IllustrationWHILE DRIVING, THE ELECTRICAL DRIVER SEAT WOULD INADVERTENTLY MOVE BACK AND FORTH. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
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 →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
10–25K
025–50K
350–75K
575–100K
7100–150K
12150K+
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
What owners actually said
73 reportsTHE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. I TOOK IT TO PALM HARBOR HONDA, AND THEY CHARGED ME ABOUT $100 JUST TO LOOK AT IT, AFTER WHICH THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $800 TO FIX IT. SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SAFETY RECALL FOR 1999 ODYSSEY MINIVANS, AND WONDER IF THE IGNITION SWITCH I HAVE MAY POSE A SAFETY RISK AS WELL. IN ANY CA…
Read full complaint
THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. I TOOK IT TO PALM HARBOR HONDA, AND THEY CHARGED ME ABOUT $100 JUST TO LOOK AT IT, AFTER WHICH THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $800 TO FIX IT. SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SAFETY RECALL FOR 1999 ODYSSEY MINIVANS, AND WONDER IF THE IGNITION SWITCH I HAVE MAY POSE A SAFETY RISK AS WELL. IN ANY CASE, I AM VERY DISAPOINTED IN THIS WHOLE SITUATION. THIS CAR IS MY 3RD HONDA, AND WILL LIKELY BE MY LAST.*AK
VISOR ON DRIVER SIDE BROKE WHILE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PUT IT DOWN TO BLOCK THE SUN. WHEN IT BROKE, IT DANGLED IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER AND BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VISION OF THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GRAB THE VISOR AND HOLD IT OUT OF THE WAY AND REGAIN SIGHT OF THE ROAD BEFORE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE SUPPOR…
Read full complaint
VISOR ON DRIVER SIDE BROKE WHILE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PUT IT DOWN TO BLOCK THE SUN. WHEN IT BROKE, IT DANGLED IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER AND BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VISION OF THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GRAB THE VISOR AND HOLD IT OUT OF THE WAY AND REGAIN SIGHT OF THE ROAD BEFORE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE SUPPORTING METAL ARM SEPARATED AT THE POINT WHERE THE WIRE FOR THE MIRROR LIGHT EXITS THE ARM. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND THE CASTING. *NLM
THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT HAVE THE CORRECT TOOLS.*JB
NO PARTS AVAILABLE::::::::::::THE CONSUMER RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH THE DEALER NAME LARRY HOPKINS HONDA SERVICE MAN GABRIEL 408 720 1888 PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
NO PARTS AVAILABLE::::::::::::THE CONSUMER RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH THE DEALER NAME LARRY HOPKINS HONDA SERVICE MAN GABRIEL 408 720 1888 PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
CONSUMER RECIEVED A RECALL LETTER FOR IGNITION. DEALER STATES THE MANUFACTURE HAS NOT PROVIDED THE DEALERSHIPS WITH PARTS. RECALL # 02 V 120 000. PH
CONSUMER STATES A RECALL ON THE IGNITION, DEALER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME, DUE TO MANUFACTURED. TS
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN ORDER TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK REPAIRED, THE VEHICLE ALARM MUST BE DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE BECAUSE IT IS AN AFTER MARKET PRODUCT. CONSUMER FEELS THE COST TO DISCONNECT AND RECONNECT THE ALARM SHOULD BE INCLUDED OR HO…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN ORDER TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK REPAIRED, THE VEHICLE ALARM MUST BE DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE BECAUSE IT IS AN AFTER MARKET PRODUCT. CONSUMER FEELS THE COST TO DISCONNECT AND RECONNECT THE ALARM SHOULD BE INCLUDED OR HONDA'S RESPONSIBILITY, IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. *JG
Official recalls
320V026000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.