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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

16 reports
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101,000 miles · Feb 23, 2012
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING BETWEEN THE 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOWLY MOVE FORWARD WITH VERY LITTLE APPARENT THRUST THEN WOULD SUDDENLY "KICK" INTO THE NEXT GEAR AND LURCH FORWARD, THEN SLOWLY MOVE INTO THE NEXT GEAR. ALSO THE TCS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AND THE GREEN DRIVE (D) INDICATOR BEGAN TO FLASH. THI…

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THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING BETWEEN THE 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOWLY MOVE FORWARD WITH VERY LITTLE APPARENT THRUST THEN WOULD SUDDENLY "KICK" INTO THE NEXT GEAR AND LURCH FORWARD, THEN SLOWLY MOVE INTO THE NEXT GEAR. ALSO THE TCS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AND THE GREEN DRIVE (D) INDICATOR BEGAN TO FLASH. THIS PROBLEM IS PRIMARILY WITH THE DRIVE GEAR AND NOT SO MUCH THE REVERSE GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TWO WEEKS AGO AND HAS REMAINED ON. AN OBD CODE READER ON 22 FEB 2012 INDICATED 3 DIFFERENT FAULT CODES -2 GENERIC AND 1 MANUFACTURER- WITH THE MAJORITY OF EXPLANATIONS INDICATING SPECIFIC TRANSMISSION FAULTS AND ONE- A TCC CODE -ELECTRICAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10449053

75,137 miles · Nov 25, 2011
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR STARTED SLIPPING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND, 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TCS LIGHT CAME ON AND D4 WAS FLASHING. THE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED MINUTES LATER. TCS LIGHT WAS OFF AND D4 STOPPED FLASHING, BUT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I WENT TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS…

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THE CAR STARTED SLIPPING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND, 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TCS LIGHT CAME ON AND D4 WAS FLASHING. THE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED MINUTES LATER. TCS LIGHT WAS OFF AND D4 STOPPED FLASHING, BUT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I WENT TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10437266

169,000 miles · Jan 16, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

I HAD A 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH 169,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS THE ONLY OWNER, AND IT WAS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. ON JAN, 6, 2011 AT 12:50 IN THE AFTERNOON I WAS SOUTHBOUND ON I-43 IN MILWAUKEE AND EXITED AT THE MCKINLEY/FOND DU LAC EXIT. DESPITE REPEATEDLY PUMPING AND PRESSING ON THE BRAKES, I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VAN. I WAS ABLE…

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I HAD A 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH 169,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS THE ONLY OWNER, AND IT WAS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. ON JAN, 6, 2011 AT 12:50 IN THE AFTERNOON I WAS SOUTHBOUND ON I-43 IN MILWAUKEE AND EXITED AT THE MCKINLEY/FOND DU LAC EXIT. DESPITE REPEATEDLY PUMPING AND PRESSING ON THE BRAKES, I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VAN. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW IT DOWN WITH GREAT EFFORT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FULLY STOP IT. IN ORDER TO AVOID DRIVING INTO CROSS-TRAFFIC ON FOND D LAC AVE. AT THE LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM ON THE EXIT RAMP, I TURNED UP ONTO A SIDEWALK/GRASSY AREA. THE VAN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND, IN ORDER TO STOP IT, I INTENTIONALLY DROVE IT INTO AN ABUTMENT/CONCRETE WALL THAT IS PART ON AN UNDERPASS THAT GOES UNDER I-43. I WAS IN NO WAY IMPAIRED, AND AM CERTAIN THAT I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. IN FACT, AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I LOOKED DOWN TO MAKE SURE AND MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE. THE VAN WAS TOTALED AND EVENTUALLY DESTROYED. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WAS. A FIELD ADJUSTOR FOR MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID HE CHECKED THE CABLE AND THE PLACEMENT OF THE FLOOR MATS. NEITHER WAS A CAUSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376873

100,000 miles · Feb 25, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED AS SHE APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE AND ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. SHE HAD…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED AS SHE APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE AND ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. SHE HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE HONDA MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10314111

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE BOUGHT MY USED SALVAGE REREGISTED HONDA ODYSSEY 2001 EX IN SEPTEMBER 2009. IT APPEARS THAT MY CAR HAVE THE SOFT BRAKE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE FEELS SPONGY AND TAKES LONGER TO BRAKE, ESPECIALY WHEN THE BRAKE IS PRESSED RIGHT BEFORE IT IS RELEASED IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, AND ALSO IN SLOW SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311886

