Honda Odyssey 1999–2004
2nd generation (RL1)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20265,097 complaints, 3,492 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 68,000 and 133,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 153 complaints (4.4%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 35,000
- 25%
- 68,000
- Median
- 99,000
- 75%
- 133,000
- 90%
- 170,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 114 | 3.3% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 32 | 0.9% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 39 | 1.1% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 44 | 1.3% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 46 | 1.3% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 31 | 0.9% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 35 | 1.0% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 62 | 1.8% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 61 | 1.7% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 73 | 2.1% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 81 | 2.3% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 70 | 2.0% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 112 | 3.2% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 103 | 2.9% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 118 | 3.4% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 143 | 4.1% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 166 | 4.8% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 135 | 3.9% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 154 | 4.4% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 154 | 4.4% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 188 | 5.4% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 150 | 4.3% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 140 | 4.0% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 101 | 2.9% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 106 | 3.0% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 88 | 2.5% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 97 | 2.8% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 68 | 1.9% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 93 | 2.7% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 69 | 2.0% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 96 | 2.7% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 48 | 1.4% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 58 | 1.7% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 65 | 1.9% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 53 | 1.5% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 38 | 1.1% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 35 | 1.0% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 24 | 0.7% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 24 | 0.7% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 25 | 0.7% |
| 200,000+ | 153 | 4.4% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 5,097 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999–2004 Honda Odyssey, and 3,492 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 68,000 and 133,000 miles. The median is 99,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the transmission and driveline (41.6% of complaints, typically around 98,000 miles), the airbag system (8.4% of complaints, typically around 123,000 miles), body structure (8.2% of complaints, typically around 86,000 miles).
15 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Transmission and driveline98,000median 98,011 miles, middle half 74,000 to 126,000
- Airbag system123,000median 123,456 miles, middle half 76,000 to 166,000
- Body structure86,000median 85,500 miles, middle half 35,000 to 130,000
- Electrical system114,000median 114,000 miles, middle half 87,000 to 156,000
- Latches and locks78,000median 78,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 105,000
- Engine and its cooling system82,000median 82,250 miles, middle half 50,000 to 110,000
- Suspension86,000median 86,138 miles, middle half 70,000 to 122,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 2,121 | 41.6% | 98,000 | 74,000–126,000 |
| Airbag system | 428 | 8.4% | 123,000 | 76,000–166,000 |
| Body structure | 418 | 8.2% | 86,000 | 35,000–130,000 |
| Electrical system | 350 | 6.9% | 114,000 | 87,000–156,000 |
| Latches and locks | 292 | 5.7% | 78,000 | 40,000–105,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 204 | 4.0% | 82,000 | 50,000–110,000 |
| Suspension | 138 | 2.7% | 86,000 | 70,000–122,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 136 | 2.7% | 82,000 | 50,000–150,000 |
| Engine | 135 | 2.6% | 116,000 | 94,000–160,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 118 | 2.3% | 113,000 | 82,000–160,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 99,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 41.6% of complaints (2,121 reports, 1,823 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 98,011 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 74,000 and 126,000 miles.
A single system taking 41.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The airbag system accounts for 8.4% of complaints (428 reports, 203 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 123,456 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 76,000 and 165,555 miles.
Body structure accounts for 8.2% of complaints (418 reports, 168 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,000 and 130,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 6.9% of complaints (350 reports, 239 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 114,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 86,734 and 156,000 miles.
Latches and locks account for 5.7% of complaints (292 reports, 154 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 78,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 105,400 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 4.0% of complaints (204 reports, 148 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 82,250 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 110,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2002 model year drew the most — 1,117 complaints — while 1999 drew the fewest at 664. The median year sits at 753.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 15 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (14), the electrical system (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 5,097 complaints filed against this generation, 237 reported a crash; 50 reported a fire; 296 reported an injury; 12 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 4.6% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 68,000 and 133,000 miles, with a median of 99,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the airbag system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 98,011, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Transmission 1999–2004
Automatic transmission failure - the defining defect of this generation. A bearing breaks apart and metal fragments block oil passages, and the second-gear/countershaft area is starved of lubrication, leading to erratic shifting and lockup. Honda recalled MY2002-2004 vehicles (NHTSA 04V-176, roughly 1.1 million units) with an oil-jet kit / oil cooler return line revision, and extended the MY1999-2001 transmission warranty under litigation to 93 months / 109,000 miles. Five-speed units also suffered premature third-gear clutch pack wear.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 664 | 318 |
| 2000 | 785 | 408 |
| 2001 | 721 | 519 |
| 2002 | 1,117 | 864 |
| 2003 | 1,095 | 859 |
| 2004 | 715 | 524 |
Recalls (15)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 20V027000 | 2020-10-01 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 20V026000 | 2020-10-01 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 19V501000 | 2019-08-12 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 19V499000 | 2019-08-12 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 19V182000 | 2019-04-10 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 18V268000 | 2018-06-22 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 16V344000 | 2016-06-29 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 15V045000 | 2016-02-22 | Air Bags:frontal |
| 15V563000 | 2015-10-27 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 15V370000 | 2015-07-01 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 15V320000 | 2015-07-01 | Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module |
| 14V700000 | 2015-01-26 | Air Bags |
| 14V353000 | 2014-09-12 | Air Bags |
| 13V412000 | 2013-11-01 | Air Bags |
| 12V573000 | 2013-02-22 | Electrical System:ignition:switch |
What owners reported
Every winter since we purchased our 1999 Odyssey brand new, the power sliding doors would freeze and lock up. It will not work. Since our Odyssey is out of manufacturer's warranty, the cost to repair is very expensive - a dealer estimated $2000 just to fix one door. So we decided not to fix the sliding power doors…
1999 · 25 miles · Latches and locks
I bought my 1999 odyesse in march of 2004. I took my van to the Honda dealership to find out why my driver's side sliding door was not closing completly. They told me that the latches and hinges needed to be replaced totalling $420. They checked my warranty and those parts were not covered. I told them i didn't have…
1999 · 67 miles · Body structure
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 Honda Odyssey. While driving approximately 35 MPH on normal road conditions, the passenger side sliding door completely opened without assistance and warning. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and closed the door. The failure continuously occurs while making turns. The…
1999 · 500 miles · Latches and locks
I'm filing this complaint to report three ongoing problems and one new problem, all related to the rear sliding door latches, locks and handles: 1. The door latch on the rear passenger-side sliding door of our 1999 Honda Odyssey lx becomes loose while the vehicle is in motion, causing the interior lights and rear…
1999 · 1,500 miles · Latches and locks
Built from 3,492 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page