We all know the Honda Odyssey is extremely popular in the minivan segment, so it might surprise you to see a mix of glowing reviews and some not-so-great feedback in auto forums. That’s because while some select vehicles shine, others fall terribly short! Keep reading to find out the major issues with the Honda Odyssey and which years to steer clear of.
In This Article:
What Year Honda Odyssey to Avoid
As of our writing, the 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2014, and 2018 models have quite a bad reputation.
Specifically, the 1995, 2001, and 2002 Odyssey have transmission and ignition issues, while the 2003 has to deal with both transmission leaks and engine piston ring failures. Power steering leaks also became a big problem for the 2007 line. The 2014 and 2018 models, on the other hand, are constantly reported for oil leaks and transmission shuddering due to bad torque converters.
1995 Honda Odyssey: A Mess of Transmission and Ignition Problems
The 1995 Honda Odyssey kicked off a line of troublesome models, starting with one of its biggest problems: the transmission.

You’d think the engineers would have thought it through, but that clearly wasn’t the case: our tests revealed that the cooling system for the transmission just wasn’t up to par. It overheated way too easily, especially in stop-and-go traffic or on long trips, which caused the clutches and other vital parts to break down faster than they should. Shifting becomes rough once the clutches wear out, and before you know it, the transmission is toast.
Even worse, the ignition system also has its own set of problems and even shuts off the car while you’re driving. This issue seems to be rooted in the ignition switch, where the internal contacts that send power to the engine are prone to wear out and leave you coast to the side of the road.
2001 Honda Odyssey: Still Struggling with Transmission Heat
Fast forward to 2001, and you might expect things to have improved, right? Not exactly. The 2001 Odyssey still suffered from serious transmission issues, largely because Honda hadn’t fully solved the overheating problem.

This time, the torque converter (an important component that transfers power from the engine to the wheels) was a big part of the issue. It isn’t designed to handle the heat buildup and starts malfunctioning over time. As a result, the lock-up mechanism inside the converter would fail; you might expect slipping gears or, worse, a complete loss of power transfer.
Converter aside, the transmission also had trouble maintaining fluid pressure. Some believe it is simply due to wear and tear, but a quick inspection from our tester team showed that the issue seems to boil down to an actual design flaw.
2002 Honda Odyssey: The Year That Dropped The Ball
If you think the 2001 model had it bad, the 2002 Odyssey was even worse. It’s often considered one of the worst models in the Odyssey’s history, which all comes down to the transmission’s third-gear clutch pack.

Specifically, this clutch pack is supposed to help engage and disengage gears. But instead, it was made from materials that just couldn’t handle the job! The surfaces wore out way too fast for our liking, and once they did, the friction material mixed with the transmission fluid and made everything even worse. As the clutch pack wears down, shifting becomes a nightmare — rough, delayed, or sometimes, it doesn’t shift at all.
And again, let’s not forget the cooling system. It seems Honda just couldn’t figure out how to keep the transmission cool! The fluid would overheat again and speed up the wear and tear on the already faulty clutch pack. Not to mention, there are also other common issues with the electronics: the battery often conked out, and the starter wouldn’t always start.
2003 Honda Odyssey: More of The Same, Plus Engine Problems
If you were hoping things would get better by 2003, we’ve got bad news. Honda Odyssey transmission problems are still very common, and they start happening at even lower mileage.

The transmission oil cooler (designed to keep the fluid from overheating) wasn’t strong enough to handle the heat. As a result, seals inside the transmission would break down, and you’d end up with a leaky, malfunctioning mess. All this leads to slipping gears and complete transmission failure, often before the car even hits 100,000 miles.
The worst part is that the 2003 Odyssey suffered twice as much from engine troubles, particularly with the piston rings. They cannot seal the combustion chamber properly inside the engine and, hence, force you to keep adding more oil down the road. Its failing dashboard backlights do not help much, either, as you can barely keep track of important information like speed and fuel levels.
2007 Honda Odyssey: The Power Steering Leak Issue
If you’ve ever had a car with stiff steering, you’ll understand why the power steering leak problem in the 2007 Odyssey was a big deal. It wasn’t just a matter of a little fluid dripping out; the real problem came from the design of the steering rack seals.

