IllustrationABS MODULATOR/SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX ABS MODUALTOR.
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 reportsVEHICLE NEEDS NEW SRS MODULE. DEALER WOULD INSTALL IT FOR $875.*AK
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE FAILURE, LIGHT PANE INDICATING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER CAN'T AFFORD REPAIR. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH OR FASTER, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BEGIN TO SHAKE, DEALER CONTACTED AND STATES THAT THE WHEEL SUSPENSION IS OFF BALANCE WHICH CAUSES STEERING PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRVING, VEHICLE WILL STALL OR SOMETIMES WILL NOT EVEN START. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIX. FINALLY CONSUMER ASKED TO HAVE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD REPEATEDLY FAILED. TSCONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID FOR REPAIRS…
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CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRVING, VEHICLE WILL STALL OR SOMETIMES WILL NOT EVEN START. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIX. FINALLY CONSUMER ASKED TO HAVE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD REPEATEDLY FAILED. TSCONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE OF A RECALL ISSUED REGARDING THIS SAME PROBLEM. *JG
THE SRS INDICATOR LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD STAYED ON AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE FROM PARK. IT STAYED ON UNTIL THE I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR A CHECK-UP. I HAD TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE SRS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS AN ELECTRONIC BOX THAT SENDS SIGNALS TO THE AIRBAG TO TELL IT WHEN TO DEPLOY (ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE REP). I HAD TO S…
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THE SRS INDICATOR LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD STAYED ON AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE FROM PARK. IT STAYED ON UNTIL THE I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR A CHECK-UP. I HAD TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE SRS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS AN ELECTRONIC BOX THAT SENDS SIGNALS TO THE AIRBAG TO TELL IT WHEN TO DEPLOY (ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE REP). I HAD TO SPEND $697.91 TO REPLACE IT WITH A BRAND NEW ONE THAT HAS A WARRANTY OF "12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST". THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE OF THE SAID PART. MR
FRONT WINDSHIELD IS DEVELOPING A HAZE DISCOLORATION AND CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER WAS UNSURE WHICH COMPONENTS OF THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE SRS WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING UNLESS THE ENTIRE UNIT WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER DENIED THE REPAIRS AND AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP THE LIGHT…
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CONSUMER STATED THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER WAS UNSURE WHICH COMPONENTS OF THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE SRS WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING UNLESS THE ENTIRE UNIT WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER DENIED THE REPAIRS AND AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP THE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON, HOWEVER IN APRIL 2002 THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. *JB NAR *SCC *CB
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (AIR BAGS) WARNING LIGHT APPEARED, DEALER SAYS AIR BAGS ARE INOPERATIVE. DEALER RESET CONTROL UNIT. LIGHT APPEARED TWO MONTHS LATER. ASKED DEALER IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. DEALER SAYS THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS CONTROL UNITS. SHOULD A SAFETY DEVICE OF THIS MAGNITUDE FAIL WITHIN …
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SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (AIR BAGS) WARNING LIGHT APPEARED, DEALER SAYS AIR BAGS ARE INOPERATIVE. DEALER RESET CONTROL UNIT. LIGHT APPEARED TWO MONTHS LATER. ASKED DEALER IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. DEALER SAYS THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS CONTROL UNITS. SHOULD A SAFETY DEVICE OF THIS MAGNITUDE FAIL WITHIN FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE? THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS TO CHECK THIS SYSTEM EVERY TEN YEARS. FROM THE DEALERS COMMENT OF REPLACING NUMEROUS CONTROL UNITS, IT'S MY OPINION THAT A PART OF THIS MAGNITUDE SHOULD INDEED LAST THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS.*****765263
COUNTER BALANCE SHAFT SEAL POPPED OUT. OIL WAS PUMPED OUT OF ENGINE RAPIDLY. WE DISCOVERED BY FINDING POOL OF OIL UNDER LEFT FRONT TIRE. DEALER REPAIR WAS PROMPT. HONDA PAID FOR SEAL AND NEW TIMING BELT. I HAD TO PAY FOR CAM SEAL, CRANKSHAFT SEAL, WATER PUMP, AND COOLANT. HONDA'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT 1-800-999-1009 WAS UN…
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COUNTER BALANCE SHAFT SEAL POPPED OUT. OIL WAS PUMPED OUT OF ENGINE RAPIDLY. WE DISCOVERED BY FINDING POOL OF OIL UNDER LEFT FRONT TIRE. DEALER REPAIR WAS PROMPT. HONDA PAID FOR SEAL AND NEW TIMING BELT. I HAD TO PAY FOR CAM SEAL, CRANKSHAFT SEAL, WATER PUMP, AND COOLANT. HONDA'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS AT 1-800-999-1009 WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THEIR ATTITUDE WAS "NOT OUR FAULT" . I ASKED WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF ENGINE HAD BLOWN. THEIR RESPONSE WAS "TO PROBABLY DENY CLAIM SINCE THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE DRIVEN WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON.*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.