Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Honda Odyssey, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags24
- Electrical system17
- Engine and engine cooling11
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Seat belts5
- Unknown or other5
- Vehicle speed control4
- Visibility3
- Equipment2
- Power train1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 1996 Odyssey vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 1 person died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1996 Honda Odyssey failed the safety check 3.06% of the time — 109% more often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 182,678 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
0 cars built in 1996 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 11 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
270 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 97% arrived as used imports, 3% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1996 Honda Odyssey.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Honda told its dealers about the 1996 Honda Odyssey: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 629541 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A TWANG NOISE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION THAT SOUNDS LIKE A SPRING CONTACT. *SLC |
| 626824 | INFORMATION REGARDING A/C CYCLES RAPIDLY AT IDLE. *YH |
| 626611 | INFORMATION REGARDING AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR CYCLES RAPIDLY AT IDLE. *YH |
| 624570 | INFORMATION REGARDING BALANCER SHAFT OIL SEAL LABOR OPERATION . *ET |
| 624159 | INFORMATION ON REGARDING: BRAKES ABS DTC. *ET |
| 623657 | SOME VEHICLES A/C COMPRESSOR CYCLES RAPIDLY IDLE. *ET |
| 622540 | PARTS INFORMATION BULLETIN REGARDING PRODUCT UPDATE FOR THE FRONT BALANCER OIL SEAL RETAINER KIT. *TT |
| 619943 | INFORMATION USED WHEN THE ABS CONTROL UNIT SETS A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 1-8 (ACCUMULATOR VOLUME PROBLEM). *TT |
| 619921 | PRODUCT UPDATE REGARDING FRONT BALANCER SHAFT OIL SEAL. *TT |
| 618987 | INFORMATION ON PREVENTING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 1-3 AFTER ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULATOR WORK. *TT |
| 618967 | INFORMATION PERTAINING TO HONDA CELLULAR TELEPHONE OWNERS MANUAL. *TT |
| 618908 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE FRONT BALANCER SHAFT OIL SEAL MAY BACK OUT OF THE OIL PUMP HOUSING OVER TIME. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE OIL CAN BE RAPIDLY PUMPED OUT OF THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE IF CONTINUED TO DRIVE. *TT |
| 618907 | LETTER TO SERVICE MANAGER REGARDING PRODUCT UPDATE CAMPAIGN - BALANCER SHAFT OIL SEAL. *TT |
| 615806 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 1-8, ACCUMULATOR VOLUME. *TT |
| 615783 | SUBJECT REGARDING THE FRONT BALANCE SHAFT RETAINER PRODUCT UPDATE. *TT |
| 615765 | SUBJECT REGARDING CAMPAIGN PARTS AVAILABLE FOR OPEN ORDERING FOR FRONT BALANCER SHAFT OIL SEAL RETAINER KIT. *TT |
| 610333 | INFORMATION WHEN DIAGNOSING AN SRS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE. *TT |
| 608022 | INFORMATION ON TROUBLESHOOTING EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) P0401 AND P1491. *TT |
| 52396 | DRIVER'S SEAT MAKES A CLICKING NOISE. *TW |
| 52056 | REAR WHEEL BEARING NOISE. *JD |
| 10013953 | AUDIO UNIT AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM ANTI-THEFT CODES AVAILABLE ON INTERACTIVE NETWORK. *NM |
| 10009278 | HEATER BLOWER MOTOR GETS HOT OR BLOWS A FUSE. HONDA. SERVICENEWS. *TT |
| 10009048 | AUDIO, ANTI-THEFT CODES. HONDA. TECH LINE SUMMARY. *TT |
| 10005933 | KEYLESS, CEILING LIGHT, IGNITION KEY BEEPER LOGIC. HONDA OCTOBER TECH LINE INFORMATION. 2002 PRELUDE ALSO INCLUDED. *TT |
| 10005932 | SRS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 1-1 TO 1-5, DRIVER'S AIRBAG INFLATOR CIRCUIT. HONDA OCTOBER TECH LINE INFORMATION. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)