Problems · by component

2003 Honda Odyssey air bags problems

137 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Honda Odyssey cite air bags, 15% of all 940 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 12 recalls on this component.

Complaints
137
15% of all complaints
Crashes
22
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
32
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I never had issues with my van when I bought it but On Monday got all the fluids drove to Phoenix and the transmission got hot the TCL light and ABs light turned on as well as the SRS light no check engine the floor on the driver side and passenger side was super hot. The transmission on 1st gear start hitting hard 2nd gear started slipping we pulled over right away let the car cool down but the transmission level where normal motor oil was at normal we did the oil service transmission service the dealer I bought it from has did Amazon service I don’t really drive it only to visit my kids. I looked up the recall and my van has a lot of them I’m worried of driving home to California I’m in Phoenix so I hope the dealer will fix the recall when u put the year of the 2003 honda odyssey my vin switch to a different one on your site please help”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2025Power train, Air bags, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11673559
“The contact owned a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 16V344000 (Air Bags), 15V320000 (Air Bags), and 15V045000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2025Air bagsODI 11651368
“Van has open recalls on driver and passenger side airbags. Van also has a defective driver front seat belt tensioner that Honda claims has a lifetime warranty, but Hendrick Honda of Bradenton FL refuses to perform the recalls or replace the defective seatbelt tensioner. Even after advising them that they are required by law to perform any open recalls and are not allowed to charge anything for said recalls, Service Writer "Tammy" was uncooperative and kept alluding to things like she couldn't guarantee we would not be charged up to $1500 for these repairs which honestly should ALL be recalls as they are life safety issues. Due to their refusal to perform even the NHTSA recalls even after being given the documentation of the required recall, we have to find another dealership and hope they will perform the recalls.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 2024Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11584062
“All recalls have been completed on this 2003 Honda Odyssey Van but every now and then the warning light for the supplemental restraint system comes on and will stay on for a long time. the next trip it will be fine. Just wondering if this is something to be concerned about. It is a car we keep at our beach house and only use on a limited basis but I need to know it is safe. I recently had vehicle scanned and had all old codes cleared. If the air bag situation is the cause of this I don't want to be driving it. East Coast Honda in Myrtle Beach, SC. (833-299-3248, 8756A US Highway 17 Bypass South, Myrtle Beach SC. 29588) has replaced the recalled airbags on 2 different recalls. Thank you for your assistance. [XXX]. [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2023Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11506598
“The contact owned a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact received an unknown air bag recall notification and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The VIN was not available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 3, 2022Air bagsODI 11467421
“WE DISPOSED OF THE VEHICLE AND YET STILL GET MESSAGES FROM HONDA. THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD AS SCRAP. PLEASE ADVISE HONDA TO CEASE AND DESIST ALL FURTHER CONTACT/NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT THE RECALL(S). WE HAVE NOTIFIED THEM MANY TIMES YET THEY PERSIST. THIS IS A DISCREDIT TO THE RECALL SYSTEM WHEN OBVIOUSLY FALSE AND ERRONEOUS MESSAGES ARE PERSISTENTLY SENT, IN ERROR. THIS CAUSES THE USER TO DISREGARD POTENTIALLY SERIOUS INFORMATION. HONDA MUST HAVE A METHOD OF ACCOUNTABILITY ADDED TO THEIR SYSTEM TO ALLLOW THE REMOVAL FROM THEIR RECALL DATABASE OF A VEHICLE WHICH HAS BEEN SOLD/TRANSFERRED/DESTROYED. HONDA HAS AN 'F' RATING WITH THE BBB ON THIS ISSUE. HONDA APPARENTLY DOES NOT TAKE RECALLS SERIOUSLY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 19, 2020Air bagsODI 11375442

Showing 6 of 137 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 13, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

12 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jun 27, 2019NHTSA 19V499000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jun 27, 2019NHTSA 19V501000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2007 and 2010-2011 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containing the same inflator type as a service part. Due to a manufacturing error, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, these inflators may explode.

Air bagsReported Mar 6, 2019NHTSA 19V182000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.

Air bagsReported Apr 26, 2018NHTSA 18V268000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2008 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2008 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2008 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling model year 2002-2004 Odyssey and model year 2003-2004 Acura MDX, Honda Element, and Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported May 24, 2016NHTSA 16V344000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003 Odyssey vehicles manufactured August 28, 2002, to August 30, 2002. The affected vehicles were manufactured with the incorrect air bag modules, rendering the vehicles noncompliant with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Air bagsReported Sep 4, 2015NHTSA 15V563000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 24, 2002, to January 18, 2005, 2003-2007 Honda Accord vehicles manufactured February 21, 2002, to August 28, 2007, 2002-2004 Honda CR-V vehicles, 2002-2003 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured June 19, 2001, to July 12, 2003, 2003 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured September 19, 2002, to June 19, 2003, 2003 Honda Element vehicles manufactured June 25, 2002, to July 31, 2003, and 2003 Honda Pilot vehicles manufactured November 26, 2001, to August 21, 2003. The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.

Air bagsReported Jun 15, 2015NHTSA 15V370000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acura 3.2TL vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Air bagsReported May 28, 2015NHTSA 15V320000

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

Honda is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Honda Odyssey vehicles manufactured February 13, 2002, to August 13, 2004, and 2003 Acura MDX vehicles manufactured February 21, 2002, to September 23, 2003. Due to electrical noise, a component in the air bag control module may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

Air bagsReported Jan 28, 2015NHTSA 15V045000

Air bags

Free remedy

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa are addressed by this recall. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Air bagsReported Nov 4, 2014NHTSA 14V700000

Air bags

Free remedy

American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 2005 Acura RL, and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in California, and equipped with Takata-brand air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Air bagsReported Jun 20, 2014NHTSA 14V353000

Air bags

Free remedy

Honda is recalling certain model year 2003 and 2004 Odyssey and model year 2003 Acura MDX vehicles. Due to electrical noise, a component in the air bag control module may fail causing the front air bags, side curtain air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

Air bagsReported Sep 19, 2013NHTSA 13V412000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 13, 2026

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