing problems for certain model years.

So, our team wanted to give you a heads-up about the manufacturing fault for the 3.5-liter V6 in the fourth generation when some pistons weren’t produced to be as durable as predicted. Because of the issues caused by poor heat treatments, these pistons were prone to premature wear and it could evolve into a much bigger engine issue.

Drivers have reported engine problems such as fuel or oil breaching into the engine or inconsistent RPM levels while idle. There was also the issue caused by the timing belt teeth separation which sometimes led to a seized engine.

3. Airbag malfunctions

We know this one sounds a bit scary since it’s a matter of driving safety, but you can rest assured – Honda issued major recalls to deal with airbag problems. However, we still have to go through these to warn you about the potential risk in buying certain model years.

Airbag issues started with the 2002 model year when Honda experts noticed that the pressure buildup in the passenger’s side and frontal airbags wasn’t appropriate. So, in case of deployment, it could lead to seriously damaging explosions and metal fragments being released.

Recalls associated with the airbag issues continued for 2002, 2003, and 2004 models, as well as 2013 where there was a risk of the passenger’s side airbag not deploying.

4. Braking system faults

Sadly, some modern Honda Odyssey models had a few braking system issues, but these were luckily handled after the recalls in 2018 and 2019. These issues mostly included air entering the brake lines, causing poor braking performance and premature wear of the brake components.

While that led to a soft brake pedal and serious safety issues, there was also a problem with rear brake calipers that sometimes even caused warped discs. These issues are mostly related to the fifth-generation Odyssey.

Worst Honda Odyssey years to avoid

Now that we’ve gone through the nuts and bolts of Honda Odyssey problems in all generations, it’s time to focus on specific model years that caused the most problems. Based on Honda Odyssey reviews and ratings on renowned sites like Edmunds or Kelly Blue Book, these are the worst-rated years:

Second-generation Honda Odyssey (2001-2003 model years)

The first generation Odyssey started production in 1994 and it didn’t have many known issues that drivers have complained about. However, we can’t say the same for the second-gen Odyssey, with transmission failures and problems that started in 1999.

However, the 2001 and 2003 Odyssey somewhat had the most transmission problems, although it seems to have caught up with the entire generation. The 2002 Honda Odyssey received over 200 complaints regarding transmission faults, while there were nearly 500 complaints made to NHTSA.

The only model year without many transmission complaints is the 2000 Odyssey, so that’s one option. The other one is to go for a recalled model if you can confirm that the problematic parts have been replaced.

Third-generation Honda Odyssey (2005-2006 model years)

Ever since the start of production for the third-gen Odyssey, drivers have complained about power loss and problems with bad motor mount symptoms resulting in a shaky engine. Along with engine issues, we also found a fair share of complaints regarding the bodywork and peeling paint, as well as some rust forming.

On the other hand, it’s normal for a car that’s nearly 20 years old to have some paint issues, but it’s still a thing to have in mind. This is also the time when Honda had a lot of airbag issues and 2006 is said to be the last model year when the transmission had significant problems.

Fourth-generation Honda Odyssey (2012-2014 model years)

With the fourth generation, things started looking a bit better for Honda Odyssey. Sadly, this is when the issues with improperly heat-treated engine pistons started. So, that increased the failure risk for the 3.5-liter V6 engine, and this is the crucial thing to have in mind for the fourth generation.

There was also a problem with the eco mode which reflected how the cylinders shut down during fuel management. Also, there was that airbag issue we mentioned earlier for which Honda issued a recall, so make sure to check the passenger’s side airbag for the 2013 model.

Fifth-generation Honda Odyssey (2018-2019 model years)

Finally, not even the fifth generation of the Odyssey could go without some issues, and these mostly included the braking system faults. It’s a serious problem that caused warped discs and damaged calipers, and even the problem of air in the brake lines could cause serious driving safety reductions.

What are the best Honda Odyssey years to buy?

Fortunately, not everything looks so dark when it comes to the Honda Odyssey model years. While there were some pretty bad model years, things started looking better with the fourth and fifth generations. So, are you still wondering what are the best Honda Odyssey years to buy?

The best Honda Odyssey years to buy are 1996, 2017, and 2021 models, but overall, these are the best model years in general:

• 1994
• 1995
• 1996
• 1997
• 1998
• 2000
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010
• 2011
• 2016
• 2017
• 2020
• 2021

By 2007, most of the airbag-related issues were sorted out and the few problems that remained are minor transmission problems and engine piston issues. Eventually, these were sorted out completely for the later model years of the fourth generation, making the 2014 and later model years perfectly safe.

The only thing that’s left to advise is to skip the initial two production years of the fifth generation and go for the 2020 model or later to ensure you have the least problems with the brakes. Still, we’ll go through a couple of the best years we’ve mentioned to help you with your decision:

1996 Honda Odyssey

The 1996 model is widely regarded to this day as one of the most reliable Honda Odyssey model years. It only featured around 90 complaints made to NHTSA in total, which is an excellent result for such a long production run.

The only issues included some A/C problems, electrical issues, and seat belt linkages, so it’s no wonder this model earned a total rating of 4.8 out of 5 on Edmunds.

2017 Honda Odyssey

Fast forward a bit and the 2017 Odyssey makes the next model year that received virtually no complaints. To put it into context, this one had about 20 complaints which is impressive on its own. It’s also relieving that the model only struggled with some minor drivetrain and electrical issues, and there weren’t many reports of these made to NHTSA.

So, with a total score of 4.5 out of 5, the 2017 Odyssey is one of the most reliable models of the fourth generation.

2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 model is also almost problem-free since it only had around 20 complaints as well. For a model like the Odyssey, that’s more than great, and the reported issues mostly concern electrical issues. This model received a rating of 8.1 out of 10 on Edmunds.

Is the Honda Odyssey worth buying?

In the end, Honda Odyssey is a reliable minivan in most model years, and there are just several critically bad production years so far. It’s also much more affordable when compared to some high-class minivans and there are not many competitors considering the cargo room and interior space it offers.

So, we hope that we provided you with a lot of crucial information so you can skip the problematic years and go for the most reliable Honda Odyssey out there with the help of this guide.

Exploring family-friendly options? Dive into our guides like Toyota Sienna years to avoid, Dodge Caravan years to avoid, or Kia Sedona years to avoid to discover which years offer reliability and which ones to pass by for a worry-free family journey.