1996 Honda ODYSSEY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
59 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
113,469 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 59 complaints (23.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 15.3% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 11.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 6.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 14 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
Air Bags: 14; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 8; Electrical System: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 5; Unknown Or Other: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 9
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 33 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 9; 2001: 8; 2002: 10; 2003: 8; 2004: 5; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2011: 3; 2014: 2; 2016: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001441 · 2002-12-23 (December 23, 2002)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE FAILURE, LIGHT PANE INDICATING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER CAN'T AFFORD REPAIR. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004786 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
VEHICLE NEEDS NEW SRS MODULE. DEALER WOULD INSTALL IT FOR $875.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007171 · 2002-08-06 (August 6, 2002)
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (AIR BAGS) WARNING LIGHT APPEARED, DEALER SAYS AIR BAGS ARE INOPERATIVE. DEALER RESET CONTROL UNIT. LIGHT APPEARED TWO MONTHS LATER. ASKED DEALER IF THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. DEALER SAYS THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS CONTROL UNITS. SHOULD A SAFETY DEVICE OF THIS MAGNITUDE FAIL WITHIN FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE? THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS TO CHECK THIS SYSTEM EVERY TEN YEARS. FROM THE DEALERS COMMENT OF REPLACING NUMEROUS CONTROL UNITS, IT'S MY OPINION THAT A PART OF THIS MAGNITUDE SHOULD INDEED LAST THE USEFU…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007171 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011359 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)
ABS MODULATOR/SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX ABS MODUALTOR.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014385 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)
I PURCHASED A 1996 HONDA ODYSSEY VAN NEW IN 1996. (VIN#: [XXX]) ON MARCH 11, 2003 WE DROVE IT WITH SOME FRIENDS TO A NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT WHERE WE PARKED AND LOCKED THE CAR, AND WENT IN. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER A MAN CAME INTO THE RESTAURANT SAYING THERE WAS A CAR ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF MY HONDA WAS ON FIRE. FORTUNATELY, THE RESTAURANT OWNER HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE DOOR OPEN AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014815 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, WHICH SEEMED TO BE ELECTRICAL RELATED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014815 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018926 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
FRONT BALANCER SHAFT SEAL FAILED AND ALL OF THE OIL LEAKED OUT OF THE ENGINE...RAPIDLY!!! *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 84,595 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018926 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021644 · 2003-05-27 (May 27, 2003)
THE AIR BAG MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN STARTED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THE AIR BAG WAS NOT IMPORTANT AS THE SEAT BELT AND WAS NOT MANDATORY TO REPAIR. *NLM. *AK *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021644 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.