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1998 Honda Odyssey

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Honda Odyssey are lower than the model-year median of 249.5.

About this comparison →
73Owner complaints

Model-year median: 249.5

3Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
96
199570
199620
199773
1998518
1999675
2000619
2001
Compare all Odyssey years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
34Power Train
14Air Bags
6Service Brakes, Hydraulic
6Structure
4
All reported categories
Engine
3Engine And Engine Cooling
3Visibility
3Tires
2Unknown Or Other
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Interior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1Suspension
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

28 reports with mileage · 45 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports

Suspension complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2015
Suspension

ON 4/01/2015 THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL OF MY 1998 HONDA ODYSSEY BROKE, CAUSING THAT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE TO THE GROUND. THE HALF-AXLE SEPARATED AND FELL OUT AND THE CAR ENDED UP WITH THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER RESTING ON THE TIRE WHICH HAD FLIPPED OUT AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE HOSE …

Read full complaint

ON 4/01/2015 THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL OF MY 1998 HONDA ODYSSEY BROKE, CAUSING THAT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE TO THE GROUND. THE HALF-AXLE SEPARATED AND FELL OUT AND THE CAR ENDED UP WITH THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER RESTING ON THE TIRE WHICH HAD FLIPPED OUT AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE HOSE ALSO BURST UNDER THE STRESS AS THE CAR CAME TO A LITERAL GRINDING HALT. I HAD JUST HAD ALL UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON 9/23/22013 AT THE BRAKE CHECK SHOP ON AUSTIN HIGHWAY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. THEY TELL ME THE PARTS WERE DISTRIBUTED UNDER THE BRAND NAME DRIVEWORKS, AND SOLD BY ADVANCE AUTO PARTS. RIGHT NOW I AM HAVING THE CAR CHECKED OUT AND REPAIRED AT ANOTHER SHOP. WILL HAVE THEM SAVE THE DAMAGED BALL JOINT, WHICH I WILL BE HAPPY TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO YOU. JUST HAPPY ACCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH IN FRONT OF AN 18-WHEELER.... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10703979

Official recalls

3

20V026000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 17, 2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 1998 Acura 2.2CL, 1998-1999 Acura 2.3CL, 1998-1999 Acura 3.0CL, 2001 Acura 3.2CL and Acura MDX, 1998-2000 Honda Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Sedan, Odyssey and Acura 3.5RL, 1999-2000 Acura 3.2TL, 1996-2000 Civic Coupe, 1997-2000 CR-V, 1997-1998 EV Plus, and 1998-1999 Isuzu Oasis vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators 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 driver frontal air bag inflator, and replace it if necessary, with an inflator of a different design, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138 or Isuzu customer service at 1-800-255-6727.

02V120000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

May 16, 2002

ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.

99V069000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

May 10, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN VEHICLE DECELERATION AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO STEERING CONTROLLABILITY WOULD BE REDUCED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.