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2001 Honda Odyssey

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Odyssey years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Honda Odyssey are substantially higher than the model-year median of 249.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

444 reports with mileage · 175 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 332 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports4 fire reports24 injury reports

Power Train complaints

332 reports
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149,345 miles · Aug 5, 2012
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 75K MILES BY HONDA, LASTED 36K MILES AND FAILED AGAIN. REPLACED AT 145K MILES AND FAILED AGAIN AFTER LESS THAN ONE YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469245

146,000 miles · Aug 1, 2012
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WHEN MY DAUGHTER DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION IN THE INDICATED VEHICLE COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME SHE ELECTED TO STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS MODEL WAS ONE OF MANY BY HONDA THAT WAS SUBJECT TO UNDISCLOSED FAILURE TYPE BUT IT CAN BE ASSUMED THAT FAILURE COULD INCLUDE LOCKUP, LOSS OF POWER TO THE WHEELS, ETC.. HONDA ELECTED TO EXTEND…

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WHEN MY DAUGHTER DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION IN THE INDICATED VEHICLE COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME SHE ELECTED TO STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS MODEL WAS ONE OF MANY BY HONDA THAT WAS SUBJECT TO UNDISCLOSED FAILURE TYPE BUT IT CAN BE ASSUMED THAT FAILURE COULD INCLUDE LOCKUP, LOSS OF POWER TO THE WHEELS, ETC.. HONDA ELECTED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY BUT HONDA USA AND THE DEALER (HONDA OF MIDDLETOWN, NY) STATE THERE WAS NO RECALL AS THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. WE BEG TO DIFFER IN THAT HAVING YOUR WHEELS LOCK UP AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC INCLUDING INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS CONSTITUTES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS DOES LOSS OF POWER IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. A CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS WON BY CONSUMERS IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT AND NOTICES WERE SENT TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. THE DEALER DID NOT NOTIFY MY DAUGHTER, SON-IN-LAW OR MYSELF WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2007. THE DEALERSHIP AND HONDA ARE REFUSING TO FIX THIS ISSUE AS THE VEHICLE IS PAST THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND AGAIN BOTH CLAIM THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. INTERNET RESEARCH SUGGESTS THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO "COVER UP" THIS ISSUE TO PREVENT HARM TO THE HONDA REPUTATION, MULTIPLE EXAMPLES OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING AND OF COURSE THE DENIAL THAT A TRANSMISSION FAILURE REPRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ATTEMPTING TO GET THE CAR FIXED AS THEY HAVE 3 YOUNG CHILDREN, AN INCOME JUST ABOVE POVERTY LEVEL FOR THE FAMILY SIZE AND NO RESOURCES TO PAY FOR THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT MUST BE MADE TO MAKE THEIR VEHICLE ROADWORTHY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468897

150,620 miles · Jul 29, 2012
Power Train

CAR DISPLAYED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON SURFACE STREETS IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS ULTIMATELY TOWED TO AN ORANGE COUNTY HONDA DEALER WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGED INDICATED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY HONDA UNDER THE TERM…

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CAR DISPLAYED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON SURFACE STREETS IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS ULTIMATELY TOWED TO AN ORANGE COUNTY HONDA DEALER WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGED INDICATED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY HONDA UNDER THE TERMS CLASS ACTION SUIT COVERING 2001 ODYSSEY MINI-VANS HAD FAILED AND THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE REQUIRED. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE ONGOING, AND THAT WE COULD EXPECT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION EVERY THREE YEARS. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10468169

178,000 miles · Jul 9, 2012
Power Train

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY 2 HOURS FROM HOME ON 07/06/2012 AT 9PM AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION (TORQUE CONVERTER) STOPPED WORKING AND FORCED MY WIFE TO BARELY GET OFF A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITHOUT AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. SHE WAS FORCED TO CALL 911 AND REQUEST SC HIGHWAY PATROL TO ASSIST HER IN GETTING H…

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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY 2 HOURS FROM HOME ON 07/06/2012 AT 9PM AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION (TORQUE CONVERTER) STOPPED WORKING AND FORCED MY WIFE TO BARELY GET OFF A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITHOUT AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. SHE WAS FORCED TO CALL 911 AND REQUEST SC HIGHWAY PATROL TO ASSIST HER IN GETTING HER VAN OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. THIS IS OUR 3RD, YES 3RD TRANSMISSION THAT HAS FAILED. HONDA KNOWS THEY HAVE AN UNSAFE AND KNOWN DEFECT AND CONTINUE TO DO NOTHING TO HELP REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO HOLD HONDA ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10464771

