2003 Honda Odyssey Owner Complaints

brake lights completely out and almost caused a major accident

NHTSA ID

11741141

Incident

May 31, 2026

Vehicle was inspected, Vehicle is leaking fuel, but it's difficult to spot, but I have to put fuel on it daily, TCS goes haywire almost caused me to crash because the TCS sensors are near the tires, and engine crank sensor issues, Vehicle does not do last gear shift, and rear door stopped working.

NHTSA ID

11717146

Incident

Feb 5, 2026

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unintendedly shifted into gear. An unknown dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was included in four unrepaired recalls. The contact informed the dealer that she was afraid to drive the vehicle due to the failure. Additionally, the contact stated that the transmission and the motor mounts were replaced in May 2025. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V176000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 251,599.

NHTSA ID

11677771

Incident

May 13, 2025

Mileage

251,599 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11673559

Incident

Jul 7, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11651368

Incident

Mar 28, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11584062

Incident

Apr 19, 2024

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] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11506598

Incident

Dec 8, 2022

We have had issues with our drivers side seatbelt since we purchased the vehicle new. First it had retraction issues, then the plastic stop button that keeps the buckle from sliding down failed, disintegrated. We asked the dealer to replace the belt which they refused to do. We have brought it to the dealer before, even generating a case number from Honda, but Honda refused to repair the belt. Over the years it has gotten progressively worse, where the belt is seriously frayed, and there are retraction issues. In August 2022, I contacted our local dealer, Piazza Honda in Springfield, PA. It took almost a month for them to take the car, make some photographs, and then to leave out of the notes that we had an ongoing retraction issue. Two months later, Honda Corporate informed me that they are denying the claim for the defective seatbelt. The warranty as stated in the handbook states a lifetime warranty for seatbelts. All aspects of the car pass State of PA Inspection requirements, all other aspects of the SRS systems are fully functional, with the exception of the drivers seatbelt. We believe that Honda's determination of non-liability is a ruse, a cynical attempt to exploit their customers in a critical safety component. We deserve a replacement seatbelt, and Honda customers need to be reminded that Honda is legally required to stand by the mandated Lifetime Warranty for Seatbelts. We feel that our only recourse to request that your agency look into this issue, and remind Honda of their responsibility. Honda's unconscionable conduct should not be condoned, not tolerated. This is not the first time Honda has tried to harm it's customers. The Federal government forced Honda to extend the warranty for its automatic transmissions, and repair defective ones. Our vehicle suffered from the same transmission issue, but we fell just outside the extended warranty period. The cost of the part (Honda 04818-S0X-A02ZH) is quite high from Honda, in excess of $667.73 without labor.

NHTSA ID

11495855

Incident

Dec 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission hesitated to shift into third gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the torque converter, clutch, and hydraulic control system were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.

NHTSA ID

11493853

Incident

Aug 29, 2019

Mileage

89,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11467421

Incident

Jun 3, 2022

My rear sliding door FELL all the way off the van.

NHTSA ID

11435450

Incident

Mar 22, 2021

While exceeding 60 mph on the highway with my two young children. The vehicle began to loose power. I tried accelerating the van would regain then bog down again. This happens suddenly. This could of been a horrible accident. The van just loosng all power without warning.

NHTSA ID

11435248

Incident

Sep 30, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID

11375442

Incident

Nov 10, 2020

YELLOW SRS WARNING LIGHT COME ON WHEN DRIVING ON A ROUGH ROAD. THIS TELLS ME THAT AIR BAG SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IT MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS ISSUE STARTED SINCE 2009. SECOND ISSUE IS THAT FRONT BRAKES VIBRATE SO MUCH. I HAD FULL BRAKE SERVICE AND RESURFACE DISC BUT IT ONLY STOP THIS PROBLEM FOR COUPLE THOUSAND MILES THEN VIBRATION COMES BACK WHEN BRAKING. HIGH SPEED BRAKING CAUSE EVEN MORE VIBRATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

