Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Honda Odyssey, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system9
- Vehicle speed control3
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Visibility2
- Suspension1
- Power train1
- Steering1
- Tires1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Forward collision avoidance1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1997 Odyssey vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them. 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 1997 Honda Odyssey failed the safety check 4.07% of the time — 154% more often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 170,876 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
2 cars built in 1997 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 4 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
321 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 91% arrived as used imports, 7% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 12.3 L/100 km (about 19 mpg US), CO₂ 283 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odyssey · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 13.4 | 10.9 | 12.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1997 Honda Odyssey.
| 2002096 24 May 2002 | Electrical On certain vehicles electrical contacts in the ignition switch can degrade due to the high electrical current passing through the switch when the vehicle is sta… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AND, IN THE WORSE CASE, THE BALL JOINT WOULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
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 1997 Honda Odyssey: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 631000 | CONCERNS WITH FRONT SUSPENSION SQUEAKING IN COLD WEATHER. *TT |
| 629541 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A TWANG NOISE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION THAT SOUNDS LIKE A SPRING CONTACT. *SLC |
| 629289 | EXPERIENCING A SQUEAL NOISE AT FRONT SUSPENSION AT LOW TEMPERATURES. *TT |
| 626824 | INFORMATION REGARDING A/C CYCLES RAPIDLY AT IDLE. *YH |
| 626611 | INFORMATION REGARDING AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR CYCLES RAPIDLY AT IDLE. *YH |
| 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 |
| 618985 | SUBJECT REGARDING A LEAKING TORQUE CONVERTER. *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 |
| 600715 | SYMPTOMS WITH THE ALLOY WHEEL CENTER CAP MISSING. *YC |
| 600714 | BLOWER MOTOR WORKS ONLY ON HIGH SPEED. *YC |
| 600712 | TAILGATE-OPEN INDICATOR LIGHT STAYS ON. *YC |
| 54046 | EXPERIENCING DISTORTION FROM THE FRONT SPEAKERS. *YC |
| 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 |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)