94,483 miles · Jul 6, 2012
Power Train

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 15236 MILES. NO WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10464482

160,456 miles · Jun 10, 2012
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MAIN STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE CAR FELT LIKE IT HAD STALLED, BUT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING... I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE AT INCREASINGLY SLOWER SPEEDS. ONCE AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, I CUT THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, IT HELPED ME TO MOVE FORWARD UP TO ABOUT 30 MPH …

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MAIN STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE CAR FELT LIKE IT HAD STALLED, BUT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING... I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE AT INCREASINGLY SLOWER SPEEDS. ONCE AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, I CUT THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, IT HELPED ME TO MOVE FORWARD UP TO ABOUT 30 MPH FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES, TURNED ON AND OFF AT EVERY CHANCE UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THAN I TRIED TO CUT OFF AND SEE IF REVERSE WOULD WORK AND IT DID NOTHING, I CUT OFF ONE LAST TIME AND BACK ON AND WAS ABLE TO FINALLY PULL THE CAR INTO THE DRIVEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10461117

95,000 miles · Jun 5, 2012
Power Train

MY 20 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING HOME ALONE WHEN SUDDENLY ENGINE WAS REVVING BUT CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT. SINCE THEN WE CANNOT TAKE CAR OVER 30MPH AND AS SOON AS IT HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO OVERHEAT. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON AND THE GEAR INDICATOR D4 STARTS FLA…

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MY 20 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING HOME ALONE WHEN SUDDENLY ENGINE WAS REVVING BUT CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT. SINCE THEN WE CANNOT TAKE CAR OVER 30MPH AND AS SOON AS IT HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO OVERHEAT. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON AND THE GEAR INDICATOR D4 STARTS FLASHING RED. ALTHOUGH HONDA PUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION FOR 7 YRS OR 100,000 MILES WHEN I CALLED THEM I WAS TOLD TOO BAD, THE CAR IS TOO OLD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460623

180,000 miles · May 31, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TRANSMISSION BLEW WITHOUT WARNING ON REMOTE STRETCH OF ARIZONA HIGHWAY WHERE THERE ISN'T EVEN CELL PHONE COVERAGE. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION THIS CAR HAS HAD. IT IS A MINIVAN AND DOES NOT TOW OR EVEN HAVE A TOW HITCH. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THIS, EITHER ONE OF THEM, AND NOT LEAVE ME AND MY FAMILY STRANDE…

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TRANSMISSION BLEW WITHOUT WARNING ON REMOTE STRETCH OF ARIZONA HIGHWAY WHERE THERE ISN'T EVEN CELL PHONE COVERAGE. THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION THIS CAR HAS HAD. IT IS A MINIVAN AND DOES NOT TOW OR EVEN HAVE A TOW HITCH. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THIS, EITHER ONE OF THEM, AND NOT LEAVE ME AND MY FAMILY STRANDED THIS WAY. WE DO ALL THE REGULAR TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE. EVEN HONDA ADMITS IT'S JUST A PROBLEM FOR THIS PART, BUT THEY DON'T CARE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460191

152,100 miles · May 29, 2012
Power Train

WE WERE GOING FROM NYC TO NC AND THE ENGINE STARTED RACING BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GOING ANYWHERE... WE STARTED SEEING SMOKE IN THE REAR VIEW AND STARTED SMELLING TRANSMISSION FLUID... WE PULLED OFF AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE GOING TO THE DESTINATION BUT COULD GO NO FURTHER AFTER THAT.. WE HAD TO GET A RENTAL BACK HOME AND THE CAR…

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WE WERE GOING FROM NYC TO NC AND THE ENGINE STARTED RACING BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT GOING ANYWHERE... WE STARTED SEEING SMOKE IN THE REAR VIEW AND STARTED SMELLING TRANSMISSION FLUID... WE PULLED OFF AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE GOING TO THE DESTINATION BUT COULD GO NO FURTHER AFTER THAT.. WE HAD TO GET A RENTAL BACK HOME AND THE CAR IS STILL IN NC... AND THIS IS THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION THAT THE DEALER INSTALL AFTER THE RECALL.... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10459975

