2003 Honda ODYSSEY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
914 owner complaints analyzed
15 distinct recall campaigns
102,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 716 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 332 of 914 complaints (36.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 507 | 55.5% |
| Braking behavior | 63 | 6.9% |
| Engine operation | 39 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 29 | 3.2% |
| Steering behavior | 25 | 2.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 332 |
| Power Train | 205 |
| Air Bags | 124 |
| Electrical System | 72 |
| Engine | 32 |
| Unknown Or Other | 26 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 26 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 23 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 332; Power Train: 205; Air Bags: 124; Electrical System: 72; Engine: 32; Unknown Or Other: 26; Vehicle Speed Control: 26; Engine And Engine Cooling: 23
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 57 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 31 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 84 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 165 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 264 |
| 150,000 and above | 115 |
Under 25,000: 57; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 84; 75,000 to 99,999: 165; 100,000 to 149,999: 264; 150,000 and above: 115
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (264). 198 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 29 |
| 2004 | 46 |
| 2005 | 26 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 28 |
| 2008 | 67 |
| 2009 | 69 |
| 2010 | 129 |
| 2011 | 106 |
| 2012 | 88 |
| 2013 | 63 |
| 2014 | 57 |
| 2015 | 90 |
| 2016 | 41 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2002: 3; 2003: 29; 2004: 46; 2005: 26; 2006: 18; 2007: 28; 2008: 67; 2009: 69; 2010: 129; 2011: 106; 2012: 88; 2013: 63; 2014: 57; 2015: 90; 2016: 41; 2017: 19; 2018: 6; 2019: 11; 2020: 6; 2021: 2; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 3; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 507 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 63 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 39 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005729 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
HELLO- I DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO TO FIND OUT INFORMATION REGARDING MY NEW VEHICLE. I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION "SLIPPING" OR "LURCHING" WHEN IT DECELERATES. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IT IS SHIFTING AT THE SPEED OF 45 MPH. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS "NORMAL OPERATION" THAT THE VEHICLE KNOWS WHEN I NEED TO SLOW DOWN MORE RAPIDLY THEN DOWNSHIFTS FOR ME --- THE DRIVER. I DO NOT BELIEVE AN AUTOMOBILE CAN KNOW WHEN I NEED TO SLOW MORE RAPIDLY. IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE TO "LURCH" FORWARD DUE TO AN EXCESSIVE DOWNSHIFT WHEN I AM BRAKI…
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040230 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION AND AIR CONDITIONER.*MR OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDED THE PASSENGER SEAT MOVING WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS OR STARTS. TRANSMISSION SURGED ON OCCASIONS. THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AS A RESULT OF A HOLE IN THE CONDENSER WHICH COULD'VE BEEN CAUSED BY DEBRIS. THIS REPAIR WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN THE SEATS WERE CHECKED, THE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS NORMAL DUE TO OTHER ODYSSEY VEHICLE'S ON THE LOT WITH MOVING SEATS. AFTER THE FACT, THE CONSUMER FELT AS THOUGH ALL PROBLEMS OR CONCERNS WERE NOT REPAIRED. *PH *JB…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040230 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006118 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
WHEN STATRTI NG VEHICLE IT JERKS VIOLENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, SAID IT' WAS NORMAL USE OF PARKING BRAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006118 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052758 · 2004-01-09 (January 9, 2004)
I HAD LEASED A BRAND NEW, 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY IN SEPTEMBER, 2003 FROM BAYRIDGE HONDA IN BROOKLYN, NY. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2003. ON SEPTEMBER 9, I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS SURGING, ON THE VERGE OF STALLING. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE AND AT THAT TIME RESET THE COMPUTER, I BELIEVE. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE THE SAME DAY AFTER BEING TOLD THAT IT WAS FIXED. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, THE CAR STALLED OUT WHILE I WAS WAITING ON A RED LIGHT, AND THEN STARTED STALLING ON STOP SIGNS AND WHILE MAKING TURNS. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057314 · 2004-02-02 (February 2, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032574 · 2003-08-11 (August 11, 2003)
AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. HONDA AUTOMOBILE CUSTOMER SERVICE 1919 TORRANCE BOULEVARD MAIL STOP: 500 - 2N - 7D TORRANCE, CA 90501-2746 CLAIM NUMBER: [XXX] DEAR HONDA, WE ARE WRITING TO YOU IN ORDER TO PUT YOU ON NOTICE OF A POTENTIAL VEHICLE DEFECT WITH MY NEW 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY, VIN: [XXX]. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE JUST 6 WEEKS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: 1. BRAKES BEGAN TO GET SOFTER AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE TILL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR 2. WHILE WAITING AT A SIGNAL THE CAR ENGINE APPEARS TO BE REVVING UP AND SHA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033170 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
NEW 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY EX-L VAN CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE STEREO/CD PLAYER. EARLIER IN THE DAY, THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING, SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN ON. LATER THAT EVENING AS WE WERE DRIVING, WE SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE CD PLAYER BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE BEGAN INSIDE THE CD SLOT. BLUE, YELLOW AND ORANGE FLAMES WERE SOON JETTING OUT OF THE PLAYER. AS WE PULLED OFF AND EVACUATED THE CAR, THE FLAMES WERE LICKING UP THE DASHBOARD, WITHIN MINUTES TOUCHING THE WINDSHIELD. EMERY…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033170 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022490 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL WANDERED LEFT TO RIGHT IN TRAFFIC, DUE TO A FAILED MECHANISM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022490 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038729 · 2003-09-11 (September 11, 2003)
STEERING PULLING TO THE LEFT. URNED OUT TO BE LOOSE TIE RODS ON BRAND NEW 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY. ONLY 900 MILES ON IT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020595 · 2003-05-27 (May 27, 2003)
COMPLAINTS OF THUMPING FROM FUEL TANK FROM SLOSHING FUEL. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020595 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024721 · 2003-06-23 (June 23, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK THE FUEL WILL SPILL OUT, CAUSING AN DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024721 at NHTSA ↗