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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train174
  2. Electrical system112
  3. Structure77
  4. Latches/locks/linkages76
  5. Engine and engine cooling34
  6. Air bags19
  7. Tires18
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic15
  9. Vehicle speed control11
  10. Suspension10
  11. Seat belts10
  12. Engine9
  13. Fuel system, gasoline9
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19982
199945
200054
200135
200256
200360
200441
200516
200621
200732
200833
200923
201026
201120
201212
201311
20148
20158
20164
20176
20183
20193
20207
20211
20220
20231

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.

03 —Owner reports

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 18, 2020Power train, Air bagsODI 11309953

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 18, 2023Electrical systemODI 11502474

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 16, 2019StructureODI 11268824

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 3, 2015Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10808154

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 14, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10443776

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2020Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11372713
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.