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2001 Honda Odyssey

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Odyssey years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Honda Odyssey are substantially higher than the model-year median of 249.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

444 reports with mileage · 175 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 332 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports4 fire reports24 injury reports

Power Train complaints

332 reports
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950 miles · Sep 13, 2011
Power Train

THE HONDA ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION FAILED, MY MOTHER WITH ALZHEIMERS WAS IN THE CAR WITH US, THE CAR IS VERY UNSAFE, WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND ARE PUTTING IN A FOURTH TRANSMISSION IN OUR 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY WHICH WE GAVE TO OUR DAUGHTER WHO IS A SINGLE MOM OF FOUR CHILDREN, WE HAD FAITH IN HONDA AND NOW WISH WE HAD SOLD THE ODY…

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THE HONDA ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION FAILED, MY MOTHER WITH ALZHEIMERS WAS IN THE CAR WITH US, THE CAR IS VERY UNSAFE, WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND ARE PUTTING IN A FOURTH TRANSMISSION IN OUR 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY WHICH WE GAVE TO OUR DAUGHTER WHO IS A SINGLE MOM OF FOUR CHILDREN, WE HAD FAITH IN HONDA AND NOW WISH WE HAD SOLD THE ODYSSEY AFTER WE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION THE FIRST TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10425180

85,000 miles · Sep 12, 2011
Power Train

THE VAN AT TIMES SEEMED TO BE SLUGGISH WHEN CHANGING GEARS. ALSO THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND SO I HAD IT TESTED BY AUTO ZONE AND THEY INDICATED IT WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS OCCURRED AT ABOUT 85,000 MILES. I HAD THE READOUT CHECKED AGAIN BY A CERTIFIED HONDA MECHANIC AND HE SAID YES THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. EA…

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THE VAN AT TIMES SEEMED TO BE SLUGGISH WHEN CHANGING GEARS. ALSO THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND SO I HAD IT TESTED BY AUTO ZONE AND THEY INDICATED IT WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS OCCURRED AT ABOUT 85,000 MILES. I HAD THE READOUT CHECKED AGAIN BY A CERTIFIED HONDA MECHANIC AND HE SAID YES THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. EARLY ON I HAD BEEN TOLD ABOUT HONDA ODYSSEY'S AND THEIR TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND SO I CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID EVERY 30,000 MILES. I KEPT DRIVING THE VAN AND AT ABOUT 98,000 MILES THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON MORE OFTEN. THIS WAS IN 2010 AT THE TIME THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAM "CASH FOR CLUNKERS". SO I THOUGHT I WOULD CUT MY LOSSES AND GET AT LEAST $4500 FOR THE VAN WHICH I DID ON A TRADE IN FOR A CIVIC. TO MY SURPRISE THE DEALERSHIP PUT THE VAN ON THE LOT AND SOLD IT FOR ABOUT $6,500 MAYBE MORE. SO NOW SOME POOR BUYER IS GOING TO HAVE TO PUT A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WHICH WILL COST 4,000 TO 6,000. JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY I LOOKED AT REPORTS FROM 2001 THROUGH 2006 ON MYCARSTATS.COM AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT HONDA STILL HASN'T CORRECTED THEIR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424751

95,000 miles · Sep 5, 2011
Power Train

HONDA ODYSSEY WITH 4 FAILED TRANSMISSIONS IN LESS THAN 95,000 MILES. HONDA PAID FOR THE FIRST 2 REPLACEMENTS BUT REQUIRED US TO PAY 50% OF THE COST OF THE 4TH TRANSMISSION DESPITE THE CAR'S HISTORY. I HAVE READ THAT UNDER THE TERMS OF THE CLASS-ACTION SETTLEMENT, HONDA SHOULD HAVE COVERED THIS UP TO 109,000 MILES. THEI…

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HONDA ODYSSEY WITH 4 FAILED TRANSMISSIONS IN LESS THAN 95,000 MILES. HONDA PAID FOR THE FIRST 2 REPLACEMENTS BUT REQUIRED US TO PAY 50% OF THE COST OF THE 4TH TRANSMISSION DESPITE THE CAR'S HISTORY. I HAVE READ THAT UNDER THE TERMS OF THE CLASS-ACTION SETTLEMENT, HONDA SHOULD HAVE COVERED THIS UP TO 109,000 MILES. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSONNEL ARE HIGHLY TRAINED TO AVOID PAYING ANYTHING. THEY ROUTINELY WON'T RETURN CALLS, ARE RUDE AND OBNOXIOUS IN THE HOPES THAT CUSTOMERS WON'T BOTHER THEM. THIS IS BY DESIGN AND HONDA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. THEY ARE NOT ACTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE SETTLEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10423264

