VehicleVerdict

1997 Honda Odyssey problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Limited data — recalls on file

NHTSA has just 24 complaints on file for the 1997 Honda Odyssey — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but 3 recall campaigns apply to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.

24

NHTSA complaints

3

Recalls

0

Investigations

3

Crash-involved

2

Fires reported

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1997 compare to other Odyssey years?

Odyssey NHTSA complaints by model year, 1997 highlighted1,586 complaints1990: 2 complaints1994: 1 complaints1995: 112 complaints1996: 88 complaints1997: 24 complaints1998: 89 complaints1999: 664 complaints2000: 785 complaints2001: 721 complaints2002: 1,117 complaints2003: 1,095 complaints2004: 715 complaints2005: 1,046 complaints2006: 879 complaints2007: 1,038 complaints2008: 617 complaints2009: 243 complaints2010: 338 complaints2011: 291 complaints2012: 325 complaints2013: 275 complaints2014: 406 complaints2015: 268 complaints2016: 345 complaints2017: 47 complaints2018: 1,586 complaints2019: 1,525 complaints2020: 833 complaints2021: 191 complaints2022: 178 complaints2023: 143 complaints2024: 121 complaints2025: 356 complaints2026: 21 complaints
Odyssey NHTSA complaints by model year, 1997 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Odyssey years to avoid →

What are the most common 1997 Honda Odyssey problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System1042%
Speed Control313%
Visibility & Wipers28%
Brakes28%
Fuel System14%
Driver Assistance14%
Steering14%
Suspension14%
Tires & Wheels14%
Transmission14%
Airbags14%

Does the 1997 Honda Odyssey have recalls?

3 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

09E012000LightingApril 7, 2009 · 16,270 units

Defect

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

02V120000Electrical SystemMay 16, 2002 · 1,000,000 units

Defect

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

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.

99V069000SuspensionMay 10, 1999 · 124,875 units

Defect

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

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“VEHICLE HAD A TOTAL ELECTRICAL SHUTDOWN. CONSUMER LOST BRAKES/POWER STEERING, AND SMOKE CAME FROM IGNITION HOUSING. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED DEFECTIVE PART WITH 35130-SXO-AO1 STEERING SWITCH. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · November 10, 2001 · fire

“APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING THE VEHICLE LUNCHED FORWARD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A BRICK WALL. ANOTHER TIME, APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · July 3, 1997 · crash

“7/29 LARGE QUANTITY OF SMOKE EMITTING FROM DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WHILE DRIVING AND ONE WINDOW STOPS OPERATING. 7/30 HAPPENS AGAIN WHILE VAN IS STATIONARY AND ANOTHER WINDOW STOPS WORKING. I DISASSEMBLED THE DOOR AND WIRING HARNESS TO PREVENT FURTHER SMOKE/FIRE DAMAGE. PLASTIC AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · July 29, 2001 · fire

“APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING THE VEHICLE LUNCHED FORWARD, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT A BRICK WALL. ANOTHER TIME, APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · July 3, 1997 · crash

“WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGHLY. CONSUMER EXAMINED THE TIRES AND SAW THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED ON THE RIGHT REAR. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE. DEALER GAVE THE CONSUMER A DISCOUNT ON THE FIRST TIRE, BUT REFUSED ANY DISCOUNT ON THE SECOND…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · April 13, 2004

1997 Honda Odyssey — common questions

Is the 1997 Honda Odyssey reliable?

The record is thin — 24 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 3 recalls should be verified as completed.

What are the most common 1997 Odyssey problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (10 complaints), speed control (3 complaints), brakes (2 complaints).

Does the 1997 Honda Odyssey have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns affecting the 1997 Honda Odyssey. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Honda Odyssey years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Odyssey years to avoid are 2018, 2019, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2006, 2020, 2000, 2001, 2004, 1999, 2008, 2025, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. The cleanest record among Odyssey years belongs to 1994.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.