1997 Honda ODYSSEY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
104,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 18 complaints (27.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 22.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 11.1% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 11.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 5 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 5; Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 14 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2001: 4; 2002: 9; 2004: 3; 2011: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10055401 · 2004-01-20 (January 20, 2004)
THE IGNITION LOCKS WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079717 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
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 TIRE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081976 · 2004-07-14 (July 14, 2004)
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION FROM THE REAR RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE WHEN THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHAT COMPONENT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081976 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10394035 · 2011-04-02 (April 2, 2011)
FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SPONTANEOUSLY SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. SINCE THE ENGINE CANNOT BE RESTARTED WHILE NOT IN PARK, THIS REQUIRES COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT THE AID OF POWER BRAKES OR STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND VARIOUS SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS. IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE SITUATION IN RECALL 05V025000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10394035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11431774 · 2021-09-05 (September 5, 2021)
transmission problem
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11431774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 564532 · 2002-02-28 (February 28, 2002)
CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A COUNTER SHAFT IN THE TRANSMISSION CONTAINED A FLAW, WHICH RESULTED IN ROUGH SHIFTING FROM THE VERY MOMENT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 564532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 567571 · 2002-09-23 (September 23, 2002)
WHILE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, KNOCKING CONSUMER OUT TEMPORARILY. THE AIR BAG HIT CONSUMER SO HARD TO THE POINT IT KNOCKED HER RIGHT LEG UP AND HIT THE DASH CAUSING BRUISING AND A NASTY CUT. FOUR WEEKS LATER, CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING PAIN IN THE CHEST AREA DUE TO THE AIR BAG. WHEN CONSUMERS HUSBAND WHO WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HE ONLY RECIEVED A RED SPOT ON HIS ARM. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 567571 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 739715 · 2001-01-21 (January 21, 2001)
THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THIS CAR CAUSES THE SPEED TO INCREASE WHILE TRAVELING UP LONGER GRADES. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES DURING OUR OWNERSHIP WHEN THIS HAD CAUSED VERY AWKWARD AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. OTHER DRIVERS WHO BEGIN TO PASS ON A HILL HAVE GOTTEN ANNOYED WHEN OUR CAR PICKS UP SPEED WHILE THEY ARE TRYING TO PASS. ON OCCASION THE INCREASE IN SPEED HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL, AS MUCH AS 8 MILES PER HOUR. SOMETIMES, WHEN CRESTING A HILL, THE CAR CONTINUES AT THE FASTER SPEED, WANTING TO GAIN EVEN MORE SPEED AT THE NEXT HILL. THE ONLY WAY TO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 739715 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V120000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2002-05-16 (May 16, 2002)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V069000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 1999-05-10 (May 10, 1999)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