100,440 miles · Sep 3, 2011
Power Train

WE PURCHASED THE 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH 70,382 MILES ON THE ODOMETER IN MAY 2007 FROM A DEALER. ALL OF THE SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED AT HONDA DEALERS EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE OF OIL CHANGES DONE AT JIFFY LUBE. *TR IT IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO ACCEPT THAT THE TRANSMISSION IN THE HONDA ODYSSEY WOULD FAIL AFTER 4 YEARS AND 30,000 MIL…

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WE PURCHASED THE 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH 70,382 MILES ON THE ODOMETER IN MAY 2007 FROM A DEALER. ALL OF THE SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED AT HONDA DEALERS EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE OF OIL CHANGES DONE AT JIFFY LUBE. *TR IT IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO ACCEPT THAT THE TRANSMISSION IN THE HONDA ODYSSEY WOULD FAIL AFTER 4 YEARS AND 30,000 MILES. THE CAR IS DRIVEN BY TWO RETIRED PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THEIR EARLY 70S. THE ODYSSEY HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR TOWING, DRIVEN HARD OR AT EXCESSIVE HIGH SPEED. IT IS MAINLY USED TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, GOING OUT TO EAT OR VISIT FRIENDS. WE HAVE NEVER BLOWN A TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE IN ANY OF THE OTHER CARS THAT WE HAVE OWNED DURING THE PAST 50 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI #10423167

141,000 miles · Aug 29, 2011
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION IN OUR 2001 ODYSSEY WENT OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER JUST 45,000 MILES. IT WAS ORIGINALLY "REPAIRED" BY HONDA UNDER TERMS OF THEIR SETTLEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. BUT ACCORDING TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP WE TOOK IT TO, THE "REPAIR" DID NOT FIX THE UNDERLYING DESIGN FLAW. IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT HONDA ODYS…

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THE TRANSMISSION IN OUR 2001 ODYSSEY WENT OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER JUST 45,000 MILES. IT WAS ORIGINALLY "REPAIRED" BY HONDA UNDER TERMS OF THEIR SETTLEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. BUT ACCORDING TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP WE TOOK IT TO, THE "REPAIR" DID NOT FIX THE UNDERLYING DESIGN FLAW. IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT HONDA ODYSSEY AND OTHER HONDA TRANSMISSIONS HAVE A DESIGN FLAW. OURS WENT OUT ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AS WE WERE TRAVELING A BUSY HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 10 PM. LUCKILY THE CAR BRIEFLY RECOVERED AND WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10422518

112,000 miles · Aug 26, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK OR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION BANNER KIT, FILTER, FLUID, BLACK PRESSURE SWITCH AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS RECONDITIONED TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE C…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK OR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION BANNER KIT, FILTER, FLUID, BLACK PRESSURE SWITCH AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS RECONDITIONED TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

NHTSA ODI #10421601

115,493 miles · Aug 22, 2011
Power Train

MY 2001 ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION FIRST SHOWED SIGNS OF FAILURE IN SEPT 2009 (105K MI) WHILE I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH NORTH DAKOTA. I TOOK THE VAN TO A HONDA DEALER IN MINOT ND AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEY RESET THE WARNING LIGHT AND SAID THEY DID NOT THINK IT WAS SERIOUS BUT IT SHOULD BE CHECKED WHEN I GOT HOME. AFT…

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MY 2001 ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION FIRST SHOWED SIGNS OF FAILURE IN SEPT 2009 (105K MI) WHILE I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH NORTH DAKOTA. I TOOK THE VAN TO A HONDA DEALER IN MINOT ND AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THEY RESET THE WARNING LIGHT AND SAID THEY DID NOT THINK IT WAS SERIOUS BUT IT SHOULD BE CHECKED WHEN I GOT HOME. AFTER RETURNING HOME I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM COULD BE DUE TO A LOOSE GAS CAP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THAT BUT I DID NOT SENSE ANY SLIPPAGE UNTIL SEPT 2010. I KNEW IT WAS GOING BUT CONTINUED DRIVING IT UNTIL ONE COLD EVENING WHEN I COULD BARELY GET THE VAN MOVING, I HAD THE SENSE THAT THE TRANS WOULD NOT SHIFT TO A LOW GEAR AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO START OUT IN 3RD GEAR (115K MI) . HONDA QUOTED $7500 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION FOR $3200. I WAS TOLD THAT CORRODED TERMINALS ON THE VEHICLE COMPUTER MAY HAVE BEEN PARTIALLY TO BLAME FOR THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT GETTING THE PROPER SIGNALS AS TO WHEN TO SHIFT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10421073

