2003 Honda Odyssey Exterior lighting Problems

brake lights completely out and almost caused a major accident

NHTSA ID

11741141

Incident

May 31, 2026

THE INTERIOR ROOF OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. THE SMOKE STARTED WHILE DRIVING AND THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT AREA WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE FRAME TOP.

NHTSA ID

11091074

Incident

Apr 30, 2018

Mileage

211,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT. I WENT TO CHANGE MY HEADLIGHTS FROM HIGH BEAMS TO LOW BEAMS. ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OFF. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED. THE LEVER ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STUCK. I PUSHED IT FORWARD FORCEFULLY AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I COULD NOT GET ISSUES TO REPEAT ITSELF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664042

Incident

Dec 12, 2014

Mileage

127,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO PHYSICALLY HOLD ON THE HIGH BEAMS SWITCH TO PROVIDE LIGHT FOR NIGHT TIME DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE LOW BEAM SWITCH HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 147,000.

NHTSA ID

10478164

Incident

Aug 24, 2012

Mileage

147,000 mi

RE: NHTSA PHONE REF. #438678, HONDA'S RECALL CAMPAIGN #S34, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #12V136000: SIMILAR INCIDENT WITH MY 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY ON 8/18/2011 WHILE DRIVING ON A VERY DARK RURAL ROAD. WHEN NECESSARY TO SWITCH FROM HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, I WAS LEFT TOTALLY IN THE DARK AS I HAD NO LOW BEAMS. MANAGED TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY WITHOUT INCIDENT WITH HIGH BEAMS ONLY. NEXT DAY BOTH HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM BULBS WERE REPLACED FOR ME @A COST OF $53.35. DO NOT THINK THE CAUSE WAS TRACED AS WAS NOT AWARE THERE WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT IN MY 50 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS SITUATION BEFORE. ALSO ON JAN. 4, 2012, HAD TO HAVE A REAR 12V BULB (PART #34906-ST5-003) REPLACED. COST: $7.61. BECAME AWARE OF THIS BULB DISFUNCTIONING BY DASHBOARD NOTIFICATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454612

Incident

Aug 18, 2011

Mileage

71,905 mi

WITHOUT MUCH OR ANY WARNING MY TRANSMISSION FAILED (THE DREADED P0730 CODE SHOWED UP ON THE SCANNER) ON MY 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY EX-L VAN WITH ONLY 100,325 MILES. THE VAN WAS NEVER ABUSED OR USED TO TOW. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT 1.30.12 BY PRIVATE SHOP CONTINENTAL TRANSMISSION FOR $1800. (TORQUE CONVERTER BLOWN TO PIECES). HONDA DOES HAVE LIMITED RECALLS ON TRANNYS BUT MINE WAS NOT INCLUDED (ONLY IF 2ND SHAFT IS BROKEN & SCORED AND BURNT/ BLUISH COLOR) THIS WILL DOCUMENTED TRANNY PROBLEM WITH 2ND GENERATION ODYSSEY IS VERY UPSETTING AND I BLAME IT ON A POOR DESIGN BY HONDA ENGINEERS (UNDER SIZED TRANNY PAIRED WITH A POWER V6 240HP HEAVY 4500LBS VAN HAS BEEN A RECIPE FOR PREMATURE FAILURE). THE WORST PART WAS ON 1.5.12 I JUST HAD EXTENSIVE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE DONE AT DON DAVIS HONDA (TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP, TENSIONER AND POWER STEERING BELTS) AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE TRANSMISSION FAILS!!! OTHER ISSUES WITH THE VAN HAVE BEEN, AC COMPRESSOR FAILED MAY 2010 88,648 MILES. REAR WIPER MOTOR FAILED MARCH 2011 89,240 MILES, BOTH SLIDING POWER DOOR ROLLERS HAD TO REPLACED. BRAKE SWITCH FAILED (LOCKED UP), DEC 2011 98,750 MILES VAN WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. NOT REAL HAPPY OR CONFIDENT WITH HONDA RIGHT NOW! *TR

NHTSA ID

10448015

Incident

Jan 26, 2012

Mileage

100,325 mi

THE TOP BRACKET HOLDING THE ALTERNATOR TO THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VAN. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE TOP BRACKET, THE STRESS ON THE MAIN SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED THE BOLT HOLDING THE ALTERNATOR IN PLACE TO SNAP OFF AT THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO BECOME LOOSE AND CAUSED A BURNING SMELL TO COME INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE ALTERNATOR LOOSE AND UN-ATTACHED POSES A POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITH THE PULLY SYSTEM AND THE POWER STEERING WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I REPORTED THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON OCTOBER 25TH, 2010. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF AND NOT CORRECTING WITH A RECALL AND ADDITION OF A RE ENGINEERED AND STRENGTHENED TOP ALTERNATOR BRACKET. I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED THAT FAILURE OF THIS PART/SYSTEM WHILE MY WIFE AND CHILDREN ARE DRIVING THE VAN WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND INJURY OR DEATH TO MY FAMILY. I HAVE CALLED HONDA AND THEIR SOLUTION OR RECOMMENDATION IS TO REPLACE THE PART AND USE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. THIS HAS NOT WORKED 2 TIMES SO FAR AND MY MECHANIC TRIED TO WELD AND ADDITIONAL PIECE OF METAL TO THE OEM BRACKET TO MAKE THE BRACKET STRONGER, AND THIS DID NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID

10368788

Incident

Nov 23, 2010

Mileage

175,000 mi

TOP ALTERNATOR MOUNTING BRACKET FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ONE MONTH. ON FIRST FAILURE AT NIGHT, HEADLIGHTS BECAME VERY DIM WHILE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING CAUSING DANGER TO OCCUPANTS AND OTHER MOTORISTS. ON SECOND FAILURE VEHICLE WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND NO IMMEDIATE HAZARD TO DRIVER OR OTHER MOTORISTS. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A KNOWN COMPONENT FAILURE TO HONDA AND NHTSB.

NHTSA ID

10363088

Incident

Oct 25, 2010

Mileage

165,000 mi

REAR TAIL LIGHT LENS ARE CRACKING AFTER ONLY 3 YEARS. THE CRACKS ARE STARTING AT TOP EDGES AND ARE WITHIN THE PLASTIC. HONDA SAID THEY ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200741

Incident

Jun 1, 2007