IllustrationTHE TRANSMISSION WAS EXCELLERATING AT A HIGH SPEED THEN WAS OVERHEATING AND SMOKING GOT STANDED ON THE HIGHWAY THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM HOME.
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.
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
270–25K
3325–50K
5750–75K
10475–100K
139100–150K
84150K+
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
What owners actually said
619 reportsSOFT BRAKE PEDALS. BRAKE PEDAL HAS TO GO ALMOST TO THE FLOOR BEFORE STOPPING.
I WAS DRIVING IN MOTION IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF AND COULD BARELY PULL OVER CAUSE THE STEERING LOCKED UP. BEFORE THAT, I WAS LEAVING A GAS STATION AND AGAIN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLUCTUATED UP AND THEN DOWN TO ZERO. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS; HOWEVER T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLUCTUATED UP AND THEN DOWN TO ZERO. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS; HOWEVER THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,700.
I AM SINGLE OWNER OF HONDA ODYSSEY 2001, I STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RIGHT AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED, AT 125,000 MILES. HAD TO REPLACE IT, BUT STILL SLIPPING. I AM VERY ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED, WILL NEVER BUY A HONDA AGAIN
VAN WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. I WAS WASHING IT AND OPENED THE HOOD. LUCKILY I NOTICED THAT THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL WAS ALMOST CUT CLEAN THROUGH. THERE WERE ONLY A COUPLE OF COPPER STRANDS GROUNDING MY HONDA VAN. I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT HAD LOST ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WHILE DRIVING!!!
SLIDING DOOR FAILURE. BOTH SLIDING DOORS FAILED ON JAN 17, 2011. THE DOORS WERE STUCK HALFWAY OPEN. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. WAS REPAIRED FOR THE PRICE OF $800. LUCKILY THE VAN WAS NO MOVING THAT THE TIME, BUT WE DID HAVE TO DRIVE IT TO THE MECHANIC WITH THE DOORS OPEN.
MY 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY HAS HAD 3 FRONT POWER WINDOW REGULATORS FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN MOTION WHEN THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER WINDOW SUDDENLY DROPS INTO THE DOOR FRAME. IT IS SUDDEN, LOUD, AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM AS DOCUMENTED ON SEVERAL…
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MY 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY HAS HAD 3 FRONT POWER WINDOW REGULATORS FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN MOTION WHEN THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER WINDOW SUDDENLY DROPS INTO THE DOOR FRAME. IT IS SUDDEN, LOUD, AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM AS DOCUMENTED ON SEVERAL HONDA FORUMS AND GOOGLE SEARCHES. HONDA DENIES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND ALLOWS THE PROBLEM TO GO UNABATED. THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT ON THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN IS AN INVESTIGATION GOING TO BE INITIATED?
WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VAN ON A HWY THE RPMS WENT UP AND THE VAN WOULD NOT GO AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS TOTALLY GONE. I GOT PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO CALL A WRECKER SERVICE TO COME AND PICK US UP. THE VAN HAS BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I GOT IN IT AND IT WILL GO IN A LOWER GEAR BUT ONLY UNTIL THE VAN WA…
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WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VAN ON A HWY THE RPMS WENT UP AND THE VAN WOULD NOT GO AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS TOTALLY GONE. I GOT PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO CALL A WRECKER SERVICE TO COME AND PICK US UP. THE VAN HAS BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I GOT IN IT AND IT WILL GO IN A LOWER GEAR BUT ONLY UNTIL THE VAN WARMS UP THEN IT WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL. IT COST ME $200. TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME AND I WAS TOLD BY A TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT IT WOULD COST ME ANYWHERE FROM $2500 TO $4500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THAT IS MORE THAN THE VAN IS APPARENTLY WORTH. I HAVE SPENT MY CHRISTMAS MONEY ON JUST THE TOWING. I NEED HELP IN GETTING IT FIXED I AM A SINGLE MOM WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN. I DID NOT HAVE MY CHILDREN IN THE VAN WITH ME BUT IT WAS ME AND MY EX MOTHER IN LAW AND IT WAS NIGHT AND A MOUNTAINOUS HWY. IF I HAD NOT GOTTEN MY VAN OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT AS THERE ARE A LOT OF CARS AND BIG RIG TRUCKS THAT DRIVE ON THAT ROAD.
THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN SLIPPING. THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL EVEN THOUGH HONDA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER SEVERAL TIMES TO LET TRANSMISSION COOL OFF BEFORE CONTINUING TO MY DESTINATION. TOOK IT BACK TO DW AUTO WHERE I PURCHASED SAID VEHICLE. THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT FOR TRADE IN BECAUSE…
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THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN SLIPPING. THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL EVEN THOUGH HONDA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER SEVERAL TIMES TO LET TRANSMISSION COOL OFF BEFORE CONTINUING TO MY DESTINATION. TOOK IT BACK TO DW AUTO WHERE I PURCHASED SAID VEHICLE. THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT FOR TRADE IN BECAUSE HONDA ODYSSEY HAS BAD TRANSMISSIONS.
Official recalls
120V027000 · 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
1PE06007 · 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.