IllustrationTHE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, INDICATING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN AN EVENT OF A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *YC
1996 Honda Odyssey
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Honda Odyssey are lower than the model-year median of 249.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Odyssey years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
00–25K
125–50K
450–75K
575–100K
7100–150K
9150K+
26 reports with mileage · 44 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
70 reportsSEATBELTS IN MY VEHICLE AND PERHAPS ALL HONDA ODYSSEYS ARE DEFECTIVE. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SECURE ANY TODDLER CHILD SEAT (I TESTED MANY OF THEM) IN THE THIRD BENCH AND VERY DIFFICULT IN THE MIDDLE BENCH (I ONLY FOUND ONE OF MANY THAT COULD BE SECURED). *AK
ANTENNA MAKES LOUD NOISE.
VEHICLE WAS IN HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 40 TO 45MPH, AND BOTH PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT FAILED.
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED RESULTING IN IT BEING UNSTABLE WHILE GOING UPHILL.
THE CONSUMER CAN NOT SECURE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE VEHICLES SEAT BELTS.
BACKING OUT DRIVEWAY; TURNED A/C ON; PUT INTO DRIVE & VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD; A BRICK WALL IN FRONT OF VEHICLE WAS HIT DUE TO BRAKES FAILING. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. *AK
OWNER STATES THAT HER REAR LAP BELTS CANNOT TIGHTEN CORRECTLY TO SUPPORT HER CHILD SEAT, OWNER NOTES THAT THERE IS TOO MUCH PLAY IN LAP BELT. DEALERS HAVE NOT CORRECTED PROBLEM. *AK
AT 5MPH THE CONSUMER BUMPED BUMPERS WITH A PARKED CAR AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRBIE IN DETAIL. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.