repaired · 2020 Q4
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2002 Honda OdysseyProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 960 owner complaints about the 2002 Honda Odyssey, most often about the power train. It is covered by 10 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-499 the manufacturer reports only 22% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 14, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2002 Honda Odyssey has problems
960 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
608Power train8 crash/fire/injury
99Air bags22 crash/fire/injury
55Structure
42Engine and engine cooling
35Electrical system
33Vehicle speed control
27Engine
24Latches/locks/linkages
23Service brakes, hydraulic
13819 other systems18 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 608 | 8 |
| Air bags | 99 | 22 |
| Structure | 55 | 12 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 42 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 35 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 33 | 5 |
| Engine | 27 | 3 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 24 | 2 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 23 | 3 |
| 19 other systems | 138 | 18 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
10 recalls
2002 Honda Odyssey recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other…
repaired · 2019 Q3
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Show 6 more recalls
repaired · 2017 Q3
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2017 Q4
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger…
repaired · 2017 Q4
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other…
repaired · 2016 Q1
Air bags
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle…
no report yet
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. IF THE TIMING BELT BREAKS, THE ENGINE WILL STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Honda.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
85kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 534 power train complaints. 67% were reported before 100,000 miles.
27under 30k miles359under 100k miles175100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
121 owners mentioned a cost$4,000median
Middle half: $3,000 – $4,900
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2002 vs. every other Odyssey year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Odyssey median. How we score
'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2002 Honda Odyssey safety ratings
2002 Honda Odyssey w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2002 Honda Odyssey, and the recalls they led to.
- Air Bag Inflator RuptureLed to recall 14V-668
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
- Air Bag Inflator RuptureLed to recall 14V-770
In owners' words
What Odyssey owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The transmission How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? When I was on the highway the car lost power and I was almost rear-ended by a car when I was stopped on the freeway on my way…
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated along with a warning message which stated that the driver’s and passenger’s side air bags need to be repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V501000 (Air Bags) as the cause for…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 50 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND SLOW DOWN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH MAXIMUM PRESSURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE…
Own a 2002 Odyssey?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.