1999 Honda Odyssey Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe automatic transmission trouble — slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and repeat failures even after replacement — and intermittent engine stalling that many attribute to the ignition switch. Sliding-door latching and power-door problems are also widely reported, and many complaints have been filed at higher mileages on an older vehicle.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Intermittent engine stalling while driving

   • 77 complaints (15%)
   • median 125,000 mi at 10.3 yrs old (61 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2023

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out without warning at highway or city speeds, sometimes with all dash lights coming on and restarting normally afterward. Many owners link the symptom to the ignition switch, and several note that a switch replaced under a past recall was later diagnosed as the cause again. Some dealers said the vehicle identification number was not covered by the campaign. Reported mostly between about 60,000 and 180,000 miles, with no clear weather or seasonal pattern in the sample.

   Recall 03V423000Recall 02V1200001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch recall work was done and when, and whether stalling has been diagnosed since. Note that a repeated symptom after a recall repair has been reported by owners.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving in the highway at 65 MPH, my 99 Odyssey engine died and every thing turned off !! Of course the steering wheel became too hard to operate and steer. Fortunately I was at far right lane. Than it started doing the same thing more often. I wonder if the Honda dealers would fix that free of charge, since I heard that was a recall about the same problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10474333, filed 2012-09, 110,000 miles

   “On several occasions within the same week as I would drive my vehicle, without notice the vehicle would shut off. This event would occur at times when I traveled on the highway at speeds between 50- 60 MPH or on the city roads when I would travel between 25- 30 MPH. I called leith Honda to schedule a diagnosis and I explained that I believed the problem was covered by a recall issued by Honda corp. I was told that if it was covered the repairs would be completed at no cost and my diagnosis fee would be refunded. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10156621, filed 2006-05, 150,589 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, harsh shifting, repeat failure

   • 154 complaints (30%)
   • median 91,000 mi at 7.8 yrs old (105 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $3,500 (median of 29 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2020

   Owners describe the automatic transmission slipping or hesitating when accelerating, then engaging with a clunk, and hard downshifts when slowing. Several complaints say a transmission was replaced once or more, in some cases under a prior warranty extension or class settlement, and later failed again. Some report loss of power or a lock-up while driving, requiring a stop. Dealers quoted replacement at the owner's expense in several cases. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 50,000 miles to roughly 180,000 miles, often after earlier transmission work.

   7 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for transmission service records and whether the unit has ever been replaced, and test-drive from a stop and at low speed to feel for slipping or a clunk into gear. Check the fluid level and condition.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At 5 years and 64,000k our 1999 Honda Odyssey has had to have its transmission remanufactured. It seems a bit early to be having transmission issues given the amount of mileage it has. Our concern is that the extended warranty only goes to 7 years and 100,000k. We kept our last Honda for 14 years and 160,000k. Do we have any recourse if we have transmission problems after 7 years?”

   NHTSA complaint #10062688, filed 2004-03, 64,000 miles

   “I own a 1999 Honda Odyssey. The second transmission has failed. The first replaced due to class action. Is NHTSA ever going to look into this and force a recall and get our vans fixed? How many people have to be left stranded on busy highways with families.”

   NHTSA complaint #10328830, filed 2010-05, 124,565 miles
3. 3
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Sliding doors won't latch or jam; power door faults

   • 85 complaints (16%)
   • median 93,000 mi at 8.3 yrs old (39 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2017

   Owners report sliding doors that stop short of latching, need to be pushed hard to close, open unexpectedly while driving, or jam so they neither open nor close. Power sliding doors on some vans beep, stop mid-travel, or fail entirely, with dealers quoting motor or latch replacement. Several owners say a recall remedy did not resolve the problem on their van. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 175,000 miles, with many complaints between about 40,000 and 140,000 miles.

   Recall 00V119000Recall 99V159000Recall 99V1580001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Cycle both sliding doors several times by power and by hand, and check that each latches flush and that the door-ajar light stays off over bumps and turns.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had problems over and over with the sliding power doors on my 99 Honda Odyssey. This is a hazard. There are times I cannot shut the door and have to continue driving with the door ajar, and I have children in the back. There are times when the door won't open, if there was a fire or accident we would be stuck inside the vehicle until we could climb out somehow. This is ridiculous, I know many people who have the same issue and Honda does nothing.”

   NHTSA complaint #10179432, filed 2007-01, 99,000 miles

   “On many occasions my power sliding doors failed to operate correctly frequently not latching at all (leaving the door essentially open ) this problem has been ongoing since I purchased the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10181542, filed 2007-02, 89,178 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag inflator recall not yet completed

   • 16 complaints (3%)
   • median 116,872 mi at 11.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2020

   Owners describe waiting for driver-side airbag inflator parts after receiving recall notices, and in some accounts a driver airbag that did not deploy or that ruptured with metal fragments in a collision. Complaints also note that a dealer had no remedy available at the time. Notices and complaints appear mainly in 2018-2020 filings on vehicles with roughly 100,000 to 250,000 miles.

   Recall 20V026000

   What to check: Ask for proof that the driver-side airbag inflator recall was completed, and check the current recall status by vehicle identification number before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A recall notice was sent to me in march/2020. I have contacted a local Honda dealer, and continue to get the same response that no parts are available a company this large should have come up with a solution by now. I'm getting to the point of being afraid to drive my vehicle. Please have them remedy this situation!”

   NHTSA complaint #11342806, filed 2020-08, 153,900 miles

   “There have been 2 recalls for my 99 Honda Odyssey. The first was on transmission a few years back n now there is one open for my airbags. Well my transmission was never fixed by Honda. And now I can't get them to fix my airbags”

   NHTSA complaint #11309953, filed 2020-02, 248,538 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Doors and floor water leaks, door hardware

   • 21 complaints (4%)
   • median 56,550 mi at 6.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2000–2017

   Some owners describe water entering at the doors or floor, and door hardware such as handles and hinges that break or need replacement. Others mention unusual noises from the rear when accelerating or braking. Complaints often involve body-shop or dealer quotes for latch and hinge parts. Reported from near-new to about 150,000 miles, with several complaints filed at low mileage.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check carpets and the spare-tire well for dampness after rain, and inspect door weatherstripping, handles and hinges for looseness.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought my 1999 odyesse in march of 2004. I took my van to the Honda dealership to find out why my driver's side sliding door was not closing completly. They told me that the latches and hinges needed to be replaced totalling $420. They checked my warranty and those parts were not covered. I told them I didn't have $420, to repair the door. One week later the other sliding door stopped closing all the way. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10082768, filed 2004-07, 67 miles

   “I have an Honda Odyssey van 99' and one of the sliding doors when out first then the other a cple months later. I've been stuck with it jammed open and had to ride home like that w children in the car and taking a turn and one of the door slid open, next to my 3yr.old while I was driving, its done that several times. But now neither of the doors work, so the kids have to climb over the front seat to get in for months now. I've taken it to the Honda place and they say its the motor in both doors which will be 900 dollars each to fix! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10350704, filed 2010-08, 150,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, transmission history and ignition-switch stalling are the items most worth verifying with records and a test drive, and door latches should be cycled before purchase. Confirm that the open airbag inflator recall has been completed for the specific vehicle.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.