Problems · by component

2002 Honda Odyssey electrical system problems

36 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Honda Odyssey cite electrical system, 4% of all 972 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
36
4% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The van completely shuts down no matter where I am. When I try to turn it back on the green key light DOES NOT appear on the dash. The van will still crank but will not turn over. Until the green key light appears on the left side of the dash. I have to sit anywhere from 5 minutes up until 8 hours one day. It does this 3 to 4 times a day. The only warning I get is the green key will start flashing on the dash that's when I know it has shut down. I feel like it has something to do with the immobilizer. Because of the green key. I have changed my key fob battery , regular battery, checked all the fuses. This is very dangerous, it has left my family and myself in some deadly positions. Dar and raining it has shut off on the highway with barely any shoulder to pull off on. Cars and trucks driving past at 60 to 70 miles per hour in the dark and rain a few times we were almost hit. There is nothing I can do but sit and wait for the green key to appear then I know we are in safe zone again until u expectantly it decides to do it again. This is so frustrating leaving for work or appointments I have no clue what time to leave because the shut down is random. I have…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 7, 2025Electrical systemODI 11653320
“A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AS ME AND MY 2 TODDLER SONS WERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAD WHAT SEEMED A POWER SURGE AND TAILLIGHTS WENT OUT AND POWER WENT LOW RADIO STOPPED AND DOORS UNLOCKED. LUCKILY WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME I GOT NEW FUSE FOR LIGHTS RADIO SAID ERROR BUT MUSIC DIDN'T MATTER THE NEXT DAY I HAD TO JUMP IT TO GOT WORK BUT SEEMED OK. THE NEXT FEW WEEKS I DEALT WITH DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. AND ONE MORNING CAME OUT BOTH DOORS WERE OPEN.I DIDN'T LET BOYS RIDE AFTER PROBLEMS ESCALATED ONE DAY DOORS STOPPED AND GOT STUCK IN MIDDLE WHEN THEY WERE GETTING OUT. IT I REPLACED SOME FUSES AND EVERYTHING SEEMED OK BUT MOST DAYS BATTERY FELT WORK WHEN STARTING. I WENT TO GET BOYS AND I'M GLAD I DIDN'T HAVE THEM WHEN IT DIED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD SMOKING I GOT IT IN PARKING LOT. CALLED FATHER AND WE TOOK BATTERY OUT TO GO GET A NEW ONE. THE BATTERY WAS SWOLLEN WATER AND ACID SPITTING OUT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BURST. NEW BATTERY INSTALLED AND DROVE IT MAYBE 5 MIN BACK HOME. THOUGHT WELL IT WAS BATTERY WHOLE TIME. WENT INSIDE TO OPEN EASTER THINGS WITH BOYS I WALKED OUTSIDE HOUR LATER AND SMELLED ELECTRICAL FIRE SMELL BAD THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF HOOD NOT ALOFT…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 13, 2020Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Unknown or otherODI 11321011
“IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTION. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VAN WILL DIE BUT IF YOU BUMP THE KEY THE POWER TO EVERYTHING TURNS BACK ON IT STARTED THIS LAST YEAR AND CONTINUES TO DO IT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 8, 2018Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11083900
“NAVIGATION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. ON APPROXIMATELY 8/16 OR 8/17/2017, THE CLOCK DISPLAYED ON THE NAVIGATION SCREEN BECAME STUCK AT "0:00". I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THIS AFFECTS THE ACTUAL NAVIGATION FUNCTION, GPS SYSTEM, OR OTHER ELECTRICAL (OR NON-ELECTRICAL) COMPONENTS. I BELIEVE THE DVD-BASED NAVIGATION SYSTEM HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE WAS MANUFACTURED BY ALPINE FOR HONDA (AND MANY OTHER AUTO MANUFACTURERS). I HAVE UPDATED MY MAP/SOFTWARE DVD TWICE SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2002. I HAVE TURNED THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND THE CAR ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES, REMOVED THE SOFTWARE/MAPS DVD AND REINSERTED IT, AND PERFORMED MANY OTHER ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, ALL WITHOUT SUCCESS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 3, 2017Electrical systemODI 11021264
“RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR DECIDEDS TO SHUT OFF WHICH IS SCARY AND HAS HAPPENDED MORE THAN ONCE AND NOT HAVING THE SPEED OF CONTROL OF TRYING TO GET OVER WHEN YOU ARE IN THE FAST LANE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS OF TIMES. MY MAIN CONCERN IS HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS HAPPENED TO BEFORE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND A SERIOUS SITUATION BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE CAR BEHIND YOU WILL SLOW DOWN. I ALWAYS END UP PRESSING MY EMERGENCY LIGHT RIGHT AWAY, HOPING THE OTHER DRIVERS ARE PAYING ATTENTION BECAUSE I AM DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. FIVE KIDS I TAKE TO SCHOOL EVERYDAY AND MY MAIN CONCERN IS THERE SAFTEY AT ALL TIMES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 25, 2016Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10822061
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE AIR CONDITIONING TURNED OFF AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET WAS FRACTURED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE OTHER TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2015Power train, Electrical systemODI 10748204

Showing 6 of 36 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.