63,067 miles · Sep 30, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP OUR 2001 ODYSSEY IN MY SON'S SCHOOL PARKING LOT THE BRAKE PEDAL--WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING--WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I COASTED PAST MY INTENDED STOPPING POINT BY ABOUT 20 FEET. LUCKILY NO PERSON OR VEHICLE WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME AT THAT TIME. I WAS ABLE TO RESTORE BRAKE FUNCTION BY PUMPING THE BRAKE PE…

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WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP OUR 2001 ODYSSEY IN MY SON'S SCHOOL PARKING LOT THE BRAKE PEDAL--WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING--WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I COASTED PAST MY INTENDED STOPPING POINT BY ABOUT 20 FEET. LUCKILY NO PERSON OR VEHICLE WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME AT THAT TIME. I WAS ABLE TO RESTORE BRAKE FUNCTION BY PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE NEXT DAY MY MECHANIC EXAMINED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND FOUND BRAKE FLUID LEAKING INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. HE EXPLAINED THAT WHEN THE SEALS ON THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAK THE FLUID COLLECTS IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM HE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MASTER CYLINDER. HE THOUGHT THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS VERY VERY UNUSUAL. HE SPECIALIZES IN IMPORTED VEHICLES AND HAD NEVER BEFORE REPLACED A LEAKING MASTER CYLINDER ON A HONDA ODYSSEY OF ANY MODEL YEAR. OUR ODYSSEY IS A 2001 MODEL, IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 64,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243996

30,000 miles · May 29, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VERY NOISY SQUEAL REAR BRAKES WHEN NOT WORN. STARTLING WHEN BRAKING. SO LOUD THAT THEY MASK THE WARNING NOISE THAT THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE WHEN THEY WERE ACTUALLY WORN, THUS MAKING WARNING NOISE INEFFECTIVE. LOCAL HONDA DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS AN OBNOXIOUS PROBLEM ON 01 ODYSSEYS. HONDA AMERICAN ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AN…

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VERY NOISY SQUEAL REAR BRAKES WHEN NOT WORN. STARTLING WHEN BRAKING. SO LOUD THAT THEY MASK THE WARNING NOISE THAT THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE WHEN THEY WERE ACTUALLY WORN, THUS MAKING WARNING NOISE INEFFECTIVE. LOCAL HONDA DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS AN OBNOXIOUS PROBLEM ON 01 ODYSSEYS. HONDA AMERICAN ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND ISSUED A TSB BUT REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS ON GROUNDS THAT IT WAS A "CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE". *TR

NHTSA ODI #10229258

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

RIGHT FRONT CALIPER STUCK TOGETHER, PRODUCING LOTS OF HEAT ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10220884

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2006
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

2001 HONDA ODYSSEY STALLED WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. IT WAS THE SECOND TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND SLIDING DOORS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158387

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

HONDA IDENTIFIES THAT DRUM BRAKES ON HONDA ODYSSEY ARE PROBLEMS. FOR OVER TWO YEARS, WE FOUGHT WITH DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND THEY ESSENTIALLY KEPT IGNORING COMPLAINTS OF LOUD SQUEELING (LIKE A SEMI-TRUCK) WHEN BRAKING. WE PAID FOR PADS AND THEY PAID FOR DRUMS IN FEB. AS OF SEPT., WE HAVE THE SAME CONDITION BACK W…

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HONDA IDENTIFIES THAT DRUM BRAKES ON HONDA ODYSSEY ARE PROBLEMS. FOR OVER TWO YEARS, WE FOUGHT WITH DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND THEY ESSENTIALLY KEPT IGNORING COMPLAINTS OF LOUD SQUEELING (LIKE A SEMI-TRUCK) WHEN BRAKING. WE PAID FOR PADS AND THEY PAID FOR DRUMS IN FEB. AS OF SEPT., WE HAVE THE SAME CONDITION BACK WITH THE SQUEELING. HONDA HAS KEPT THIS PROBLEM SILENT AND WE NEED TO BRING THIS INTO THE SPOTLIGHT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10090676

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.