117,000 miles · Aug 15, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND WAS ALSO TOWED TO THE DEALER EACH TIME. THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION THE FIRST TIME AND SECOND TIME; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND WAS ALSO TOWED TO THE DEALER EACH TIME. THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION THE FIRST TIME AND SECOND TIME; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. UPDATED 9/16/11 *CN UPDATED 10/11/11

NHTSA ODI #10419455

156,000 miles · Aug 11, 2011
Power Train

2001 HONDA ODYSSEY TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10418525

79,000 miles · Jul 31, 2011
Power Train

2001 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH 79K MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND PERFORMED EVERY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HONDA RECOMMENDED. NOW I HAVE A VAN WITH A BLUE BOOK VALUE OF 7,600 AND IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $5,000. HONDA WILL NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIR AND I AM OUT A VEHICLE. THEY DO NOT STAND BY THEIR VEHI…

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2001 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH 79K MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND PERFORMED EVERY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HONDA RECOMMENDED. NOW I HAVE A VAN WITH A BLUE BOOK VALUE OF 7,600 AND IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $5,000. HONDA WILL NOT HELP WITH THE REPAIR AND I AM OUT A VEHICLE. THEY DO NOT STAND BY THEIR VEHICLES AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10416376

Official recalls

1

20V027000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 17, 2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.

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

1

PE06007 · Front Coil Spring Fracture

Opened Jan 24, 2006 · Closed May 24, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

THE POPULATION OF 116,000 VEHICLES IS AN ESTIMATE BASED ON AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY (AHM) DATA IDENTIFYING ORIGINAL STATE OF SALE OR DELIVERY.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (SV) UTILIZE LIGHT WEIGHT COIL SPRINGS MANUFACTURED FROM HIGH STRENGTH STEEL (HSS).IF THE COATING MATERIAL OF A HSS SPRING IS BREACHED, CORROSIVE ELEMENTS (SALT) MAY ATTACK THE SPRING.SPRING CORROSION RESULTS IN A STRESS RISER AND MAY CAUSE A FRACTURE.DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION WHERE THE SPRING BREAKS, THE JAGGED EDGE MAY PIERCE THE TIRE; A RAPID DEFLATION OF THE TIRE MAY OCCUR AND CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OR CRASH.SV SPRING FAILURE MECHANICS AND TIRE CONTACT LIKELIHOOD ARE DISCUSSED IN AN AHM PRESENTATION TO ODI DATED APRIL 20TH, 2006 (AVAILABLE ON ODI?S WEB SITE; WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV).AHM?S PRESENTATION IDENTIFIED TWO MECHANISMS WHICH CAUSE THE SPRING COATING TO BECOME BREACHED; 1) CONTACT WITH THE LOWER SPRING SEAT, AND 2) ENTRAPMENT OF ABRASIVE MATERIALS BETWEEN THE SILENCER TUBE AND SPRING.THE PRESENTATION COMPARED SV SPRING FRACTURE RATES TO THE HONDA MDX MODEL, A SISTER VEHICLE RECALLED FOR FRONT SPRING FRACTURE UNDER NHTSA RECALL 05V385, AND TO OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED AND OR RECALLED FOR FRONT SPRING FRACTURE.THE SPRING FRACTURE RATE FOR THE SV, WHICH IS ABOUT HALF THE RATE OF THE MDX MODEL EVEN THOUGH THE SV'S HAVE ONE YEAR LONGER IN SERVICE, IS COMPARABLE TO RATES OBSERVED IN PRIOR SPRING FRACTURE INVESTIGATIONS THAT WERE CLOSED WITH NO RECALL AND LOW IN COMPARISON TO INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL.OF THE 7 REPORTS ODI IDENTIFIED ALLEGING TIRE DAMAGE DUE TO SPRING FRACTURE, 6 INVOLVED SPRING-TIRE CONTACT WHICH RESULTED IN SLOW OR NO LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE; ODI WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY THE ONE REPORT ALLEGING A PUNCTURE OCCURRED.ODI NOTES THAT THE SV FRONT SPRING DIFFERS FROM THE MDX SPRING IN THAT IT HAS A SINGLE SILENCER TUBE (UPPER ONLY, AS OPPOSED TO UPPER AND LOWER ON THE MDX) WHICH IS, ACCORDING TO AHM, LOCATED IN AN AREA LESS LIKELY TO RESULT IN A TIRE PUNCTURE SHOULD A FRACTURE OCCUR.A DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.