2003 Honda Odyssey: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 1092 complaints
1092
Total Complaints
103,400mi
Median Mileage
Automatic Transmission
Top Issue
63
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
77,472
25th Percentile
103,400
Median Mileage
134,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Automatic Transmission
332
Power Train
205
Air Bags
124
Electrical System
72
Engine
32
Vehicle Speed Control
26
Unknown Or Other
25
Engine And Engine Cooling
23
Door
20
Seat Belts
19
Severity Assessment
63
Crashes
14
Fires
53
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"SEATBELT EXTENDERS ARE NOT OFFERED BY HONDA DEALERS. AN OVERWEIGHT PERSON CANNOT OBTAIN A SEATBELT EXTENDER BY PURCHASE OR FREE AFTER BUYING THE HONDA ODYSSEY 2003. NOT AVAILABLE IN U.S. AT ALL. CANNOT WEAR A SEATBELT WITHOUT EXTENDER LIKE CHRYSLER, DODGE AND FORD OFFER FROM PARTS DEPARTMENTS. ..."
"CONSUMER STATE HER PARENTS ARE OLDER AND BOUGHT A 2003 AUTOMOBILE AND IS HOW HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. SHE STATES THAT THE BUYER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING SMOOTHLY. SHE SAYS THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 OR 4 TIMES AND CANNOT SEEN TO GET IT RE..."
"CONSUMER STATES WHEN REAR ENDED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WENT INTO A RECLINE POSITION UPON IMPACT, CAUSING INJURIES. TS"
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Automatic Transmission
332 complaints
25th: 73,000 mi
Median: 90,000 mi
75th: 110,250 mi
Power Train
205 complaints
25th: 95,216 mi
Median: 116,155 mi
75th: 149,955 mi
Air Bags
124 complaints
25th: 102,562 mi
Median: 125,000 mi
75th: 161,500 mi
Electrical System
72 complaints
25th: 97,250 mi
Median: 123,000 mi
75th: 154,500 mi
Engine
32 complaints
25th: 100,500 mi
Median: 119,500 mi
75th: 160,092 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 147
FL: 87
NY: 69
TX: 66
IL: 58
OH: 48
VA: 47
MD: 44
NC: 43
GA: 41
Who Files Complaints?
12.1%
Original Owners
87.9%
Second+ Owners
Honda Odyssey — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (15)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Inflator Module
Campaign 19V182000 | 06/03/2019
An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is O41. Acura owners may contact customer serv
Inflator Module
Campaign 19V499000 | 27/06/2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A and Y58.
Inflator Module
Campaign 19V501000 | 27/06/2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.
Inflator Module
Campaign 18V268000 | 26/04/2018
An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.
Inflator Module
Campaign 16V344000 | 23/05/2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA0, KA1, KA2, and KA3.
Air Bags
Campaign 14V700000 | 04/11/2014
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Inflator Module
Campaign 15V563000 | 04/09/2015
Air bags that do not meet the safety requirements increase the risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.
Honda will notify owners, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on October 27, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JU0.
Inflator Module
Campaign 15V370000 | 15/06/2015
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU4, JU5, JU6, and JU7. Note: Vehicles that have already received
Frontal
Campaign 15V045000 | 28/01/2015
Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
Honda dealers will replace the supplemental restraint system electronic control unit (SRS ECU). The recall began on February 22, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's number for this recall is JN6 (Odyssey), and JN7 (MDX). Note: This recall supersedes recall 1
Air Bags
Campaign 14V353000 | 20/06/2014
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during August 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009.
Inflator Module
Campaign 15V320000 | 28/05/2015
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Owners may contact Acura customer service at 1-800-382-2238, select option 4. Note: Vehicles that
Switch
Campaign 12V573000 | 11/12/2012
Removal of the ignition key when the gear selector of a vehicle with an automatic transmission has not been shifted to the park position can allow the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Honda will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer. The dealer will install an updated shift interlock lever and, if necessary, replace any necessary part of the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on February 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hon
Air Bags
Campaign 13V412000 | 19/09/2013
Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a noise suppressor unit, free of charge. The recall began on November 1, 2013. A renotification letter went out on July 11, 2014 for the 2003 Acura and the 2003-2004 Odyssey. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's recall numbers are
Tank Assembly
Campaign 03V014000 | 16/01/2003
FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK FOR SURFACE IMPERFECTIONS. IF ANY IMPERFECTIONS ARE FOUND, THE FUEL TANK WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 16, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN
Automatic Transmission
Campaign 04V176000 | 15/04/2004
GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO IDENTIFY GEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPER
Extend Your Transmission Life
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Change transmission fluid at manufacturer intervals — not 'lifetime' fluid
- Come to a full stop before shifting from reverse to drive
- Don't ride the brakes on hills — use a lower gear
- Check transmission fluid level and color monthly — dark fluid needs changing
- Address slipping, hard shifts, or delayed engagement immediately
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28