90,000 miles · May 29, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ON THE BELT PARKWAY IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED TO BE LESS RESPONSIVE AND BECAME VERY SLOW. A MINUTE LATER, I GOT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I GOT OFF THE NEAREST EXIT AFTER BEING VERY NERVOUS AND SCARED BY THE SLOW SPEED OF THE CAR. I STOPPED BY THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION. I DID COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE BELT PARKWAY IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED TO BE LESS RESPONSIVE AND BECAME VERY SLOW. A MINUTE LATER, I GOT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I GOT OFF THE NEAREST EXIT AFTER BEING VERY NERVOUS AND SCARED BY THE SLOW SPEED OF THE CAR. I STOPPED BY THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION. I DID COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS AND TURNED TO BE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM (CODES: P0730, P0740). NOW MY CAR IS AT THE SHOP FOR THE SECOND DAY GETTING THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10459966

Official recalls

1

20V027000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 17, 2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver frontal air bag module as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator 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 air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners may contact American Honda's Customer Support & Campaign Center at 1-888-234-2138.

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

1

PE06007 · Front Coil Spring Fracture

Opened Jan 24, 2006 · Closed May 24, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

THE POPULATION OF 116,000 VEHICLES IS AN ESTIMATE BASED ON AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY (AHM) DATA IDENTIFYING ORIGINAL STATE OF SALE OR DELIVERY.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (SV) UTILIZE LIGHT WEIGHT COIL SPRINGS MANUFACTURED FROM HIGH STRENGTH STEEL (HSS).IF THE COATING MATERIAL OF A HSS SPRING IS BREACHED, CORROSIVE ELEMENTS (SALT) MAY ATTACK THE SPRING.SPRING CORROSION RESULTS IN A STRESS RISER AND MAY CAUSE A FRACTURE.DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION WHERE THE SPRING BREAKS, THE JAGGED EDGE MAY PIERCE THE TIRE; A RAPID DEFLATION OF THE TIRE MAY OCCUR AND CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OR CRASH.SV SPRING FAILURE MECHANICS AND TIRE CONTACT LIKELIHOOD ARE DISCUSSED IN AN AHM PRESENTATION TO ODI DATED APRIL 20TH, 2006 (AVAILABLE ON ODI?S WEB SITE; WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV).AHM?S PRESENTATION IDENTIFIED TWO MECHANISMS WHICH CAUSE THE SPRING COATING TO BECOME BREACHED; 1) CONTACT WITH THE LOWER SPRING SEAT, AND 2) ENTRAPMENT OF ABRASIVE MATERIALS BETWEEN THE SILENCER TUBE AND SPRING.THE PRESENTATION COMPARED SV SPRING FRACTURE RATES TO THE HONDA MDX MODEL, A SISTER VEHICLE RECALLED FOR FRONT SPRING FRACTURE UNDER NHTSA RECALL 05V385, AND TO OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED AND OR RECALLED FOR FRONT SPRING FRACTURE.THE SPRING FRACTURE RATE FOR THE SV, WHICH IS ABOUT HALF THE RATE OF THE MDX MODEL EVEN THOUGH THE SV'S HAVE ONE YEAR LONGER IN SERVICE, IS COMPARABLE TO RATES OBSERVED IN PRIOR SPRING FRACTURE INVESTIGATIONS THAT WERE CLOSED WITH NO RECALL AND LOW IN COMPARISON TO INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL.OF THE 7 REPORTS ODI IDENTIFIED ALLEGING TIRE DAMAGE DUE TO SPRING FRACTURE, 6 INVOLVED SPRING-TIRE CONTACT WHICH RESULTED IN SLOW OR NO LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE; ODI WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY THE ONE REPORT ALLEGING A PUNCTURE OCCURRED.ODI NOTES THAT THE SV FRONT SPRING DIFFERS FROM THE MDX SPRING IN THAT IT HAS A SINGLE SILENCER TUBE (UPPER ONLY, AS OPPOSED TO UPPER AND LOWER ON THE MDX) WHICH IS, ACCORDING TO AHM, LOCATED IN AN AREA LESS LIKELY TO RESULT IN A TIRE PUNCTURE SHOULD A FRACTURE OCCUR.A DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.