Specifically, the power steering system in this Odyssey uses hydraulic fluid to help you steer as smoothly as possible. Yet, the materials used in the seals (that were supposed to keep the fluid contained) were not cut out for the constant heat and pressure they were exposed to.
As the seals degrade, fluid will start leaking out of the steering rack to the point that you lose hydraulic pressure and struggle to steer at low speeds. Worse, if the leak goes on for too long, it might damage the power steering pump itself, which is a much bigger fix than just a seal replacement.
2011 Honda Odyssey: Engine Misfire
Next up is the 2011 Odyssey and its notorious engine misfire issues!

We have tried out the model ourselves. It seems the problems all boil down to a weak point in the ignition system, particularly the ignition coils, whose insulation tends to break down and lead to internal shorts that cause some cylinders to misfire. That’s when you get rough idling, jerky acceleration, and the blinking check engine light that no one wants to see.
The bigger root cause behind these issues is that Honda just didn’t make the coils durable enough to handle the engine’s demands. Sure, replacing them usually solves the problem, but the fact that they wear out prematurely shows that they aren’t built to last in the first place.
2014 Honda Odyssey: The Oil Guzzler
We all know how annoying it is when topping off our engine oil too often. However, in the case of the 2014 Odyssey, the problem is not you but the car’s design itself – particularly the faulty piston rings. Since their tension is too weak, oil tends to sneak past the rings and burn up in the combustion process.

That did not sound like a big deal at first until we realized that burning oil also caused long-term engine damage when left unchecked. Trust us; fixing or replacing these components is neither a quick nor cheap job.
2018 Honda Odyssey: The Worst Case of Transmission Shudder
Finally, we get to the 2018 Odyssey, which still wrestles with a huge problem that’s hard to miss: awful transmission shuddering.

Though there are many speculations as to what causes it, we believe the issue is traced back to the torque converter. Just after a few crash tests, our members already pointed out that the lock-up clutch inside the converter fails to engage and disengage properly. As it started slipping and struggling to maintain pressure, we noticed the shuddering sensation quite clearly.
To make things worse, the transmission control module (which is supposed to regulate all this) wasn’t doing its job properly, either. Depending on how bad the issue was, repair costs ranged from software updates to full-blown torque converter replacements.
What Is The Best Year Of Honda Odyssey?
2008 to 2010 Honda Odyssey: Balance of Power and Family-Friendly Features
Regarding the 2008 to 2010 Honda Odyssey models, you’re looking at a sweet spot where performance, reliability, and family comfort come together.

Under the hood, they’ve got the reliable 3.5-liter V6 engine, which offers more than enough power to get the job done. Better yet, the engine can easily switch between using three or six cylinders – thanks to the Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) – to give you the best of both worlds.
It’s also quite clear that safety is a big focus for these model years. Honda packed these Odysseys with all the essential safety features, plus the electronic stability control and side-curtain airbags that cover all three rows.
2019 to Present Honda Odyssey: Packed with Modern Perks
If you’re after something more recent, the current models of Honda Odysseys have you covered.
For starters, Honda still keeps the 3.5-liter V6 engine but fine-tunes it to deliver more power. As a result, whenever zipping around town or hitting the highway, you’ll feel all the extra muscle without sacrificing the smooth ride that the Odyssey is always recognized for.

Most importantly, the Magic Slide seats are certainly among the biggest draws. Since these second-row seats can slide in multiple directions, it’s extremely easy to get in and out of the third row or adjust your seating arrangement on the fly. Plus, during long road trips, you can squeeze in more cargo or fit in the kids (and their gear) conveniently anytime you want to.
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Best Years By Brand Model:
Years To Avoid By Brand Model:
Conclusion
The Honda Odyssey is definitely one of the top minivan options out there, but that doesn’t mean every model hits the mark. Avoid the 8 base models we’ve listed, and you’ll be in great shape!