Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Honda Odyssey problems
Owners filed 528 complaints about the 1999 Honda Odyssey with NHTSA between Dec 1998 and Jan 2023. The most-cited component is power train (174).
Complaints
528
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
12
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
25
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train174
- Electrical system112
- Structure77
- Latches/locks/linkages76
- Engine and engine cooling34
- Air bags19
- Tires18
- Service brakes, hydraulic15
- Vehicle speed control11
- Suspension10
- Seat belts10
- Engine9
- Fuel system, gasoline9
- Seats9
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
45
54
35
56
60
41
16
21
32
33
23
26
20
12
11
8
8
4
6
3
3
7
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 45 |
| 2000 | 54 |
| 2001 | 35 |
| 2002 | 56 |
| 2003 | 60 |
| 2004 | 41 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 21 |
| 2007 | 32 |
| 2008 | 33 |
| 2009 | 23 |
| 2010 | 26 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
174 reports
“THERE HAVE BEEN 2 RECALLS FOR MY 99 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE FIRST WAS ON TRANSMISSION A FEW YEARS BACK N NOW THERE IS ONE OPEN FOR MY AIRBAGS. WELL MY TRANSMISSION WAS NEVER FIXED BY HONDA. AND NOW I CAN'T GET THEM TO FIX MY AIRBAGS”
Electrical system
112 reports2 crashes5 fires3 related recalls
“The contact owns a 1999 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the ignition switch was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,617.”
Structure
77 reports
“DRIVER SIDE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. I GOT A EMERGENCY TONE TELLING ME SOMETHING WAS WRONG, BUT NO INDICATION ON THE DASH. I FOUND A COUPLE RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND STOPPED BY THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER (PIAZZA), BUT THEY SAID THE VIN HAS NO RECALLS AND THE RECALL IS TOO OLD. I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE A MONTH AGO. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE KNOWN BY HONDA AND EVEN IF IT IS HAPPENING ONLY NOW, THE DEALER SHOULD REPAIR AT NO COST TO ME.”
Latches/locks/linkages
76 reports1 fire3 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRUNK WOULD INDEPENDENTLY OPEN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SLIDER BUTTON HAD TO REMAIN DEACTIVATED IN ORDER FOR THE ALERT FOR THE SLIDER DOOR TO DEACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 213,000.”
Engine and engine cooling
34 reports
“I TOOK WIFE AND MY SON TO DMV IN WILLIMANTIC.ON OUR WAY BACK, AROUND ROUTE 32 MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING..I SHUT OFF THE ODYSSEY FOR A MIM, TURN IT ON DROVE FINE FOR 3 MIM AND SLIP AGAIN FINALLY I CALL TOW TRUCK..TOOK IT TO MY HOUSE.. CALL AAMCO TO PICK IT UP AND FIX IT..$3,600 TRANSMISSION REBUILD AND REINSTALL $384.00 RADIATOR AND THEY ONLY OFFERED 12 MONTH/12,000 MILE WARRANTY. *TR”
Air bags
19 reports6 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SIDESWIPED TWO VEHICLES GOING 25 MPH. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITH THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG RUPTURING AND SPRAYING METAL PELLETS. THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND WAS INJURED. THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS CHEST WAS MANGLED, CUT AND BLEEDING. THE DRIVER DID NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT'S SON THEN STOPPED. THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER SIDE FENDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT'S SON. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FRAME WAS DAMAGED AND REPAIRED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE AIR BAGS WERE JUST PUSHED BACK INTO THE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE VEHICLE HAD A NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V026000 (AIR BAG) FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.*DT*JB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.