2002 Honda Odyssey problems
The 2002 Honda Odyssey has 1,120 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (43%) concerns transmission. After that come drivetrain & axles (12%) and air bags (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,120 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Transmission 43% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 60 and 6
- Injuries and deaths
- 58 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 86,000 miles 864 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 52 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 58 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 101 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 165 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 168 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 123 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 52 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 56 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 43 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 17 |
| 200k+ miles | 29 |
What the data shows
Among the 864 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 86,000 miles. For transmission specifically, the median reported mileage is about 80,000 miles (417 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 60 complaints mention a crash; 6 complaints mention a fire; 58 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 8th most-complained-about out of 31 model years of the Honda Odyssey with enough data (433 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 10 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 honda odyssey. While driving between 30-35 MPH, the contact was cut off by another motorist and struck the vehicle. The middle driver's side of the vehicle was damaged. None of the air bags deployed. The vehicle has not been inspected. The contact is currently seeing a doctor for whiplash, back muscle spasms, and chest and abdominal bruises sustained by the seat belt and steering wheel. The other three passengers in the vehicle sustained bruises. A police report was filed.
Seat failure - rear ended by honda accord at approx. 40 MPH while stopped on a 2-lane state highway to turn left . Foot off brake. Propelled forward about 3 car lengths. Massive failure of second row seat backs. Second row seat backs broke and reclined against 3rd row seats. Had there been passengers in the 3rd row, they would likely have sustained serious injuries. Front passenger seat twisted left. Other vehicle (honda accord) had front driver-side airbag deployed and driver-side side air curtains deployed.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 honda odyssey. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the transmission slips, makes a loud noise, and the vehicle surges forward while in second gear. The dealer stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact stated that the oil jet was placed into the transmission in 2004. The dealer stated that the vehicle needed a new transmission. The current and failure mileages were 106,000. Updated 01-15-08. Updated
My eighteen year old daughter was driving our family back to elko, nevada 54 miles out of wendover utah our car made a sound as if we had a flat tire or had hit something we pulled to the side of the road. Nothing, my husband then put the car into drive no movement reverse no problem. Our van was towed to slc, utah to the dealership we purchased the car from, the next day we were informed that we needed a new transmission at the cost of $5600.00. My van has only 99,000 miles on it and it is a honda!