11330217

Incident

Jan 3, 2009

I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET APPROXIMATELY 25MPH, SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 270,000 MI ON IT. I CHECKED AMERICAN HONDA RECALLS AND FOUND A RECALL ORDER. COPIES OF HE DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM AND EXPLAINED THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT RECALLS ARE VIN SPECIFIC AND VEHICLE DOES NOT SHOW ANYTHING ON THEIR RECORDS. I MADE AND RESEARCHED AND FOUND THE DOCUMENTS WHICH I'VE ENCLOSED COPIES WITH THIS COMPLAINT. I WAS TOLD TO TALK WITH HONDA DEALERSHIP SO THEY COULD ADVICE ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO NORM REEVES HONDA, AS MUCH AS I DID, I WAS IGNORED, NO ONE LISTENED, ALL I WAS TOLD WAS CALL BACK AMERICAN HONDA IN WHICH I SAID I HAVE DONE..THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO CHECK ON IT AND NO EXPLANATION ABOUT IT WAS OVEN EXCEPT THEIR RECORDS SHOW A PART NUMBER THAT UPON MY INSISTENCE FOR MORE INFO, I WAS TOTALLY IGNORED. THE RECALL NOTICE WAS ISSUED FEB 22, 2013 TITLED, "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION SWITCH" WHICH CLEARLY EXPLAINS THE ISSUANCE OF THE RECALL ORDER.. ALTHOUGH THE 15 YEAR WARRANTY HAS LAPSED SINCE THE ISSUANCE OF THE ORDER. IF THERE WAS SOMETHING DONE ON THE LEVER, THEY DID NOT REPLACED OR DID ANYTHING ON THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH IS THE ONLY REASON THAT I SEE IS CONNECTED WITH WHAT HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE AND MY SAFETY AND THE PUBLIC'S.*DT CONSUMER STATED DEALER TOLD HIM RECALL WAS DONE BUT VEHICLE STILL HAS PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WHEEL.*JB

NHTSA ID

11326237

Incident

Jun 15, 2019

Mileage

270,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND LOST POWER WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WAITED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, WHERE THE VEHICLE RESUMED BACK TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE RESIDENCE AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ABNORMAL NOISE APPEARED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GERMAIN HONDA OF BEAVERCREEK (2300 HELLER DR, BEAVERCREEK, OH 45434, (855) 798-3158) TO BE REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN AIR BAG RECALL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11321797

Incident

Jan 2, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

STALLS RANDOMLY WHILE ACCELERATING FROM STOP. APPEARS TO BE IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE. COULD CAUSE A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO MAIN STREET OR HIGHWAYS FROM A STOP.

NHTSA ID

11307059

Incident

Jan 24, 2020

Mileage

120,000 mi

SRS LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN CAR IS RUNNING. HONDA REPRESENTATIVE SAYS RECALL WORK ON OUR CAR'S SRS SYSTEM WAS DONE TWICE, IN 2014 AND 2017, AND FOR ANY FURTHER WORK WE MUST TAKE IT TO A DEALER.

NHTSA ID

11298094

Incident

Dec 2, 2019

Mileage

116,000 mi

THE SRS LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11278105

Incident

Jul 4, 2019

INTERMITTENT SRS LIGHT. DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELL BUCKLE. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED RATHER THAN DEPENDING ON THE MANUFACTURER VOLUNTARILY REPLACING AND DISCOURAGING CUSTOMERS TO SERVICE SYSTEM BY IMPOSING A "DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE" IF THEY STATE DEFECTIVE WAS NOT THE BUCKLE.

NHTSA ID

11257594

Incident

Sep 20, 2019

Mileage

38,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEARS WOULD ERRONEOUSLY SLIP CAUSING THE SPEED TO SUDDENLY REDUCE, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PHIL HUGHES HONDA (3200 ATLANTIC HWY, ATHENS, GA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

NHTSA ID

11232204

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

Mileage

250,000 mi

2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG INFLATOR SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE BUT, RECEIVES RECALL NOTIFICATIONS. *JS

NHTSA ID

11228215

Incident

Jul 1, 2019

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR WITH THE KEY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COGGIN HONDA JACKSONVILLE (LOCATED AT 11003 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32225, (904) 302-8217) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ID

11221306

Incident

Jan 2, 2017

Mileage

114,000 mi

THIS ODYSSEY HAS PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION RECALL IN 2005, THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS COMING BACK TO MY CAR

NHTSA ID

11210675

Incident

May 29, 2019

Mileage

133,000 mi

I TOOK MY CAR LAST YEAR FOR THE RECALLS THAT HAD FOR THE AIR BAGS AND THE INTERLOCK LEVER OF HE IGNITION SWITCH.AFTER ONE DAY OF WORK THEY SAID THEY FIX ALL OF THEM. BUT AFTER SOME MONTH I NOTICE THAT THE KEY IT WAS NO WORKING PROPERLY ON THE SWITCH AND I SEE ALSO THEY DIDN'T REPLACE THE OLD SWITCH,AND BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ISSUE I BELIEVE JUST WHAT THEY SAID.BUT MY CAR IS HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE KEY IGNITION, THE SWITCH IT'S NOT READING THE KEY MOST OF THE TIMES AND IT'S NOT STARTING AND SOMETIMES IT START BY ITSELF WITHOUT THE KEY JUST PRESSING THE HORN.THE RECALL FOR THE INTERLOCK LEVER OF THE IGNITION SWITCH IS NHTSA 12V-573 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER S73.( DEC 2012)

NHTSA ID

11209290

Incident

Apr 15, 2019

Mileage

133,800 mi