2002 Honda Odyssey Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report transmission problems far more than anything else, typically as harsh or delayed shifting, slipping, or the van dropping out of gear, and often after the unit had already been replaced once. Many complaints carry 70,000-150,000 miles on the odometer, so the reports span both lower-mileage failures and vans well into their second decade. A smaller but steady group of complaints covers airbag warning lights and the Takata inflator campaigns, plus engine mounts, sliding-door latches and ignition-key interlocks.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, harsh shifting and dropping out of

   • 575 complaints (60%)
   • median 85,900 mi at 7.5 yrs old (512 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,750 (median of 128 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2026

   Complaints describe the automatic transmission jerking or lurching between gears, hesitating before engaging drive or reverse, and at times slipping or dropping into neutral while driving. Several owners say the dealer told them the unit needed replacement at considerable cost, while others report that a replacement transmission later developed the same behavior. Some mention the shift indicator light flashing and warning lamps coming on. Reported from roughly 25,000 to over 150,000 miles, with many clustered between about 60,000 and 120,000 miles.

   Recall 04V1760002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the automatic transmission has ever been replaced or repaired, and note whether the transmission fluid looks dark or burnt on the dipstick. A test drive should include slow-speed rolling starts, reverse engagement and steady highway acceleration.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving our van in december 2008 it suddenly started giving uneven response to the speed changes and I could feel the problem was transmission related. When we took it to the Honda dealer they confirmed it was a bad transmission. Since I had bought an extended warranty the warranty company sent the dealer another used Honda Odyssey transmission as replacement. It however failed, too, in may this year (2011) and the warranty company replaced it with another used transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10435253, filed 2011-11, 77,500 miles

   “I was driving my young children to school, when in the middle of a busy intersection, my 2002 Honda Odyssey (89,000 mi) lost power. If was as if it shifted out of gear, into neutral. After a few seconds it shifted back. I prayed the rest of the way to school. After dropping the girls off at school, there were a couple of other instances where it shifted out of gear on the 2 mile drive to the transmission shop. Prior to this day, there was absolutely no warning that there was a transmission problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10375050, filed 2011-01, 89,648 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag and SRS warning light staying on

   • 78 complaints (8%)
   • median 107,500 mi at 9.3 yrs old (42 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $750 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2024

   Owners report the SRS or airbag warning light coming on and staying lit, sometimes with a message that the front airbags need service. Dealers have diagnosed failed seat sensors, a control unit fault and, in some cases, a light that remained on even after the inflator recall work was performed. Several complaints note the diagnostic was charged to the owner or that repair was declined. Mostly reported between about 115,000 and 250,000 miles, on vans well past their first decade.

   Recall 19V501000Recall 19V499000Recall 19V182000Recall 18V268000Recall 16V344000Recall 15V370000Recall 15V320000Recall 14V7000007 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the ignition on, confirm the SRS light goes out after the bulb check. Ask for documentation that the front inflator recalls were completed, and have any persistent warning light diagnosed before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In may, 2010, srs light came on. Dealer diagnosed air bag sensor in passenger seat failed and replaced under extended opds warranty. In aug 2010, srs light came on again. Dealer diagnosed srs control unit failure and noted air bags would not deploy if there was an impact. Not covered under their extended warranty. This is a major safety issue and appears to be a common issue with Honda vehicles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10356998, filed 2010-09, 115,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2002 Honda Odyssey. Upon starting the vehicle, the contact noticed the air bag light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated that the seat belt and air bag system malfunctioned. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 165,000. Updated 06/21/11 updated 1/18/2012”

   NHTSA complaint #10395734, filed 2011-04, 165,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Stalling or hesitation with check engine light

   • 217 complaints (23%)
   • median 80,047 mi at 7.4 yrs old (190 state mileage)
   • 17 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,500 (median of 33 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2025

   Some owners describe the engine stalling or hesitating while driving or accelerating, with the check engine light and traction control light illuminating. A few complaints involve the timing belt tensioner, including one where the tensioner was replaced under a campaign and failed again later. Others mention oil leaks or high oil pressure readings around the same time. Spread from about 37,000 to 180,000 miles, with several reports under 90,000 miles.

   Recall 02V226000

   What to check: Ask whether the timing belt and tensioner have been replaced and when, and have any stored engine codes read before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was picking up the vehicle after the local dealer completed the recall to replace the timing belt tensioner. I accelerated to merge with traffic and the check engine light and tcs light came on. I immediately returned to the dealer to have the car checked out. The next day the service advisor called to tell me the reason the lights came on was because of high oil pressure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10049355, filed 2003-12, 39,724 miles

   “The engine has leaked oil on three different occasions. Requiring me to take the van in for service each time. The first time oil was getting on the engine while driving and we could smell hot oil. The second and third times it was leaking from the bottom of engine.”

   NHTSA complaint #10064521, filed 2004-04, 20,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine mounts found broken or worn early

   • 41 complaints (4%)
   • median 100,462 mi at 9.2 yrs old (36 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,500 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2004–2020

   Complaints describe broken or worn engine mounts discovered during unrelated service visits or after violent shaking from transmission trouble. Owners were quoted for replacing multiple mounts, and some say the van felt loose or shifted oddly as a result. Several owners say they were not aware of any problem until the shop pointed it out. Reported from about 100,000 to 180,000 miles, often during other repair visits.

   What to check: Have a shop inspect the engine and transmission mounts for cracks or separation, and listen for clunks or vibration on hard acceleration and when shifting between drive and reverse.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2002 Honda Odyssey took to dealership for recall on sbs system only to be told by dealer ship all of my engine mounts are broken and need to be replaced . I have had a problem with going into gear . After reading several a forums on Honda I see this is a national problem . Honda should be made to have a recall on motor mounts . It's truly amazing that the van would go into the shop for a unrelated recall and they knew to check mounts . Do they already know engine mounts are a huge problem with Honda?”

   NHTSA complaint #10500894, filed 2013-03, 174,000 miles

   “I have a 2002 Odyssey with 101,000 miles and the transmission just failed. Dealer is saying $4,600 to replace it with a rebuilt one, plus $396 for two cracked engine mounts (caused by the violent shaking of the van due to the faulty transmission). They said that there was the recall in 2004 and I had the van inspected at that time and they found nothing wrong. They seem to imply that since they inspected the van at 30,000 miles, they're off the hook. I have filed a complaint with american Honda and am waiting for a response.”

   NHTSA complaint #10242709, filed 2008-09, 100,875 miles

Buying note. Given how often the transmission appears in complaints, a pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with these vans and a look at transmission service history are worth the cost. Also confirm that the outstanding airbag inflator recalls have been completed and that the SRS and ignition-key functions behave normally.

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.